#treestump headstone

I felt like that was probably plenty, and decided that since I was near one of my favorite headstones, that of Hettie Mason, I would go see her in the snow, and then get back on the path to head out.

As I turned around to walk towards the path, I saw this:

Those are my footprints as I started to walk, and then backtracked to look at the coyote prints. The coyote!! So, I followed them. Slowly. I have no intention of making the coyotes nervous, and have learned how to behave around them.

I had a pretty good idea of where the tracks would lead; to the brushy area where they hide out, and I see their paw prints in the mud after rainy days.

I mostly stayed on the roads today since the ground is so wet. I had a pretty major bunion surgery on my right foot over the summer, and although I am walking quite well, I am still very much recovering, and need to watch my step.

I didn't take many pictures, until I came by one of my favorite tree stump headstones, that of Longenecker.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139332609/joel-minnick-longenecker

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Minnick_Longenecker

"Joel Minnick Longenecker (January 12, 1847 – September 19, 1906) was an American farmer, soldier, lawyer, State's Attorney, judge, gubernatorial candidate, and Department Commander of the Illinois Grand Army of the Republic. He was active in nationally prominent trials involving the Chicago Anarchists, and Irish nationalists."

I particularly like the detailed symbolism on this headstone, with the anchor and the broken tree limbs, and that the plot includes a small seat in the same style facing the headstone.

On my way out, I decided wet ground be damned, and walked along the edge of a small slope so I could compare my walking map to the cemetery map later (still need to do that), and saw a couple of marble headstones that are in a style not common at Oak Woods, and are very likely from City Cemetery. The clasped hands do show up on a number of headstones, but as far as I have seen, this is the only headstone with a willow at Oak Woods.

I'll write more about some of these symbols soon.

Until next time.

These headstones are typically made of limestone in our area, but not exclusively. I've seen some made of marble, and maybe sandstone. Although there are many at Oak Woods, the best cemetery in the Chicago area for tree stump headstones is Bohemian National Cemetery.

I've slowly started adding pictures and information to FindAGrave.com

Today I added images and information for the Wedelius family. Walter's headstone has no death date, but I was able to find his death notice in a list of people recently killed in car accidents in Chicago. The clipping is from the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, October 11, 1933. He died on September 30, 1933.