My Great-grandpa Hedrick

Todays blog post is about something very special to me. I'm writing about one of my ancestors on my mother's side of the family. Growing up spending a lot of time around my mom and grandma, I heard countless stories about my great-grandpa Hedrick. In this post I will be sharing some things I learned and found interesting about my great-grandpa. I hope to stress that he was a great and caring father and husband.

His full name was Veril Clifford Hedrick, born May 14th in 1901. Died Dec. 3rd, 1991 at age 90 1/2. Was proud of that 1/2. 

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He owned and operated an appliance store called "Hedrick Electric" for 70 years and was still working everyday there when he died of a bad cold. He was a good and honest man. During the 1929 depression when many people lost their jobs and couldn't pay their bills, he never reposed a refrigerator, stove etc. because he knew these people had families to take care of. He also gave money out of his own pocket for those who needed a meal. Sometimes he would go with them if they had a whole family to feed, to a restaurant that was right next door to his business. He married my great-grandma, Violet Helen (Loy) Hedrick who was from Sweden. He was of German descent with a little English in there too. He and great-grandma had four children. My grandma was the "baby of the family ". They all lived in Rockford, IL. That is also where my mother was born. Grandpa Veril was very loving and caring for his family. He cared deeply for his grandchildren, too. Through the years, he employed at different times his own father, his children, his nieces, eleven grandchildren everybody loved to go down to "grandpa's store. " He had the mind of an engineer but was poor and couldn't afford to go to college. He became a very wealthy man but never flaunted it! He was a very devote person in a quiet way. 

Who Exactly Was Elizabeth Jackson??

Have you ever asked yourself who Elizabeth Jackson was? Well... Probably not because I hadn't either. But after researching her I asked myself a different question,  how on earth did I not know who Elizabeth Jackson was? I hope you ask yourself the same question after reading this blog post.

Origins

She was born in Carrickfergus Ireland which is just 11 miles from Belfast. Born in the year 1740 to the last name of Hutchinson but married Andrew Jackson Senior in 1761, therefore taking on his last name. The newly webs soon emigrated to America just 4 years after they were married. In those 4 years they had 2 sons, who also came with them to America. Their reason for emigrating to America was to escape religious persecution and tariffs from the ruling Anglican faction.

New Life in America

Andrew and Elizabeth Jackson started their life in America with 200 acres of land sitting on the Waxhaws settlement in the Carolinas. But in 1767, at the early age of 29 Andrew Jackson senior died unexpectedly. Just three weeks after his death, Elizabeth Jackson gives birth to Andrew Jackson II.

After Andrew Jackson's Birth

After Andrew was born Elizabeth moved to the home of James and Jane Crawford, where she  worked as a house keeper. She took care of her sister Jane, who after moving to United States of America had some health problems. Then Jane’s health took a rapid decline and soon became an invalid.  When asked to move into the Crawford household, she wasn’t invited just out of family love, but instead out of necessity. Ms. Jackson needed a home for her son and herself, and Mrs. Crawford needed a care taker for his wife Jane.

Elizabeth’s Death

During this period of the war, all of Elizabeth’s children and herself where captured.  Andrew and his brother where held together at the family home where they were ordered to destroy furniture, but when asked ordered to clean the mud off of the British solider that had invaded their home, Andrew replied “sir I am a prisoner of war and claim to be treated as such”. This didn’t sit to well with the soldiers as one took a swing at his head leaving his most famous scar. While this was happening Elizabeth was aboard a British prisoner ship and managed to secure a prisoner exchange, then she soon perished aboard the ship. 

Elizabeth Jackson's Headstone in Magnolia Cemetary 

A Look Into Some of Charleston's Church Graveyards

Our class took a trip to two of Charleston's church graveyards. Our first stop was to the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul on Coming Street. After that we headed to St. Patricks Catholic Church. In these old graveyards our task was to photograph and identify 10 different types headstones. 

At the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul we had a member of the church, Mrs. McCants share an interesting story about how the church had very little information about the individuals who are barred in the graveyard. She told us that it's her hard for of finding out more about the people and to make records of all who are married there.  

Identified below are a few of the grave markers I photographed in the Cathedral Church Graveyard and the St. Patricks Catholic Church Graveyard!

Pedestal Tomb-Valted Top

This grave marker is in memoriam of Matthew Sully Reeves. He lived from 1814-1862.

Pedestal Tombs are similar to obelisks, but are shorter and wider, they also tend to have more carving on them. 
As you can see in the photograph his last name "Reeves" is engraved in all caps towards the base of the grave marker.

Obelisk Cross

This grave marker belongs to Seattie H Dawson. She was born in 1859 and died in 1879.

Appears to be a marble headstone, and contains a leaf and an easter lily in the center of the cross. The easter lily symbolizes purity and Chasity.

Headstone

Headstone beloning to Allyson Jordan Key. Lived from 1975-2013 being one of the more recent grave markers in the graveyard.

One of the more simple markers I noticed in the church's graveyard. Engraved on it, a cross and a quote at the bottom.

Die in Socket

Memoriam belongs to Samuen Wragg who lived from 1771-1844 and his wife Mary Wragg 1782-1872.

The crown in the top of the grave marker usually symbolizes triumph over death.

Ledger

This is a ledger grave marker that belongs to Constance Wigfallsimons. She lived from 1842-1929

At the top of the ledger is a laurel which represents the "evergreen" memory of the deceased.

Sarcophagus

Grave of Catherine Simons, died in 1862 at the age of 21.

Hidden in the side of the graveyard but one of my favorites. The lion feet on the bottom of the coffin make it unique.

Column

Site of Mary 'Ion Lucas, who lived from 1831-1891

Her grave read a scripture from Proverbs 31:28, "Her children arise and call her blessed."

Box Tomb

This Tomb is from the saint Patricks church graveyard, it's  regular in shape with a ledger on the top. 

I found out that these were most likely opened by homeless people looking for shelter.

Slant Marker

Arnoldus Vanderhorst, he lived from (1860-1921).

Unique slant design made from marble. 

Gov't Issued


Carl H. Wohlfeil was a Lieutenant Colonel of the US Army that served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Also a silver star recipient