Parma, OH
If you look up the locations of the graves of James, Emily, and Carrie Weeks online, you’ll find that they’re listed as being in Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. However, those two graves (one is shared by Emily and Carrie) are actually outside of the cemetery, further down Hoertz Road, in someone’s front yard. Thankfully, the cemetery is near the street, so you can visit this small cemetery without interruption, but none of those facts answer the questions of: why were they buried here? How much is known about the family?
Weeks Family Census Records
The only article available about this small cemetery didn’t really contain any information, other than the fact that the man who maintained the graves at the time (back in 2008) had connections and managed to get new headstones made via Cleveland Memorials. So, in order to find out more, I did a deep dive on Family Search.
According to the 1850 census, shown above, the Weeks family consisted of its patriarch, his wife Emily, and their children, including Warner, Milton, Joseph, and Carrie. The family is listed under the name “Wicks” and you’ll see it spelled “Weekes,” “Meek,” and “Wiekes” as well. James Weeks is listed as a farmer who was born in New York State.
The 1860 census is rather hard to read, but it reiterates the facts that the family is still living in the same place. One of their sons is listed as being born in “Royalton, Ohio” while little Carrie was born in “Parma, Ohio.”
Looking at the Maps
On an 1852 map of the area with the modern streets shown, the “J. Meek” (a misspelling of Weeks) property consists of acres at the corner of what is now West Sprague Road and Hoertz Road.
Now, on to the 1858 map. At this point, the name had been updated to “J Wicks,” which is closer to Weeks. The property is still in the same place and still consists of 30 acres of farmland.
By 1874, both James and Emily Weeks were buried in the small square labeled “cem” on the map above, and the land belonged to J. Peters.
The 1927 map is where things start to look a little more like they do these days. Hoertz Road is visible, as is the cemetery, which is the small rectangle up against the road seen above.
Going Through the Genealogy Records
While the information described above places the Weeks family directly on the land that their graves occupy, it doesn’t explain who they are. Looking through the genealogy records provides a bit more insight.
James Weeks was born in Scipio, New York in 1801. He was the son of Robert Weeks and his wife Elizabeth. Going back through the records brings up the short tale of James Weekes, born in England in 1652. He was the great great great great grandfather of the James Weeks in question.
Although there were several other people in what is now New England back in the 1600s, this particular James Weekes appears to have come over from England as a young child, possibly as a stowaway or runaway. He was not a Mayflower passenger. The family mostly stayed in New York State for quite some time, working as farmers.
Less is known about Emily Weeks. Her maiden name was Gillette, and she was born in New York State in 1820 according to the census records. She and James married in Cuyahoga County in 1843 when he was 42 and she was 23, although they are listed as having two children beforehand: Nancy in 1836 and Warner in 1837. However, it’s possible that those two were brought into the marriage from one of James’ previous relationships, as nothing is known for sure.
What is known for certain is that Emily is the mother of Milton, Joseph, Mary, Carrie, and Frank. The latter two appear to have died in childhood, with Carrie buried in the same grave as her mother.
Of the other children, Joseph went on to fight in the Civil War as a member of 188 Ohio Infantry Company B. The others seem to have lived normal, non-remarkable lives, just like everyone else. The only notable thing is that their parent’s graves sit by the roadside, outside of a cemetery.
Found in Ohio 