TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
Some Curious, Some Notable, Some Commonplace.
Collected and Annotated by Edgar Crosby Smith

This as old, old grave; the once trim mound
Is level now with the sloping ground;
From the tangled grass the buttercup
With a startled, wild-fawn air looks up,
And the coarse-leaved burdocks make their home
Where the mower's scythe has ceased to come

Betsey, Wife of Dea. James Cleveland, born Dec. 5, 1797, married at the age of 20 & lived with her husband 62 years.  The mother of ten children and lived to see 48 grandchildren, & 16 great-grandchildren.  Died Apr. 10, 1879, AE 82.  A dutiful wife, a kind mother, a good Christian.

This interesting bit of personal history inscribed on this tombstone, leave to future generations an interesting and valuable record.  The grave is located in the Main street cemetery, Skowhegan, in that part of the town which was once Bloomfield.

The Clevelands were early settlers of Skowhegan; Joseph Cleveland settling in old Canaan in 1777 or 1778, in that part of the town incorporated as Bloomfield in 1814, and, in 1861, annexed to Skowhegan.  Deacon James was an industrious farmer and prominent in the Baptist society.  For 57 years he was a deacon of the church.

His wife was Betsey Parker before their marriage.