"Ever Widening Circle"
Quest For Our Ancestral Roots
The lives of two well known Delano farmers were snuffed out last Thursday…
Two Delano Farmers, Robert Smith and Emmett Griffith, Have fatal Accident With Dynamite as a result of a premature explosion of 20 sticks of dynamite, the lives of two well known Delano farmers were snuffed out last Thursday. Emmett Griffith and Robert Smith were lowing stumps and had set down on a log to rest a moment. Near them was a pail containing 20 sticks of dynamite, a quantity of dynamite caps and fuse. They both were smoking and the supposition is that a spark from one of their pipes fell into the pail and caused the explosion which occurred a few minutes after they had seated themselves. Griffith had both legs blown off near the thigh and was otherwise mangled. He lived for only two to three hours after the accident.Smith had one leg and one arm blown off and suffered other severe injuries. He died about 5:00 o’clock that afternoon. Both men regained consciousness before they died and told the same story as to how the accident occurred.
The funerals were held on Saturday and Sunday. Griffith was 26 years old and leaves a widow and one child. Smith was 19 years old and single. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the bereaved relatives.
Newspaper Article: Found by: Penny Carney (Note from Coni: Need a copy of this!)
- Emmet Griffith Death Certificate – Donated by Laura McAdams
Reason for death: Dynamite Shot accident Occupation: Farmer
Name of Father: D Griffith Born in: Michigan Name of Mother: Emma Courtright Born in: Michigan
Date of Burial: Sept 25, 1915 – Undertaker: Claud Forshee
Donated by: Laura McAdams Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995 Name: Emmet Griffith
Birth Date: abt 1889 Birth Place: Michigan
Death Date: 23 Sep 1915 Death Place: Whitney Twp, Arenac, Michigan Death Age: 26
Occupation: Farmer Race: White Marital Status: Married Gender: Male
Residence: Whitney Twp, Arenac, Michigan
Father Name: D. Griffith Father Birth Place: Michigan Mother Name: Emma Courtright Mother Birth Place: Michigan
FHL Film Number: 1006675 Note from Coni: I have this burial info: buried at Sims-Whitney Cemetery
21. Grififth Dee (P.N.) Griffith Emmet (P.N.) Sept 18, 1889 – Sept. 23, 1915 Ed a Manor, caretakers of Linwood Cemetery in AuGres Township was at the Sim-Whitney Cemetery on the day I was exploring it 5/15/13 – he stated that the Griffith family plot had a body they unburied and placed in a box and buried it back into the ground beside where Dee I Griffith is buried – due to a female family member request – unsure as to the whole story but will try to get him on record as to what happened!
Note: They are looking for help in locating the burial locations of 40 people at the Linwood Cemetery. Their records show that there are 40 death certificates that give the burial place as Linwood or AuGres Cemetery. They cannot match these certificates with any of the cemeteries plots.
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Sims-Whitney Cemetery Map – Photo taken by Coni Dubois and can be found at the Sims Township Building PO Box 868 AuGres, MI 48703
Personal Links
- "Ever Widening Circle"
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- My journey & those I met along the way
- Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Facebook Group
- Coni Dubois YouTube Channel
Verified Services
Coni’s Travels
Jason Mancini – Sr. Researcher @ Mashantucket Peqout Museum & Research Center & Coni Dubois
Coni Dubois stands next to a banner welcoming everyone to the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Reunion.
5/13/13 Research talk hosted at Hewitt Home in Hale Michigan R2L starting with me, Rona Sullivan, Diane Allen, Ron Allen, Terry Allen, Jerry Hewitt, Polly Goodwin & my Husband Jay Dubois – beside me is Mary Hewitt (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
8/14/14 2nd appearance on tv show – The Senior Chat Hour L2R: Jo-Ann Schmitt & Lorraine Hart (Hosts) Veronica Hawkins, Greg Fisher & Coni Dubois —ctv13 at Charter Communications in Winsted CT
Drew Shuptar-Rayvis of Brookfield, a descendant of the Accomac/Pokomoke people of Virginia, dressed in the fashion of an Algonkian man during a reunion of Barkhamsted Lighthouse descendants Friday.
Barber Rd
Barkhamsted Historical Society vice president Paul Hart, Drew Shuptar-Rayvis of Brookfield, a descendant of the Accomac/Pokomoke people of Virginia, Coni Dubois of Louisiana, who organized a reunion of Barkhamsted Lighthouse descendants, and anthropologist Kenneth Feder pose before a tour of the Lighthouse Village Friday.
Manissean Villiage Stone
L2R: Coni Dubois, Ken Feder, Tonia Allen Gould (Coni’s Sister) & Butch Robinson
My cousin’s Melissa Renyolds (left) Veronica Hawkins, Polly Goodwin, Me & Laurie Lamarrie with Jim Goodwin at the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center
Author/Researcher Jean Bell – I received a signed copy of her book: Hale & Up the Tracks (bought for me by Ron & Terry Allen) Photo taken by Rona Sullivan
5/13/13 Hill Township Cemetery – most of the bodies were removed to Oak Grove Cemetery – L2R – Polly Goodwin, Coni Dubois, Terry & Ron Allen
Tantaquidgeon Descendants – Photo taken by Naomi Carolyn — at Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum located @ 1819 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT 06382 More info: http://connecticuthistory.org/gladys-tantaquidgeon-preserves-the-states-native-past/
5/13/13 @ Hewitt Home – Rona Sullivan (Barber Descendant) & Mary Hewitt discussing Chief Sodney (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
10/19/13 L2R: Chief Hawk Storm, Tall Oak (Everett Weeden) & Keith Brown at The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center for Conference – photo taken by Veronica Hawkins
5/13/13 Me at Chief Sodney’s tombstone at Esmond Evergreen Cemetery (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
I was able to meet with Lucianne Lavin & have my book signed – was a wonderful meeting~ More on Lucianne: http://anthropology.as.nyu.edu/o…/anthroalumni.luciannelavin
5/14/13 at my presentation in Hale Michigan for Plainfield Historical Commission (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin) – Polly Goodwin & Sister Sharon & Husband Chuck Fisher
Also on the front with President Obama
I appear on Senior Chat Hour on ctv13/Winsted CT show will appear on 10/22/13 at: www.ctv13.net/ L2R Back: JoAnn Schmitt, Lorraine Hart, Allan Lawson (Hosts) (not sure next gentleman will get his name) and on the end is Christopher Valli (Public Access Coordinator & one that put it all together for us) Bottom: Coni Dubois, Keith Brown of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot & Veronica Hawkins We had an Awesome TIME with this crew and I can’t thank them enough for inviting me!
And those I met along the way~
Taken by Abby Tabor of the Daily Comet
10/10/13 St. Matthew’s Episcopal School
Anthropologist Kenneth Feder, a professor at Central Connecticut State University, discusses archaeological work done at the Lighthouse Village Friday during a tour of Lighthouse descendants.
Byron Brown, Chief Sun Rise of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot tribe and a descendent of Lighthouse founder James Graughham, walks in the Barkhamsted Lions Parade Saturday
I appear on Senior Chat Hour on ctv13/Winsted CT show will appear on 10/22/13 at: www.ctv13.net/ L2R: JoAnn Schmitt & Lorraine Hart (Hosts) Coni Dubois (not sure next gentleman will get his name) and on the end is Christopher Valli (Public Access Coordinator & one that put it all together for us) Keith Brown of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot & Veronica Hawkins also appeared on the show with me – We had an Awesome TIME with this crew and I can’t thank them enough for
Photo taken by Sheryl Robinson – My 1st time at the site and Indian Cemetery
5/13/13 Cookout in Hale Michigan – Hosted by Jerry & Mary Hewitt – Prayer given by Jerry Hewitt – L2R Me, My husband Jay Dubois, Terry Allen his wife Diane Allen, Mary & Jerry Hewitt – Rona Sullivan, Polly Goodwin & Ron Allen (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin husband of Polly)
Coni DuBois of Louisiana, who worked 10 years to coordinate the reunion, was made honorary marshal of the July 4 Lions Club parade and other descendants marched in the traditional event.
L2R: Coni Dubois, Kevin McBride, Ken Feder & Veronica Hawkins
Coni Dubois & Allan Madhabee
5/13/13 @ Barber Homestead Pauline (Polly) Goodwin, Lenny Barber, Coni Dubois & Beulah Barber (just turned 96) – Both Beulah & Lenny still live at Homestead – Photo taken by Jim Goodwin
Coni Dubois & Timothy Ives
5/13/13 Polly Goodwin & I discussing genealogy (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
Kevin McBride, Ken Feder & Coni Dubois looking at the map of area
10/19/13 L2R: Dr. Craig Miller (Dept Head of Science, Humanities and Visual Communications at Pennsylvania College of Technology) Dave Naumec (Research Consultant of The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center) in the research lab (off limits to public – was given a special tour arranged by Kevin McBride (Archeologist & head of the Research Center) – photo taken by Veronica Hawkins
SInger/Songwriter Glenda Lucks CD – Manissee
5/14/13 – L2R Wendy Dishaw, Coni Dubois, Lynn Barber, Kathy Woods – Donate by Kathy Woods
Drew Shuptar Rayvis & I
10/19/13 Author John A Strong signing my book – The Montaukett Indians of Eastern Long Island – He signed: For Coni, Keep up the good work on the Montaukett heritage – John A Strong Oct 19, 2013 and along with that he has granted me permission to use any of his work in my research (has several books out) was a honor to finally meet him (I have most of his books) Photo taken by Veronica Hawkins
4/11/10 Barkhamsted Lighthouse Baskets made around 1817 – Photo taken by Coni Dubois
L2R: Keith Brown, Coni Dubois & Chief “Sun Rise” Byron Brown
L2R: Veronica Hawkins, Jessica Vandebogart & her Mother Betty (Ellis) Vandebogart, Donna Ellis (Photo taken by Keith Brown)
John Gilbert
Coni Dubois
"Ever Widening Circle" 