FindAGrave.com's Virtual Cemeteries

I stumbled onto their website about 6 months ago, while doing a Google search on an ancestor, and now I find myself strolling cemeteries on my lunch hour, photographing tombstones to contribute back to the genealogical community.

You can create a memorial even if you do not know in which cemetery your relatives are buried. You can also leave 'virtual flowers' and upload photographs and biographical information.

Originally designed to be a site where you could locate graves of the rich and famous, many researchers also use FindAGrave to enter internments from smaller, family cemeteries. I've had some success in locating photographs of tombstones in distant cemeteries. When the opportunity presents itself, I reciprocate in kind.

Check out the listings of the virtual cemeteries I've created for my branches of the family tree.

Today in my database : Edmund G. Pierce (b. April 30, 1837)

Today's featured relative in my database is my maternal 3rd great-grandfather, Edmund G. Pierce.

Edmund was born April 30, 1837 in Wayne Co., IN., and died January 8, 1875 in Madison Co., IN. He was the son of Francis S. & Rebecca (Page) Pierce.

Edmund married Lydia P. Duell, daughter of Joshua & Abigail (Borton) Duell, on October 17, 1858 in Preble Co., OH. Lydia was born March 26, 1838 in Pilesgrove, NJ, and died September 14, 1860. There were no known children from this marriage.

Edmund married secondly to Catherine Groenendyke, daughter of Elias & Nancy (Jenkins) Groenendyke, on May 5, 1864 in Madison Co., IN. Catherine was born February 4, 1843 in Madison Co., IN, and died December 10, 1913 in Lafayette Twp., Madison Co., IN.

I descend from Edmund & Catherine (Groenendyke) Pierce, through their son, William Francis Pierce.

My Grandmas & Me

I came across this picture today on my PC and thought I'd upload it.- The photo is of my grandmothers, Ruth (Haley) LeMaster and Bonnie (Lambertson) Wright, celebrating with me when I obtained my Eagle Scout rank. The photo was taken at the First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, IN. I was a member of Troop 381, and one of the youngest, if not the youngest, Eagle Scouts the troop has ever had.

One of my favorite merit badges, was of course, Genealogy!

I remember interviewing my Grandma Wright for my merit badge - her stories about the Lambertson family are some of the oldest files in my family history.

I also remember a trip we took to Dearborn, MI with both grandmas in the car, and being the oldest grandchild, I was able to hear stories from both of them. Grandma LeMaster would tell about milk routes, and living on the farm, and Grandma Wright would tell stories about World War II.

Just missing them today....