This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: seanest Surnames: Classification: cemetery Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.alabama.counties.covington/3075.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Actually my relative has no other relatives in this cemetery. My grandmother Parker was from Elba and married a man named German. Most of their lives were spent in Illinois but they did live for a few years in Poley. The first three children were born in Illinois and this fourth child was born in Alabama. She seems to have died at 11 months old. It must have been heartbreaking to bury your child and move back to Illinois. My mother, who was later born to this couple in Illinois, is the sister of the child buried in Hickory Grove. On the childs birth certificate (Ethel Marie German) it says my grandfather was a fireman. I am wondering if that meant a fireman as we know it today or something else, like a fireman on a train. Any ideas, anyone? I realize that there is no money to fix up these cemeteries. I am reasonably sure I was the first Parker descendent in 90 years to visit this grave. If I lived there, I would do my best to help in whatever way I could, to see the cemeteries get some help. In some communities the boy scouts take on old cemeteries to earn badges, some are taken over by county administrations so they can be maintained. It would be great if genealogical societies could try a community campaign to get people interested. Even the well maintained cemeteries I have been to have their share of broken and overturned headstones. I think it is just a matter of people not caring a whole lot about this subject. And I must admit that before I started a genealogical study of my own family, I never thought about it either. Now, I would love to be able to help out. It is said that genealogy is the biggest hobby in the US so it puzzles me that we aren't doing more to save the old cemeteries. It was great that you responded to my post. I enjoy hearing from people who have the same concerns. By the way, we just loved Alabama. It was so different from my expectations. The rolling hills were very beautiful. Actually it was very like the part of Illinois I grew up in. Next year we hope to join the Parker reunion in Elba and will visit Hickory Grove to see the new monument I had installed. I did ask Lolley Monument if they could help getting a sign put on this cemetery and the unmarked one down the road. People studying genealogy quite often go to the counties where their ancestors lived, spending money and helping that economy. Perhaps that would be a reason for the county to spend the money on signs at the least. Thanks for your post. Susan Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.