Photo and short bio of Charles Bigelow Putnam, plus a photo of his grave, located in Edgewood Cemetery in Nashua, New Hampshire. His original memorial card can be viewed in the “Mourning & Memorial” section of The Thanatos Archive (members only access).

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Charles Bigelow, seventh child and fifth son of Barnes B. and Lucy Ann Maria (Bills) Putnam, was born in Nashua, November 23, 1854. He attended the public school until he was about fourteen years old, and was then employed in the carpenter business until 1874, when he became connected with the American Express Company, remaining until 1887, and was for a time connected with the Nashua Fire Department. About 1887 he formed a partnership with O. D. Kimball, and engaged in teaming and dealt quite extensively in horses. The business was successful, and though dying young he left his family well provided for. He died December 19, 1889, from hydrophobia (rabies), after lingering six weeks from the time that he was bitten by a dog opposite his home; he was aged thirty-five. He married, in Nashua, December 29, 1875, Ella Agnes Nichols, born in Lowell, Massachusetts, November 3, 1850, daughter of James and Sarah Elizabeth (Swan) Nichols, of Lowell. They had three children born to them: Fred Nichols, Grace Ella, who is a member of the Grace Putnam Society, membership (1907), twenty-eight in the United States, and Anne M.

His grave marker as it appeared in 2011. Photo credit: Amy Levesque.

Charles, not long before his death.

Charlie’s grave as it appeared in 2010,, courtesy of Marlin Diehl. Located at Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery Fishersville, Virginia.

Obituary, incorrectly listing his age as 25.Charlie drowned in a lake at the age of 20 years old. His original memorial card is available on our website (member access). Not yet a Thanatos Archive member? Get your own subscription here .. instant activation.

Vurna (Left) and Dena Moyer. This photo of Vurna was used in her memorial / funeral display, which can be seen in the members’ section of our website.

Vurna (left) and Dena. (Vurna was NOT dead in this photo!)

Vurna’s grave in Constantine Township Cemetery, Michigan. Vurna was originally buried at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Michigan, but was disinterred and relocated to the Constantine Township Cemetery. Her tombstone now lies between those of her parents, DC and Sarah Moyer. It appears that Vernon Tilghman Moyer, Vurna’s brother, is now buried in grave #2, of Lot #26 in section #5 at Lakeview cemetery, South Haven.

Vurna (left) and Dena as younger girls, photographed by their father. 

Vurna & Dena Moyer were the daughters of the South Haven,  Michigan photographer David Cares Moyers. Vurna, the older sister, was born in 1880 and died in 1887, cause of death unknown at this time. Dena lived until 1933 (age 50-51). ***** A cabinet card photograph of Vurna’s memorial / funeral display is in our collection and can be viewed here. (Archive subscription required)

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Full description and second picture is on our official Instagram

Close up of man with neck tumor. The full scan of the entire image is available here (Thanatos Archive subscription is required. Not yet a member? Join the Archive – membership available here ).

[ The following caption is from our member’s section, describing the scene without the mat ] Sixth-plate daguerreotype, early-1850s: Man propped up in bed or chair using pillows and other objects, assisted by a man crouched behind – note his hand visible in the upper-left. Also, the deceased man’s suit appears draped over his body to give the appearance that he was actually wearing it. All of these details that went into preparing this death scene were never meant to be seen by the casual viewer – they are completely hidden when the original mat is replaced – see our blog post.

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Close up of little girl. The full scan of the entire image is available here (Thanatos Archive subscription is required. Not yet a member? Memberships available here ).

The grave marker of 15-year-old Marian Lapham at Rochester Cemetery in Wisconsin (photographed in 2009). A photo of a very ill Marian taken shortly before death can be viewed in our collection, here (Thanatos Archive subscription is required). Not yet a member? Membership options are available here.

Wisconsin, circa 1912: Man in his casket, on top of which have been placed several religious statues, with even more visible on the altar display in the background. A funeral wreath with the word “Father” has been laid on top of his casket, and a religious photo has been placed next to his head. A second photo of the man’s female relatives praying at the sides of his casket is available here (Thanatos Archive subscription is required. Not yet a member? Memberships available here ).