SPRINGER Monuments near Severance, Doniphan Co., Kansas

All comments below by Dan Conrad as he corresponded with Cindy Marcell, 2007

As to its location, the spot would show up the same map you provide a link to for the Oak Hill Cemetery, it is west of Severance, on 180th Road, 3/4 of a mile west of where 180th Road meets Highway 120 and 120 turns sharply north (note: going west it is partially hidden by bushes--easier to see coming east).
I was shown by the mayor of Severance, Todd Smith, an old marker by the side of a gravel road. Apparently the stone had been lying in the ditch for ages and this summer Todd Smith and his father-in-law Harold Halling managed to put it back on its pedestal along with the 2 headstones they were able to locate. It is the gravesite of three children who died in 1880 and another who died in 1869. The family name on the stone is "J. & M. H. Springer" but Mr. Smith and Mr. Halling had no idea who that would be. It was Harold Halling and his son-in-law, Todd Smith (Mayor of Severance and pictured in an attached photo) who restored the monument. They could only find two of the children's headstones, one of which you can see at the feet of Mr. Smith as he squats by the monument. I only photographed the south and west facing sides as the others looked like they might be too dark to show up on a photograph. If you are ever in the area Cindy you may find it possible to successfully photograph the north and east sides also.
I have copied, below, the inscriptions on the marker.

MAP to Springer Monument

Inscription facing South (and the road) OVID S Son of J. & M. H. Springer Died Nov. 6, 1880 Aged 2 yrs 2m 10ds
Inscription facing West Ann E. Dau of J. & M.H. Springer Died Nov. 26, 1869 Aged 8 yrs 8 mos 20 ds
Inscription facing North Maud M. Dau of J. & M. H. Springer Died Oct. 2, 1880 Age 4 yrs	Inscription facing East Maryette Dau of J. & M. H. Springer Died Nov. 23, 1880 (*should be 1870) Aged 1 yr 9 mos 14 ds US. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index Surname: Maryetta Springer Year: 1870 County: Doniphan Co. State: KS Age: 1 Gender: F (Female) Month of Death: Nov State of Birth: KS ID#: MRT197_313447 Occupation: NONE LISTED Cause of Death: SCARLET FVR

I was sent some photos from Dan Conrad who stumbled across a single headstone near Oak Hill cemetery that recently had been reerected. No info was known on this family. I did a quick census search for 1860 & 1870 Springer families. In 1860 I found one family in Doniphan Co., KS - Nathan & Leetha Springer. In 1870 found a whole bunch of Springer families! I then went to Rootsweb & could not locate these children & only had intials for the parents. I did have luck however with Ancestral file. The death date matched for Ann E. Springer and parents were given as Jonathan & Mary Helen Springer. Once I found Jonathan & Mary Springer I returned to the 1870 census and found their family in Wolf River, Doniphan Co., KS. They have 3 children: Julia 7, Samuel F. 6, & Josiah E. 4/12. So looked again for the family in 1880 and found them including a son Ovid S. Springer, the other child on the marker! Cindy Marcell, 2007

Doniphan County Cemeteries by Speedy & Gail Stewart transcription list 2 other stones here:
1. Just initials "A E S" on stone
2. Just initials "M S" on stone
Note these very well could have been the original stones for Ann E. Springer & Maud Springer??? CM

The Weekly Kansas Chief, May 12 1887, transcribed by Cindy Marcell
An old couple, John Springer and Nancy J. Dickson married last Sunday by a Missouri preacher.

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, Cindy Marcell at above address. All photos are courtesy of Cindy Marcell's growing collection