“A hero is someone who has given his life to something bigger than himself.” ~ Joseph Campbell ~
Twelve Veterans (Civil War thru WW II) are buried at Historic Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT, and there is one memorial headstone, as well. All Maromas Veteran gravestones have been cleaned by myself (Kimberly Hayden), and the military flag-markers were placed by myself, my son, and Melaine, Butler Smigel (see the Butler, Veteran graves below).
There are a few other graves of Veterans shown here that are not in Maromas Cemetery, which both my husband, Mark and myself have cleaned and placed flag-markers.
All cleaning and/or repair items are specially-made, formulated and/or safe for cleaning and restoring historic gravestones, which my husband has training in.
Thank you to Veteran, Tom Goglia and the Middletown DAV Chapter 7 for the donation of cleaning supplies for the Veteran gravestones at Historic Maromas Cemetery in Middletown!
Want to read more about the Veterans? See these pages:
Daniel H. Otis: His Story
Maromas Men in the Civil War
Private Nathaniel S. Butler Memorial Headstone
Official Muster Roll of Capt. Elijah W. Gibbons
Carrier of Co. B, by Sgt. Elnathan B. Tyler
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Private Daniel H. Otis, Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. B, 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: Located brownstone-base and proper burial site. Relocated gravestone to proper burial site. Reset, clean, and placed Civil War G.A.R. marker with flag. Okay, I'm partial, Daniel always has fresh flowers at his grave.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Daniel H. Otis was the son of Elizabeth M. Young and Erastus S. Otis. He was a "middle child," having two older brothers (Robert and William), and one younger brother (George). Daniel attended the little red schoolhouse in Maromas (and worked on his family's farm) before running away to war on August 4, 1862.
At some point in time, Daniel's gravestone had broken free from its brownstone base and toppled over backwards. In 1997, his gravestone was cleaned and reset by a well-meaning individual, who I will not name. Unfortunately, Daniel's gravestone was not reset at his final resting place, but instead three plots away from his burial site (aka: wrong spot).
ABOVE—LEFT: This photo was taken in 2019, the year we moved to Middletown. This was Daniel's gravestone before being cleaned and reset to his proper burial site. His white marble gravestone is discolored from grime, dirt and biological growth. RIGHT: This is after I cleaned Daniel's gravestone, revealing the beautiful white marble stone that his father, Erastus, erected as a tribute to his brave Veteran son. However, in this photo, Daniel's gravestone is still standing at the wrong site, not marking his remains.
ABOVE—LEFT: Relocating Daniel's gravestone. This photo was taken on August 17, 2021 when we were in the process of moving Daniel's gravestone from the wrong spot (the spot that it stood at since 1997) and relocating it back to his proper burial site to mark his remains. Notice the jagged broken bottom of his gravestone. The broken pieces of gravestone chunks that we discovered in a brownstone base three plots away from where his gravestone was set in 1997, matched up
perfectly to the jagged, broken bottom of his gravestone. Again, read more about this discovery on the page:
Gravestone of Daniel H. Otis Reset at the Wrong Spot in 1997
RIGHT: The gravestone of Private Daniel H. Otis after being relocated and reset at the proper burial site, marking his remains. I gave it another good cleaning and have planted daffodil bulbs.
CO. B, 14 REG C.V.
DANIEL H.
Son of Erastus S. & Elizabeth M. Otis,
Fell in the Battle of
Fredricksburg Dec. 13,
Died in Falmouth Va,
Dec 17, 1862
AE. 15 Yrs. 8 Mo’s. & 2 D’s
“HONOR TO THE BRAVE”
Private Ashbel A. Clark; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. B, 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Ahbel A. Clark was the son of Alvin Clark and Delilah Ray. He was 5 feet / 8 inches tall, with brown eyes, dark hair, and a light complexion. More can be read about Ashbel Clark on the page: Maromas Men in the Civil War.
ASHBEL A.
SON OF
Alvin & Delilah
CLARK
of Co. B. 14 Regt. C.V.
died April 11, 1863
AE 19 Yrs. 7 Mo’s.
Private Sherman Johnson; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. B, 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Sherman was 5 feet / 6 inches tall with black eyes, dark hair, and a dark complexion. More can be read about Sherman Johnson on the page: Maromas Men in the Civil War.
SHERMAN JOHNSON
CO. B. 14 REGT.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED
DEC. 24, 1881
Private Nathaniel S. Butler; Memorial Headstone
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. B, 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: installed government issued military headstone as a memorial for Private Butler and placed GAR marker with flag.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Nathaniel Sherman Butler died near Aquia Creek, VA on February 3, 1863 of typhoid fever. His remains never came back home to Middletown and are now lost to time. Melaine Butler Smigel, Nathaniel’s great-great grandniece, applied for a government headstone to place as a memorial for him at Maromas Cemetery. It was approved and arrived November 2022! Melaine and Mark wasted no time installing it within the ground at Maromas. To read more about this, see the page Private Nathaniel S. Butler Memorial Headstone.
Nathaniel Butler was the brother of Private Frederick E. Butler, Private Charles A. Butler, and Private Henry L. Butler. Read more about Nathaniel Butler on the page: Maromas Men in the Civil War.
IN MEMORY OF
NATHANIEL S
BUTLER
PVT
CO B
14 CONN INF
CIVIL WAR
1840
FEB 3, 1863
Private Elias E. Bailey; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Husband of Hannah May Goff. Read more about Elias Bailey on the page: Maromas Men in the Civil War.
ELIAS BAILEY
CO. D. 24 INF.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED OCT 12, 1907
AE. 71.
Frederick E. Butler; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Melaine Butler Smigel (Frederick's GG Granddaughter) has planted flowers and spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Husband of Sarah Bailey-Skinner. Frederick Butler was the brother of Private Nathaniel S. Butler, Private Henry L. Butler, and Private Charles A. Butler. To read more about Frederick Butler, see the page:
Maromas Men in the Civil War.
FREDERICK BUTLER
CO. D. 24 REGT.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED
FEB 24, 1864
Private Henry L. Butler; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Henry Butler was the brother of Private Frederick E. Butler, Private Charles A. Butler, and Private Nathaniel S. Butler. To read more about Henry Butler, see the page:
Maromas Men in the Civil War.
HENRY L. BUTLER
CO. D. 24 INF.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED AUG. 10, 1909
AE 74
Private Charles A. Butler; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. L, 1st Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Charles Butler was the brother of Private Frederick E. Butler, Private Henry L. Butler, and Private Nathaniel S. Butler. To read more about Charles Butler, see the page:
Maromas Men in the Civil War.
CHARLES A. BUTLER
Co. L, 1 REGT.
HVY. ARTY. C.V.
DIED
OCT. 20, 1880
Private William E. Spencer; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. D, 24th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
WILLIAM SPENCER
CO. D. 24 REGT.
CONN. VOLS.
DIED
SEPT. 8, 1895
Private Edward E. Hills; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: WW I
Unit: Base Hospital 127 Med. Dept. (Army)
What: clean and place WW I marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: This Army, Base Hospital was at Camp McClellan, Alabama. Edward Hills was the son of William S. Hills and Nellie I. Butler. He was the husband of Grace Madeline Hill (Hill was her maiden name). Born: April 24, 1889 in Middletown CT / Died: December 28, 1936, age 47 in Middletown, CT. His epitaph says "AE. 48." Here is some more info about Edward Hills: his draft registration cards says that he was 5 feet / 9 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds and of medium build. He had blue eyes and brown hair.
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| "Before" photo by C. Greer (left) |
WORLD WAR
EDWARD HILLS
BASE HOSP. 127 MED. DEPT
DIED DEC. 28, 1936
AE. 48.
Private Burton F. Johnson; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: WW I
Unit: Detachment Embarkation Hospital #4 in New York City, NY. (Army)
What: clean and place WW I marker with flag. His family has planted daylilies + we added a nice daffodil bulb. The more, the merrier!
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Burton Johnson was the son of Lewis Johnson (of NY) and Emma A. Bailey—daughter of Private Elias C. Bailey (above) and Hannah M. Goff. He was the husband of Josephine M. Lefreniere. Born: September 1894 / Died: March 6, 1960, age 65
WORLD WAR
BURTON F. JOHNSON
DET. EMB. HOSP. 4. N.Y N.Y
DIED MAR. 6, 1960
AGE 65
Private Frank Platenka; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: WW I
Unit: Co. I, Gas. Det. CP Custer
What: clean and place WW I marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Co. I, Gas Detachment, Camp Custer. Camp Custer was built in 1917 for military training during World War I. Located near Battle Creek, MI. Frank Platenka was born about 1895 in Czechoslovakia. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1912 and at age 26, married Mary Stefanec.
WORLD WAR
FRANK PLATENKA
CO. I, GAS. DET., CP CUSTER
DIED JAN. 12, 1933
AE 38
Private First-Class John E. Bensenhaver; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: WW II
Unit: 531st Engineer Shore Regiment (Army)
What: clean and place flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Private First-Class John Edward Bensenhaver served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He enlisted in the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment on March 19, 1942, and died on June 6, 1944 (age 34) during the invasion on Utah Beach, France. Just some more notes about John: he was the son of William L. Bensenhaver and Sarah E. Wilkens. In 1940, John was single and working as a truck-driver for Millbrook Dairy. His draft card says that he was 5 feet / 8 inches tall, weighing 240 pounds, ruddy complexion, brown hair, and hazel eyes.
JOHN E
BENSENHAVER
CONNECTICUT
PFC
531 ENGR SHORE REGT
WW II
DECEMBER 11 1909
JUNE 6 1944
Cadet, Aubrey G. King; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: WW I
Unit: Student Army Training Corp; River Patrol Home Guard
What: clean and place WW I marker with flag
Where: Indian Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Notes: Aubrey Gordon King was a college student in Hartford and also enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps on October 12, 1918. In other words, Aubrey enrolled in a military training program while attending college. The premise of the SATC was that students would join the Army when they graduated or would be called into service for emergencies. Aubrey’s rank was “Cadet,” and he served as part of the “River Patrol Home Guard.” The Home Guard was a volunteer emergency service group, organized in each state and town to replace National Guard Units that had been federalized for foreign service. The Home Guard proved local defense and other public services. Aubrey King died of “bronchial pneumonia” on December 1, 1918, at age 18. Aubrey is listed as “died in service,” and his name is inscribed on a plaque at the Middletown WW I monument.
Aubrey's draft registration card says that he was 5 feet / 4 1/2 inches tall, weighing 120 pound, and of slender build. He has light hair and blue eyes.
We also cleaned the gravestones of Aubrey’s mother, Kate G. King, and little brother, Frederick M. King, who are buried beside him. Aubrey’s father was Gerald E. King, who ran the Penny Press newspaper with his father, Ernest King. I used to live in Aubrey's uncle's house on Lincoln Street in Middletown. Aubrey's uncle was Frederick M. King of "Pelton and King Printers."
I have a serendipitous story about when we (myself, hubby, and son) were cleaning the three King gravestones (Aubrey, Kate, and Frederick). It was an early evening in the summer, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky at the time we began to clean the King gravestones. Not long after we got started, a few clouds rolled in and it started to lightly sprinkle. Only a small portion of the sky was covered with clouds, with the rest of it being blue sky. Then suddenly a rainbow appeared in the area of the blue sky out ahead of us. Then a second rainbow appeared. Then a third rainbow appeared! It was a triple rainbow—something my husband and I have never seen before. Yes, we’ve seen a double rainbow—but a triple one? Never.
I've come to learn that triple rainbows are quite rare and there have only been five scientific reports of triple rainbows in 250 years! Was it just a coincidence that a triple rainbow appeared at the time we were cleaning the three forgotten graves of the King family?
Nobody has remembered that family. Their graves were filthy and crusted with lichen and Aubrey had no flag or military marker. We were honored to be able to rectify that, and know that the triple rainbow was a sign of their gratitude.
Aubrey's lichen-encrusted stone before cleaning.
After cleaning!
Gravestone of Cadet, Aubrey Gordon King, after cleaning and placing of WW I marker and flag.
AUBREY G. KING
SON OF
G.E. & K.G. KING
JAN. 23, 1900 – DEC. 1, 1918
Private Francis Hollister and Private Frederick Hollister; Gravestone Before-and-After
War: American Civil War
Unit: Co. K, 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
What: clean and place new GAR marker with flag. Plant spring bulbs.
Where: Union Cemetery in Middle Haddam, CT
Notes: It took about three separate cleanings to get the gravestone as white as it's seen in the picture below. It could stand to use at least two more cleanings, because there is still some very slight staining over the epitaph, and it's still a bit spotty at the bottom of the gravestone. This was one challenging stone to clean! It was black with years of biological growth and sticky tree sap, forming a thick cement-like layer on the gravestone.
The Civil War blogger and author, John Banks, wrote an excellent post about the
Hollister Brothers. His post is where I was first introduced to these two fine Veterans. As soon as I saw the forgotten state of their grave, I knew that I had to clean it!
Here is the link to that post.
I quote:
The brothers [Francis and Frederick] enlisted as privates in the Union army in the summer of 1862, Frederick on July 21 and Francis five days later. Each young man was mustered into Company K of the 14th Connecticut on Aug. 20, 1862.
At Antietam, each brother lost his blanket and stunningly had yet to secure a replacement. Often shivering in the cold, Francis and Frederick, both ill, huddled around a campfire to stay warm in late December in Falmouth, where disease was rampant in Union army.
One paragraph in the regimental history of the 14th Connecticut detailed the brothers' demise.
"A sad incident during the encampment at Falmouth was the death of two brothers, Francis and Frederick J. Hoillister, of Chatham, Company K., who died within a half an hour of each other and were buried together," the history noted. "They lost their blankets at Antietam and for three months had to sleep out of doors or crouch scantily clad all night long over a smoky camp-fire, from which exposure they died."
The cause of death was typhoid fever. Why the Hollisters could not obtain a blanket is baffling. The brothers' bodies were returned to Connecticut, where the Hollisters were buried "with appropriate ceremonies" on Sunday, Jan. 11, 1863.
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Before photo (left) by John Banks.
After photo (right) by myself, Kimberly Hayden |
FRANCIS HOLLISTER
AGED 20 YRS.
AND HIS BROTHER
FREDERICK
AGED 18 YRS.
SOLDIERS OF
CO. K, 14 REG. C.V.
DIED AT
FALMOUTH, VA
DEC. 23, 1862
December 13, 2022.
My son and I decorated the Hollister Brother's grave for the winter holidays!
I'm pleased that some of the black spottiness at the bottom of the stone has faded even further.
