Author Archives: gravelyspeaking

The dusty, rock-laden graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona, was originally called the Tombstone Cemetery—not very creative but accurate and to the point.  It was only “active” for five years from 1879 to 1884 and contains about 270 burials. When the Tombstone … Continue reading →

EVA MAUD Dau. of N. D. & E. H. BARNES. BORN Aug. 12, 1878. DIED Sept. 7, 1898. You are not dead to us, But as a bright star unseen. We hold that you are ever near, Though death intrudes … Continue reading →

BEN. T. CLARK SEPT. 15. 1867 OCT. 28. 1935 MY FAULTS WRITE THEM UPON THE SANDS OF THE SEA; MY GOOD DEEDS WRITE UPON THE TABLET OF THY MEMORY. ERECTUM AD MEMORIAM ME AM. Alongside Alternate Route 58 in Abingdon, … Continue reading →

JOSEPH A. BRUNER MAR. 12, 1894 MAY 8, 1972 The Clear Creek Cemetery is the burial place of Joseph August Bruner.  His gravestone is a non-descript red granite block that in no way indicates the monumental piece of granite he … Continue reading →

HERE LIES Lester Moore FOUR SLUGS FROM A 44 NO LES NO MORE The barren town of Tombstone, Arizona, was a rough and tumble outpost.  The city witnessed the notorious shootout at O.K. Corral and countless other killings that have … Continue reading →

Wm. Clayborne 1882 SHOT BY FRANK LESLIE Buried beneath a wooden and hand painted grave marker in the dry, dusty, and famed Boot Hill Cemetery in a rocky grave is William Floyd “Billy” Claiborne/ Clayborne and a mystery.  Clayborne was … Continue reading →

Rev. G. W. GALE  D.D. DIED SEPT. 13, 1861. AE. 72 YEARS Buried underneath a stained, faded, and eroded white marble obelisk resting on a plinth that bears his name, is George Washington Gale (December 13, 1789 – September 13, … Continue reading →

Wellington W. Washburn September 18, 1836, Akron, Ohio February 10, 1901, Galesburg, Illinois By tradition, Wellington Washburn’s family can be traced back to their arrival in England with none other than William the Conqueror.  They were also early arrivals in … Continue reading →

Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) was born at Galesburg, Illinois, in a small three-room cottage. Sandburg is remembered as one of the most important literary figures of the Twentieth Century. He was an American poet, biographer, … Continue reading →