Technically there is a "law" on the books. We looked it up about 8 years ago for Louise Douglass Hudspeth, a fellow member of the GSCM cemetery committee when the developers were working out by the old Fairview Church around Chapel Hill Drive. The developers that I called when they were doing the "upscale" housing development over the line into Howard County surrounding one of the Rawlings cemeteries in the "triangle" at Rawlings station knew about the law. I talked with my namesake, Laura Jane Wyatt Bishop at Sulphur Springs thinking of making an effort to move the Rawlings stones to SulphurSprings cemetery but the developer assured me he was not going to disturb the gravestones because of the law and discouraged my efforts to move them so I suppose they are now in someone's upscale backyard!! (My grandmother's sister Mary "Mollie" Faris is buried therein, a grandaughter of Mary "Mollie" Rawlings Calvert. ) Laura Jane (Pace) Crane -----Original Message----- From: Neil S. Smith <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Sunday, May 06, 2001 2:35 PM Subject: [MOHOWARD-L] Cemetery Ownership >I missed the first part of the discussion of the damage done by the >landowner to the cleanup work done by Berta and others so I don't know what >the agreement there was between the two groups. However, as a member of the >Cemetery Committee of the Genealogical Society of Central Missouri, I can >tell you that it is our understanding that there are no Missouri laws >protecting family cemeteries. Unless you have some agreement concerning >ownership, you have very little legal basis to challenge the land owner. > >Must as we might dislike it, the land owner is free to do with his land what >he wishes, including plowing it under. We need some type of effort in >Missouri to establish laws to protect our heritage and to protect the rights >of the land owner. It may be a long time coming and there are no easy >answers. > >In 1999, I undertook the restoration of the Smith Cemetery in Jackson Twp, >Linn County. Before proceeding I sought the permission of the landowner who >very eagerly agreed to my work. As I later found out, he and I are distant >cousins and we have a great relationship. He takes more pride in my work >than I do. This is the ideal situation which hopefully you can work out in >your situation. > >I am not a lawyer and I suggest you consult appropriate legal counsel. > >Neil Smith >Columbia, MO >