MONROE - Members of the Green County Genealogical Society brought the dead to life during their cemetery walk Saturday.
About 100 people gathered at Greenwood Cemetery on 29th Avenue for the two-hour tour to learn about the lives of some of Monroe's most famous ancestors, most born in the 1800s.
Portraying the people now buried in the cemetery were their descendants or society members, dressed in costumes of the period.
Among the 13 graves visited were those of Arabut Ludlow, Jane Lysaght, Elizabeth Widmer Lanz and Noah Phelps.
Standing next to the impressive Ludlow family monument, John Inman convincingly portrayed Ludlow (1818-1896) as he was at the height of his wealthier days as the first president of the First National Bank in Monroe, and a successful breeder of short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses.
But Ludlow had a very meager start, orphaned by the age of 12 and going to work the age of 16. Ludlow was a peddler of goods before settling down in Monroe and opening a general store.
Ludlow acquired over 2,100 acres of farmland and much city real estate. His successes allowed him to invest in the city's bank where he served on the board until his death.
Jane Whyte Lysaght (1829-1919) and William Lysaght lie next to the Ludlow family plot. Barb Inman portrayed Jane as a charitable woman during her lifetime.
William's estate was valued at $175,000 when he died in 1903. Jane lived on a $50,000 trust fund until her death in 1919, when her estate was valued at $225,000. Bequests in her will included Deaconess Hospital, Wisconsin Farm School for Boys, Woman's Relief Corps of Monroe and Lysaght Permanent Cemetery Fund for Greenwood Cemetery. She donated the Soldier's Monument in the cemetery in 1913.
The Jane Lysaght Memorial Fund started with $20,000. It was over $75,000 when it was transferred to the Community Fund of Southern Wisconsin to be part of the Monroe Fund. Income from this fund still works today, designated for medical and surgical care of the poor and needy on Monroe.
Fran Albright portrayed Elizabeth Widmer, who married Andrew Lanz in 1850 in Switzerland. The couple came to Monroe in 1855 where they started a wagon-making business. They started the St. John's Evangelical Church in their home until the church building could be built.
All eight of the Lanz's children stayed in the Monroe area. Andrew and Elizabeth's descendants established three family-owned businesses in Monroe.
Evelyn Mitchell and Almanzo Friedly portrayed Adelia Hoyt Phelps and Homer Phelps, wife and son of Noah Phelps (1808-1852). Phelps surveyed Dane, Green And Rock counties when it was in the Michigan territory. The family settled in Green County in 1838.
Practicing law for 20 years, Phelps also represented Green County as a member of the Territorial House of Representatives. In the constitutional convention, Phelps served on the committee on banks and banking. Phelps was clerk of the circuit court from 1848 to 1850 and justice of the peace in 1855.
Representing the many soldiers resting in Greenwood Cemetery was Andrew Arnot (portrayed by Jim Tonyan), who fought in the Mexican-American War. His company was part of the siege of Vera Cruz.
Brooks Dunwiddie, Emma Ellis, the Woodle family, Maud L. Day, Anna Marie Treat, Michael Deininger, William Suttle, and A.E. and Lena Mitchell were also portrayed during the walk.
About 100 people gathered at Greenwood Cemetery on 29th Avenue for the two-hour tour to learn about the lives of some of Monroe's most famous ancestors, most born in the 1800s.
Portraying the people now buried in the cemetery were their descendants or society members, dressed in costumes of the period.
Among the 13 graves visited were those of Arabut Ludlow, Jane Lysaght, Elizabeth Widmer Lanz and Noah Phelps.
Standing next to the impressive Ludlow family monument, John Inman convincingly portrayed Ludlow (1818-1896) as he was at the height of his wealthier days as the first president of the First National Bank in Monroe, and a successful breeder of short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses.
But Ludlow had a very meager start, orphaned by the age of 12 and going to work the age of 16. Ludlow was a peddler of goods before settling down in Monroe and opening a general store.
Ludlow acquired over 2,100 acres of farmland and much city real estate. His successes allowed him to invest in the city's bank where he served on the board until his death.
Jane Whyte Lysaght (1829-1919) and William Lysaght lie next to the Ludlow family plot. Barb Inman portrayed Jane as a charitable woman during her lifetime.
William's estate was valued at $175,000 when he died in 1903. Jane lived on a $50,000 trust fund until her death in 1919, when her estate was valued at $225,000. Bequests in her will included Deaconess Hospital, Wisconsin Farm School for Boys, Woman's Relief Corps of Monroe and Lysaght Permanent Cemetery Fund for Greenwood Cemetery. She donated the Soldier's Monument in the cemetery in 1913.
The Jane Lysaght Memorial Fund started with $20,000. It was over $75,000 when it was transferred to the Community Fund of Southern Wisconsin to be part of the Monroe Fund. Income from this fund still works today, designated for medical and surgical care of the poor and needy on Monroe.
Fran Albright portrayed Elizabeth Widmer, who married Andrew Lanz in 1850 in Switzerland. The couple came to Monroe in 1855 where they started a wagon-making business. They started the St. John's Evangelical Church in their home until the church building could be built.
All eight of the Lanz's children stayed in the Monroe area. Andrew and Elizabeth's descendants established three family-owned businesses in Monroe.
Evelyn Mitchell and Almanzo Friedly portrayed Adelia Hoyt Phelps and Homer Phelps, wife and son of Noah Phelps (1808-1852). Phelps surveyed Dane, Green And Rock counties when it was in the Michigan territory. The family settled in Green County in 1838.
Practicing law for 20 years, Phelps also represented Green County as a member of the Territorial House of Representatives. In the constitutional convention, Phelps served on the committee on banks and banking. Phelps was clerk of the circuit court from 1848 to 1850 and justice of the peace in 1855.
Representing the many soldiers resting in Greenwood Cemetery was Andrew Arnot (portrayed by Jim Tonyan), who fought in the Mexican-American War. His company was part of the siege of Vera Cruz.
Brooks Dunwiddie, Emma Ellis, the Woodle family, Maud L. Day, Anna Marie Treat, Michael Deininger, William Suttle, and A.E. and Lena Mitchell were also portrayed during the walk.