Generation gap: 'Behold, between two trees'

Fifty-eight years ago, in 1959, as an eight-year-old boy, I received my first genealogy lesson from my great grandmother, Magdalena Knapp Marble. A year after, Duane Bradshaw Marble's, (my twenty-nine-year-old father) fatal vehicle accident on 29 April 1958 in Ashland County, Ohio.

Thera Mae Marble (my mother) started back to Ashland College to acquire her teaching certificate. Thera would leave her three sons, DeCody Brad, Kenton "Randy" Randall, and Duane Brett with their seventy – five – year – old, Great Grandma Marble, Magdalena Knapp.

Great Grandma Magdalena Marble, a widow lived at 723 West Main Street, Ashland, Ohio.

Behind the home, clearly seen from the second story, rear bedroom windows, was section one of Ashland Cemetery, the oldest section of an enormous city cemetery. In 1918, during the “Great Flu Pandemic”  eleven – year – old Laurence Duane (my grandfather) lay ill in his bed, and could see the flickering lanterns through the tree tops, where many taken by the deadly influenza were buried at night. For years after the fatal death of his son Duane, grandfather Laurence would fill his three grandsons with stories of their father and himself. Fishing and hunting trips were about being together.

Time after time, we three boys would find ourselves to be babysitted by our great grandmother. Old, frail and loving, she would speak of the distant pass and about the Ashland Trolley that ran down tracks in the middle of Main Street. Upon one of our visits, Great Grandma loaded us boys with flowers, a trowel and water bucket as she escorted us through the back yard, over the creeks wooden bridge towards the high wire paramenter fence of the cemetery. My brothers and I gazed at each other guestionably, for apparently there was no opening. Great grandmother led us along the fence, from the sun into the shade.  Behold, Between Two Trees! A gap between "two trees" that grew tightly together. Although a tight squeeze, the gap served as an opening into the cemetery. Great Grandmother explain that family members have passed through the opening for over fifty years.

Immediately upon entry to the cemetery, we stopped at two tombstones. One tombstone said, Michael Knapp and Magdalena Milheim, which Great Grand mother explain was her grandparents. The other stone read, Magdalena Coleman and she stated, “She is my greatgrandmother”. Observing the ancient dates, we boys with guestion in our eyes, did not quite comprehend the relational significance to us. Immediately great grandmother held up her four fingers. She pointed at her first finger and said, “Me”. She pointed at her second finger and said, “My Parents”. She pointed at her third finger ans said, “My Grandparents”. Finally, she pointed at her fourth finger and said “My Great Grandparents”. Then greatgrandmother had us boys raise our hand and repeat what she had done, and provide the two names for each finger, (which represents a generation). When we got to our fourth finger and said her name, she approached me and held up my fifth finger, and she said her parents name and followed with the sixth and seventh finger. I responded with the saying of the time, “Cool”.

Behold, Between Two Trees, I had entered into the realm of a new reality. I am the seed of generations before me. There is more to me than what reflects in the mirror on my wall and in the mirror of others eyes. I am the product of generations of individuals who struggled to survive and make the world better and easier for their children. I am the result of their hope, love and dream for the future. I am the promise that their efforts will not be in vain. I will remember and honor my ancestors through research, discovering and recording all the memories that I may find.

That precious day in 1959, we would continue to plant and water the flowers, as greatgrandmother would lead us on to her parent's grave, her husband's grave, and finally my father's grave.

On Sunday, 13 August 2000, a tornado had ripped out the cemetery fence and uprooted the two trees. Later that month, my two brothers and I visited Ashland Cemetery and photographed the downed trees. For fifty-nine years, since 1958, whenever my two brothers and I could get together, which was rare, we would go through the ritual of walking amongst our ancestors and relatives graves and recall the times past. The trees were another living thing gone; they had pasted into memory. It hurt to see the trees gone, knowing no marker was place to commemorate their memory.

Twelve years ago, in 2005, I left Panama City, Florida to go to Ohio in order to attend my thirtyfifth high school reunion. In August, exactly one week after my birthday, I got the whim to go to the Ashland Cemetery Association. I desired to inform the superintendent that if someone was to sell a grave or plot in the old filled up section one, I maybe interested in purchasing it, depending on its location.

After expressing my origin and my desire to the superintendent, he replied with a big smile, “I don’t believe it!” He immediately pulled out a map of section one with annotated grave plots. The supervisor said, “Please humor me and follow me out to section one”. After walking a great distance, he stopped and said, “Can you see your father’s grave from here?” I replied, “Yes, two roles up and about fourteen graves from here, under the shade tree and my grandfather, Lawrence is buried next to him.” “Also, straight up the hill from here, just across the road, I can see my favorite Uncle Larry’s grave.” “And if you look over to the east, where the large rhododendron stands, that is great grandmother, Magdalena’s gravesite.”

The Ashland Cemetery Supervisor shook his head in disbelief, but with a smile. He replied, “The spot I stand at became available last week. A widow, who remarried decided to put it up for sale!”

With a tear in my eye, I realized without asking or praying for a miracle, God gave me one.

Erected a year later, a polish black granite monument listing ten individuals with a map to their plots.

A monument honoring seven generations of a First Family of Ashland County.

When it is time for me to pass on, I will feel no distress, for I know I will be coming home to my final resting place to be with my family. I will smile for I know I have done well.

DeCody Brad Marble, President of the Panama City Chapter, Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

NSSAR recognized descendant of 22 American Revolutionary Patriots

Findagrave.com memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19717220