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Submitted: 6/4/15 • Approved: 6/5/15 • Last Updated: 3/17/18 • R66638-G0-S3
Removed from Society Of Friends Burial Ground and Buried here on Jan. 10, 1900.
Article about Mary in the The Battle Creek Moon, Wednesday, January 10, 1900
Peculiar Find of a casket at the was made in the Quaker cemetery this morning which is unlike any, which have heretofore been made in connection with the unearthing of the bodies, preparatory a to transforming the city of the dead into a park for the living. H. C. Spaulding and his workmen began operations this morning on a grave located near the center of the cemetery or perhaps nearer to Fremont and after digging several feet shovels struck an iron case. It unearthed and the oddest casket ever seen in this city was unearthed. The coffin is shaped to fit the body, elevations for the head, breast, and feet and on the side of the iron box for the arms on the breast of the rusty, dirt covered case is a silver plate bearing the name, Mary A. Mott, Aged 59. This was examined by a jeweler and found to be of pure silver. It is seven inches long and about four wide the exterior of the box ís fashioned into metallic draperies and folds, and over the face is - an iron plate decorated with a floral design. The bed of the casket is screwed onto the upper portions and - there are six rusty handles to lift it by. The weight is not exactly known but the coffin is a heavy affair.
The identity of the occupant is not known, and the Mott families of this city who have been consulted claim no knowledge any member of their family by this name. Over the grave was a tombstone, one on which was hewn the words, "OUR MOTHER"
The casket is thought to be of foreign make and must have been very expensive. The date of its interment can not be ascertained, of course, and, the general opinion is that the casket ordered, especially for the occupant, from some foreign country. The silver plate itself would be very expensive. The coffin shows that it was originally painted white, but that the rust of time and the conditions of the soll have worn off the paint.
The strange casket with its, unknown inmate will be taken to Oak Hill cemetery and interred in another grave where it may be claimed by relatives later.
The peculiar find became known all over the city and about 300 people visited the cemetery this afternoon to see the coffin. Not one out of this number, which included many old residents, could remember of ever having seen such a casket or having seen pictures of one.
Another grave was opened this morning, that of a child, Datus E., son of Benson Ensign, whose death is pictured as having occurred December 15, 1851. This contained the separated bones of an infant, which were put in a small box and removed to Oak Hill for burial.
It will be remembered that recently a peculiar iron coffin was found, but this was no way like the one found l today, there being no elevations for the feet, arms, or breast of the first discovered curiosity. Nobody knows what the diggers will run across next.
Contributed on 6/4/15
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Record #: 66638