Age 41 years, Wife to James Smith. Eleanor was the first person buried in Beechwoods Cemetary.
There are two different markers in the cemetary. The spelling of the first names are different, however the date of death and age are the same.
The first marker, spelled Eleanor, lists her as the consort of James Smith.
The second marker, spelled Elenor, lists her as the wife of James Smith.
See the markers attached.
Historical Note:
The first settlers also were faced with various serious diseases, ... When Eleanor Kearney Smith was critically sick in 1831, her husband sent for Dr. John W. Jenks of Punxsutawney, but by the time he arrived, it was too late. (pp 135) At the death of Eleanor Smith in May of 1831, her husband decided to have her buried on a hill on the Cooper farm, where a cemetery was being planned. Hers was the first interment on Cooper's Hill, in what became the Beechwoods Cemetery. Other burials soon followed. Jacob Crouse was a woodsman who hewed Mrs. Smith's coffin. He knew that he was not at all well, and being a man of some foresight he made a second coffin for himself. His was the second interment, later in 1831. (pp181) [* From James H. Sterrett's 1970 History of Beechwoods.]
James Smith and his wife, Eleanor (Kearney) Smith, purchased land in the Beechwoods area of Washington Township in 1825. James and Eleanor were from County Donegal, Ireland, and settled first in Centre County, PA; then sent their sons Andrew and Matthew to Jefferson County the next year to begin clearing his newly-purchased land in Jefferson County. Eventually the brothers and sisters of James also followed him to the same area. His wife, Eleanor Keamey Smith, died May 28, 1831, at the age of 41 years, and became the first person buried in Beechwoods Cemetery which was on land that then belonged to the Cooper family. The original name of the cemetery was Cooper's Hill.
There are two different markers in the cemetary. The spelling of the first names are different, however the date of death and age are the same.
The first marker, spelled Eleanor, lists her as the consort of James Smith.
The second marker, spelled Elenor, lists her as the wife of James Smith.
See the markers attached.
Historical Note:
The first settlers also were faced with various serious diseases, ... When Eleanor Kearney Smith was critically sick in 1831, her husband sent for Dr. John W. Jenks of Punxsutawney, but by the time he arrived, it was too late. (pp 135) At the death of Eleanor Smith in May of 1831, her husband decided to have her buried on a hill on the Cooper farm, where a cemetery was being planned. Hers was the first interment on Cooper's Hill, in what became the Beechwoods Cemetery. Other burials soon followed. Jacob Crouse was a woodsman who hewed Mrs. Smith's coffin. He knew that he was not at all well, and being a man of some foresight he made a second coffin for himself. His was the second interment, later in 1831. (pp181) [* From James H. Sterrett's 1970 History of Beechwoods.]
James Smith and his wife, Eleanor (Kearney) Smith, purchased land in the Beechwoods area of Washington Township in 1825. James and Eleanor were from County Donegal, Ireland, and settled first in Centre County, PA; then sent their sons Andrew and Matthew to Jefferson County the next year to begin clearing his newly-purchased land in Jefferson County. Eventually the brothers and sisters of James also followed him to the same area. His wife, Eleanor Keamey Smith, died May 28, 1831, at the age of 41 years, and became the first person buried in Beechwoods Cemetery which was on land that then belonged to the Cooper family. The original name of the cemetery was Cooper's Hill.
Age 41 years, Wife to James Smith. Eleanor was the first person buried in Beechwoods Cemetary.
There are two different markers in the cemetary. The spelling of the first names are different, however the date of death and age are the same.
The first marker, spelled Eleanor, lists her as the consort of James Smith.
The second marker, spelled Elenor, lists her as the wife of James Smith.
See the markers attached.
Historical Note:
The first settlers also were faced with various serious diseases, ... When Eleanor Kearney Smith was critically sick in 1831, her husband sent for Dr. John W. Jenks of Punxsutawney, but by the time he arrived, it was too late. (pp 135) At the death of Eleanor Smith in May of 1831, her husband decided to have her buried on a hill on the Cooper farm, where a cemetery was being planned. Hers was the first interment on Cooper's Hill, in what became the Beechwoods Cemetery. Other burials soon followed. Jacob Crouse was a woodsman who hewed Mrs. Smith's coffin. He knew that he was not at all well, and being a man of some foresight he made a second coffin for himself. His was the second interment, later in 1831. (pp181) [* From James H. Sterrett's 1970 History of Beechwoods.]
James Smith and his wife, Eleanor (Kearney) Smith, purchased land in the Beechwoods area of Washington Township in 1825. James and Eleanor were from County Donegal, Ireland, and settled first in Centre County, PA; then sent their sons Andrew and Matthew to Jefferson County the next year to begin clearing his newly-purchased land in Jefferson County. Eventually the brothers and sisters of James also followed him to the same area. His wife, Eleanor Keamey Smith, died May 28, 1831, at the age of 41 years, and became the first person buried in Beechwoods Cemetery which was on land that then belonged to the Cooper family. The original name of the cemetery was Cooper's Hill.
There are two different markers in the cemetary. The spelling of the first names are different, however the date of death and age are the same.
The first marker, spelled Eleanor, lists her as the consort of James Smith.
The second marker, spelled Elenor, lists her as the wife of James Smith.
See the markers attached.
Historical Note:
The first settlers also were faced with various serious diseases, ... When Eleanor Kearney Smith was critically sick in 1831, her husband sent for Dr. John W. Jenks of Punxsutawney, but by the time he arrived, it was too late. (pp 135) At the death of Eleanor Smith in May of 1831, her husband decided to have her buried on a hill on the Cooper farm, where a cemetery was being planned. Hers was the first interment on Cooper's Hill, in what became the Beechwoods Cemetery. Other burials soon followed. Jacob Crouse was a woodsman who hewed Mrs. Smith's coffin. He knew that he was not at all well, and being a man of some foresight he made a second coffin for himself. His was the second interment, later in 1831. (pp181) [* From James H. Sterrett's 1970 History of Beechwoods.]
James Smith and his wife, Eleanor (Kearney) Smith, purchased land in the Beechwoods area of Washington Township in 1825. James and Eleanor were from County Donegal, Ireland, and settled first in Centre County, PA; then sent their sons Andrew and Matthew to Jefferson County the next year to begin clearing his newly-purchased land in Jefferson County. Eventually the brothers and sisters of James also followed him to the same area. His wife, Eleanor Keamey Smith, died May 28, 1831, at the age of 41 years, and became the first person buried in Beechwoods Cemetery which was on land that then belonged to the Cooper family. The original name of the cemetery was Cooper's Hill.
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