Savage Cemetery Company

05/24/2026

We are so happy to announce the completion of our multi-phase fencing project. Big thanks go out to so many folks who helped clear the property lines, tree and stump removal, grading the grounds, installation, raking, and seeding and more. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the last phase in person, here are a couple of pictures. Again, thanks to all who physically helped and those who contributed. We couldn’t have done it without you.

05/15/2026

Our May 2026 Showcase Feature: Keithen Walters:

Keithen Maxwell Walters was born on 7 November 1916 in Arco, VA to Santford Russell Walters and Maude S. Hackley. By the time he was three years old, the family moved to Savage, MD for work at the Cotton Mill. Keithen married Beulah May Wines around 1936 and they had six children: Robert D., Beulah Yvonne, Frances Ann, Linda L., Sanford Russell, and Edward. He was working in the Cotton Mill as a weaver before he joined the military. He enlisted in the Navy on 13 August 1943 in Baltimore and found himself stationed at the Explosive Investigations Lab, Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head, MD on 10 November 1943. His rank was F1c (Fleet 1st Class) as he transferred back and forth from Indian Head to Stump Neck labs through 1944-45. On 22 December 1945, Keithen boarded his first ship, U.S.S. Weiss as F2c (Fleet 2nd Class). By June, he earned his final military rank of MM3 (Machine Mate 3rd Class). On 7 December 1946, Keithen was transferred to the U.S.S. Burdo and then to the U.S.S. Kleinsmith by 27 March 1947. He was discharged on 15 June 1947 after almost four years of military service. Back to work as a civilian again, he became a guard at a house of corrections. Other family names in this line are Hackley, Shipe, Riley, Grimes, Simpson, Atkins, Dorsey, and Tipton. Keithen died on 9 November 1964 and is buried in the Savage Cemetery.

Information submitted by Savage Cemetery Company/Ken Farnsworth
(Photo from Savage Historical Society Calendar)

04/18/2026

Beautiful day for our 2026 Spring Cleanup. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to prepare the Cemetery for the mowing season. The grounds are ready for the installation of the remaining fence along the north and east side of the Cemetery next week. We also started construction of a dirt bin in the back corner. This will contain excess dirt for ground maintenance purposes. Again, thanks to our volunteers and to all those who send donations. We appreciate your support in maintaining and improving upon the historic Savage Cemetery.

04/17/2026

Spring Cleanup Day tomorrow, 18 April from 9am to 1pm. Hope to see you at the historic Savage Cemetery.

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04/15/2026

Our April 2026 Showcase Feature: Julius Whitehead

Julius S. Whitehead was born on 21 November 1886 in Maryland to Richard Albert Whitehead and Minnie Robinson. He married Clara Lucinda Waskey on 23 December 1906 and they had seven children: Clara Mae, Charles William, Erwin Theodore, Dora L., Albert L. and Laurence Herbert. Clara was pregnant with twins when Dora was born. The second child was stillborn. Julius was employed at the B&O railroad before finding work in the cotton mill. He is listed as a laborer but eventually became an oiler. Other names in this family line are Burner, Stevens, Wilson, Meister, Haren, Merson, Haggerty, Yerby, Roberts, Arnold, and Wells. On 18 January 1940, Julius entered the Maryland Tuberculosis Sanatorium. He was there over two years before succumbing to congestive heart failure. He died on 4 December 1942 and is buried in the Savage Cemetery.

Information submitted by Savage Cemetery Company/Ken Farnsworth.

03/25/2026

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Spring Cleanup Day at the Savage Cemetery on Saturday, 18 April from 9am-1pm. We will be preparing the north and east sides for the final leg of the fence installation. Hope you can join us. If not but still want to help, please send donations to: Savage Cemetery Company, PO Box 610, Savage, MD 20763. As always, thank you for supporting our local community historic cemetery.

03/15/2026

Our March 2026 Showcase Feature: Charles Heishman

Charles Lorenza Heishman was born on 22 July 1908 in Madison, VA. to James Monroe Heishman and Ada Laura Litten. He started his working life as a telephone lineman while living in Chillum, MD. On 5 July 1933, Charles married Elma Virginia Lilley in Fairfax, VA. She was born on 9 December 1912 in Savage, MD to William Henry Lilley and Laura Virginia Adreon. Charles and Elma had three children: Charles Monroe, Glenda E., and Carole Ann. Tragically, Glenda only lived from 1937 to 1938. The family was living in Savage by the 1940’s as Charles was working at the D.C. Naval Yard. In 1941, he would be elected the president of the Savage Fire Department. The last record of his working life has Charles training a racehorse. Elma had worked as a salesgirl in her life but eventually became a beautician. Other families in this line are: Litten, Adreon, Lambden, Hamilton, Watts, Warner, Haynes, Cline, Cole, Patterson, DeVore, & Lawrence. Charles died in 1960. Elma lived until 27 Nov 1997. They are both buried with their daughter, Glenda, in the Savage Cemetery.

Information submitted by Savage Cemetery Company/Ken Farnsworth. (Photos from Findagrave.com & Heishman Family)

02/15/2026

Our February 2026 Showcase Feature: Harry Merson

Harry Euston Merson was born in Savage, MD to Wilton S. Merson and Catherine L. Jones. It’s not uncommon for someone’s age to be annotated differently in documents. Harry’s age is one of the more extreme cases. The first document is the 1900 census. On this record, he is annotated as Henry H. and birthdate is December 1889 (Spoiler alert: This will be the date commonly agreed to be his true birthdate). So far, he is 10 years old. On the 1910 census, he’s annotated as Harry and is 20 years old. He also works at the cotton mill as a drawer and is living with his brother, Luther, since both parents have passed (and they are buried in the Savage Cemetery). The first record where Harry’s age changes is the World War I registration card signed on September 12, 1918. He lists his birthday as July 15, 1885, and age as 33 years old. By census accounting, he should be 28 years old. He married Eva Columbia Allen in April 1914, and they had three children by 1920: Bessie, Ellsworth & Edith (Note: Bessie died six days after her birth). On the 1920 census, Harry is working as a house laborer and annotated as 34 years old. Over the next decade, three more children arrive: Twins – Marion J. and Margaret M., and Shirley Virginia. Marion died at 2 ½ years old and then Eva passes five months after Shirley is born. By the 1930 census, Harry is a widower working as a state road repairer and boarding with a homeowner on Guilford Road. His age is annotated as 32 years old (younger than he was in 1920). Jumping to the 1940 census, he is 48 years old, working as a high school janitor, and married to Pearl Frances Smith. The next document is the World War II registration card signed on April 27, 1942. He lists his age as 53 years and birthdate is July 5, 1888. The final document currently available for review is the 1950 census. Harry is working as a caretaker of an apartment house and lists his age as 52 years. Considering our first record, the 1900 census, annotates his age at 10, it is reasonable to assume he is at least 60 years old and likely 61 at this point. He and Pearl added a son to their blended family: David Ellsworth Merson. Harry died on 22 January 1959 and is buried in the Savage Cemetery.

Information submitted by Savage Cemetery Company/Ken Farnsworth. (Photo from Findagrave.com)

01/15/2026

Our January 2026 Showcase Feature: Millie (Ridgway) Collison

Millie Blanche Ridgway was born on 9 January 1895 in Cedarville, VA to William Thomas Ridgway and Elton Virginia Clapsaddle. Through her Clapsaddle family, she is a descendant of John Hottel who immigrated from Switzerland in 1732. Millie married Ellsworth Monroe Collison on 30 June 1917 in Washington D.C., and they had four children: Lois Isabelle, Hilda Aileen, Wilmer Horace, & Delmer Norris. She attended the Calvery M.E. Church in D.C. and taught an offertory prayer class in 1937. Previously, the Savage Cemetery posted a showcase on Millie’s parents. Other prominent family names found in her line are Sherman, Fisher, Hackley, Waters, Ross, Linder, Strosnider, Ganoe, Palmer, Perez, Herman, & Ord. Millie died on 12 August 1971, five days after her husband passed and they are both buried in the Savage Cemetery.

Information submitted by Savage Cemetery Company/Ken Farnsworth. (Photo from Savage Historical Society and Findagrave.com)

12/15/2025

Our 2025 December Showcase Feature: A Year in Review.