Tombstone Tuesday | Russell Ormsbee

Russell Ormsbee

Russell M. Ormsbee was born in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY on October 23, 1908.

He was the family “publicity man”. Early in life, he developed the habit of making records and preserving them, and inspiring his descendants to do the same. I take that inspiration to heart and owe him a lot of gratitude! It’s also neat that the name “Russell” is a prominent name in my recent family, being used in the last four generations, beginning with my grandfather.

He died on June 20, 1892 and is buried in the Ormsbee Family Cemetery, near Porter Corners, in Saratoga Co.

*This photo was taken by a Find A Grave volunteer

Cato Heights Cemetery – Cato, Manitowoc Co., WI

My 2nd great grandfather, Nelson Harris, his wife Louisa Cleveland, and their family came to Cato, WI in 1856. He opened a saw mill and built a beautiful home. In the early 1860’s, Nelson and Louisa donated some of their land for the building of a Presbyterian Church and a cemetery. It is the final resting place of many of Cato’s early settlers.

1878 Cato Plat Map showing Cato Heights Cemetery

The first person to die in Cato was supposedly Nelson’s father, John Earl Harris – “The death of Harris, an old gentleman, was supposedly the first death”. John Earl was born in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY on June 15, 1798. He died on January 6, 1855.

John Earl Harris

Nancy (Ormsbee) Harris

John Earl Harris and his wife, Nancy Ormsbee are both buried in Cato Heights Cemetery. She was born in Barrington, Bristol Co., RI on April 6, 1796 and died on May 28, 1881 in Greenleaf, Brown Co., WI.

Cato Heights Cemetery - 2007

The church building is no longer there. The cemetery, however, is well maintained. It is surrounded by the beautiful farmland that once belonged to my Harris family.