Pike County  Georgia Newspaper Gildar, John Foster

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Lynn Cunningham  lcunnin1@bellsouth.net 

Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm

Pike County, Journal
Zebulon, GA., Tuesday, March 4, 1890

28 Years Ago

Some ladies from Zebulon visited the Gildar family
burying ground near Mt. Zion sometime ago. In looking
around, they came upon the grave of their brother, John
Foster, who had been buried just 28 years and one day. “I
have been often told” said one of the sisters, “that
brother John’s body had been stolen from his grave, and
have always believed it.” After some discussion of the
matter it was decided to have the grave opened and see
whether their suspicions were true. In a short time, the
old metallic coffin, after a sleep of 28 years was once
more brought to light. The wooden box had long since
decayed but the coffin was well preserved. Expecting to
find, if anything, a few unsightly bones the dust was
brushed off the glass front and the ladies looked in.
They found their brother’s corpse as well preserved,
apparently, as the day on which he was buried. The
clothes were spotless, and the features were those of a
handsome young soldier who has been called to fill a
premature grave. Reverently the coffin lid was raised and
a lock of hair was taken as a memento of the halcyon days
of childhood; then the body was again covered and left to
await the resurrection.

John Foster was the son of Robt. K. and in the early days
of the War marched to the front with the “Spalding
Greys.” He had an attack of measles shortly afterwards.
As a punishment for some “old soldiers fun” the
commanding officer required several of his men to carry a
heavy log around the camp fire in the rain. Foster was
among the number, and from exposure and over exertion had
a relapse of the measles and died.

(Transcribed 9/17/02 Lynn Cunningham)