Although the date of death on her gravestone clearly reads 28 October 1870 for Mary Magdalene Garst Echols, the book "Register of Deaths" in Craig County, Virginia Courthouse clearly states her date of death 29 October 1870. As the book "Register of Deaths" would be the official death registration or "death certificate" filed at the time of her death, the 29 October 1870 would be considered correct rather than the gravestone placed some months or years after her death.

Mary Magdalene Garst, daughter of Frederick "Indian" Garst and Magdalena Rauch, was born 03 May 1782 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died 29 Oct 1870 in Craig County, Virginia. She was the granddaughter of John Nicholas and Mary Elizabeth Frantz Garst and John and Susannah Mueller Rauch. She married Joseph Echols 10 Dec 1805 in Botetourt Co., Virginia. Joseph Echols was the son of John Echols and Christina Braun. He was born 10 Jun 1785 in North Carolina, and died 22 Aug 1854 in Craig County, Virginia.

Children of Mary Magdalene Garst and Joseph Echols
1. James Echols b: 1808
2. Isaac Echols b: 1810
3. Mary Echols b: 1812 married George Harrison Williams
4. Joseph Echols, Jr. b: 09 Jul 1814 married Wilmuth D. Wingo b: 22 Mar 1814
5. Anna Echols b: 09 Dec 1816 d: 29 May 1898 married Isaac C. Epling b: 1813
6. John Echols b: 1820
7. Jacob Echols b: 1824
8. Henry Echols b: 1826 married Martha Ann Caldwell
9. Christina Echols b: 12 Jun 1829 d: 18 Aug 1900 married Hiram Tracy Jones b: 1828

The tombstone of Joseph and Mary Magdalena Garst Echols is located on the west side of Sinking Creek Mountain near US 42 in the Echols and McPherson Family Cemetery, Craig County, Virginia.

Thank you to Jake Garst for more information which can be found on the website:
Mary Magdalena Garst