Amos C. McCulloh – (1831 – 1876)

(Photo Date Unknown)

2018

Amos McCulloh apparently contracted the “white plague” during the Civil War years of 1861 to 1865. Tuberculosis is a “wasting” disease that kills slowly. In the 19th century it was generally held that the disease allowed for a “good death” since the afflicted had plenty of time to put their affairs in order. By December of 1876 Amos had become gravely ill. Whatever Christmas celebrations the family normally held must have been dampened or likely pushed aside altogether as Amos’s condition deteriorated. At least two doctors were called to attend to him and he must have struggled to hold on till Christmas. Sadly, on Tuesday the 26th of December, at the age of only 45 Amos died. On that sad day it is doubtful that Hannah or any of the children saw anything “good” in Amos’s death. In 1996 Vida Yoder described her grandfather’s remarkable death: Grandpa died on the day after Christmas in 1876. It was a cold blustery afternoon; the little ones were napping, and Grandma was sitting by the window mending. Suddenly she saw Grandpa pass by the window, pulling his coat close around him. “What in the world is he doing out there, and how did he get out?” she wondered as she hurried to the door. There was no one out there! She turned to the bedroom just off the kitchen, and there on the bed lay the form of her husband, but he had departed this life.

One of the children added the following unfinished entry in the family Bible: “Our Father Amos C McCulloh departed this Life December the 25/1877 aged forty-four years and ” It is interesting to note that this entry indicates Amos died on Christmas day; all other documents and records state the day was the 26th. Additionally the year was incorrectly entered as 1877. This error suggests the entry was made in 1877; clearly Amos died in 1876. Amos was laid to rest in the nearby Trinity United Church of Christ Graveyard. The graveyard is east of the town of Loudon and just west of Mount Parnell and the fort/farm site. Hannah paid $16.00 for a coffin. The grave was $4.00 to dig and the tombstone cost $10.00. Amos’s tombstone was still in place as of 2013 but has become blackened and worn with portions difficult to read. Oddly, his last name is misspelled on his tombstone wherein the ‘ough’ spelling was used. The McCullohs of the Little Cove all use the ‘oh’ spelling including Amos’s grandparents, his aunts and uncles and his own sister. Amos’s funeral card uses the ‘oh’ spelling and his wife Hannah signed a legal document ten days after Amos’s death wherein she used the ‘oh’ spelling. All the family records in Amos’s Bible use the ‘oh’ spelling. But, through some unknown error, the ‘ough’ spelling was used on the tombstone and either due to the overwhelming circumstances Hannah was facing or for other unknown reasons she never had the tombstone corrected and it remains with the ‘ough’ spelling to this day.

Trinity United Church of Christ Graveyard – Ft. Louden, PA
Amos C. McCulloh’s tombstone is marked with a yellow arrow. Click the photo for a larger version.
(Photo 2012)

Trinity United Church of Christ Graveyard – Ft. Louden, PA
(Photo Date Unknown)

Amos McCulloh Funeral Cards