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The family of
William Brackin
and Sarah Morris
Marriage
Record Identification Number (MRIN 68)
This family is
currently being added to our Family Trails On-line Virtual Cemetery
on Find
A Grave.com
William B. Bracken (Brackin)
b. 13 Oct 1841 in Sumner County, Tennessee
d. 30 Apr 1921 in Pike County, Kentucky
William was the son of James S.
Brackin and Lucy (Benbrook) Brackin.
William was originally buried in the Old Prater Cemetery in Pike County,
Kentucky. In 2003 he was moved to the Mt. Zion Church Cemetery in Central City,
Muhlenburg County, Kentucky.
William fought in the the Civil
War (Union) in Company A of the 12th Kentucky Calvary. After the war he married
Sarah Morris and fathered 7 children. He lost his wife in 1898 and his son,
James, died in 1912 in the sinking of the Titanic.
Sadly, but as is with most
ancestors, we know more about William's death than we do about his life.
Hopefully over time we can correct that and tell more of his story.
In 1919 William was 78 years old
and moved to Pike County with his daughter and her husband, Mary Jane and
Grafton Willoughby (my 2xgreat grandparents.) William died there 2 years later
and was buried in the Old Prater Cemetery. William was the only non-family
member buried in that cemetery and for 85 years, 4 generations of the
Prater family cared for William's grave just as they did for their own family.
Every Memorial Day they cleaned and decorated his grave with flowers and the
respect that every soldier deserves. I sincerely thank Bruce Hopkins, his
brother, his father, his grandfather, his great grandfather and all of his
family for the care and respect that they gave to William and his final resting
place. Sadly, this cemetery had to be moved in 2003 to make room for a new road
or highway. Mr. Hopkins was able to find 2 descendents of Williams and locate
where his wife was buried. Together they arranged for William to be placed next
to his wife Sarah in the Mt. Zion Church Cemetery in Pike County, Kentucky. On
April 30, 2006, on the 85th anniversary of William's death, a memorial service
was held in honor of him. The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War,
Elijah P. Marrs Camp 5 conducted the ceremony. Mr. Hopkins has started to write
a monthly column for the Blue Ridge Traditions Newsletter/Website. His first
article is about William titled "A
Long Journey Home", and since Mr. Hopkins did such a wonderful job in
telling what he knew of William, I'll refer you to his article from here. (click
on the link above)
Sarah Ann Morris
b. about 1848 in Ohio County, Kentucky
d. 29 Mar 1898 in Muhlenburg County, Kentucky
Sarah was the daughter of Braxton Morris and Ursula Shaw (MRIN
130)
Sarah was buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Central City, Muhlenburg County,
Kentucky
William and Sarah married on 02 Nov 1866 in
Grayson County, Kentucky