Sorry gang, should have included this in my previous post...
I'm not sure how the best way to handle this would be, but I guess I'm
just concerned as to why many of these cemeteries aren't already being shown
on surveys. My lending institution has required a survey of every piece of
property I've ever purchased. Many times this is an un-staked survey,
meaning the private surveyor only draws a map and shows the property
boundries and any encroachments. I would think that if someone had a
cemetery in a housing area, it would be shown on a survey if it's known it is
there. I'm not sure how larger tracts are handled, such as farmground.
Global Positioning is an option to locate, but I don't believe is a legal
form of property description.
I would think that a beginning point would be to go to the old maps and
deed records in all counties to try and determine many of these cemeteries,
since many times the land was set aside as an official cemetery. Even though
the hopes that it would be continued as such may have faded a few years
later, many times they were optimistic enough to have a deed recorded. Old
county maps were also excellent sources for locating these old cemeteries.
Now my quesion....who should be the agency/organization to glean this
information from the county records? (in those counties that it hasn't been
done yet) Granted, a volunteer effort by county historical societies and
organizations will have mixed results, but it may be better than nothing at
all. I guess I just don't see the DNR having the resources to identify these
cemeteries statewide...not in this decade, anyway. Please don't get me
wrong...I think this legislation is wonderful and long overdue. Our first
priority should be the protection of existing cemeteries from further
destruction. Next, we can work on the identification, and then let's work on
preservation and restoration...hopefully with state assistance in funding. I
see no reason why some of our state's lottery/river boat money can't be put
to good use here.
My thanks to Cheryl, Lois, and everyone else who works so hard on this
and who make up for those of us who can't seem to make it to Indy to help.
If you run into any concerns from the Co. Recorders on this issue and would
like to have someone talk to them, please contact me. I sit on the Board of
Directors of the Association of Indiana Counties with their association
president and will be happy to see what I can do.
Kyle D. Conrad
Clerk of the Newton Circuit Court