The family of Henry J. and Charlotte Selders is the best documented in stone at Salem Cemetery because of a unique marker apparently erected by one or more of their three surviving daughter after Henry and Charlotte as well as 9 of their 12 children had died. Inscribed on three faces are the names, dates of birth and --- when family members were dead --- dates of death of the entire Selders family.
The stone does not mark a specific grave and several of the people memorialized here are not buried at Salem, a fact that has led to mild misunderstandings over the years. It is a unique and successful effort to create a family record more permanent than the usual family Bible pages.
Immediately east of the Selders lot is Lot No. 43, owned by Amos Johnson, whose wife, Margaret Selders, died 12 May 1874 and was the first person buried upon it.
Immediately to the west of the Selders lot is the lot (No. 45) of George and Matilda (Selders) Risbeck and their family. Like Margaret Johnston, Matilda Risbeck was a daughter of Henry and Charlotte Selders.
These transcriptions are recorded from north to south, beginning with the large pastel pink granite marker of Maria Louise Selders, known as Miss Lou and Aunt Lou, the longest surviving family member. The remainder of the stones on the lot, other than the family record stone, are identical white upright marble slabs with strongly arched tops. Several of these have broken as the years have passed and now are virtually illegible.
The Selders family arrived in Lucas County from New Florence, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with the Jacob Myers family, and they lived always as neighbors in Sections 27 and 28 of Benton Township, respectively, a few miles south of Salem Cemetery.
1845-1916
Gone but not forgotten
OBITUARY: MARIA LOUISE SELDERS
The Chariton Leader, 14 December 1916
Maria Louise Selders was born on October 11th, 1845, in Westmoreland county, Pa. She was the fourth daughter of Henry and Charlotte Selders and remained the last of a family of twelve children, all of whom with her parents have preceded her to the Great Beyond. In the year 1868 she came with her parents to Lucas county, Iowa, where she continued to reside. She was converted at an early age and united with the United Brethren church and has remained a zealous and faithful member.
Last August she went to Pennsylvania to attend a reunion of the Selders families. While in the east she was taken seriously ill with pneumonia at the home of her nephew, Robert Johnston, where she passed away, Dec. 7th, 1916, aged 71 years, 1 month and 26 days. She leaves to mourn her death three nieces, six nephews and a host of friends, to all of whom the name, "Aunt Lou," will remain a sacred emembrance.
Peaceful in thy grave so low,
Thou no more will join our number,
Thou no more our sorrows know.
Yet again we hope to meet thee
When the day of life is fled,
And in Heaven with joy to greet thee
Where no farewell tears are shed.
Funeral services were held at the Salem church conducted by Rev. Geo. J. Cornford of Albia, assisted by Rev. Zike of Russell.
Maria Louise, who never married, was known universally as Miss Lou in her younger years, and as Aunt Lou in old age. Although my late father, Daniel Myers, was only 2 when she died, he recalls family conversations about her. His uncle, Raymond Myers, purchased the Selders farm after Aunt Lou died, and demolished the house, which Dad remembers as being surrounded by flowers of all descriptions.
Much loved by her Risbeck and Johnston nieces and nephews, who salvaged many of the flowering plants on the old homestead,they erected on her grave a large granite stone in soft shades of pink, perhaps reflecting the colors of some of the flowers she loved.
H. Adella
Oct. 3, 1868
Jan. 14, 1895
OBITUARIES: HARRIET ADELLA SELDERS
Miss Della Selders died at her home in this city Monday morning, January 14, at the age of twenty-six years, after an illness of three weeks with typhoid fever. Miss Harriet Della Selders was the daughter of Henry and Charlotte Selders, now deceased. She was born in Benton township, this county, October 3, 1868. When but three years of age her mother died leaving her in the care of her sister, Miss Lou. About eight years ago she was converted and united with the Evangelical church at Mt. Carmel and has since lived a consistent christian life. She was a faithful member of the Christian Endeavor society and her time was spent in trying to do good to others. She was highly esteemed by all who knew her and leaves a large circle of friends to mourn her demise. The Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Salem church in Benton township and were conducted by Rev. Busenburg. Three sisters, Mrs. Lou Selders of this city, Mrs. Geo Risbeck of Benton township and Mrs. Kate Gartin of Red Willow county, Nebraska, are left and have the sympathy of many friends in their affliction. (The Chariton Democrat, 18 January 1895
DIED - Monday morning, January 13 (actually January 14, 1895) of typhoid fever, Della Selders. Miss Selders had been afflicted from childhood with spinal trouble; in her last sickness her sufferings were very great but she was patient and looked forward to her release with joy. She leaves an only sister whose care and companionship of the afflicted one has been constant. The remains were laid to rest in the Salem cemetery, Tuesday. Rev. Buzenburg conducted the services. (Undated clipping, Lucas County Genealogical Society collection)
Geo. W.
Born Sept. 21, 1856
Died Mar. 20, 1874
+++
(South Face)
H. J. Selders
Jan. 3, 1818
Aug. 22, 1890
C. G. Selders
Mar. 1, 1825
Apr. 26, 1873
M.E.S. Johnson
May 15, 1841
May 12, 1874
M.J.S. Risbeck
July 13, 1843
(Living when stone erected)
M.L. Selders
Oct. 11, 1845
(Living when stone erected)
W.O. Selders
Mar 30, 1847
June 14, 1847
(buried in Pennsylvania)
SELDERS FAMILY RECORD STONE
(North Face)
T.M. Selders
July 3, 1848
May 9, 1849
(Buried in Pennsylvania)
C.C.S. Gartin
May 24, 1851
(Living when stone erected)
Harry (Henry) Selders
Dec. 29, 1853
Feb. 12, 1874
G.W. Selders
Sep. 21, 1856
Mar. 20, 1874
M.T. (Mary) Selders
Jan. 25, 1859
May 29, 1864
(Buried in Pennsylvania)
SELDERS FAMILY STONE
(West Face)
J. Selders
June 23, 1861
Aug. 13, 1861
(Buried in Pennsylvania)
John Selders
Feb. 23, 1863
Sept. 24, 1865
(Buried in Pennsylvania)
H.A. Selders
Oct. 3, 1868
Jan. 14, 1895
+++
HARRY SELDERS
DIED
Feb. 12, 1874
Aged 21y, 1m, 14d
Wife of
H.J. Selders
Died Apr. 26, 1873
Aged 48y, 1m, 25d.
+++
SELDERS
Jan. 3, 1818
Aug. 22, 1890
The Chariton Herald, 28 August 1890
Died: At his home in Benton Tp. Aug. 22, 1890, Mr. Henry Selders in his 72 year. Deceased was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Lucas county in 1867. He was a member of the U.B. church and was buried in Salem Cemetery.
The Chariton Democrat, 28 August 1890
Died at his home, seven miles southeast of Chariton, Friday morning, Aug. 22, 1890, Mr. Henry Selders, in his 72nd year. He received a stroke of paralysis over two years ago from which he never fully recovered. He received another stroke last week which proved fatal. Deceased was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1818. He moved with his family to Lucas County in the year 1867, where he has lived until his death. Mr. Selders was a member of the U.B. church and was buried in the Salem cemetery, the funeral services being conducted by G.W. Carpenter and J.W. Rosa.
Beautiful soul into glory gone,
Beautiful with the crown now won,
God giveth the rest.
Rest from all sorrows and watching and fear,
Rest from all possible sighing and tears,
Rest through God's endless, wonderful years,
At home with the blest.
+++
Charlotte Selders is the only adult child of Henry and Charlotte Selders not buried at Salem. Born 24 May 1851 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, she married Anderson Gartin, son of Felix and Phoebe (Myers) Gartin, on 17 November 1868 in Lucas County. They moved west through Iowa to Nebraska, settling eventually near Danbury in Red Willow County where Charlotte died on 20 March 1899. Anderson, born 1848, died 15 April 1908, also in Red Willow County. Both are buried in the Danbury Cemetery, located about a mile east and a quarter mile north of Danbury.
The following brief death notice for Charlotte was published in The McCook (Neb.) Republican on 31 March 1899: "Died, at her home four miles northeast of Danbury, Monday, March 20, 1899, of Brights disease, Mrs. Anderson Gartin, aged 47 years and 10 months. The funeral services were held at the home Wednesday at 10 o’clock and the remains interred in the Danbury cemetery. Rev. White conducting the ceremony. She leaves a husband, son and daughter to mourn her loss. They have the sympathy of the community."
Anderson and Charlotte had two children who reached adulthood: Hattie May, born 1 June 1873, and Jessie Burr, born 16 July 1881.
No comments:
Post a Comment