How can it be said a gravestone is just a gravestone?  Each and every one, regardless of the size or carvings or decorations, is a memento of the person whose name is on the stone.  Sometimes we are given two pieces of information – birth and death dates.  But think about it, how much can we do with those two dates?  Occasionally the place of birth and death are on the stone, very valuable information.  If a person has been in the military there are many times remembrances of their service listed on the stone.  I’ve seen marriage dates on gravestones, in more modern times we find a list of children on the back.  Sometimes the husband or wife is listed on the stone.  So very important.  Generally, it is the last tangible evidence of a person left on this earth.  We genealogists know how to make good use of gravestones, to bring those people ‘back to life’ and help us tell their stories.

Today I share with you, photos taken in Buffalo Springs Cemetery in Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky.

Allen Logan has a relatively simple stone, rounded at the top, very little decoration.  He was born October 25, 1791, died April 9, 1862.  But the most interesting part of his gravestone is the bronze star (that I’m sure was added many years after his death) that proclaims him to be a War of 1812 Veteran.  Allen Logan was a corporal in the 6^th Regiment of Mounted Kentucky Volunteers under Col. Richard Davenport.  According to A. C. Quisenberry in his Kentucky Troops in the War of 1812, Kentucky furnished 24, 993 men to this cause.  ‘The census of 1810, immediately preceding the War of 1812, gave Kentucky a white population of 324,237, only about one-half of whom (162,118) were males; and of these it may be assumed that only about one-fifth (32,423) were of military age and condition; so it is seen that the young State sent about five out of every six of her fighting men into war, where they made a record and a reputation that was not approached by the troops of any other state in the Union.’

I checked online and you can buy something similar to the Veteran star on Allen Logan’s grave for $39.  But it doesn’t have the points like his star, or the extra writing around ‘War of 1812 Veteran.’

Next to Allen Logan is buried his first wife, Martha Ann Givens.  Martha was born November 8, 1793, the daughter of James Allen Givens and his wife, Jane.  Martha’s gravestone has not withstood the rains and snows of time and is very difficult to read.  On Find A Grave her death date is given as May 13, 1835.  Daughter Mary Dorcas Logan’s birth date on her gravestone is December 13, 1835.  Since Allen Logan didn’t marry his second wife, Margaret Miller, until 1837, I believe there is a mistake either in deciphering Martha Givens Logan’s death year, or the birth year for daughter Mary Dorcas – since she couldn’t be the daughter of Margaret Miller Allen.  I did not get a photo of Mary Dorcas’ gravestone, but her death date was September 3, 1864.

Mahala L. Logan was the daughter of Allen Logan and his second wife, Margaret Miller.  Mahala was born April 21, 1844, and died August 6, 1857, at the age of 13 years.

William Logan was the son of Allen and Martha, born February 14, 1832, and died the same year, December 12. 

Harriet Elizabeth Logan, born December 29, 1841, died July 24, 1863, at the age of 21.  She is buried near her mother Margaret.

Margaret Miller Logan outlived her husband by 22 years.  She is buried beside Mary Dorcas Logan.  Born in January 1805, she died August 23, 1884.

A list of the children of Allen Logan and Martha Ann Givens:

1. Sarah Jane Logan, February 10, 1818 – March 2, 1898, married Rev. Stephen William Goodnight.
2. Rachel Logan, April 25, 1820 – September 9, 1865, married first Charles Carter; second Higgins Kelly.
3. James Logan, December 24, 1821 – ?
4. Alfonze Logan, May 17, 1823 – 1862.
5. Hugh Granville Logan, October 21, – August 12, 1896, married Mary Ann Lee.
6. Martha Ann Logan, July 18, 1828 – February 19, 1896, married Liberty Green.
7. Samuel Finley Logan, July 18, 1828 – March 8, 1892, married first Martha Nevis; second, Amilda
8. William Logan, February 14, 1832 – December 12, 1832.
9. Mary Dorcas Logan, December 13, 1835 – September 3, 1864.

A list of the children of Allen Logan and Margaret Miller:

1. Pleasant Woods Logan, November 5, 1839 – January 28, 1920, married Rebecca J. Hocker.
2. Harriett Elizabeth Logan, December 29, 1841 – July 24, 1863.
3. Mahala Lewis Logan, April 21, 1844 – August 6, 1857.

The 1850 Lincoln County Census lists Allen Logan, 58; Margaret Logan, 46; Samuel Logan, 20; Mary Dorcas Logan, 16; Pleasant Woods Logan, 10; Harriett Elizabeth Logan, 8; and Mahala Lewis Logan, 6.  Everyone is in the 1860 census except Samuel, who was married and lived with his wife Martha, and Mahala, who died in 1857.

As far as newspaper articles on the Logan family, I found one in The Louisville Daily Journal from Friday, February 11, 1859, which talks about an opposition meeting held in Lincoln County.  The meeting was held February 7, 1859, in Stanford for appointing delegates to the Opposition State Convention to be held in Louisville on the 22^nd of the month.  They resolved to hold this meeting to nominate candidates for the various state offices, and their choice for Governor was Joshua F. Bell, of Boyle County.  In the  list of men who were appointed delegates to attend this convention, Allen Logan was among the many in the article.  They also resolved that they ‘condemn and express our unqualified opposition to the administration of James Buchanan because of its extravagant expenditures of the public treasure, and because there are far beyond the limits of a just and economical administration of the public affairs.’  In addition, they invited ‘all who are for maintaining the Constitution and Union as they were handed down to us by our ancestors are invited to join us in our efforts to perpetuate civil and religious liberty.’  Things haven’t changed much in the last 160 years or so, have they?

Kentucky Advocate, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky

Friday, January 10, 1896

Mr. Hugh Logan, of this place, died suddenly at the home of his son-in-law, J. B. Adams, at Longview, Alabama, on Tuesday morning, the 7^th inst.  His age was sixty-nine.  He went South early in September expecting to remain throughout the winter, as he had passed several cold seasons there with more comfort and freer of winter troubles than here.  Soon after reaching there, he developed an asthmatic and heart trouble, which grew gradually worse, until the end came.  His faithful wife, with two of his daughters, Mrs. Adams and Miss Mac, were with him.  Mr. Logan had lived here for many years, engaged chiefly in the manufacture and sale of lumber and staves.  When war was declared against Mexico, he promptly enlisted in Captain William Daugherty’s company, Col. Clay’s regiment of infantry, and served with distinction until its close.  He witnessed the death of both his Colonels, Clay and McKee, and always spoke in most affectionate terms of both.  After his return from the war, he married Miss Mary Lee, by whom he has seven surviving children – Ira, of Bowling Green; Mrs. J. G. Weatherford, of Covington, Ky.; Mrs. J. B. Adams, of Longview, AL; Samuel, Robert Lee, Misses Bettie and Mac, of this place.  For many years he has been a faithful and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.  He was a charter member of the lodge of Knights of Honor at this place and was in good standing at his death.  He carried about four thousand dollars insurance in the Equitable of New York and the Knights of Honor.  His remains were brought here Wednesday night, funeral services at 2 p.m. Thursday and burial immediately afterwards in our cemetery.  Rev. W. W. Bruce officiated.

Interior Journal, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky

Friday, February 28, 1896

In the death of Mrs. Patsy Ann Green, the Presbyterian Church here has lost one of its oldest and most highly esteemed members.  She had a strange premonition concerning her brother, Mr. Hugh Logan, who died recently.  When he left for the South, she told him she would never see him again and although he spoke lightly of the impression, still it was very vivid to her, and she contended that they would never meet again on earth.  Subsequent events proved that she was correct.  By her death only one of the originally large family of children remains – Dr. Logan, of Moreland.