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Tombstone Tuesday: Still


This stone has been covered here before. It names my great grandfather Pierson George Still, his wife Mary Kilpatrick Still and three of their children. I chose this one today because today – 17 February – is the day Mary Kilpatrick Still, my great grandmother, and her stillborn child died in 1916. They are buried together at the Old Doe Run Presbyterian Cemetery in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County. 

Mary was born to James Kilpatrick in Ireland on 12 November 1884. She was one of seven children who all immigrated around the same time and settled near each other in the Main Line area (near Philadelphia). Her two brothers returned home to Ireland. Her sisters married and settled in the Eastern US. Mary met Pierson Still while he was working as a blacksmith on the Main Line and she was a domestic for a family there. They married in 1908. They had two girls – Margaret Nora and Dorothy – who died in infancy; two boys – my Uncle Jim and my grandfather Lloyd – who lived full lives; and a stillborn son. The stillborn son was buried with her. Sadly, no mention of him is included on the stone though.  

Her father-in-law Franklin Still also passed on 17 February but in 1931. Franklin was Pierson’s father. He had been born 31 March 1853 to George David Still and Sarah Bing. On 6 November 1884 he married Sarah Jennie VanHorn. They had six children, including my Pierson. Franklin was a school teacher, an inventor, and worked at a steel mill.  

 

Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. 
© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

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