MARY LOUISA MOORE
MARY LOUISE MOORE (b. 1871- d. 1891) Aged 20 Years. Died from Ether administered for the pain of a Dental Operation.
MARY LOUISA MOORE- (born 23 March 1871- died April 26, 1891) Aged 20 years.
“A precious one of us is gone, A Voice we loved is stilled: A place is vacant in our hearts, Which never can be filled.”
Walker Lake Bulletin, 4/29/1891:
Miss Mary Louise Moore died in Bodie last week from the effects of ether administered to allay the pain caused by a dental operation. (Note: This news items originally stated, the deceased was Julia Moore, who may have been Julia Ray, from Mary Moore’s first marriage. This was in error as it is clear from Mary Louisa Moore’s gravestone that she died at the time the News Articles appeared.)
Bridgeport (CA) Chronicle-Union, 5/2/1891:
Deceased. – Bodie mourns the death of one of her most “lovely young women,” Miss Louisa Moore, who died on Sunday last, aged 20 years. She was the daughter of Fred Moore, of Bodie, and had long been a resident of Mono County, and was a great favorite, and her sudden departure from this life, has saddened the Community.
Bridgeport (CA) Chronicle-Union, 5/2/1891:
DEATHS. MOORE. – In Bodie, April 26th, Louisa, daughter of Frederick Moore, a native of California, aged 20 years, 1 month and 3 days.
Louisa Moore was one of the best known, and most highly respected young ladies of Bodie. The Funeral Services were held in Odd Fellows’ Hall, on the afternoon of the 28th, under the auspices of the Order of Chosen Friends, of which Society she was a member. She was a good and loving daughter, the only child remaining at home with her aged parents.
Much Sympathy is felt and expressed for them in their sad bereavement. The Funeral was largely attended. The people of Bodie, among whom she had grown from Childhood to Womanhood, showed by their grief and tears, the love and affection in which she was held.
That God in His mercy will help her loving parents “to bear this bitter affliction, is the wish and Prayer of their many friends.”
THE GRIM REAPER visits BODIE!
CHRISTINE PARKER—-aged 2 years and 5 months- (d. August 14, 1905)
Death Visits Parker Home.
~~The “Grim Reaper” visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Parker on Monday morning at 2 o’clock, and took away their little girl, Christene, aged 2 yrs and 5 months.
~~Her death was caused by Cholera Infantum, from which Christine had suffered for about a week. Previous to that she had always been in good health.
~~The Funeral was held from the Parker family residence Tuesday P.M. Services were held in the M.E. Church, Rev. Darling officiating.
~~The Parkers have the sympathy of the entire community in the loss of their first born. Christine “had reached the age when children become interesting, and a sunshine in the home, and her loss at this time is a sad blow.”
Bridgeport Chronicle-Union, August 9, 1905 (Saturday)
Family Plot in the Bodie Cemetery
George W. - Son of J.A. and M.A. Conway —May 20, 1901—-Age 1 Year. 2 Months. 28 Days.
~~~GEORGE CONWAY-(d. 20May 1901)—- Age 1 Year, 2 Months. 28 days—-died in a Scarlet Fever Epidemic.
~~~Although Telegraph and Stagecoach, had made the route more secure, a “common ailment or insect bite” on the journey could produce disaster.
~~~Dysentery, which affected almost everyone at some time on or other on the Overland the Journey, could cause of death. This was particularity true, especially among infants. The prospect of having to leave a “ new-born-baby” in an unmarked grave along the roadside, was intolerable. Leaving a “infants tiny body” among the sands of the Wilderness, surrounded by Indians and wolves, was the most painful burden the Emigrants had to bear.
Ones natural instinct was to mark a gravesite, so as to find the “final resting place of a loved one” again. But no, possible or adequate grave could be dug on the Overland Trail.
~~~The sun had baked and hardened ground. Digging was like breaking through solid-rock. Next, the rains would come, and wash away the shallow graves.
~~~No matter what grave-marker one might devise- —a pile of rocks, a piece of wood, a shred of cloth- no emblem—- would survive the harsh Winter snows and blizzards, or simple daily passage of time.
~~~There was also the urgent need to “obliterate a grave.” The Indians made a common practice of “digging up the dead” for clothing. This practice also, spread Cholera among themselves —even as they gathered up the treasures.
~~~Even if a grave escaped the notice, it was not likely to escape the prowling wolves and coyotes. Graves were obliterated by the small animal, leaving no trace to be found of a grave even if it had been Properly Marked. The emigrants came to believe, that the greatest service they could do for the deceased, was to “hide the gravesite.” Some Wagon-trail Companies dug beneath the road itself, so “the ox teams would trample over the evidence of a grave.”
The infant and children’s graves in the Bodie Cemetery express the grief and sorrow their parents. The expense to bury a infant, and to mark the grave properly with marble headstone required a “Family Plot” in the Bodie Cemetery. The “family plot” had a different meaning to the Miners themselves, their wives and children, and especially to all the other women, who lived in Bodie.
The Angel of Bodie!
Evelyn K. Meyers “ ANGEL OF BODIE” Born May 1, 1894- Died May 1, 1894.
EVELYN K. MEYERS- “Angel of Bodie” - died 1 May 1894.
A beautifully sculptured, “Angel gravestone” serves as a soothing and comforting Memorial.
“Angels are regarded as agents of God.” Families usually opt for an angel headstone (irrespective of their religious beliefs), in hope that the angels will take care of their deceased child.
This “Angel of Bodie” stone captures the sense of sorrow and lose to the Meyers family.
Evelyn Beloved daughter of Fannie O. and Albert K. Meyers. Evelyn died from an accidential struck to the head with a pick ax by a workman, who was building a drainage ditch around the Meyer’s home. (Bridgeport Chronicle- Union April 5, 1897)
Mourning the Dead in Bodie, Importance of Grave-site Service!
When death occurred in the late 1800s, no one contacted a “funeral home,” no calls were made to “Morticians to handle the burial arrangements.” No one had to go through the “process of contacting the right people” to carry out the task for burying the deceased. Mainly because there were no “funeral homes or funeral directors.” Up until the early 19th century, “the task of preparing the dead for burial,” was seen as a very simple, dignified Family Affair.
During pre-Civil War times, the funeral process followed a typical pattern . One in which people generally, died at home surrounded by their friends and family.
Upon their deaths, the body was laid out by close relations, who washed and dressed the body in a shroud or “winding sheet” made of muslin or wool. Afterwards, the deceased , was placed in a simple pine coffin, often constructed by a family member or neighbor.
It was during this time that the body would remain at home, in the parlor for one to three days. Relatives, neighbors or close friends would “voluntarily watch over the body,” keeping a Round-the-Clock Vigil. Depending on the weather, a large block of ice may have been placed beneath the coffin, with smaller chunks distributed about the unembalmed body.
On the day of the Burial, Hymns were sung, Psalms Read, a Discourse and Eulogy was delivered. As family and friends paid their final respects to their loved one, during “a in-home-service” held often at the home of the deceased.
When the “final goodbyes were said,” so began the journey of the deceased to their “final resting place.” Depending on the distance, the Coffin would be carried by Pallbearers on foot, or conveyed in a Horse-Drawn Wagon through a sombre procession to a grave, pre-dug and awaited by a Sexton.
Upon lowering the Coffin into the ground, “final grave-site words” were spoken by anyone who wished to speak. Shortly after, Mourners would toss a branch, some straw, or a handful of earth onto the coffin lid as a ritual farewell gesture before the grave was filled. As the onlookers stood by and watched or, as more often then not, the mourner’s performed the “task of filling in the grave themselves.”
This was the Mourning Vigil. Every stage of the Process, from the “laying out of the corpse,” to the sewing of the shroud; the watching of the body and the construction of the coffin; the carrying of the coffin and the digging of the grave, each step was conducted, for the most part, by family and friends of the deceased.
The “Mourning Virgil” was an intimate affair, full of catharsis and closure, as Mourners partook in the Ritual of Honoring the Dead.