“Undertaker AP Smalley of the Lynn morgue had failed to receive any word from relatives of Ellis Brown, negro, who died Friday when overcome with coal gas at a Star Yard brick plant. Although relatives were located and word was sent to them, no word as to what disposition to make of the body has been received. The remains will be buried Tuesday in the county burial grounds on the West Side.”1
Ohio Certificate of Death for Ellis Brown2
From the above story on June 26, 1922, it would seem apparent that the burial would have taken place in the burying grounds of the Scioto County Infirmary, as were many that resulted from dying in the county of Scioto and not in the city of Portsmouth. However, a review of both the above certificate of death, filed on June 26, 1922, and the sexton records of Greenlawn Cemetery, show a burial for Ellis Brown at Greenlawn Cemetery (Lincoln Section, Lot 27) and not the county burying grounds. Additional research into how the burial lot was made available would be needed to see if the employer, Harbison & Walker (now HarbisonWalker) took charge of the burial expenses or if the city of Portsmouth ordered the burial to take place.
