Houzz Logo Print
alisande_gw

A story told in gravestones (5 pics)

14 years ago

Mary Effington was born in 1812. In 1838, at the age of 26, she married Dr. Luther Appley, a 48-year-old widower with eight children. Nine years later they had a baby girl named Agness Adlaide (sic), but she died in infancy.

Another baby girl was born in 1849, and they named her Adelaide. Dr. Appley died when Adelaide was only four. Clearly, Mary and her daughter were very close. Adelaide grew up to marry another Luther, Luther Peck. She died in 1871 at the age of 22.

I'm guessing the above stone was the original one placed at her grave, possibly by her husband. But then her mother erected something bigger. A lot bigger.

And something smaller, too.

All four stones, plus one for Dr. Appley and one for Mary, are surrounded by a fence of wrought-iron lyres (I'm guessing Adelaide was musical). This is part of the gate:

When I first saw the several references to "Mrs. Dr. Appley" I was amused. But then I put together the pieces of her life as stated on these gravestones. It isn't hard to imagine some of the rest.

Comments (29)

Sponsored
Custom Home Works
Average rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars10 Reviews
Franklin County's Award-Winning Design, Build and Remodeling Expert