An Interesting New Memorial

The National Teachers Hall of Fame has added a memorial to teachers who have died in the course of their teaching duties.  While recent teachers such as the Sandy Hook victims and Christa McAuliffe come immediately to mind, the earliest teacher on the list (currently) is Enoch Brown, who died in 1764.  

http://www.kansas.com/2013/06/08/2838384/national-teachers-hall-of-fame.html

The organizers are eager to hear about other teachers who are eligible for the memorial.  Contact them at http://www.nthf.org/

Swedish Genealogy Workshop in Lindsborg, KS

Gotta sign up for this workshop!  Swedish Genealogy in Lindsborg, KS just seems so appropriate, especially since my Swedes settled right around there.

Genealogy in Local News

The Wichita Eagle reprinted an interesting article from the Kansas City Star about some genealogists who solved a riddle that more mainstream historians hadn't resolved (not clear whether the historians couldn't solve the riddle or just hadn't bothered.)  Benjamin "Pap" Singleton was born a slave, escaped to freedom, and was instrumental in encouraging former slaves to move to Kansas and other states to escape the Jim Crow south after the Civil War.  The riddle?  What happened to him after his prominence faded?  Some Kansas genealogists and historians found his death certificate and cemetery records.

It's an interesting article that gives genealogy a positive shout out.  Read it here.

Kansas History Museum Podcasts

I just discovered that the Kansas Historical Museum publishes a nifty podcast series called the Cool Things Podcast, during which the hosts discuss interesting items in the museum and play Six Degrees of William Allen White.  Check it out!

Gaylord Cemetery

This cemetery is just south of Smith Center, Kansas.  It's a bit tricky to find, because you have to drive through the tiny town of Gaylord. Do NOT trust any computer map that shows a road running directly east-west from the cemetery to the highway -- it's just a rut in a field and is not a road at all.

It's very well kept, but I didn't find a directory.

Athol Cemetery

There's not much left of the town of Athol, in Smith county, Kansas, but they have a lovely cemetery.  I've seen it referred to as the Athol Cemetery, Pleasant View Cemetery, and Meyers Cemetery.  There's a good directory.

After Googling for directions, I found myself on a little dirt road, driving through a corn field.  As I came over the hill, I saw an incredible panorama view which included a lovely cemetery.

As it turns out, there was a shorter route, but it wasn't nearly as picturesque!

This cemetery had the Moore and Frazier families.

Scandia Cemetery

In the tiny town of Scandia, Kansas, is what may be the prettiest cemetery I've seen -- the Riverview Cemetery sits on top of a bluff overlooking the Republican River.

I didn't see an index, but found my Hays/Sigsbee marker easily from the road.