To view more of Mountain Grove's monuments, continue to page 1.
FRONT: "Lieut. Chatfield.
Killed Feb. 5, 1865.
Aged 21 years 6 months.
Gettysburg"
REAR: "Henry Whitney Chatfield
Adjt. 17th Reg. Conn. Vol.
Son of Henry W. and Susan M. Chatfield
Born Aug. 2, 1843.
Killed by guerillas at Volusia, Florida.
Chancellorsville"
"F. T. B. Nov. 5, 1873."
Frederick Tomlinson Blakeman,
son of Birdseye & Anna M. T. Blakeman.
Age 23 years.
"Harral" - this monument is huge, on a hill, and astonishing. It is to the left of the Wordin Monument (photo posted further on).
"Parrott" - Plot of Henry Remer Parrott (1829 - 1919) and extended family.
William Elliot Baillie (1848-1931) and his wife, Gertrude Maria Sterling Baillie (1846-1931).
The Jennings stag. Fred (1880 - 1902), Mother (1820 - 1884) and Teresa George (no dates).
Two older views of the Jennings stag, circa 1920. Notice how the stag originally was a copper color, had a full set of antlers, and lacked its current bullet holes.
There are several decorated Celtic crosses
in Mountain Grove.
This monument is for the Edwards family:
Cornelia Clark (Aug. 21, 1882 - Dec. 7, 1949;
George Holmes (Feb. 26, 1881 - Dec. 26, 1967);
Ardelia Esther (May 6, 1848 - Nov. 2, 1916);
George Clarke (June 29, 1846 - Sept. 23, 1919).
"62nd Regiment N. Y. V.
Major Wilson Hubbell
Born April 21, 1821
Died at Cold Harbor, VA.
June 3, 1864.
He entered the service of his country April 1861, was engaged in twenty-five battles in the Army of the Potomac and was killed by a shell from the rebel lines; while in the extreme front gallantly performing his duty. He was a brave and accomplished officer and possessed the love, respect and confidence of his men to an unusual degree."
"Perry-Setzer"
A flat stone in front of the monument states,
"Perry Setzer / July 5, 1882 / Jan. 31, 1892"
The Richardson monument.
"W. H. Perry"
George H. Lounsbery was killed at Vicksburg, July 15, 1862, Ae. 27 yrs. He was an Officer on board the U.S. Flag Ship Hartford commanded by Admiral Farragut and fell with his face to the Enemy in defence of his Country."
"Sanford"
Another "Sanford" monument.
"Our loved one.
Allie, son of Alfred and Eunice A. Hopkins
Died July 12th 1872,
Aged 10 years, 3 months & 22 days
Yet thou art gone our hearts (?)
our boy so fond and dear."
The Wheelers: George E. (1882 - 1935),
Mary E. (1848 - 1920),
Elbridge E. (1846 - 1929) &
Emma Wheeler Beers (1872 - 1952).
"Until the day break and the shadows flee away,"
from Song of Solomon 2:17 or 4:6,
depending on which interpretation you prefer.
"Wordin" - this monument is on a hill and huge. It is to the right of the Harral monument (photos posted previously). Notice the gentleman in classical attire at the summit of the pillar. The back of the memorial says, "In te, Domine, speravi." (Translates as "In thee, O Lord, did I hope.")
Monument to Dr. Samuel Beach, his widow, Mary Swift Beach Wright, and their son, Samuel S. Beach.
Dr. Samuel Beach was killed in the Norwalk Rail Accident (8 May 1853), the first major US railroad bridge disaster. Forty-eight people were killed and thirty were injured. The train, traveling at 50 mph, plunged into the Norwalk (CT) Harbor off of an open draw bridge when the engineer failed to notice the signal indicating that the bridge was up. (It had been raised to allow passage of a steamship.) The engineer and the fireman leapt from the train before the bridge, avoiding serious injury. The engine itself flew across the 60-foot chasm, striking the opposite abutment eight feet below the level of the track and sinking into twelve feet of water. The baggage cars crashed onto the locomotive; the front of the first passenger cars slammed into the baggage cars and then was submerged as the second passenger car piled on top of it. The third passenger car broke in two, the front hanging off the edge of the abutment, the rear remaining on the track. Many of the passengers were doctors attending the Sixth Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association in New York. After the tragedy, the Connecticut Legislature enacted a law requiring every train in the state to come to a complete stop before crossing any opening bridge. The engineer was charged with gross negligence and held primarily responsible for the disaster. He was charged with manslaughter, but was acquitted. (Information and photo of the disaster from Wikipedia.)
"Samuel Beach, M.D.
Born July 7, 1802
Died suddenly at Norwalk, CT.
May 6, 1853
A Christian, a philanthropist, a skillful physician
His friends lamenting his untimely end and
grateful for his faithful service
have erected this monument to his memory."
"Mary Swift, Widow of Samuel Beach, M.D. & wife of A. A. Wright, M.D.
Died at North Canaan, Mar. 1, 1871 AE. 65."
Samuel S. Beach (the son) died in Clinton, Iowa on July 22, 1874, age 32.
"Walker MCMXXVIII" (1928);
the stained glass art at the
back of the mausoleum.
The trees behind me reflected in the window.
Milton L. Orelup, 1914 - 1999.
Off the beaten path, Mountain Grove, autumn 2023.
Postcard, circa 1910, showing the main entrance to Mountain Grove Cemetery, at the corner of North Avenue and Dewey Street.
Another postcard, postmarked 1915, showing the main entrance to Mountain Grove.
Mountain Grove entrance located on North Avenue; photo circa 1911. (The photo is from the book, Images of America: Bridgeport, by Sue A. Del Bianco.)
All photos copyright by the author, 2023. Not to be used or reproduced without permission.