Orestus Hale lies in a lonely grave on the west side of Wingfoot lake. He was the son of Samuel Hale who came to Ohio in 1803/1805 (discrepencies in sources) along with Thoma (josiah?), Samuels other son.
.In that same year, Orestus suddely became ill & died. He had contracted chicken pox while traveling through Pittsburgh,Pa. Fear of contagion prompted drastic measures. Indians told the family to cut down a certain tree, hew out a slab & place he body inside. When the slab was replaced, the body would be sealed in. Protecting both the living & dead. But the burial was filled with even greater tragedy. While the coffin tree was being felled, it toppled on Thomas (josiah?), brother of the dead boy, killing him instantly.
Samuel buried both of his sons on the shores of wingfoot lake. Years later, Thomas's body was moved to Kent corners (suffield) Cemetery. Only Orestus remains, the safety of the living overshadowing the desire to pay homage to the dead.
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ReplyDeleteThe version I've heard through the family is that Orestus died of small pox, not chicken pox. The move of Thomas's body was to allow Goodyear to raise the level of the lake.
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