Mac,
We have family buried in Huntsville Cemetery. Please define "official".
Thanks,
Shirley
----- Original Message -----
From: Mac Main
To: INRANDOL-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:37 PM
Subject: [INRANDOL] Cemeteries listed by the GNIS. GNIS needs our help to document
names. (LONG)
So what is the GNIS? It's a great database by the US Geological Survey.
Try it at:
http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.gnis_web_query_form
Enter, Indiana, Randolph and cemetery from the type list and
you will get 39 cemeteries listed with maps linked.
Not listed are the Huntsville & Buena Vista cemeteries
(and perhaps others). I emailed the GNIS Manager and asked why
Huntsville and Buena Vista were not listed. I got a response
asking what the names were and I responded:
> To the best of my knowledge the name of the Randolph County IN
> cemetery adjacent to the town of Huntsville is "HUNTSVILLE CEMETERY."
>
> The cemetery a few miles due north of there is adjacent to the
> Buena Vista Church and is named "BUENA VISTA CEMETERY.
>
> Again, both these cemeteries are indicated on
topozone.com maps
> and why they are missing from the GNIS is beyond my comprehension.
>
> Thank you for looking into this matter and possibly adding them.
>
> M. M. Main
I got two responses, the first quoted only in part:
> So, we have not been successful in discovering a source
indicating a name
> for these two cemeteries. Further, this database is the National
> Geographic Names Database, and is the repository for official geographic
> names and locative attributes about named entities of all types of which
> cemetery is but one type. We often have to prioritize materials for
> examination in collecting information. We are keenly interested in adding
> information. For features that are not natural features, that is,
> cemeteries, etc., if you can provide verifiable information, such as
> reference to a map or written document with the name and location, we shall
> be happy to include additional entries. Also, individuals can provide to us
> the name and locative attributes along with a citation of the source that
> shows the name. Thank you for the interest.
>
> Manager GNIS
> 703.648.4544
> gnis_manager(a)usgs.gov
> We appreciate this information, but please refer to our previous
email.
> We shall investigate as time permits, but with our small staff and other
> priorities, it could be days, weeks, or months before we can verify the
> information. As indicated, if you can provide a verifiable citation for
> these names, we can add the entries quickly.
> Manager GNIS
> 703.648.4544
> gnis_manager(a)usgs.gov
I responded as follows:
Thank you for both your responses and I do understand and appreciate
the problem you have with the name having to be "OFFICIAL."
I'd like permission to share this response and the quoted portion
of your prior response with the Randolph County genealogical mailing
list at
rootsweb.com where there are many interested folks, one of
whom may be able to provide certifiable names for the Huntsville and
Buena Vista cemeteries.
and the response was:
Yes, thank you for offering to do so. We should be very interested
in any
information they have to offer.
Manager GNIS
703.648.4544
gnis_manager(a)usgs.gov
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