Now -- I don't have a photograph of this grave, because she doesn't actually have a tombstone. I feel like that makes me need to highlight her burial that much more, don't y'all agree?
My Great-Great-Great-Grandmother - Jane G. "Janie" (Hazelwood) Moss Watkins. (The Z being in her maiden name, Hazelwood.)
She was born on September 30th, 1853, in Henderson County, KY to Edward T. Hazelwood and Elizabeth O. McDonald. She was one of at least thirteen children born to Edward & Elizabeth.
Often called "Janie," she wed her first husband, James Henderson Moss on November 7th, 1869, at the age of 16.
James and Jane divorced while she was pregnant with their last child... my Great-Great-Grandmother, Ollie Lee (Moss) Sandefur. This led to some speculation that Ollie was NOT biologically a Moss. Thanks to the wonderful technology that is DNA research... I have concluded she absolutely was a daughter of James Henderson Moss.
They divorced roughly May of 1880 - Jane is with her parents on June 8th, 1880 for the census, even though she's listed as 'married.' James has their children in the 1880 census with him and his parents and he's listed as 'divorced.' Their last child, Ollie, was likely conceived in April of 1880 before their divorce. She was born later in February of 1881.
Jane re-married to George Lafayette Watkins on September 13th, 1883. They had at least two children.
In the 1900 census - Jane reports she's bore 8 children with 6 of them living. So she either lost two with James, or two with George, or perhaps one with each. I'm inclined to believe she lost at least one with each husband.
After her second husbands death - Jane roomed with a bunch of coworkers on Helm St (I believe it was 1400 Helm St). They all worked at the Cotton Mill. She was a weaver.
By 1920, she lived at 1126 Washington St. as a boarder with the Seidel's. She was still working at the Cotton Mill as a weaver.
I have not yet been able to locate an obituary for my 3x Grandmother, but I do have her death certificate and a photograph of her.
She passed away on October 26th, 1928, in Henderson. She was 75 years of age. She passed from acute gastritis and a secondary cause was chronic nephritis which ran heavily in the Hazelwood family. Her death certificate states she was buried in Fernwood Cemetery.
She's buried in Lot 1196 without a tombstone. Her husband, Lafayette, doesn't have a tombstone there either and I don't have an exact date of death for him.. he died sometime between 1900-1910. There might be more of our kinfolk in that plot without tombstones.
The children of James and Jane are as follows.
1) James Ivy Moss: Born on March 10th, 1874, and passed on January 19th, 1908. I believe James is buried in the W.J. Moss Cemetery (out in Niagara) where his father was later buried in 1917... but it's possible James is in Fernwood with his mother and step-father. The W.J. Moss Cemetery still isn't photographed. The land the W.J. Moss Cemetery used to be on belonged to the Siewert family but my Mom believes it's changed hands now. I believe James was unwed. He was 33, but I've never found a marriage record for him. No obituary, either.
2) Reuben Eaton Moss (which is a common used name in the Moss family): Born on January 29th, 1876 and passed on September 6th, 1967. He had moved to the Daviess County area and lived there for 60 years, according to his obituary. His first wife was Elmina "Minnie" McCann. His second was Mary Roberta "Bertie" Toone. Reuben and both of his wives are buried in the W.J. Moss Cemetery as well.
3) Sarah Esther Moss: Born on April 1st, 1878, and died May 20th, 1974. She married Charles Milton Crafton, and they had a slew of children. They're buried in Old Farley Cemetery which is off the left side of Airline Rd as you head out of Henderson.
4) Ollie Lee Moss: Born on February 21st, 1881, and died July 15th, 1963. She wed Eugene Henry Sandefur, and they were the parents of my Great-Grandfather, Henry Lloyd Sandefur. Ollie passed while living at her Granddaughters house in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They're buried in Fernwood.
The two children of George & Jane are:
1) George Lafayette Watkins Jr: Born about 1888. He, too, died sometime between 1900-1910 I believe. I've never been able to find a death certificate or obituary for him.
2) Elizabeth Watkins: Born December 11th, 1892, and died February 4th, 1961. She wed William Elmer DeKemper. They're buried up in Bellefontaine Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, IN.
Just through the children of James & Jane, and then George & Jane.. I connect with half of Henderson. Especially them Crafton's. There's a LOT of y'all!! James Henderson Moss, Jane's 1st husband and my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather... he re-married and went on to have a plethora of children with her. I connect to all the rest of Henderson through them, haha. It certainly feels that way.
Someday, if I ever win the lottery, I'll make sure Jane gets a tombstone. A woman with this many living descendants in Henderson certainly ought to have one. She deserves some flowers at her grave and some remembrance.
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