At present the map makers in Washington DC(?) know of an "unnamed" cemetery just south west of the Huntsville in RCI. Before they print a name on the map and include it in a names data base they want proof that the name assigned to the cemetery is correct. That we call it the Huntsville Cemetery is not enough. Perhaps a page from Tuckers, a deed, minutes or a charter for the Huntsville Cemetery Association....if there is one. I guess official in this context means what ever proof is acceptable to the GNIS to get whatever name accepted by them for inclusion in their data base. In the same manner, they know that the church is the Buena Vista Church, but that's not good enough to know it's "the" Buena Vista cemetery. I have seen the plot plan of that cemetery in the cemetery office(?)/shed but paid no attention to the cover or if they had documentation of the true name whatever it is. Hope this helps. The GNIS manager's email address is gnis_manager@usgs.gov Mac "I'm just the messenger" unicorn1945 wrote: > Mac, > > We have family buried in Huntsville Cemetery. Please define "official". > > Thanks, > Shirley > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Mac Main > To: INRANDOL-L@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@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@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@usgs.gov > > > > > > > ==== INRANDOL Mailing List ==== > To Forget One's Ancestors Is To Be a Brook Without A Source, A Tree Without a Root. - Chinese Proverb > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > ==== INRANDOL Mailing List ==== > GENEALOGY:Where You Confuse The Dead And Irritate The Living! > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >