Alden Family Plot – Greensburg Cemetery
In May of 2013 Ritchey and I visited the Greensburg Cemetery in Green County, Kentucky. This was one of our adventure days where we visited four Kentucky counties and took photos of several cemeteries in each county. The very first picture I took is the one above of the Alden Family Plot. Whether bordered by an iron fence or one made of stones, I am always interested – it means several family members are buried together and generally there is a story involved. Sometimes you don’t find the story until a while later, but when you do it is usually fascinating!
When Ritchey and I had our booth at the Maryland to Kentucky reunion at St. Catharine College in June, we met some of the friendly people of the Green County Genealogical Society, who also had a booth! Ritchey bought The Green County Journal, 2014, Volume II, since it had an article on this very cemetery! What a coincidence! I emailed the Green County Genealogical Society the next month and asked if I could use their article with my photos for the blog. Martha Houk, president of the society, sent me a very nice email allowing me to do just that! She mentioned that their goal is to share information with others – we definitely agree on that point!
The following article was compiled by Brenda S. Franklin Taylor of the Green County Genealogical Society.
John H. Alden and Lydia Ann Spillman Alden
John was born January, 1826, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to Green County as a young man about the age of 22. His occupation was Tinsmith and Dry Goods Merchant. He also held a position with Berry Allen and with Howell and Allen. He was a member and worker in the Methodist Church.
John married Lydia Ann Spillman, 11 Oct. 1847, in Green County, Kentucky. Lydia was born January 12, 1828, in Green County, Kentucky. Her parents were Robert Spillman and Sarah O. Hilliard. Lydia’s occupation was a Dressmaker.
Could this small stone be Mary C. Alden?
John and Lydia had two children. First was a daughter, Mary C. Alden, born 1850 and died 20 Mar 1856, in Green County, Kentucky. Death was from a fever, no burial information is known.
A son, William L. Alden, was born 4 Aug 1852, in Green County, Kentucky. William died 15 Jan 1874, in Louisville, Kentucky. Death was from poison. William was still attending school. William is buried in the Greensburg Cemetery.
W. L. Alden, son of J. H. and Lydia A. Alden, born August 5, 1852, died January 15, 1874
John Alden appears in the Green County census in 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900. He is living in Greensburg. In 1850 he is with his wife Lydia and their daughter Mary. Also in the house is a William Alden, age 12. In 1860 census John appears with wife Lydia and son William L. In the 1880 census John is a retired merchant and a widower. In the 1900 census we find John is a boarder with nine other people where he is living in the Green County Hotel in Greensburg, Kentucky.
Lydia A., wife of J. H. Alden, born January 12, 1829, died August 5, 1876
Lydia died 5 August 1876 in Green County. She is buried in the Greensburg Cemetery, cause unknown.
Lydia’s parents, Robert Spillman and Sarah O. Hilliard, were married 16 March 1813, in Green County, Kentucky. He was a farmer and lived in Green County. Robert was born about 1790 in Mercer County. He died 7 August 1858, in Taylor County. His father was James Spillman.
John H. Alden, born January 20, 1826, died November 12, 1900
John Alden died 12 November 1900 at his home in the Green County Hotel in Greensburg. John died from pneumonia and was 74 years and 11 months of age. Two cousins survived him, Mrs. W. N. Vaughan, Sr., and Levi W. Moore. A younger brother, whose whereabouts is unknown (could this be the William who was in his home in 1850?). John was buried in the Greensburg Cemetery. He was buried after dark by carrying torches and lanterns. When digging the grave, rock was struck and they had to blast out a larger portion of the grave. By the time they got the grave blasted out it was dark. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Metcalf, of the Methodist church.
Categories: Cemeteries, Family Stories, Genealogy Ramblings
Thank you so much for keeping us up on your fascinating travels around Kentucky. The pictures are beautiful and the family stories very touching. They bring to life the stories of so many wonderful people who lived interesting and brave lives.Thank you so much again for sharing. Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn. I love sharing stories and photos with all of you!
Mrs. Brown,
I would like to make a correction to the article on the Alden family in Greensburg City Cem. Green Co. Ky. This information was given to you from the Green Co. Genealogical Society not Historical Society. They are two separate organizations. Please make corrections in your article and on your blog. Thank you,
Martha Houk, president of Green Co. Genealogical Society.
I am so very sorry for the mistake! Corrections have been made!
Thank you, from Martha Houk
Thank you so much for the way you did the family with the tombstones it brought everything together . Brenda S.Franklin Taylor
Thank you, Brenda! Your information was the glue that brought the pictures to life!
I would like to make a correction about the place where John Alden died . The name of the Hotel was the Green River Hotel ,in Greensburg ,where he had made his home .Oct 5th the Green County Genealogical Society is presenting a sketch in the cemetery .We are taking a section of the cem,and portraying someone in that section i am going to be John Alden .There will be a meal served after this .It is a fund raiser for the Greensburg cemetery .This is our 2nd year.