In-depth research was done to ensure that Johnnie was a child of Benjamin Franklin & Mary Ann Smith. Birth and death records during this time were sporadic and not mandatory. It took verifying census records from 1880-1910, Mary Ann's obituary, and cross-referencing all individuals with the Smith surname buried in the same section to determine John's relationship to his parents.
I discovered Johnnie on April 25, 2019 while visiting my own relatives that are caddy-corner across the road from him. Unfortunately, I did not pay any attention to any other stones around him. I simply wanted to clean it and when I saw how old he was (6 months), my heart broke. Johnnie is now a part of my family and I will visit him when I stop to see my own. He may have been lost to time and to actual blood-line history, but I hope that in the future, someone in his own family sees this. I will always be happy to transfer his memorial, but I'll always keep an eye on his stone - and his parents - from now on.
I discovered Johnnie on April 25, 2019 while visiting my own relatives that are caddy-corner across the road from him. Unfortunately, I did not pay any attention to any other stones around him. I simply wanted to clean it and when I saw how old he was (6 months), my heart broke. Johnnie is now a part of my family and I will visit him when I stop to see my own. He may have been lost to time and to actual blood-line history, but I hope that in the future, someone in his own family sees this. I will always be happy to transfer his memorial, but I'll always keep an eye on his stone - and his parents - from now on.
In-depth research was done to ensure that Johnnie was a child of Benjamin Franklin & Mary Ann Smith. Birth and death records during this time were sporadic and not mandatory. It took verifying census records from 1880-1910, Mary Ann's obituary, and cross-referencing all individuals with the Smith surname buried in the same section to determine John's relationship to his parents.
I discovered Johnnie on April 25, 2019 while visiting my own relatives that are caddy-corner across the road from him. Unfortunately, I did not pay any attention to any other stones around him. I simply wanted to clean it and when I saw how old he was (6 months), my heart broke. Johnnie is now a part of my family and I will visit him when I stop to see my own. He may have been lost to time and to actual blood-line history, but I hope that in the future, someone in his own family sees this. I will always be happy to transfer his memorial, but I'll always keep an eye on his stone - and his parents - from now on.
I discovered Johnnie on April 25, 2019 while visiting my own relatives that are caddy-corner across the road from him. Unfortunately, I did not pay any attention to any other stones around him. I simply wanted to clean it and when I saw how old he was (6 months), my heart broke. Johnnie is now a part of my family and I will visit him when I stop to see my own. He may have been lost to time and to actual blood-line history, but I hope that in the future, someone in his own family sees this. I will always be happy to transfer his memorial, but I'll always keep an eye on his stone - and his parents - from now on.
Gravesite Details
The marker was completely covered in moss & litchen; a little bit of cleaning made details more clear. There is an inscription at the bottom of the marker that is illegible due to weather and age.
Family Members
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