Hello All,
To locate old cemeteries in Indiana, don't forget the Veterans Graves
Registration Project, which was done in many counties in the 1930's by the
WPA. Not all counties were done, but for those that were the information
can be very helpful. The information includes plats of the cemeteries, the
location from nearest roads or landmarks, and a list and locations of the
Veterans buried in the cemeteries. 144 of the 200 cemeteries in Gibson
County were surveyed by the WPA in 1939-1940. We had these records
recorded on microfilm, and are now available in the Princeton library. If
records for your county are not available locally, check with the State
Archives. Your county may be one of the many that were done.
Ernie
At 09:03 PM 5/24/00 -0500, you wrote:
To all interested parties I'd like to submit the following items
for:
Locating a Cemetery
1. Contact the Township Trustee to see if he may have some information on
this particular cemetery or burial site. Visit the office if possible!
Township trustees have many records in storage and if they are truly
interested will dig some of these out and do some research with you.
2. Check old plat books. Most counties have these published and sell at
the auditors office. Check at the county records library
(archives) or Recorders office for old plat records. Many counties
have these back to the early
1900's or earlier. Also check Assessor's records, these are usually
recorded
by Township. Cemeteries were not taxed property, and recorded as such.
3. Check early county histories, Goodspeed did many county histories
around 1885, for name of individuals buried at "Hickory Hill Cemetery"
or family homestead.
4. Check the Indiana State Library Database Cemetery Locator File: The
Cemetery Locator File was created as a tool for the identification
of cemeteries throughout the state. It began many years ago in
card file format from names of cemeteries in books and
microfilm given or purchased for the
Genealogy Division. Cemeteries are included where there are lists of
burials
or simply a location statement.
5. Submit your information as to location of cemetery to: I
Indiana Cemetery Survey. being conducted by the Indiana Genealogical
Society, representative is Sharon Howell, 720 Cynthia Lane,
Whiteland, IN 46184
Telephone (317) 535-9376 E-Mail: Sharon Howell at: sshowell(a)indy.net
Since cemeteries can be the earliest "vital records" of a state, they
are extremely important to the genealogical researcher. Many
times it is difficult for the researcher to locate the cemetery of
their ancestor even when they know where they lived and sometimes
even the name of the cemetery. The purpose of this project is to
provide informed access to the locations of all
Indiana cemeteries, public and private.
Another purpose or side benefit of this survey is to bring to the
attention of the caretakers and public officials the need for
preservation of the cemeteries under their care and supervision. It
is not the purpose of this survey to disrupt the operation of any
existing cemetery or to cause inconvenience to any private individual
or group.
6. Check your local library for cemetery information. In the past, the
DAR has done many inscriptions and put copies of these in a local
library.
Also check the local Historical Society or Museums for information.
7. By all means, record all information that is on a tombstone, even
the stonecutter or monument makers name. Also date your
observation. Take a photograph of the tombstones in question.
If the property owner is reluctant
to provide any information, check with the neighbors, they may
provide information more freely.
8. Check U.S. Geological Survey maps. Indiana Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) has these maps for sale. Also check your local Soil
Conservation Office
for these maps. They show cemeteries on these maps. Not all
cemeteries are
listed.
This is by no means all inclusive, just some ideas to consider. Any
additions
would be most welcomed.
Joseph R. Gogel
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Cemetery: (n) A marble orchard not to be taken for granite.
Ernie Lasley
elasley(a)sigecom.net