When searching newspapers for information on pioneer families I found this list of seven people who died on the same day, November 27, 1913.  Two are listed as members of pioneer families, Mrs. Mary Pearce Dodd and Austin P. Speed.  Two were German immigrants, August Moeller and Simon Schoening, who came to this country at an early age, both 82 years of age at the time of their deaths.  Two were railroad men, Captain Wilmer Ridgway and Frank Hanke.  James Graham, a much younger man, was a boilermaker. 

Louisville was already a large city 105 years ago.  In the 1910 census the city was home to 223,928 people.  The hub on the Ohio was where many came from more rural areas to seek their fortunes and become immersed in the large community.  Within the last hundred years or so the population has tripled.

Cave Hill Cemetery is located at 701 Baxter Avenue in Louisville, originally the old farm of the Johnston family.  In 1846 the cemetery began and from the start was considered to be a garden cemetery.  It is quite beautiful.  I had a short 30 minutes or so in this cemetery about ten or twelve years ago. 

St. Louis Cemetery is located at 1167 Barret Avenue, Louisville.  In 1811 it was located behind the original St. Louis Church at 10^th and Main Streets.  The church was relocated in 1831, the gravesites were moved to the Catholic section of Western Cemetery.  The present St. Louis Cemetery was opened in 1867.  About 48,000 are buried there.  This cemetery is on my list to visit.

The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Friday, November 28, 1913

Death Quick

Mrs. Mary Pearce Dodd Victim of Heart Attack

Stricken as She Was Preparing for Visit

Austin P. Speed Succumbs to Bright’s Disease

Day’s Necrology List

Mrs. Mary Pearce Dodd, widow of John L. Dodd, who was a leading Louisville attorney, died of heart disease at 12:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon at her residence, 1375 South Fourth Street.  Although she had been in ill health several years, her death came as a shock.  She was stricken Wednesday morning as she was preparing to go to Henderson to spend Thanksgiving.  Her condition did not appear serious until midnight, when she lapsed into unconsciousness.

Mrs. Dodd was born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1860.  She was the daughter of Charles and Maria Schultz Pearce, a pioneer family.  She attended school at Maysville and at Cincinnati.  In 1883 she was married to John L. Dodd.  She is survived by one son, John L. Dodd, who is a student at the Culver Military Academy; three brothers, Charles D. Pearce, of Louisville, president of the Citizens National Life Insurance Company; Edward Pearce, of Lexington, and Crit Pearce, of the Treasury Department at Washington, D.C.; two nieces, Mrs. Thomas McGoodwin, of Birmingham, and Mrs. Marie Dodd Semple, of Louisville, and one nephew, C. Pearce Dodd, of Louisville.

Mrs. Dodd was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church during the entire time of her residence in Louisville and was a prominent religious worker.  She was of quiet and retiring disposition, but a faithful contributor to all charitable causes.

Funeral services will be held at 10 o’clock Saturday morning at the residence.  Burial will be in Cave Hill Cemetery.

Austin P. Speed Dead

Member of One of Kentucky’s Pioneer Families

Austin P. Speed, formerly a prominent coal dealer of Louisville and a member of one of Kentucky’s pioneer families, died of Bright’s disease at his home, 417 Park Avenue, at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon.  Mr. Speed had been ill several months, and his death was not unexpected.

He was a native of Nelson County and a son of Thomas S. Speed.  At the age of 17 years Mr. Speed came to Louisville where he completed his education, and later engaged in the coal business as a member of the firm of Byrne & Speed.  Later Mr. Speed engaged in mining coal until three years ago, when he was forced to retire on account of ill health.  He was well known in business circles in Louisville and was closely connected with the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church.

His widow, Mrs. Georgia A. Speed, and one son, Goodwin Speed, of Montana, survive him.  One brother, Hanan Speed, of Oklahoma, and one sister, Miss Louise Speed, of Indianapolis, also survive.  Mr. Speed was a brother of the late Thomas Speed, clerk of the United States Court.

Funeral services will be held at the residence at 10:30 o’clock tomorrow morning.  Burial will be in Cave Hill Cemetery.

August Moeller Dies At 82

Fall Believed to Have Hastened Retired Furniture Dealer’s End

August Moeller, 82 years old, a wealthy furniture dealer, died of senility at his residence, 225 North Seventeenth Street, at 2:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon.  A fall down a stairway in his home two weeks ago, while not causing any noticeable injury, is thought to have hastened his death.

Mr. Moeller retired from business thirty years ago.  During his residence of seventy-four years in Louisville he had made eleven trips back to Hanover, Germany, his native land.  He was planning to make another ocean journey to his fatherland in the early spring.

Coming to Louisville at the age of 8 years, Mr. Moeller entered the furniture business when a young man.  At his retirement he was one of the officers of the Kentucky Furniture Company.

He married Miss Catherine Hart in 1849.  She died twenty-five years ago.  Mr. Moeller is survived by three sons, H. C., W. H. and E. A. Moeller, all of Louisville, and four daughters, Misses Augusta, Emma and Anna Moeller, of this city, and Mrs. Robert Lenz, of Mack, Colorado.

Funeral services will be held at the residence at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.  Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery.

Captain Wilmer Ridgway

The death of Captain Wilmer Ridgway, veteran conductor of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, was made known to Louisville friends yesterday through a telegram from Olive Hill, Kentucky, where he had gone for a week’s vacation.  The message stated that he had been stricken suddenly with heart failure while hunting.

Captain Ridgway was 50 years old and had been running between Louisville and Ashland for many years.  He retained a residence both at Ashland and Louisville.  At the latter place he made his home at the Preston Hotel, rooming with Captain J. D. Burch, a lifelong friend and a fellow conductor on the Chesapeake & Ohio.

He had a wide acquaintance among the traveling public.  He was a member of the Scottish Rite, Knights Templar, Shriners and Blue Lodge Masons.  His wife survives him.  Funeral services will be held at Olive Hill Saturday.

Frank Hanke

Frank Hanke, 67 years old, died at his home, 816 South Shelby Street, at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon of heart disease.  Mr. Hanke was a native of Indiana but had lived the greater part of his life in Louisville.  He was employed by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company.  He is survived by three sons and one daughter.  Funeral services will be held at the residence at 8:30 o’clock Monday morning and at 9 o’clock at St. Martin’s Church.  Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery.

Simon Schoening

Simon Schoening, 82 years old, a retired shoe merchant, died of senility at 9 o’clock last night, at his home, 1973 Deer Park.  He was a native of Lippe Detmold, Germany, and came to America in 1858.  For many years he was connected with a shoe industry at Eighteenth and Jefferson Streets, but retired from active business about twenty years ago.  Mr. Schoening is survived by his widow, Mrs. Anna Schoening, and two daughters, Misses Emma and Minnie Schoening.  Funeral arrangements have not been made.

James Graham

James Graham, a boilermaker, 34 years old, died at his home in Berry Boulevard early yesterday morning after a short illness of a complication of diseases.  He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Clara Graham.  Funeral services will be held at the resident at 2 o’clock this afternoon.  Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery.