Mysteries of the Cemetery - Martha Richey Beatty

Martha was born in Ohio on August 4, 1829 to James and Elizabeth (Talbott) Richey.  Her father, James, died December 16, 1837 in Hopewell, Ohio.  She later lived in Illinois, and met Benjamin Beatty who was living nearby.  They they travelled to La Salle County, Illinois where they were married on May 30, 1851.

Benjamin and Martha relocated to Oskaloosa, Iowa where they would remain for many years.  In 1870 Benjamin was a harness maker and Martha was keeping house.  They had two students living with them and an adopted daughter by the name of Blanche.  

By 1880, Benjamin was a grocer and Martha was keeping house. Benjamin was no longer listed in the household by 1885 and Martha was a widow.  Martha developed tuberculosis and would move to Eddyville, Iowa south of Oskaloosa before leaving for Phoenix, Arizona around 1889.

As she advanced  in years, it became very difficult for a feeble, elderly woman to heat water, fill and empty a bathtub in her own kitchen.  Therefore, Mrs. Beatty took her baths at Frank Shirley's Tonsorial Parlor (barbershop) in the basement of Goodman's Drug Store.  

Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930

 February 07, 1901, Page 3

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020558/1901-02-07/ed-1/seq-3/

The Tonsorial Parlor rented curtained cubicles for bathing, as most private residences of the time did not yet have indoor plumbing.  When Martha Beatty visited the baths, she was usually accompanied by Mrs. S. J. Conley who would assist her.

On August 9, 1902, Martha went to the bathhouse, having arranged with Mrs. Conley to meet her there at 1 PM.  However, Mrs. Conley was delayed and did not arrive until 2 PM.  Imagine her horror when she entered the cubicle only to find Mrs. Beatty lying on her side with her face completely under the surface of the water.  Dr. Plath was sent for, but efforts to revive Martha failed.  He determined it was a drowning. - Adapted from a story by Donna C and Patty G

To this day, it has been reported that when the storm clouds come, and the rain drizzles down on the cemetery, one can venture out to Martha's grave and see it silently filling with water..........

"Patron of Education" - Martha donated much of her money to Lincoln College, Illinois
Photo by Patty

 

Mary's Cafe Fare - Week of March 30th

              Welcome to Mary's!  The end of March is here!  Click on                   the menu, complete with recipes, to download.  

Mysteries of the Cemetery - The Cracker Box Baby

It was reported on December 10, 1882 in the Tucson Citizen that "the remains of a white infant were found partially buried in a cracker box at the Phenix cemetery".  Could this have been a child that was buried in haste, or a unknown mystery?  And who was this child?  You are welcome to solve it!

Picture from:  Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print  wy0430

Bryan Philip Darell Duppa (1832 - 1892) - Renaissance Men

Lord Duppa - Arizona Archives

Bryan Philip Darell Duppa was born 9 October 1832 in Paris, France, where his parents, Baldwin Francis Duppa and Catherine Darell, were living at the time. Although not a titled family, they were landed gentry. The family seat, Hollingbourne Manor, was in Maidstone, Kent, England. It was to this mansion that Duppa came as a three-year-old in 1835.

Duppa received a classical education at Cambridge University, where he learned French, Spanish, Italian and German, in addition to the required Greek and Latin. In later life, he was known to recite Shakespeare for hours from memory.

Since Duppa had an older brother, Baldwin, who would inherit the Duppa estate, he had to find some other occupation. It seems more likely that he spent some time on his uncle George’s sheep station in New Zealand and that this might have whetted his appetite for further adventure.

Duppa was known to have been in Prescott, Arizona in December of 1863. He became friends with Jack Swilling and it is likely that the two came to Phoenix together in 1867. Recognizing the area’s potential for growth, Duppa homesteaded 175 acres near what is now downtown Phoenix.  An
adobe building that has been associated with the property sits at what is now 116 West Sherman.

Both he and Swilling were much interested in the evidence of a vanished Hohokam culture on the banks of the Salt River—specifically, its system of canals. When the question of what to name the new settlement arose, Duppa proposed Phoenix, for it suggested a city rising from the ashes of a previous civilization. Duppa is also credited with having named Tempe. - Adapted story of Debe Branning and Donna Carr.

Find out why he was called "Lord" and was actually re-buried in 1991 by coming to Pioneer Military and Memorial Park!

See us on our website: azhistcemeteries.org

Welcome to Behind the Epitaph!

Pioneer Military and Memorial Park - Marine 69-71 en.wikipedia

Welcome to Behind the Epitaph!  This blog is dedicated to the pioneers interred at the Pioneer Military and Memorial Park, their lives, and their memories.  It also incorporates the societal "going-ons" during the park's use, as well as a little bit of the time period's uniqueness and humor!

We wish to educate, entertain, and involve you in our love for the park, and the memories of our cherished pioneers.  Feel free to contribute to our posts, check our "pages" section for information, subscribe to the blog, and/or check back for daily posts as we venture into the world of the Pioneer Military and Memorial Park.