Robert H. Lovett: My Great-Great-Grandfather

I decided to choose my great-great-grandfather Robert H. Lovett because I found his life very interesting. He was an attorney, member of the US cabinet, lawyer, and a judge.  He was Born on July 2nd, 1860 in Peoria, Illinois and died August 23rd, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois.  My great-great-grandfather was one of nine kids all from his father Robert B. Lovett and his mother Adeline B. White. 








I first began my research through my grandfather's blog which gave great information about Robert H. Lovett. He was a 6'3, blue eye,  and a flaxen haired man (see picture above).  He married Laura Gilson Lovett (right) who was 5'1 and had blue eyes.  Together, they had two kids named Eliot and Helen Lovett. I also learned that Robert H Lovett was a 32nd Degree Mason (someone who is a full Member of the Scottish Rite), whose father was a blacksmith, he was a Circuit Court Judge in Peoria, a local lawyer in Illinois, and then later the Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. in charge of settling claims arising from WWI.   





After looking on my Grandfather's blog, I looked on ancestory.com and found Robert H. Lovett's passport from 1923 with his intention to board the S.S. Leviathan on July 4th, 1923.   At this time the S.S. Leviathan was a steamship, whereas before it was used as a carrier ship for troops during WWI. 

Next, I found this note on ancestry.com which states, "Harry Lovett, youngest brother of James Ashton Lovett. He became a Judge in Peoria. He was appointed Assistant Attorney General by US President Harding. He survived the famous "Teapot Dome" scandal of Harding's administration, untouched and served through two terms under President Coolidge."  The Teapot Dome scandal began in the 1920's and was known for the secret leasing of federal oil reserves by the secretary of the interior (Albert Bacon Fall). Fall secretly granted to Harry F. Sinclair of the Mammoth Oil Company exclusive rights to the Teapot Dome (Wyoming) reserves on April 7th, 1922.  He also granted similar rights to  other people as well.  

After learning much on ancestory.com I decided to google his name.  After googling his name I found his name in the Peoria City and County, Records of Statement book.  In this book it explains where he was born, when he graduated high school, his occupation, and basic information on my great-great grandfather.  





Last, I decided to contact my dad and grandfather for more information.  I learned that Robert H. Lovett grew up in Illinois, but moved his family to DC when he was appointed Assistant US Attorney General and a member of the presidential cabinet.  Then, after the Teapot Dome Scandal, Robert H. Lovett moved back to Illinois because some of the blame was on some of the members in the president's cabinet which disgraced his name.  

Shortly after moving back home, Robert died.  Robert H. Lovett's death was because of a "broken heart" some people from the Lovett family may say.  They say this because Robert H. Lovett had nothing to do with this scandal, he was a respectful man, but this scandal disgraced his name. Lastly, his die in a socket marker (right) may be found at the Brimfield Township Cemetery in Peoria County, Illinois with a memorial ID of 50143526. 

There's a Tombstone on the CofC Campus!?

Have you ever thought about why there is a tombstone to the left of the Robert Scott Small building (right)? Have you ever even noticed it? The first time I noticed this tombstone was about
two months ago when I first started taking my Beyond the Grave: What Old Cemeteries Tell and Teach the Living class.  Although,  I noticed the tombstone, I never knew why it was there.... so I decided to do some research!


This tombstone actually belongs to Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson  who was the mother of President Andrew Jackson who was the 7th president of the United States.  Elizabeth Jackson was born circa 1740 and died in 1781 of cholera.  She got cholera on a ship where she boarded as a nurse to take care of soldiers.






On the tombstone it says, "Near this spot is buried Elizabeth Jackson, mother of President Andrew Jackson."  This confused me a little because it says, "Near this spot is buried Elizabeth Jackson," but according to Post and Courier Elizabeth Jackson's marker was moved in 1967 from its original location which was 2.5 miles uptown. It is not positive where she was buried, but it was moved to CofC's campus in order to keep it safe from its last location.

While it is not sure where her body is buried, there is actually a statue (left) in Waxhaw, North Carolina where she was born.  This statue was created to serve as a monument to all the forgotten, long-suffering mothers of Presidents, past, present, and future. For more info click here!