The Historic City Cemetery

In 1897 , August Engel brought a lawsuit against Fred Hamp , a local undertaker. The case did not involve property or money at first, but something deeply personal,  wounded feelings . While removing the body of August’s mother-in-law from the family home, the undertaker made a remark that August found insulting during a moment of grief and vulnerability. Rather than letting the insult go unanswered, August sought justice through the courts. His case was heard, and the court ruled in his favor, awarding him $100 in damages . At the time, this was a meaningful sum — roughly equivalent to about $4,000 today  and it sent a clear message that dignity and respect mattered, even in moments of mourning. What do you think the undertaker said?

Oscar Towne 1874-1898 Section: C19      Oscar was  a young man whose service to his country did not take place on a battlefield, but in a hospital ward.      During the Spanish American War Oscar served as Chief Hospital Steward with the 3rd Infantry of the National Guard at Camp Alger in Virginia . His role would have been much like that of a pharmacist,  preparing medicines, assisting surgeons, and caring for sick and wounded soldiers.      This service was not accidental. Before the war, Oscar had already begun his career as a pharmacist and had medical experience. There are records of him helping with surgeries and autopsies before he joined the military. Once he had to help amputate the thumb of Fred Urban which had been so badly bitten by a robber it couldn't be saved.       While serving at the military hospital, Oscar contracted typhoid fever , a disease that swept through military camps. He was sent ho...

Otto Hintz 1842-1918 Section: GAR Plot      Otto Hintz was called "The man nobody knew too much about". Today, with access to so many records we can no longer call him that. It was these same records that helped to clear up a mystery that existed over the years. In 1963 it was decided that during the re-dedication of the GAR monument at City Cemetery that a rebel flag would be placed at Otto's grave since he was a veteran of the 1st Texas Cavalry.  They had a representative of the Governor of North Carolina come for the ceremony. A big deal was made to give Otto proper representation of his service.... but had they?      How could he have been a member of the GAR if he had fought for the South?  The Grand Army Of The Republic was for Union veterans only. Could he have been captured and switched sides? Such things did happen...       Somewhere, someone saw in his GAR records that he had served in Company A of the 1st Texas Caval...

William Barron 1895-1918 Section: D12 Edward Barron 1899-1954 Section: D12      William and Edward Barron of Tonawanda were among the local men who joined the United States Marine Corps shortly after the United States entered World War I in 1917. They became part of the rapid military buildup that sent thousands of American troops overseas to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. The brothers were attached to the famous 5th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Division, one of the most heavily engaged American units of the war. They were among the early Marines sent into combat against German forces in France and spent months serving together in trenches, reserve positions, and active combat zones      In June 1918 the Marines were thrown into the fighting near Château-Thierry during the German spring offensives. The battles around Belleau Wood and Château-Thierry became some of the most important engagements involving American forces during the war. B...