This young man was a victim of a shooting.
Charles was just 16 years old at the time of his death, over 110 years ago. It's time for Charles' story to be known, even though I don't have all the details.
His final resting place is the loneliest, and most isolated spot in the cemetery. He is buried by himself, next to the cornfield, on the other side of the cemetery lane, and right beside the old outhouse. There are no other graves nearby.
**NOTE: November, 2013, a new grave marker appeared next to Charles' marker.**
Our mother would tell us what she knew about Charles, and what had been passed down in her family about this young man. Mom said that Charles had come into the tiny town of Wing, Illinois on the railroad. During the short time he was there, something happened, and he was shot and killed. He was all alone, and I'm not sure whether they were able to locate his family. Poor Charles needed to have a proper burial, so that was done for him.
It is possible the cemetery donated the plot, which might explain why he is in such an out-of-the-way place.
Perhaps Charles brought his fate on himself, and that's why he is buried apart from the other deceased. Or could it have simply been a tragic accident that resulted in his death? Whatever the reason that Charles was shot, the Sunday School opened their hearts to this young man, and collected enough money to pay for his marker.
And that's the story passed down to us and the story I have passed on to my children, and they, to their children.
Charles rests alone, but not forgotten. Flowers are left on his grave during the changing of the seasons, probably by those who also had the story passed down in their family like we did in ours.
His stone reads:
Charles E. Shipley
Died February 16, 1901
Aged 16 Yrs, 3 Ms, and 21 Ds
Erected By Union Pleasant Ridge Sunday School
--------
Someday I hope to learn the full story of Charles. Just maybe there is somebody out there that would like to know what became of this son, brother, or uncle. Somebody may be looking for him.
Whatever the circumstances of his death were, I want to let everyone know he is here, looked after by the residents of this area.
Rest peacefully Charles.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Linda Cain Steele for sponsoring Charles' memorial.
Charles was just 16 years old at the time of his death, over 110 years ago. It's time for Charles' story to be known, even though I don't have all the details.
His final resting place is the loneliest, and most isolated spot in the cemetery. He is buried by himself, next to the cornfield, on the other side of the cemetery lane, and right beside the old outhouse. There are no other graves nearby.
**NOTE: November, 2013, a new grave marker appeared next to Charles' marker.**
Our mother would tell us what she knew about Charles, and what had been passed down in her family about this young man. Mom said that Charles had come into the tiny town of Wing, Illinois on the railroad. During the short time he was there, something happened, and he was shot and killed. He was all alone, and I'm not sure whether they were able to locate his family. Poor Charles needed to have a proper burial, so that was done for him.
It is possible the cemetery donated the plot, which might explain why he is in such an out-of-the-way place.
Perhaps Charles brought his fate on himself, and that's why he is buried apart from the other deceased. Or could it have simply been a tragic accident that resulted in his death? Whatever the reason that Charles was shot, the Sunday School opened their hearts to this young man, and collected enough money to pay for his marker.
And that's the story passed down to us and the story I have passed on to my children, and they, to their children.
Charles rests alone, but not forgotten. Flowers are left on his grave during the changing of the seasons, probably by those who also had the story passed down in their family like we did in ours.
His stone reads:
Charles E. Shipley
Died February 16, 1901
Aged 16 Yrs, 3 Ms, and 21 Ds
Erected By Union Pleasant Ridge Sunday School
--------
Someday I hope to learn the full story of Charles. Just maybe there is somebody out there that would like to know what became of this son, brother, or uncle. Somebody may be looking for him.
Whatever the circumstances of his death were, I want to let everyone know he is here, looked after by the residents of this area.
Rest peacefully Charles.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Linda Cain Steele for sponsoring Charles' memorial.
This young man was a victim of a shooting.
Charles was just 16 years old at the time of his death, over 110 years ago. It's time for Charles' story to be known, even though I don't have all the details.
His final resting place is the loneliest, and most isolated spot in the cemetery. He is buried by himself, next to the cornfield, on the other side of the cemetery lane, and right beside the old outhouse. There are no other graves nearby.
**NOTE: November, 2013, a new grave marker appeared next to Charles' marker.**
Our mother would tell us what she knew about Charles, and what had been passed down in her family about this young man. Mom said that Charles had come into the tiny town of Wing, Illinois on the railroad. During the short time he was there, something happened, and he was shot and killed. He was all alone, and I'm not sure whether they were able to locate his family. Poor Charles needed to have a proper burial, so that was done for him.
It is possible the cemetery donated the plot, which might explain why he is in such an out-of-the-way place.
Perhaps Charles brought his fate on himself, and that's why he is buried apart from the other deceased. Or could it have simply been a tragic accident that resulted in his death? Whatever the reason that Charles was shot, the Sunday School opened their hearts to this young man, and collected enough money to pay for his marker.
And that's the story passed down to us and the story I have passed on to my children, and they, to their children.
Charles rests alone, but not forgotten. Flowers are left on his grave during the changing of the seasons, probably by those who also had the story passed down in their family like we did in ours.
His stone reads:
Charles E. Shipley
Died February 16, 1901
Aged 16 Yrs, 3 Ms, and 21 Ds
Erected By Union Pleasant Ridge Sunday School
--------
Someday I hope to learn the full story of Charles. Just maybe there is somebody out there that would like to know what became of this son, brother, or uncle. Somebody may be looking for him.
Whatever the circumstances of his death were, I want to let everyone know he is here, looked after by the residents of this area.
Rest peacefully Charles.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Linda Cain Steele for sponsoring Charles' memorial.
Charles was just 16 years old at the time of his death, over 110 years ago. It's time for Charles' story to be known, even though I don't have all the details.
His final resting place is the loneliest, and most isolated spot in the cemetery. He is buried by himself, next to the cornfield, on the other side of the cemetery lane, and right beside the old outhouse. There are no other graves nearby.
**NOTE: November, 2013, a new grave marker appeared next to Charles' marker.**
Our mother would tell us what she knew about Charles, and what had been passed down in her family about this young man. Mom said that Charles had come into the tiny town of Wing, Illinois on the railroad. During the short time he was there, something happened, and he was shot and killed. He was all alone, and I'm not sure whether they were able to locate his family. Poor Charles needed to have a proper burial, so that was done for him.
It is possible the cemetery donated the plot, which might explain why he is in such an out-of-the-way place.
Perhaps Charles brought his fate on himself, and that's why he is buried apart from the other deceased. Or could it have simply been a tragic accident that resulted in his death? Whatever the reason that Charles was shot, the Sunday School opened their hearts to this young man, and collected enough money to pay for his marker.
And that's the story passed down to us and the story I have passed on to my children, and they, to their children.
Charles rests alone, but not forgotten. Flowers are left on his grave during the changing of the seasons, probably by those who also had the story passed down in their family like we did in ours.
His stone reads:
Charles E. Shipley
Died February 16, 1901
Aged 16 Yrs, 3 Ms, and 21 Ds
Erected By Union Pleasant Ridge Sunday School
--------
Someday I hope to learn the full story of Charles. Just maybe there is somebody out there that would like to know what became of this son, brother, or uncle. Somebody may be looking for him.
Whatever the circumstances of his death were, I want to let everyone know he is here, looked after by the residents of this area.
Rest peacefully Charles.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Linda Cain Steele for sponsoring Charles' memorial.
