Hello-
My name is Amy Switzer and I am trying to locate the gravesites (*Note: Gravesites have been located) of my GGG-grandparents, Harlow Milton Waller & Henrietta Maria (Newcomb) Waller. As well as other info. They came with their daughters to Hiawatha in 1868...another resource I have says "Spring of 1869". I am a descended through their daughter, Ida Augusta [b. 2-9-1861/d. 5-19-1937].

Henrietta was born in Bernardston, Franklin Co, MA on August 13, 1838. All the research I have found says that she died in Hiawatha on Feb. 24 or 25, 1875, but nothing is said about where she is buried or what she died of.

Harlow was born in Lykens, Crawford Co, Ohio on May 18, 1836., was a civil war veteran in Wisonsin's 12th Infantry, Co D - enlisted in Sept 1861; appointed to 2nd lieutenant in May 1862; was in the siege of Vicksburg & in command of his own company through the Atlanta campaign; resigned Sept. 17, 1864. I recently found 80 pages of letters at the Wisconsin Historical Society written by Harlow (some also by Henrietta) to his wife's sister, Charlotte, from the beginning of the war until a few years afterward. Charlotte Newcomb was living with the family on the 1870 census in Hiawatha.

Also, it seems that they came to Hiawatha following the St. Joseph & Western. I found the Brown Co Annals He was Baggage Master and then Conductor. He also worked for the "A. T. & Santa Fe and the A. N. Division"-working for the RRs from 1870-1875, most likely when Henrietta died. He was City Clerk [Apr. 9, 1875] & also on the City Council in 1881.

(Brown Co. Annals: http://www.archive.org/stream/annalsofbrowncoun00harr/annalsofbrowncoun00harr_djvu.txt ).

He was a Grand Master of the I.O.O.F. (Hiawatha Lodge No. 83 & encampment No. 33). He also built the courthouse in Norton in, but it was destroyed by fire. Sad. Out of curiosity, one source I found said that he lived "on the Pres Crevlin farm five miles north east of Norton". Is there a cemetary that would be close to there? He was re-married to Almyra "Myra" Williams, born 11-19-1847, in Hiawatha in 1878. Although one source listed her last name as Anderson? Curious. (http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/brown/brown-co-p12.html)

Maybe you can answer this...on that census, it lists Hiawatha Post Office, but in the township area it doesn't look like it says Hiawatha. My daughter and I can make out two "i"s. Possibly Irving? At any rate, I am trying to find their graves and I know that many have been vandalized or are missing. I have been speaking to my cousin, who is a historian, and he said the first thing to do is see WHEN this list was compiled...which if I am correct is 2005? Second, he said to check with the library, historical society & genealogical society to see if you or another organization might have older lists for the cemetaries. Then we need to find out if the funeral home is still around (or absorbed by an existing one) & inquire about records identifying a plot. Finally, once we have that, we can apply for a plaque for a soldier & one for his 1st wife, Henrietta. I am also hoping to find obituaries, or where exactly they lived.

Much of our family's historical items were lost or stolen when my grandmother, Alberta Mae (Schilling) Hartunian [b.10-30-1919/d.10-6-2002] & her brother, Robert Valentine Schilling [b.4-23-1925/d.1-11-2010], moved their mother, Edith, here to Southern CA...one of the trailors was stolen with most of the pictures & newspaper clippings, etc. My dad said that they used to visit his grandparents' farm every summer & he used to love to go down to the basement to look through all the newspaper clippings, etc. He said he even found one about his grandfather injuring his hand with an axe when he was 18 in Norton. My dad mentioned the Norton Telegram. The info I have says that Ida married Volney Schilling (his real name was Valentine) in Brown Co in 1888 & that they moved to Norton in 1889. They lived on the "Henry Notson farm". Maybe these farm names will mean something to you? My Great-Grandparents were Edwin Waller Schilling [b.4-25-1890/d.11-14-1964] and Edith Mae Garrison [b.6-18-1899/d.4-21-1979(CA)]. Not exactly sure where their farm was in Norton.

I don't know if ANY of this helps, or if you can even help me, but if you can't I am hoping that you can at least send me in the direction of the people who can. :) I started this search about a year ago with my Great-Grandfather's name, Edwin Schilling, and through him and his mother's 1st name, Ida, it has lead me to learn SO much more than I ever thought was possible. I have met cousins of Harlow's father, the Reverend Comfort Babcock Waller...a Freewill Baptist Minister who was part of the abolitionist movement, as was much of our family...with some recent findings that lean toward them also being part of the Underground RR. I was introduced to my family & realize so much of myself runs far deeper than I could know...so many similarities in convictions, in faith, in my deep love of music...it is why I want so much to tell their stories and make sure they are not forgotten. It sickened me to read of someone vandalizing a cemetery, but it saddened me more to know that people like me...who have come to love these family members, though never meeting them in person, may find the same when they go to look for their family. So I am trying to piece back together our family's history & uncover new stories along the way for ours & future generations. Maybe if we can find Harlow & Henrietta's graves, a funeral home, or just SOMETHING that might lead me in the right direction...we might be able to restore some dignity to their resting places, but even more show them the respect & honor they deserve as a Union Civil War veteran and my family.

BERNEY

Location & size (map) of the BERNEY farm located @ Horton, Ks in 1950s to 1960s...Richard & Frances BERNEY resided there during part of that time frame, at least.  Thank you.

rberney1@comcast.net