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William Callaway has a Headstone, and a Marker for the Unadilla Cemetery

 

By Gail Rule

(Great Great Granddaughter of William and Mary Ann Callaway)

(Granddaughter of Jim & Inez Callaway)

                                                              

 

    As the family historian, I’ve always known that my great great grandfather, William Callaway, had died, and was buried in Chico California.   However it wasn’t until a friend, at my request, visited Chico Cemetery in September 2019, that I learned he didn’t have a headstone marking his grave.

William & Mary Ann (Penny) Callaway

 

   William and his wife, Mary Ann Penny, immigrated to the US from England in 1867, with 5 children.  My great grandfather, Arthur Jack Sinnett (AJ) Callaway, was only 1 year old when they traveled in steerage on the ship named the Louisiana.  They entered the US through the current immigration center, Castle Clinton, in New York’s harbor.  From there, William and his family traveled to Otoe County Nebraska, where William applied for the Homestead Act of 1862.  After many years of hard work as a Nebraska pioneer, he earned the land and his citizenship.  Mary Ann died in 1885, and was buried in the Unadilla cemetery.  William moved to Colorado and remarried in 1890.  In 1900, William and his second wife, Frances Harlan, moved to Chico, California.  Four years later, William died on November 4th, 1904, at age 82. 

   As William’s great great grand daughter, marking his grave was something I felt compelled to do. The Chico cemetery required letters of permission from blood line relatives of Frances Harlan, as she was the person who had purchased William’s plot.  With the help of ancestry.com and an exhaustive search, I located fourth and fifth generation nieces and nephews who were willing to give their written permission.  The headstone was made, and flights were booked for a quick trip to Chico California.  My husband and I would be standing at my ancestors grave for the setting of his headstone, on November 4th, 2019, exactly 115 years after his death.  

 

Coffee Can marker - side & top views

 

   When the caretaker began digging for the new headstone, he hit a coffee can marker that was a part of the $13.00 plot and burial fee in 1904.  It had sunk into the ground over the decades and no one knew it was there.  William’s name was clearly visible.  I asked if I could have this marker, and it was quite the conversation with TSA to bring this cement in a tin can back to Nebraska on our flight.  Come spring, my family will place William’s marker in the Unadilla cemetery, right next to his wife, Mary Ann. 

 

   This Thanksgiving, let’s all remember our ancestors that worked and sacrificed so much to become Americans.  We owe them a debt of gratitude for our freedom, and the privilege of living in this great country.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

 

 

 

 

11-14   Dale Isaacs, Madison Hillman

11-15   Linda Juilfs, Brody Hitzemann

11-16   Marvin Lucas, Christina Long

11-17   Darren Donovan

11-18   Amber Kempkes, Gerry & Cherrie Davis

11-19   Kirsten Lewis, Lynn & Anita Schomerus

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO

 

 

 

Friday, 11-14-1919, The Otoe Union:

 

"Paul Hair purchased the corner lot on Main Street from Mrs. Ellen Farnsworth."

Alton Hair was now in Siberia, attached to an Army medical unit. Both S.A. Clark

and "Grandma" Arnold's funerals took place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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