Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-11-13
Roger Williams.

Rev. J II. McCarty, is writing a
series Of very entertaining articles
for the LadteS' Repository on Roger
Williams, the founder OF the State OF
Rhode Island. In the last number
we find the following curious state
ment concerning the remains of the
distinguished man:
Ninety years after his death, in
l771, steps were taken to erect to
him some suitable monument, but
the st'6fias of the Revolution came
on, end the work was forgotten. But
Recently the question has been agi-
tatcd anew, aud Williams may yet
at least have some outward sign TO
mark his greatness and perpetuate
his name. During pegied of lS3
years not oven 9 ydngh stone has
boon set up to mark the grave of the
founder of Rhode Island, till the pre-
csc locality of his grave had been al
most forgotten, and could only be as
eertaihed by the most careful inves-
tigation. Suffice to say, however,
tho spns wGs .ound, and the eXhuma>
ton made 4 short tine ago, though
there was little to eXhumc. On
lcrap:ng Of The turf from the surface
Of the ground, the dim outlines of
seven graves, contained within less
Than ono square rod revealed the
au,iial ground of Roger Williams. In
colonial times each family had its own
burial ground which was usually
near the family residence. Three Of
Ghcac seven graves were children, the
remaining four were adults. The
e.storly grave was identified as that
of Mr.. Williams On digging down
into the " charnel house." it was
found that everything had passed in.
to oblivion The shapes OF the cot,
fins could only be traced by a black
line Of carbOnaceous matterthc thick
hess OF the edges Of the sides Of the
boflns, with their ends distinctly
defined. The rusted remains of
the hinges and nails with
few fragments of wood and single
knot, was all that could be gathered
from his grave. In the grave of his
wife there was not Il trace of any
thing save a SINCE lock Of braided
hair which had survived the lapse
b moro than $50 years. Near the
grave stood venerable apple tree,
when and by whom planted is not
known. This tree had sent two Of
its main roots into the graves Of Mr.
y 81
;;,d pushed its way through the
Earlh Ill it reached the precise spot
occupied by tho skull Of Roger Will
liams. There making turn as if
going round the skull, it followed
tho direction Of the back bone to the
hips. Here it divided into two
branches, sending one along each
leg to the heel, where they both turn
cd upward to the toes. One of these
Saots formed Slight crook at the
knee which makes the whole bear a
very close resemblance 10 human
form. This singular root is prcser-
we'd with great care, not only as an
illustration Of great principle Of
vegetation, but for its great historic
association. There were the graves
Smptied of every particle of human
dust Not u trace of anything was
left It's known to chemistry that
all flesh, and the gclatinous matter
giving consistency to the bones, are
EcsoiVed into carbonic acid gas, VS.
ter and air, while the solid lime dust
usually remains. But in this case
even the phosphate ct limo the bones
ri both graves was all gone! There
stood the guilty apple tree" as was
said at the time, caught in the very
actof 'robbing the grave"
10 explain the phenomenon is not
the design Of this article. Such an
Explanation could be gwen, and many
other similar cases adduced. But
this fact must be admitted the or
ganic matter Of Roger Williams bad
been transmitted into the apple tree
it had passed into the woody fiber,
and was now oabahle of propelIing a
steam engine it had bloomcd IN the
Alurio blossoms, and had become
pleasant to the eye and more, it had
gone into the fruit from year to year,
SO that the question might be asked
E"wbo ate Roger Williams q
ey-"PaPa " said the son Of Bish>
On. BCrk clev 20 what IL Tho n,ponint,