This was an odd site even in the cemetery. The marker seems to be very old but is has the clearest engraving on it. There were no other markings on this...so...the date....hmmmm...when he was born? died? He was in the American Legion which means he fought in an American war. In 1844...well...The American Legion was not founded until 1919 so that would indicate that this fellow was maybe BORN in 1844? A confusing head stone.....especially since it looks like it has been broken in half....What do you think?
Well let's think this out, since the dates on all headstones that I know about start with when you were born her was obviously born in 1844. The Mexican-American War was in 1846-1848 so that would make this guy 2 to 4 years old. NO BRAINER he didn't fight in this war. 1861-1865 The American Civil War where it is likely this guy fought and either died or not who knows since half of the tombstone is covered in dirt. Don't ask your sister these kinds of things she actually knows when the wars involving Americans were fought.
ReplyDeleteThe American Legion was chartered by the U.S. Congress as a patriotic, mutual-help, wartime veterans organization of the United States armed forces who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress.
ReplyDeleteCould have been any wartime period - Mexican American War, The War With Spain, etc.
Nice historical post that made me think and search! LOL
Thanks.
Could he just have been someone they wanted to honour? Some important research would be required!
ReplyDeleteThis can't be the original marker since it looks fairly new although I don't know why the date of death isn't shown or is it half buried? How appropriate to be born on July 4th. I went to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs website to search for Mr. Kingsley's gravesite locator, but it could not locate it. Perhaps their records don't go back that far.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I was curious...I went to findagrave.com under Elk Grove Cemetery and looked up Mr. Kingsley record and it says he was born in 1799 and died in 1863. However, this doesn't match the marker in your photo. More mystery...
ReplyDeleteMy father was an American Legion Hall commander in a small town in Oklahoma. I have fond memories of dances at the Legion Hall when I was a child.
ReplyDelete