This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------B9535BFF94826277D0CA39DC Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit "Warren P. Derrick" wrote: > Shirley Schuldt wrote: > > > Earliene, > > > > I wish I lived in DeWitt County. That is really a thin excuse for neglecting a > > cemetery. Isn't there any civic or county pride left? Since you made a trip to > > the county, I believe you don't live there, either. Are there any DeWitt > > Countians on the list? Who and where are the members of the Genealogical > > Society? > > > > Shirley > > > > Earliene Kaelin wrote: (Partial quote for ref. only.) > > > > > I have been told that the condition of Hall Cemetery is partially due to the > > > fact that " those Hall's haven't been in DeWitt for years and years".... > > I suppose I am one of the fortunate ones doing DeWitt Co. research. My ancestors > from there are, with a couple exceptions, are buried in the [Old] Baptist > Cemetery just NE of Kenney off of St. Rt.54. It is in excellent condition and > shows ongoing care, by whom I do not know. There may still be a Baptist Church > Congregation that cares for it, but there is no church at that location any more. > > Tunbridge Cem. is also in good condition, although this past July when I was > there, someone had built what appeared to have been a large bonfire of what > smelled like burnt railroad ties at one end and a couple headstones were lying > off in the overgrowth to the back. > > I agree that it is unconscionable that several of the [family oriented?] > cemeteries are overgrown and uncared for. It seems a small expectation that the > County or the resident farmer should be able, and one might actually hope, > willing to show sufficient respect to keep these "lost" cemeteries mowed. The > comeback would of course be that it costs money to do this and to repair fences > and whatever else need to be done. > > My family on my Father's side (Mom's side was in DeWitt Co.) in E. TN still has a > large number of folks living there. The ancestors are buried in 3 or 4 different > cemeteries within about a 4 mile radius of their original settlement. The > original burial ground is still family owned and the original deed still exists > and is in force. A family member acts in a legal capacity for any questions or > actions that may arise. We donate money for the upkeep of the cemetery and local > family does the work, including having the headstones cleaned by a local stone > mason/restorer. > > While those of us who research DeWitt Co. would like to see all the cemeteries > cleared and fixed up, this may be, sadly enough, impossible without family > involvement and (donated?) money to cover the costs---they will not be cheap. I > wonder too, how many of these family plots are still family owned. Can this be > checked out? If there are families out there somewhere, they should certainly be > willing to help restore their ancestors burial places to a better condition > > Warren Derrick --------------B9535BFF94826277D0CA39DC Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="docdiggs.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Warren P. Derrick Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="docdiggs.vcf" begin:vcard n:Derrick;Warren P. tel;fax:(630) 668-5456 tel;home:(630) 668-5326 x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;523 Delaware Trail;Carol Stream;IL;60188-1415;USA version:2.1 email;internet:[email protected] x-mozilla-cpt:;3 fn:Warren P. Derrick end:vcard --------------B9535BFF94826277D0CA39DC--