Many years ago, as my grandmother Maximilla Heck Baker walked through Bowmans, with daughters Alberta Dunlap and Millie Ragosta, approaching the Wright family plot, she shared a family story that I’d like to share with you now.
Bowmans holds the remains of many of our brave military. Abraham Wright, is my 4th great-grandfather. He served in the Civil War in both Co. C, 22 PA Cav and Co. P 148th P.V.I. And his brother John Franklin Wright served in Co. F, 2nd Regt. PA Res. You will find them resting amongst the trees.
But did you know that Bowmans also holds the remains of James Barnes, 1831-1913, who served in Co. B 8th Reg. P.V.I.?
In the 1880 Census, Pvt. Barnes lived in Cass Township, a farmer, widowed, with children William, Laura, Louisa and Evaline still living at home. 1890 Census lists his enlistment into the Army in September 1863 and discharged in April 1864. In the 1910 Census, he still resided in Cass Township on Hare’s Valley Road. He owned his farm, his father born in PA, and mother in VA. His neighbors were the Dell’s, Bowman’s and Stever’s.
When Pvt. Barnes died in 1913 Bowmans Chapel was the logical place for burial, but this burial spot also caused great disharmony amongst the community as Pvt. Barnes was “black” and Bowmans Chapel Cemetery was a “white” cemetery. As the debate went back and forth to permit a “black” into a “white” cemetery, Abrahm Wright stood up and loudly declared, “He fought with us in the Civil War, by our sides, and he’s lived with us as a great neighbor. Be damn, let him be buried in my family’s plot!” And he was.
Although Pvt. Barnes memorial stone is the first stone located in the first row of the cemetery, my grandmother showed her daughters where he was really buried – just behind J. Frank Wright, beside the corner marker, there is a spot that marks his true gravesite. A hole in the ground filled with broken stone.
I found this spot in 2013 when I first photographed Bowmans Chapel Cemetery as a Find A Grave Volunteer. Just starting my genealogy research, my Aunt Millie shared this family story. So in 2014 I returned to Bowmans for more photos, to better identify the burial spot. Sadly, today in 2018, the area seems to be filled with soil and could not be found.
I thought it was time to share this family story – my 4th ggf embracing the contributions one makes to one’s country and community, regardless of race.
Bowmans holds the remains of many of our brave military. Abraham Wright, is my 4th great-grandfather. He served in the Civil War in both Co. C, 22 PA Cav and Co. P 148th P.V.I. And his brother John Franklin Wright served in Co. F, 2nd Regt. PA Res. You will find them resting amongst the trees.
But did you know that Bowmans also holds the remains of James Barnes, 1831-1913, who served in Co. B 8th Reg. P.V.I.?
In the 1880 Census, Pvt. Barnes lived in Cass Township, a farmer, widowed, with children William, Laura, Louisa and Evaline still living at home. 1890 Census lists his enlistment into the Army in September 1863 and discharged in April 1864. In the 1910 Census, he still resided in Cass Township on Hare’s Valley Road. He owned his farm, his father born in PA, and mother in VA. His neighbors were the Dell’s, Bowman’s and Stever’s.
When Pvt. Barnes died in 1913 Bowmans Chapel was the logical place for burial, but this burial spot also caused great disharmony amongst the community as Pvt. Barnes was “black” and Bowmans Chapel Cemetery was a “white” cemetery. As the debate went back and forth to permit a “black” into a “white” cemetery, Abrahm Wright stood up and loudly declared, “He fought with us in the Civil War, by our sides, and he’s lived with us as a great neighbor. Be damn, let him be buried in my family’s plot!” And he was.
Although Pvt. Barnes memorial stone is the first stone located in the first row of the cemetery, my grandmother showed her daughters where he was really buried – just behind J. Frank Wright, beside the corner marker, there is a spot that marks his true gravesite. A hole in the ground filled with broken stone.
I found this spot in 2013 when I first photographed Bowmans Chapel Cemetery as a Find A Grave Volunteer. Just starting my genealogy research, my Aunt Millie shared this family story. So in 2014 I returned to Bowmans for more photos, to better identify the burial spot. Sadly, today in 2018, the area seems to be filled with soil and could not be found.
I thought it was time to share this family story – my 4th ggf embracing the contributions one makes to one’s country and community, regardless of race.
Many years ago, as my grandmother Maximilla Heck Baker walked through Bowmans, with daughters Alberta Dunlap and Millie Ragosta, approaching the Wright family plot, she shared a family story that I’d like to share with you now.
Bowmans holds the remains of many of our brave military. Abraham Wright, is my 4th great-grandfather. He served in the Civil War in both Co. C, 22 PA Cav and Co. P 148th P.V.I. And his brother John Franklin Wright served in Co. F, 2nd Regt. PA Res. You will find them resting amongst the trees.
But did you know that Bowmans also holds the remains of James Barnes, 1831-1913, who served in Co. B 8th Reg. P.V.I.?
In the 1880 Census, Pvt. Barnes lived in Cass Township, a farmer, widowed, with children William, Laura, Louisa and Evaline still living at home. 1890 Census lists his enlistment into the Army in September 1863 and discharged in April 1864. In the 1910 Census, he still resided in Cass Township on Hare’s Valley Road. He owned his farm, his father born in PA, and mother in VA. His neighbors were the Dell’s, Bowman’s and Stever’s.
When Pvt. Barnes died in 1913 Bowmans Chapel was the logical place for burial, but this burial spot also caused great disharmony amongst the community as Pvt. Barnes was “black” and Bowmans Chapel Cemetery was a “white” cemetery. As the debate went back and forth to permit a “black” into a “white” cemetery, Abrahm Wright stood up and loudly declared, “He fought with us in the Civil War, by our sides, and he’s lived with us as a great neighbor. Be damn, let him be buried in my family’s plot!” And he was.
Although Pvt. Barnes memorial stone is the first stone located in the first row of the cemetery, my grandmother showed her daughters where he was really buried – just behind J. Frank Wright, beside the corner marker, there is a spot that marks his true gravesite. A hole in the ground filled with broken stone.
I found this spot in 2013 when I first photographed Bowmans Chapel Cemetery as a Find A Grave Volunteer. Just starting my genealogy research, my Aunt Millie shared this family story. So in 2014 I returned to Bowmans for more photos, to better identify the burial spot. Sadly, today in 2018, the area seems to be filled with soil and could not be found.
I thought it was time to share this family story – my 4th ggf embracing the contributions one makes to one’s country and community, regardless of race.
Bowmans holds the remains of many of our brave military. Abraham Wright, is my 4th great-grandfather. He served in the Civil War in both Co. C, 22 PA Cav and Co. P 148th P.V.I. And his brother John Franklin Wright served in Co. F, 2nd Regt. PA Res. You will find them resting amongst the trees.
But did you know that Bowmans also holds the remains of James Barnes, 1831-1913, who served in Co. B 8th Reg. P.V.I.?
In the 1880 Census, Pvt. Barnes lived in Cass Township, a farmer, widowed, with children William, Laura, Louisa and Evaline still living at home. 1890 Census lists his enlistment into the Army in September 1863 and discharged in April 1864. In the 1910 Census, he still resided in Cass Township on Hare’s Valley Road. He owned his farm, his father born in PA, and mother in VA. His neighbors were the Dell’s, Bowman’s and Stever’s.
When Pvt. Barnes died in 1913 Bowmans Chapel was the logical place for burial, but this burial spot also caused great disharmony amongst the community as Pvt. Barnes was “black” and Bowmans Chapel Cemetery was a “white” cemetery. As the debate went back and forth to permit a “black” into a “white” cemetery, Abrahm Wright stood up and loudly declared, “He fought with us in the Civil War, by our sides, and he’s lived with us as a great neighbor. Be damn, let him be buried in my family’s plot!” And he was.
Although Pvt. Barnes memorial stone is the first stone located in the first row of the cemetery, my grandmother showed her daughters where he was really buried – just behind J. Frank Wright, beside the corner marker, there is a spot that marks his true gravesite. A hole in the ground filled with broken stone.
I found this spot in 2013 when I first photographed Bowmans Chapel Cemetery as a Find A Grave Volunteer. Just starting my genealogy research, my Aunt Millie shared this family story. So in 2014 I returned to Bowmans for more photos, to better identify the burial spot. Sadly, today in 2018, the area seems to be filled with soil and could not be found.
I thought it was time to share this family story – my 4th ggf embracing the contributions one makes to one’s country and community, regardless of race.
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