This is the commemorative stone and the grave of Jacob Russell, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He served in the Connecticut Militia in 1775 and later moved to what was then Warrensville Township and is now Shaker Heights, Ohio:
When the original South Park Cemetery was relocated in 1909, Mr. Russell's grave was left undisturbed. If you were to go for a walk around the Shaker Lakes, you'll find his grave to the west of the south side of Horseshoe Lake.
What Mr. Russell did during the war has been lost to history. He served for five months. His rank is not known. Whether he was wounded or injured and invalided out or served his enlistment or just walked away is lost to time. There is even dispute as to whether he was born in Windsor, CT or Kingston, NY. There is dispute as to when he moved to Ohio.
But he served his country before it was officially a country.
This day exists to remember Jacob Russell and all others who have served in this country's armed forces and whom are no longer with us. It was originally called Decoration Day, a day to put flags and other tokens of remembrance on the graves of veterans. In short, this isn't the day to go around thanking living veterans for their service. You can do that on any other day.
This day is to remember those who have passed.
More confusion, the record also suggests he was mustered with Lippitt's Regiment, Rhode Island...which wasn't formed until Jan 1776, organized for one year and fought in New York City, Trenton and Princeton, and disbanded in Jan 1777.
ReplyDeleteAnother suggestion that his son, Ralph, was a Shaker convert and allowed a colony on the family farm, resulting in the name of the Cleveland suburb of "Shaker Heights".
Yet another rathole for time.