Police Say Man Stole From Graveyards Wednesday, February 8, 2006 ANGOLA, Ind. - A man allegedly found with about 80 items taken from local graveyards in his apartment has been charged with six counts of theft, police said. Police found the items in the home of Gregory Allen Shipe, 21, of Ashley. They include colorful porcelain crosses, ceramic figures, lanterns and an elephant statue. Steuben County police were asking people to identify the items so they could be returned to the gravesites in Steuben and DeKalb counties in northeastern Indiana. So far, at least 10 items have been returned, said Steuben County sheriff's Detective John Rowe. Shipe was arrested Friday and was being held at the Steuben County Jail Wednesday on $20,000 bond. His next court date is March 6. Shipe's brother told police that he had seen about 100 items at Shipe's apartment. Shipe's wife said her husband told her the decorations came from a junk yard. Shipe told police Friday that he and two other men took the items from four cemeteries Jan. 30. --- Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net

Hello all I have added the following cemetery in Huntington County on line. This cemetery was photographed in 2001 so newer burials are not shown. The France Cemetery in Huntington County, Indiana is at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~whumphrey/france_cemetery.html If you find any corrections that need to be made please let me know. If anyone wants me to take higher resolution photos for them I will, but it will have to wait until I get home from Arizona in the spring. G. Wayne Humphrey

> From;Jackbriles@aol.com > Subject: Jenkins Cemetery at St Joe Catholic Church > Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 12:25:22 EST > > > In a message dated 2/14/05 5:21:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, > oldturtle13@boldnet.net writes: > > The following E-mail has some discrepancies in it, as to the size of the > Jenkins Cemetery, which is One Acre, not 40 X 40 as I stated. Also since the > Cemetery is One Acre and not as I described it, the Jenkins Cemetery Sign is > well within the Cemetery. I apologize to the Descendants of the Jenkins family. > The description I wrote was from my Observations at the time. I had just had > a discussion with the Priest and was answering Mrs. Sonneson without knowing > the actual size. I apologize to her or any other members of her family That > may have take offense over my E-mail. Sincerely Jack E. Briles Sr. jackbriles@aol.com > Linda, > My wife Betty and I went out and talked to Father JR (as he prefers to be > called) He said he did not know about the sign until it was up. He said your > > husband installed it without his knowdlege. Actually, he has a point. The > sign is > not in the cemetery, but down the hill on obvious church property. It really > > should have been placed on the hill top at the cemetery. (not true) > I am going to look for an Exception on the deed, if there is one. He > said the Archdiocese in Indianapolis thinks that with the sign you may want > to > claim that whole plot of land. He also said, where had your family been for > the last 100 years while the church mowed the property. Actually that is not > a > valid question. The INPCRP is in the process of correcting this, along with > the > Trustees and the DNR and DHPA. Many cemeteries were neglected until the last > > 8-10 years and now the families want to restore them and maintain them. > There > was a long period of time when nearly all cemeteries were neglected, and > farmers and others were removing the stones and using the ground, because > there was > no law preventing it, but times do change, as it has now with computer > connections. Letter writing was so slow nothing ever happened. > I explained to him I have no Legal powers of any kind, I only volunteer > to help resolve things like this. I am not employed with the state, nor any > other group. I am a volunteer. He also assured me the cemetery would not be > moved, disturbed nor used for any other purpose. The area is as Sacred and > secure > as the church cemetery on the other side of the church. And as far as future > > burials, they have Acres of open space. In fact he said the Archdiocese is > going > to start building what he called a "Columbarium" (May not be spelled > correct) > and recommend Cremation and the remains placed in a Small niche. They can't > bury forever without running out of space. > Land is becoming so hard to come by, and is very expensive. But the > Jenkins cemetery is safe. If the sign would have been at the top of the hill > I > believe it might not have been a problem. I estimated the Graveyard at no > more > than 40 X 40 feet, and the sign is about 150 feet away down next to the > Parking > lot, and on church Property. (Not True.) > Naturally the church gets nervous if it looks like they are going to lose > such a large piece of land. Maybe if you contacted the Priest about moving > the > sign up the hill to the cemetery, and assured him you had no intentions of > claiming the whole > (I guessed 3 Acres) area, you might be able to work out an agreement. It's > worth a try. > > Sincerely, > Jack E. Briles Sr. > Floyd-Clark Co. INPCRP Coordinator > PO BOX 444 > New Albany, In. 47151-0444 > (812)282-6585 >

To my best knowledge the Sharp Cemetery is under the control of Salem Township Trustee. Tommy Crawford is the Salem Township Trustee located in Delaware County. The Pioneer Cemetery Preservation Committee of the Delaware County Historical Society met this past week and have talked to Tommy about getting together and discussing Salem Township's pioneer cemeteries under his control. It has planned to have Tommy Crawford come to the next meeting which will be Feb. 16 at 6:30 pm at 125 W. Washington at the Delaware County Historical Society. Everyone is invited to come. Connie Jackson has approached me and is very concerned about another Salem Township cemetery which is Heath Cemetery. She took pictures of the toppled markers. She wants to get together with Tommy as well. She has contacted other descendants of interred individuals located in the Heath Cemetery. Thanks for the interest in Delaware County's pioneer cemeteries. The Delaware County GenWeb shows the traumatic destruction in the some of Delaware County's Cemetery's. Mark Kreps mjkreps@gmail.com Muncie, IN On 1/21/06, Bob Alloway <ralloway@earthlink.net> wrote: > > > > > > _____ > > From: unicorn1945 [mailto:unicorn1945@sbcglobal.net] > Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 9:47 PM > To: Bob Alloway > Subject: Re: CEMETERY DESTRUCTION > > > > Bob, > > > > I'll let you take a look for yourself. There are five or six pages of > photos of the destruction. > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~indelawa/sharp-cem-vandalized.html > > > > As I understand it, the destruction started several years ago with kids > partying in the cemetery and has continued on a fairly regular basis. I > called the twp trustee and got one msg back on my answering machine. I > have > called twice since and got no return calls. I haven't been to the > courthouse yet to see who is paying taxes on the property but, if my > source > of information is correct, even a private owner has certain laws he must > meet and this one violates at least a few. > > > > Sharp Cemetery is one of the oldest in the county and is a pioneer > cemetery. > > > > > Thank you, > > Shirley Pearson > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Bob Alloway <mailto:ralloway@earthlink.net> > > To: 'unicorn1945' <mailto:unicorn1945@sbcglobal.net> > > Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 12:10 PM > > Subject: CEMETERY DESTRUCTION > > > > Call the trustees office in your township and see if they own it. If it is > on private ground you maybe able to go to courthouse in Muncie and have > assessor look it up. Is it being vandalized or farmed over? > > > > Jeannie can advise you what action she can take. In some cases, where the > land owner is doing the destruction, she can get him to stop. Let me know > what you find out.. What is the location of the cemetery, and the name.. > > > > She maybe out of her office on Friday`s..Bob > > > > > _____ > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > >

_____ From: unicorn1945 [mailto:unicorn1945@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 9:47 PM To: Bob Alloway Subject: Re: CEMETERY DESTRUCTION Bob, I'll let you take a look for yourself. There are five or six pages of photos of the destruction. http://www.rootsweb.com/~indelawa/sharp-cem-vandalized.html As I understand it, the destruction started several years ago with kids partying in the cemetery and has continued on a fairly regular basis. I called the twp trustee and got one msg back on my answering machine. I have called twice since and got no return calls. I haven't been to the courthouse yet to see who is paying taxes on the property but, if my source of information is correct, even a private owner has certain laws he must meet and this one violates at least a few. Sharp Cemetery is one of the oldest in the county and is a pioneer cemetery. Thank you, Shirley Pearson ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Alloway <mailto:ralloway@earthlink.net> To: 'unicorn1945' <mailto:unicorn1945@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 12:10 PM Subject: CEMETERY DESTRUCTION Call the trustees office in your township and see if they own it. If it is on private ground you maybe able to go to courthouse in Muncie and have assessor look it up. Is it being vandalized or farmed over? Jeannie can advise you what action she can take. In some cases, where the land owner is doing the destruction, she can get him to stop. Let me know what you find out.. What is the location of the cemetery, and the name.. She maybe out of her office on Friday`s..Bob _____

With an estimate of 100,000 cemeteries in Indiana, getting them registered is a daunting task. Jeannie Regan-Dinius, Special Projects Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, is charged with just that task under the Indiana General Cemetery Act. Based in Indianapolis, she is gathering information on any property in the state on which human remains are buried. This includes cemeteries of any size regardless of ownership of the property. She visited the Duneland Historical Society on Thursday, May 15 and told of her work and how the public can help. State law governs cemeteries and with the Cemetery Registry under the IDNR, policing is done by conservation officers. Regan-Dinius encourages the public to alert her office in case of disturbance, vandalism or looting in cemeteries. In a recent case a woman called to report that her neighbor had removed gravestones for a construction project. Vandalism is a major problem with Indiana Cemeteries and a variety of state laws now protect cemeteries. She said cemeteries in Indiana contain many art works and are helpful sources of information for genealogists. Planned construction within 100 feet of cemetery property must be reported and approved in advance. In order to visit a cemetery which is reached through private property, permission must be granted by the property owner. When questioned about unused plots, she said unless it is specified in the deed the plot cannot be re-sold without the permission of the owner or his or her heirs. In the case of the Chesterton Cemetery, the deeds say that a plot can be re-sold after 100 years if not used. She was asked about rubbings of grave markers. She said this is not illegal but rubbings do damage the stones. Regan-Dinius says many cemeteries in Porter County are listed but she welcomes information from citizens. The Duneland Historical Society invites anyone knowing of a small cemetery in Porter county to call with the name and location and the DHS will work with Regan-Dinius to be sure it is listed. Call Betty Canright, 926-3231. Posted 5/19/2003

Two Chesterton residents were taken into custody on Wednesday and a third was today in connection with the vandalism of St. Patrick Catholic Church Cemetery and the spree of thefts in the neighborhood of Bailly Elementary School early Monday morning. Robert Morris, 18, has been charged with cemetery mischief, a Class D felony. He has also been charged with possession of stolen property in an unrelated case from October and use of a stolen credit card. Morris was in custody at Porter County Jail. A 17-year-old boy is similarly facing a delinquency charge of cemetery mischief and an additional charge of theft after Chesterton Police said that he stole a statue of the Virgin Mary from a grave site. He was detained at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center. A second 17-year-old boy is facing a delinquency charge of cemetery mischief as well. He was taken into custody late this morning and was to have been transported to JDC. Det. Lt. Dave Cincoski of the CPD told the Chesterton Tribune today that the break in the case came on Wednesday when Morris-whom Cincoski had been looking to interview in connection with several other cases and whom he found staying at an apartment at Barrington Bridge, immediately south of the cemetery on South Calumet Road-confessed his involvement both in the cemetery vandalism and in the theft spree. Cincoski said that Morris also implicated the two juveniles. In addition to recovering from Morris' residence a radio taken from Sixth Street in a previous theft, Cincoski said, he recovered as well at least two items removed early Monday morning from a vehicle parked in the 700 block of Taft Street: a cowboy hat and a digital camera. Morris has not yet been charged in connection with the theft spree, Cincoski said, but "charges are forthcoming." Meanwhile, when taken into custody the first 17-year-old boy admitted to removing the statue of the Virgin Mary and carrying it home, Cincoski said, and that statue was recovered at the boy's residence. According to Morris' account, Cincoski said, the three of them vandalized the cemetery prior to the theft spree. They apparently had no particular motivation, Cincoski added. "Just because they wanted to. It was on their way to where they were traveling on foot." At least 40 monuments and headstones were toppled to the ground at the cemetery and an initial estimate put damage at $10,000. Porter County Crime Stoppers made the vandalism its Crime of the Week and rewards totaling $2,000 were offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Posted 1/19/2006

The local NBC news station (WFIE Ch 14) just ran a story about vandals turning over hundreds of markers in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Chesterton IN. The story said many of the stones are damaged or destroyed. Anyone on here in that area?

Thanks! Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark Kreps To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 6:22 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Hamilton County Cemetery Commission 2004 Commission Report lists Joe Burgess, Chair Address: 384 N 11th, Noblesville, IN 46060 On 1/18/06, Rich Green <rgreen@insightbb.com> wrote: > > To the list: > > I'm trying to locate contact information for the Hamilton County Cemetery > Commission? > > Thanks in advance for any assistance. > > Regards, > > Rich Green > Historic Archaeological Research > 4338 Hadley Court > West Lafayette, IN 47906 > Office: (765) 464-8735 > Mobile: (765) 427-4082 > www.har-indy.com > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > To UNSUBSCRIBE, send message consisting only of > "UNSUBSCRIBE" to INPCRP-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com > or to INPCRP-D-REQUEST@rootsweb.com (for DIGEST version) > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

2004 Commission Report lists Joe Burgess, Chair Address: 384 N 11th, Noblesville, IN 46060 On 1/18/06, Rich Green <rgreen@insightbb.com> wrote: > > To the list: > > I'm trying to locate contact information for the Hamilton County Cemetery > Commission? > > Thanks in advance for any assistance. > > Regards, > > Rich Green > Historic Archaeological Research > 4338 Hadley Court > West Lafayette, IN 47906 > Office: (765) 464-8735 > Mobile: (765) 427-4082 > www.har-indy.com > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > To UNSUBSCRIBE, send message consisting only of > "UNSUBSCRIBE" to INPCRP-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com > or to INPCRP-D-REQUEST@rootsweb.com (for DIGEST version) > >

To the list: I'm trying to locate contact information for the Hamilton County Cemetery Commission? Thanks in advance for any assistance. Regards, Rich Green Historic Archaeological Research 4338 Hadley Court West Lafayette, IN 47906 Office: (765) 464-8735 Mobile: (765) 427-4082 www.har-indy.com

hat Mark meant to say was that he hasn't presented one YET! The trustees/boards so far have given us 15 minutes or so to make our pitch. The booklet covers a bit about our group's history, the state of PCs around the state, references for laws, what we expect from Trustees, how they can get started, what we can do for them, & a section on Do No Harm. We present each Trustee and board member with a copy; hopefully they will read them. In the 15 minutes, we are introducing ourselves and encouraging them to get proactive in addressing the PCs of their townships. We are also asking them to have any group or individual who contacts them about working in cemetery to contact us as well. We are trying to prevent situations like what happened in Randolph county with the unsupervised scout and the ongoing destruction-in-the-guise- of-restoration in Madison County. It has been a big undertaking, but so far we have been met with enthusiasm. We do, however, have a couple of 'problem' Trustees, we may have a hard time even getting invited to their meetings. Cindy W Delaware County -- -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/207 - Release Date: 12/19/05

I commend your group on your efforts. I still say education is the key. I hope you have positive results come from this. Helen Wildermuth > > What Mark meant to say was that he hasn't presented one YET! > > The trustees/boards so far have given us 15 minutes or so to make our > pitch. The booklet covers a bit about our group's history, the state of > PCs around the state, references for laws, what we expect from Trustees, > how they can get started, what we can do for them, & a section on Do No > Harm. > > We present each Trustee and board member with a copy; hopefully they > will read them. In the 15 minutes, we are introducing ourselves and > encouraging them to get proactive in addressing the PCs of their > townships. We are also asking them to have any group or individual who > contacts them about working in cemetery to contact us as well. We are > trying to prevent situations like what happened in Randolph county with > the unsupervised scout and the ongoing destruction-in-the-guise- > of-restoration in Madison County. > > It has been a big undertaking, but so far we have been met with > enthusiasm. We do, however, have a couple of 'problem' Trustees, we may > have a hard time even getting invited to their meetings. > > Cindy W > Delaware County > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/207 - Release Date: 12/19/05 > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > To UNSUBSCRIBE, send message consisting only of > "UNSUBSCRIBE" to INPCRP-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com > or to INPCRP-D-REQUEST@rootsweb.com (for DIGEST version)

I don't have any work scheduled at this time in Johnson Co. Helen Wildermuth Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration > I`m curious, if Helen Wildermuth or Mark Davis are going to restore any > more cemeteries in Johnson County, beside Messersmith. Cousin Bob > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > THIS IS A CEMETERY ----- > "Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families > are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is > undisguised. This is a cemetery. > "Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, > historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched. > "Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved > in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life - > not the death - of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for family > memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living. > "A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of > yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery > exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always." > --Author unknown -- Seen at a monument dealer in West Union, > IA

Bob, I don't have any cemeteries in Johnson County scheduled for 2006. Mark Davis http://www.geocities.com/md9105/StoneSaverCemeteryRestoration.html?1029172883930 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Alloway" <ralloway@earthlink.net> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 4:20 PM Subject: [INPCRP] lighting a fire > I`m curious, if Helen Wildermuth or Mark Davis are going to restore any > more > cemeteries in Johnson County, beside Messersmith. Cousin Bob > > >

What Mark meant to say was that he hasn't presented one YET! The trustees/boards so far have given us 15 minutes or so to make our pitch. The booklet covers a bit about our group's history, the state of PCs around the state, references for laws, what we expect from Trustees, how they can get started, what we can do for them, & a section on Do No Harm. We present each Trustee and board member with a copy; hopefully they will read them. In the 15 minutes, we are introducing ourselves and encouraging them to get proactive in addressing the PCs of their townships. We are also asking them to have any group or individual who contacts them about working in cemetery to contact us as well. We are trying to prevent situations like what happened in Randolph county with the unsupervised scout and the ongoing destruction-in-the-guise- of-restoration in Madison County. It has been a big undertaking, but so far we have been met with enthusiasm. We do, however, have a couple of 'problem' Trustees, we may have a hard time even getting invited to their meetings. Cindy W Delaware County -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/207 - Release Date: 12/19/05

Henry County Cemetery Commission did the same thing about this time last year for the Trustees- it doesn't hurt to 'remind' everyone about June when they are preparing the budgets for the next year, that funds for cemeteries gets included to be appropriated. Donna T ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Kreps" <mjkreps@gmail.com> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 8:59 PM Subject: Re: [INPCRP] INPCRP > I'm personally not doing the presentations. The Delaware Co. Historical > Society's Pioneer Cemetery Preservation Committee of which I belong, has put > together an educational packet for the Township Trustees. It lets them know > the laws, what the situation is and briefs them on how we have approached > cemetery preservation in Delaware County so far. > > On 1/12/06, ejw13@ccrtc.com <ejw13@ccrtc.com> wrote: > > > > Mark: > > > > Can you elaborate on what you are doing for the Trustees? > > > > Joan > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Mark Kreps" <mjkreps@gmail.com> > > To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 2:25 PM > > Subject: Re: [INPCRP] INPCRP > > > > > > Delaware County is busy doing presentations to Township Trustees this > > week. > > > > On 1/11/06, NTFCANNON@aol.com <NTFCANNON@aol.com> wrote: > > > > > > Floyd County is busy busy busy with locating graves and place > > > and repairring > > > stones. > > > to busy to talk this unpredictable warm spell has the hills humming with > > > activity! > > > > > > All the best, Tom > > > > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > > > "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you > > > have." > > > Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > > > > > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > > This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer > > Cemeteries Restoration Project only. > > Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The surname > > and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com are > > a better venue. > > Thank you. > > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > To UNSUBSCRIBE, send message consisting only of > "UNSUBSCRIBE" to INPCRP-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com > or to INPCRP-D-REQUEST@rootsweb.com (for DIGEST version) > >

I'm personally not doing the presentations. The Delaware Co. Historical Society's Pioneer Cemetery Preservation Committee of which I belong, has put together an educational packet for the Township Trustees. It lets them know the laws, what the situation is and briefs them on how we have approached cemetery preservation in Delaware County so far. On 1/12/06, ejw13@ccrtc.com <ejw13@ccrtc.com> wrote: > > Mark: > > Can you elaborate on what you are doing for the Trustees? > > Joan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mark Kreps" <mjkreps@gmail.com> > To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 2:25 PM > Subject: Re: [INPCRP] INPCRP > > > Delaware County is busy doing presentations to Township Trustees this > week. > > On 1/11/06, NTFCANNON@aol.com <NTFCANNON@aol.com> wrote: > > > > Floyd County is busy busy busy with locating graves and place > > and repairring > > stones. > > to busy to talk this unpredictable warm spell has the hills humming with > > activity! > > > > All the best, Tom > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > > "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you > > have." > > Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) > > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer > Cemeteries Restoration Project only. > Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The surname > and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com are > a better venue. > Thank you. > >

I`m curious, if Helen Wildermuth or Mark Davis are going to restore any more cemeteries in Johnson County, beside Messersmith. Cousin Bob

and posion ivy./oak/sumac is frozen...hopefully Marilynn in NM