Here is the mistake. Death records recorded at County level were not
recorded by the place of death, they are recorded by area and time. For
instance the city of Marion is separate from Center Twp. and Gas City is
separate from Mill Twp. and so on. When you ascertain the area, in this
case the poor farm, most likely recorded in Mill Twp. books, but possibly
recorded in Gas City books then you look for the date and the persons name.
For instance - City of Marion book. As people died in the city limits they
were recorded, so date of death is very important to locate a person. Also
remember that city limits changed as they were incorporated. They keep
crowding out into the suburbs to get more tax money. This is nothing new
and is still happening today. So what might have been the country or
township in the late 1800's or early 1900's may be withing walking distance
to downtown now. So check both ways. Good luck and I hope this helps with
your searching.
Sheila D. Watson/Grant County Coord and List Mom
----- Original Message -----
From: <LDEAA(a)aol.com>
To: <INGRANT-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 7:11 PM
Subject: Grant County Poor Farm
I have found some names in the Hope Cemetery that I would like to
investigate. The Hope Cemetery is/was the official cemetery for the Grant
County Home, also known as "The Poor Farm". In other words, the Hope
Cemetery is the final home to paupers' graves. The Hope Cemetery has a
rich
and interesting history for all students of Grant County history.
One of the interesting but confounding facts is that the paupers buried in
the cemetery did not receive headstones.
A cousin of mine who lives in Marion recently checked with the Marion
Public
Library and found that the Library does not have any records
pertaining to
the Hope Cemetery.
My cousin then contacted the Grant County Health Department, but found no
records pertaining to the individuals buried in the cemetery. She was
told
to contact the "Poor Farm Office".
When she contacted the office she found that there are no "Poor Farm"
records.
I am a physician who has dedicated my life to the care of everyone,
regardless of their ability to pay, and especially the poor (I am a
physician
at The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, a Catholic based hospital
founded by
the
Sisters of Mercy. Care for the poor is one of our values.) The
thought
that
the indigent of Grant County have been cast off - no grave markers,
no
records, no human in that hole in the ground - is abhorrent to me.
However,
I do not want to get up on a soap box. I just want some help and
direction
in finding information about a particular individual buried in the
Hope
Cemetery.
Can anyone on the list direct me to the appropriate office or person who
can
help me with records and information?
Thanks,
Larry M. Jones, M.D.