Pearl Schroeder Twin of Earl Schroeder

Pearl was born dead on July 16, 1926 to Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder. She did not survive the birth but her twin brother Earl Schroeder did survive. Pearl was interred at Glenwood Cemetery on July 19,1926. When Earl died suddenly in 1938, Charles and Mary would have lost four children.

Charles Mervine

Charles Mervine was born to Alexander and Sarah Miller Mervine on August 13, 1859 and died on August 25, 1924 of Cancer of the Jaw. Charles was interred in Glenwood Cemetery on August 29, 1924. he was 65 years old.

Sad Tale of Two Frank Maier's

 Frank Maier was born on November 11, 1913 son of Frank C and Mary A Heese Maier. Frank contracted pneumonia on December 13, 1913. Frank was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery on December 5, 1913. He was just over a month old.

Frank Maier II was still born on March 25, 1920. He was the son of Frank and Mary Heese Maier and named after his brother who died in 1913. Frank Maier II was interred at Glenwood Cemetery March 26, 1920.

Children of Alexander and Sarah Mervine

Alexander Mervine was my great great grandfather who fought in both the Mexican and Civil Wars and in the course of his long life time married three times which his last wife Mary Ann Hughes was my great great grandmother.

Alexander's longest marriage was to his second wife Sarah. What caught my interest is the deaths of three of their daughters at very young ages and the fact that all three daughters are interred in different cemeteries. As of this date, I do not know where Sarah Mervine is interred. However, I know my great great grandfather Alexander Mervine was interred in Odd Fellows. See http://ajourneyintothepast.blogspot.com/2007/05/odd-fellows-cemetery.html
As a matter of fact, his brothers were also interred in this cemetery with the exception of one brother/son.

The death records of Alexander and Sarah Mervine's three daughters are recorded under Mervine Link. However, I want to summarize their daughters records.

1. Cecelia Mervine was born in June 1858, died at the age of three weeks old on July 17, 1858 and was interred in St. George's M.E. Church Cemetery on July 17, 1858.
2. Kate P Mervine was born in 1862, died September 23, 1863 at the age of 16 months old and interred September 25, 1863 at Mount Vernon Cemetery.
3. Sarah A Mervine was born 1867, died at the age of 7 months old on July 3, 1867 and interred at Glenwood Cemetery on July 4, 1867.

When I look at the records of all the children which died in families in the 19th Century, I often wonder how the parents could endure such grief over and over again. I also wonder the reason behind interring them in different cemeteries. Did they live in the location of that cemetery? Was it the expense of burial?

Another interesting fact, I discovered by looking at burial records across several different families is "how" they are interred. Some are buried in a blanket at the cost of two dollars. Some had caskets placed in metal or cement vaults, others just had their caskets placed in the ground.

Sadly, most of the remains of my Mervine Family are lost due to Odd Fellows being removed and replaced by a housing project. Some records indicated they were reinterred in Mount Peace and/or Lawnview Cemetery. Alexander was one of the lucky ones who was reinterred at Lawnview in a mass grave and his original headstone that was removed from his grave in Odd Fellows was lost in the process. Most of the Mervines are not recorded as to where they were reinterred. However, folklore states many stones were removed from Odd Fellows, but the bodies remained and the housing project was built over the graves.

Daughter of Alexander & Sarah Mervine

Name: Sarah Ann Mervine
Death Date: 03 Jul 1867
Death Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 7 months
Estimated Birth Year: 1867
Birth Death:
Birthplace: Phil.
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Alexander Mervine
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Sarah Ann
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Street Address: 15th Ward,No 1912 Parrish St.
Place of Residence:
Cemetery: Glenwood
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 04 Jul 1867
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 1993489
Digital Folder Number: 4010057
Image Number: 945
Reference Number:
Collection: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915

Henry B Ritter's Second Wife's Death Record

Name: Wilhelmina Ritter
Death Date: 04 Oct 1871
Death Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Female
Race: W
Death Age: 31 years
Estimated Birth Year: 1840
Birth Death:
Birthplace: Germany
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name:
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name:
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Street Address: No 4051 Main St., Manayan Av., Ward 21
Place of Residence:
Cemetery: Glenwood Cemetery
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 07 Oct 1871
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2020948
Digital Folder Number: 4058557
Image Number: 381
Reference Number:
Collection: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915