By SUSIE SPITLER
Courtesy of the Record Herald; Printed 6.30.13
WEST MILTON – Our thanks to those who braved the heat to stroll through Riverside Cemetery in West Milton the evening of June 23. Four people gave presentations of historical and fun information about people from Milton’s past. The person who was going to portray Dr. Ephraim Spitler was called out of state for a family emergency at the last minute. We will include Dr. Spitler next year.
Shelley Maggert Thompson portrayed Liza Mendenhall. She bore and also adopted a number of children. One of her sons was killed in the Civil War. She owned a large farm near Garland (an area just southwest of Milton).
Bob Menker, present owner of Patterson’s Flowers, portrayed Robert Ewing Jennings. The Jennings Family founded Patterson’s Flowers.
Menker displayed a number of antique funeral baskets and wire frames that were common in that era. A lady in attendance shared that her father had a shop in Pleasant Hill where funeral baskets were made. He had to close his shop due to a shortage of materials during the war.
Barbara Cecil portrayed Mary Gordon. In the 1920s Mary was part owner, along with Cecil Hodgin, of the West Milton Record. She held most all positions necessary but was first and foremost a reporter. She was also involved in many community organizations.
Tom Kinsey portrayed his grandfather, Clarence “Pappy” Kinsey. He owned a farm on Rangeline Road that had been a stop on the Underground Railroad. Pappy’s sons started a gravel pit on the property and later sold road frontage on Rangeline and State Route 571 for housing.
Kinsey had family pictures to share and also talked about the Kinsey and Cress family connections.
Again, we would like to thank those who spent their evening with us. Also thank you to those who took the time to gather information and items to share during their presentations.
Thanks is also offered to Tom Beck for recording each presentation. A DVD will be available at the Milton-Union Public Library and Beck will be airing the walk on local access Channel 5.
For further information or to purchase a DVD, call (937) 698-6798.
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