Shakin' the Family Tree

Tombstone Tuesday: So whose grave is it?

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 01:23:17 GMT

I drove 175 miles today on what I was convinced was a sure bet.

I set out to match up a distinctive gravestone with the person whose remains lay beneath it.

It's a turn-of-the-century photo - another unlabeled one from the Williams family photo album.

I was just sure the grave had to be in Oakland Cemetery in Russellville.

Several of my Williamses, including Maxie and Jo's two daughters, Mildred Imognene, and Katherine Leah are buried there.

Why would we have such a large photo - the photo itself measures about 6" by 6" not including its black cardboard mount - unless this was the grave of someone in the family?

Mercifully, our temp stayed under 100 today - it was only 99.

So my first pass through the cemetery was in the car. And none of the tall monuments matched.

So I got out of the car in selected locations and started looking for a monument that could have been broken off, with other stones around it as in the photo. With a raised concrete border around the plot. Or concrete overgrown with grass.

I looked for the fence surrounding the plot in front of the monument.

Or evidence there had been one at one time.

Nothing. Zip, nada, zilch.

But it wasn't a wash...

Because I found Grace Electra Shinn's grave. She was the daughter of my great grandaunt, Mildred Carlton "Minnie" Williams and Josiah Hazen Shinn.

Grace's grave is with her paternal grandmother's, and her uncle's. Her grandma - Josiah's mother - was Elizabeth Frances Gilpin. After she divorced Josiah's dad, she married Samuel Reed Judd. The stone for the family plot says Shinn on one side, and Judd on the other.

But the question still remains...

Whose grave is it?

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Sunday's Obituary: Josiah H Shinn and Mildred Williams Shinn

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:50:08 GMT

Josiah H Shinn Dies in Washington
Former Arkansan Had produced Many Historical Volumes
(From the Gazette's Correspondent)
Washington, Sept. 3 - Josiah H Shinn, aged 68, an employee at the capitol and known throughout the country as a writer of history, died yesterday at his home, 624 Rock Creek Church road.

He was born in Russellville, Ark., March 29, 1849. He wrote for the Arkansas Gazette and Southern School Journal. He established the first chautauquas in Arkansas.

Among his books and pamphlets were, "The South in Public Education," "Illustrated Arkansas," "History of American People," "Education in Arkansas," "Russia at the World's Fair," "English and Russian."

He was registrar for the Arkansas S A R from 1892 to 1894. He was a member of the American Institute in 1894, and an honorary member of the Pennsylvania and West Virginia historical societies. His history on "Education in Arkansas" was published by the government.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mildred C Shinn, and a son, Joe L Shinn. The body was sent to Russellville tonight.
Published on Tuesday, 4 Sep 1917, in the Arkansas Gazette

Mrs. J H Shinn Dies at Home in Washington, D C
Mrs. Minnie C Shinn, aged 78, widow of Josiah H Shinn, formerly of Little Rock, died at her home in Washington, D C early Thursday. The late Mr. Shinn was superintendent of public instruction in Arkansas from 1890 to 1894. He and Mrs. Shinn moved to Washington about 1902 when he accepted a government position.

He was the author of many historical works. He was a native of Russellville, Pope county, and met Mrs. Shinn at her home in Kentucky after he studied law in Cincinnati, O.

Their home was at Russellville and Magnolia, where he was the principal of schools in those cities and they moved to Little Rock when he was appointed to a position in the state Department of Education before his election as superintendent.

Mrs. Shinn was born at Bridgeport, Ky. Mr. Shinn died in 1917. Their son made his home with his mother until his death two years ago. Mrs. Shinn visited in Little Rock last spring. She is survived by one brother, J D Williams, 2310 Ringo street. Funeral arrangements will be announced by P H Ruebel & Co.
Published on Wednesday, 17 Feb 1932, in the Arkansas Gazette

Mrs. J H Shinn
Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie C Shinn, widow of Josiah H Shinn, who died at her home in Washington, D C, Tuesday, will be held at 10:30 Saturday morning at the chapel of P H Ruebel & Co. The body will arrive in Little Rock early today. Funeral services will be in charge of the Rev. J H Fuller. Pallbearers will be: Active - C H Williams, P M Williams, J D Williams, Jr., and Vernon Shinn, of Little Rock, and Eugene Shinn of Russellville, all nephews of Mrs. Shinn; honorary - Henry Martin, G DeMatt Henderson, Tom Howland, Clio Harper, H A Bowman, S J Beauchamp, Arthur E Lee, Martin Critz and D R Fones. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park.
Published on Saturday, 20 Feb 1932, in the Arkansas Gazette

Josiah Shinn, wife Minnie, and son Joseph R L.
Photo circa 1886.

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Bummer...

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:42:08 GMT

One of the Shinns, Henry Alphonso, (he was a cousin to Josiah Hazen Shinn, the husband of my great grand aunt Minnie Williams) was a photographer in Little Rock and Pine Bluff for over 20 years, until he died in 1901.

There's a directory online with the address of his photography studio in Little Rock, along with his residence address.

So I thought I'd see if the buildings were still standing.

They are now hotel parking lots...

Shoot.

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