Judy - That makes more sense, thank you! The grounds were well kept, but the poor older graves were not in good condition. I even picked up a few of them and propped them up, so they were at least, not laying on the ground. Maybe some day I will go back and try to wipe down some of them that "might" be able to be read, but I know you have to be careful how you do that. Maybe Bettye will help me with that. I think my Mother's cousin said, that she believed there was a back section that the poor were allowed to have, without payment. Now that I think about it, there are 2 sections and the one further away from the main traffic, does look like really old tombstones and are definitely separate from the others. There are some old ones and new ones up front, but, like you said, they most likely could afford to pay for their own. Good to hear that you are related to one of the persons there. I tried to get as much information as I could, in case somebody on the list, was looking for a name. Thanks again! Jan Scott In a message dated 10/2/2010 11:09:47 A.M. Central Daylight Time, jwhaleykzoo@gmail.com writes: I think that a nonendowed cemetery is one that does not have an endowment for perpetual care. It would be important for people to know that that was the case. My husband is a descendent of Ursinus Hoy on Jan Scott's list. He certainly could have paid for his own burial so I don't think a nonendowed cemetery is one just for the poor. Maybe it was expected that the Odd Fellows would care for it without an endowment. We found it rather bedraggled when we were there three years ago. Judy Whaley