Forwarded by Wanda Williams--Notice the headstones transcribed for the Smiths at the end of this long thread. This shows perhaps what hard work can do to save our history. Betty Pace From: Brian Overton <BPOVERTON@DOT.STATE.NC.US> To: ww4411@aol.com Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 14:48:30 -0500 Subject: ROW input Wanda, Thank you for your email from last Friday. I did have a nice Thanksgiving. I have spoken with ROW about the recent legal notice concerning the Smith Cemetery. They said that currently they have put the cemetery relocation on hold with the intention of avoidance. You may want to pass this information on to others, as appropriate. Thank you, -Brian -- Brian Overton Archaeologist North Carolina Department of Transportation (919) 733-7844 ext 272 Dear Ms. Williams: Good news. I checked with my staff who in turn checked with DOT. Plans are being made to save your family cemetery. Please see the exchange of emails below. Thanks for bringing this matter to my attention. Dr. Jeffrey J. Crow, Deputy Secretary Office of Archives and History 4610 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4610 (919) 733-7305 *This message may not represent the policy of the Department of Cultural Resources. This email may be subject to North Carolina public records laws and could be disclosed to third parties. -----Original Message----- From: Renee Gledhill-Earley [mailto:renee.gledhill-earley@ncmail.net] Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 2:52 PM To: Mary Pope Furr Cc: Sarah McBride; Jeff Crow; David Brook Subject: Re: [Fwd: FW: Please help me save my Schmidt/Smith Family Cemetery] Mary Pope: Thanks for the quick checking and good news. I won't be able to make it, but by cc I'm asking Sarah to go with you to check on the cemetery. Also, I've copied Jeff Crow and David so they'll know that NCDOT and SHPO/OSA are on this together. Renee Mary Pope Furr wrote: Archaeology was made aware of the cemetery last year, and when they spoke with construction they were told it would be avoided. Obviously this did not work itself out as the current plans show a cut through the cemetery and the graves relocated. Archaeology has already consulted with construction and ROW again and they are meeting to look at avoidance alternatives to prevent taking these graves. The Historic Architecture section has never been made aware of the cemetery and after speaking with the Archaeology section, I believe that it would be in our best interest to visit the site this coming Friday with members of the Archaeology staff and hopefully staff from OSA and HPO. There we can get a better idea about the eligibility of the site and it's boundaries. If it is eligible, then we'll have more of a plan for avoidance. Would you like to come with us on Friday? I know that Archaeology is also asking OSA to attend. Renee Gledhill-Earley wrote: Mary Pope: Will you please look into this. I see that Brian Overton has been in touch with the lady about it. So, I'll also check with him. With graves that old and connections, is there any possibility that it was looked at for something other than archaeology? Thanks, Renee Subject: FW: Please help me save my Schmidt/Smith Family Cemetery Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 08:38:40 -0500 From: Jeff Crow <JCrow@dcrmail.dcr.state.nc.us> To: David Brook <david.brook@ncmail.net>, "Steve Claggett (E-mail)" <steve.claggett@ncmail.net>, "Renee Gledhill-Earley (E-mail)" <renee.gledhill-earley@ncmail.net>What's the story on this cemetery? Is it being moved? What are the alternatives?Obviously, we are being subjected to a letter writing campaign. This is the most substantive one I've seen. Dr. Jeffrey J. Crow, Deputy Secretary Office of Archives and History 4610 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4610 (919) 733-7305 *This message may not represent the policy of the Department of Cultural Resources. This email may be subject to North Carolina public records laws and could be disclosed to third parties. -----Original Message----- From: Ww4411@aol.com [mailto:Ww4411@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2002 1:03 AM To: jeff.crow@ncmail.net Cc: david.brook@ncmail.net; renee.gledhill-early@ncmail.net Subject: Please help me save my Schmidt/Smith Family Cemetery Dear Mr. Crow: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS BEFORE YOU READ! When I first saw the construction of I-85 at the Salisbury exit at Innes Street I knew it wouldn't be long until it reached the site of my old family cemetery and knew that it would again be in jeopardy of being disturbed. It has been saved twice from destruction....once when I-85 originally came through in the sixties when my Uncle John Ketchie (owner) gave right-a-way for the interstate with the understanding that the family cemetery would not be disturbed (that's why there is a curb to the left heading north bound from Salisbury in the interstate so not to go through the cemetery) Then after he died and the land was passed to my Aunt Brenda Ketchie Lylerly when Aldi wanted to buy the land....she asked that they not disturb the cemetery and they didn't. It is not abandoned...just very old...the last person I know buried there was in 1831. It's hard to even get to the cemetery....as the road was covered up during the Aldi construction and earth moving...and the no trespassing signs that were posted. So I parked on I-85 and climbed the fence back in April 2002 and sent emails to everyone possible to try and help save the cemetery...A Mr. Brian Overton, an archeologist with the NC D.O.T. responded back and forth with me for several weeks and then called me by telephone and told me that he had good news that the cemetery was not going to be disturbed and wasn't going to be moved....now in an article of the Salisbury Post on November 11, 2002, it stated it will be moved! Click here: Workers will move family cemetery The article was confusing because there are indeed headstones in the cemetery...and they are readable...just small in design. I went to the cemetery in August 2002, and tied fluorescent ribbons all around in the cemetery so if anybody with the D.O.T. happened upon it would plainly see that it was a cemetery. I also have digital pictures of the remaining Tombstones (6) which I can forward to you via email. The other markers were evidently of wood and no longer exist as the cemetery is over 200 years old! There is a 1759 Rowan Militia Patriot - George Michael Schmidt/Smith a Revolutionary Soldier - Jacob G. Smith, (Whig) and a Civil War Soldier - John D. Shenk Smith, (Infantry) all buried in this family cemetery. It has been estimated that there may be as many as 50-60 graves in the cemetery and I have not yet researched the rest. The Smith Cemetery is listed along with cemetery photos in a book, "Obscure Cemeteries of Rowan County," written by Dr. Kenneth Sells, June 1988. which is available in the History Room of the Rowan County Library at Salisbury, NC The original parcel of land was deeded to Peter Schmidt, first ancestor of my family to arrive in America. He was buried in the family cemetery after his death in 1775 along with his wife Barbara. His son, George Michael Schmidt/Smith Born: 1727 Died: Oct. 23, 1814 was one of the first German Settlers in Rowan County, Salisbury, NC He was a patriot who served in the Rowan County Militia of 1759, (same militia as Squire Boone and Daniel Boone), against the hostile Indians of the area protecting the citizens, even before he was naturalized as a US Citizen! (listed on 1759 Militia List in Rowan County Archives.) He was an appointed Justice of the first court ever held in Rowan in June of 1753, (Pg. 16, The Rowan Story, by James S. Brawley) to help lay out the land for the site of the new township and to select the name for it, (Salisbury) He continued as a Justice of the Peace until his death in 1814, serving Rowan County and it's Citizens. His name is on the first list of Rowan County Taxpayers, which was found in the old courthouse walls in 1944 by William D. Kizziah, Register of Deeds ( Pg. 351, The Rowan Story, by James S. Brawley) Certainly George M. Smith was one of Rowan County's "true" founding fathers of civic import. The Schmidt/Smith cemetery should be preserved. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Rowan County and is indeed a very significant historical resource of early colonial Rowan County and Salisbury, NC. I am very distressed...I know that progress is inevitable but our heritage is being destroyed daily by new construction and a lot of times it can be avoided. The Old County Home Cemetery, which is currently proposed, is a total disgrace! The attempt by the N.C. D.O.T. to locate and notify family members occurred only after the state and county had made its decisions. The Newspaper article was incorrect in stating that I, Wanda T. Williams had been notified! I contacted them when construction first began and was told the Cemetery was not in their plans for right of way or destruction! I have rushed to notify all Schmidt/Smith, Ketchie Descendants of the N.C. D.O.T.'s plans to move our family cemetery which I was lead to believe was safe from demise. The N.C. D.O.T. has completed the four notices in the Salisbury Post conforming to their "legal" obligations. The sad truth is that there are a lot more descendants living out of state than the ones living in Salisbury, N.C. and a lot didn't even see the article in the paper. So my quest has been to let them know and to contact Mr. Eaton's office with the N.C. D.O.T. in opposition to the move. I am sorry to say that at this point in time, my efforts may be futile, but I will not get discouraged...not only due to the soiling of my personal heritage but of George Smith and my other ancestor's historical significance to the Trading Ford area, of Rowan County, and Salisbury, NC! Pleasehelp me stop this desecration. I have been told by local people that the SHPO will just turn a deaf ear. I sincerely hope this is not the case Can you, will you, help me? Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my email and for anything you might possibly do in my quest to save the family's cemetery. Respectfully, Wanda T. Williams gggg-grandaughter of George Michael Schmidt/Smith 269 Johnson Dairy Rd. Mooresville, NC 28115-9780 (704) 664-7595 #1 Headstone My Dear Wife Mary Smith (Bruner) Died Jan. 15, 1814 In The 81st Year of Her Age #2 Headstone In Memory of George Michael Smith (Schmidt) Who Departed This Life October 23rd In The Year Of Our Lord 1814 And In The Eighty Seventh Year Of His Age #3 Headstone In Memory of Rachel Rough (Smith) Wife of Daniel Rough Born In 1799 and Died Dec. 3, 1817 In the 18th Year Of Her Age #4 Headstone In Memory Of Michael H. Smith Son of William and Elizabeth Smith Born In The Year Of Our Lord April 11th 1807 Departed This Life October 9th, 1830 Aged 23 Years Five Months and 28 Days #5 Headstone In Memory of William Smith Departed This Life On The 5th of May 1819 #6 Headstone In Memory of David Smith Son of William and Elizabeth Smith Was Born in The Year of Our Lord April 7, 1798 Departed this Life January 22, 1831 Age 31 Years 9 Months and 15 Days