The Grave of My Ancestors

Ivan Kabanuk, a Russian immigrant, portrayed how real the American dream could become with hard work and dedication. Kabanuk was born in Russia (what is now the Ukraine) in October of 1895. He immigrated from Russia to Cortland, New York with his pregnant wife, Mary Kabanuk, in 1913. The United States of America offered hope and new opportunity that pre-revolutionary Russia didn’t. At the time of their immigration, Russia had experienced a significant growth in population and industrialization; while this growth would eventually lead to higher wages and standards of living, the Kabanuks didn’t stay long enough to find out.

 After migrating to New York, Ivan and Mary Kabanuk bought a townhouse at 24 Pine Street in Cortland, New York. The house has been passed down, so my grandfather, mother, and I have all been raised there; the connected residence was given to my great uncle who passed it down as well. In Russia, Ivan worked in the steel wire mill. In New York he began working at a factory until he bought his own bar, “Ivan’s”, named after himself, that still exists in Cortland.

Ivan died in November of 1975 and was buried in Cortland Rural Cemetery with his wife, Mary, who died in 1997. They lay in a public 19^th century rural style cemetery, with a flush marker style headstone. 

I chose to research my great-great-grandfather Ivan Kabanuk because I grew up hearing stories about his immigration with Mary Kabanuk. My mother often talked about how strong Mary must have been to board a ship while pregnant and move to a new country not knowing what to expect when she got there. I began my research using Ancestry.com, this offered many records, offering insight on occupation, migration, life, and death. I then went to Findagrave.com to find their cemetery and gravestone. Once I had this information I looked deeper as to what style cemetery and gravestone, as well as asking relatives for more personal knowledge. Lastly, I researched pre-revolutionary Russia to understand what was happening culturally and if that may have had an effect on their decision to migrate. 

A Presidents Secret Treasure Buried in Cougar Mall

    The College of Charleston campus is regarded as one of the most beautiful and historic campuses in the nation. When most people think of the unique and aesthetic details around campus, they probably think of various fountains, gardens, and sculptures, however, The College has many treasures unknown to most.

    One of these incredible finds includes the grave of the mother of a former U.S. President! Andrew Jackson's mother rests in Cougar Mall beside the Robert Scott Small building. Her headstone is very small, so the hustle of class-bound students and confused tourists can often overshadow it, making it a secret scavenge.

   Elizabeth Jackson was born in circa 1740 in Ireland according to History of American Women. She came to America with her husband and children. As I found in the Post and Courier, Elizabeth Jackson came to Charleston to care for her two sick nephews before becoming ill with cholera. Her grave stone reads "Near this spot is buried, Elizabeth Jackson, mother of president Andrew Jackson. She gave her life cheerfully for the independence of her country on an unrecorded date in November 1781. And to her son Andy this advice: "Andy, never tell a lie, nor take what is not your own, nor sue for slander, settle those cases yourself."

Grave marker of Elizabeth Jackson

Graveyard Symbols Scavenger Hunt

Sue Bennett is church administrator at Bethel United Methodist Church located on Pitt Street in Charleston, South Carolina. She directs informational tours with various concentrations around Charleston, and was kind enough to give an exclusive tour of Bethel United Methodist Church to my Charleston Beyond The Grave class. Bennett spoke of the intricate symbols that symbolized ideas to memorialize loved ones.

One of these symbols being a hand pointing downwards. This symbolizes mortality and is said to represent a secret masonic handshake.

Another reoccurring symbol I found in the Bethel United Methodist Church yard is an angel. This symbolizes spirituality and guarding to Heaven.

  

The symbol shown here is a cross surrounded by a crown, representing sovereignty of the lord.

An hourglass symbolizes the passing of time and the shortness of life.

The cloth over that is draped over this grave symbolizes mourning.

A wreathe symbolizes victory in death or redemption and dates back to the Greeks.

Roses can symbolize a multitude of things, such as, beauty, hope, or love. 

Weeping willow trees are just as meloncholy as they sound; they symbolize sorrow and mourning.

While willows were a vary popular symbol in the victorian era, the Willow and Urn can arguably be the most popular of the era. The combination represents the mourning of the deceased. 

Ivy symbolizes memory, immortality, friendship, and many more values.