Elbert P. Jones, the man, the myth, the legend

As stated in another blog, I was fascinated with the grave monument of Elbert P. Jones, which stands erect at Magnolia Cemetery. So I decided to dig into who Jones was, and why create such a grand monument for him?

The grand monument of Elbert P. Jones in Magnolia
Cemetery.

So here's the basic facts. Elbert P. Jones was born  in Kentucky on September 23, 1814, and died in Charleston South Carolina, on April 1, 1852. What happened between those two dates? Well it stated on the grand monument that he lived in San Francisco .It is stated in Patrick Harwood's book "In the Arms of Angels Magnolia Cemetery: Charleston's treasure of history, mystery, and artistry", he states that "Jones saw America from coast-to-coast during his 37- year life". 

Which is true, Jones was well known as a thriving business man. In 1846, Jones moved from Kentucky to San Francisco during the exciting time of the Gold Rush. Jones saw opportunity, and took it, like any successful business men. He held several positions around the city such as, a lawyer, business owner, property owner, newspaper editor, and a town council member (25). Out of all these important roles, one that he is well known for owning the city's first hotel, the Portsmouth House.

As the owner of Portsmouth House, Jones also has a street in San Francisco named after him (25). It can also be viewed on OAC (Online Archive California) that there is a collection of papers, under Jones' name. These papers are range from letters to deeds, property improvements, and documents submitted to they city council. Overall, the documents fill up two boxes, and one oversize folder. Jones also owned a store and a warehouse on Washington street (OAC).

A closer look at the description on Jones' monument

Jones had a wife named Sarah Kittleman, and together they moved east, to Charleston. Even though Jones died a year later, his monument is just as grand as the life he lived. The sculptor of Jones's monument is a Philadelphia marble Edwin Gerble and the architect was Francis D. Lee. The grand monument only costed around 6,500, but today it cost 300,000.

The work of this monument is really impressive. It was one of the first in Magnolia monuments to be erected. It even caught the attention in the " 1857's Harper's New Monthly Magazine article about Charleston" (25). The monument is a visual tribute of the widow Kittleman, as she dedicated to Jones.

I picked this monument because it has meaning. Although many grave sites have meaning, this one is personal. It not only shows the personal view of Sarah, but also a Christian stand point as well. There are angels on every side of the monument, each showing a different view of how God is there to help us through death. Overall, this monument is one the greats in Magnolia Cemetery   

The Gang takes on the Charleston Jail House.

Charleston City Jail. 

Not only do we go around the beautiful city of  Charleston looking for the best graveyards around, we also test our limits by going to a hunted Jail house. Sounds fun right? Charleston's Old City Jail has been opened for 137 years, and a total of 1400 inmates have died within the walls of the Jail, so yeah it is pretty hunted.

The gallows was the most used way of execution. Execution held the highest rate of killings within the jail, Murder or Suicide held the lowest numbers. Execution by the gallows tend to jerk the heads off of the prisoner.The youngest person to face the gallows was a 15 year old, who was guilty of murder. The last person to be executed by hanging , was Duncan on July 7, 191. Duncan was said to have suffocated for 39 minutes. After this, hanging was viewed as inhuman, and became illegal.

A description of how the gallows worked

The jail was segregated, until the first black inmate was brought in during the Civil War. This jail also housed men, women, and children. Women and men were kept in the same cell, and were often victims of sexual assault by the guards, and the inmates. Often, the women were in for prostitution. The youngest inmates were the age of ten and thirteen.

75% of the prisoners died as a short term prisoner due to infections, and of longer term prisoners, 60-65% died, Crimes of the prisoners ranged from  public intoxication, petty theft,  and prostitution. The prisoners often received extra punishments. For example, halfway through your time sentence, you would be taken downtown for public humiliation. These humiliations included, ether loping (cutting off part of the ear or nose), or by branding.

a lone noose, very creepy

Now, what is a hunted jail house, without a hunted jail house story? Lavina Fisher was the first female serial killer arrested in 1818. It is said that she cook dinner for people, and offer them some of her special tea. The gag is, she would put a poison in the tea called Oleander. Fisher did this for a total of 7 years, one guy escaped and told the local sheriff the twisted ways of Lavina Fisher. Fisher was the first women in South Carolina to be executed, and 2500 people came to view her execution. It took three grown men to handle Fisher. It is said that Fisher looked around the crowd and said "anyone here have anything to say to Satan having a dinner with Satan" and she then she was hung.

one of the cells

All in all, the gang handled the visit to the city jail well! Most were scared, but it was interesting and fascinating to see such a gory history right around the corner for the College!
   

The American ways of Death

Just imagine for a second, that you became badly ill. You rush to the doctor, and he tells you that you have a deathly diseases and there is no cure. Do you A.) accept your faith, and wait until you go to sleep? or do you B,) Ask the doctor to perform Cryonics? Don't think about that everyday? Yeah me ether, until I heard the intelligent, truthful words of Dr. George E. Dickinson.

Dr. George E.Dickinson is a professor at the College of Charleston. He introduced to the class the topic of "The American Way of Death". He begin with an overview of the history of death and bereavement in America. The first era beginning in 1600-1830. "A lot of death, a women had 7 children, 5 would die. They accepted it." says Dr. Dickison, and names this era "living with death".

As he push through the era's of death and bereavement in America, all the way to the present, he explains why people in modern times are living much longer. The answer is the advancement of modern day medicine. "It is miraculous what modern medicine can do" says Dr.Dickinson. Just in the 1900's people were dying form pneumonia and tuberculosis. Now, people are dying from chronic illnesses.

Dr. George E. Dickincon

Later during the talk, Dr. Dickinson brings up the practice of Cryonics. In this death denying society, that we live in, Cryonics is the most act of denial.Cryonics, is the idea that someone who has developed a deathly illness, you can be frozen until a cure is found, then they will be unfrozen, and treated for their illness. Dr. Dickinson says that "we skirt around the issue". Instead of even saying death, we often use Euphemisms like "Sally kicked the bucket". These are small, but there are still acts of denial.


By the end of. the hour, Dr.Dickinson had introduced a different view of America to me. Death in any society is a somber topic, However, the sociology behind the topic is very interesting. Dr. Dickinson made a lot of interesting points, and explained a lot of different things that the average person would not even think of. Thank you Dr. Dickinson.

The Big Ten!

As my childhood flashed before my eyes, I have finally realize that I need to put my life goals into action. The question of "What do you want to be when you grow up", has just gotten serious. No more I want to be a princess, or a Ninja. No, those answers are no longer acceptable, it is now the time that I put my "Big Ten" into action. Here is my top ten goals that I wish to reach in Life! Click Here.