Descendants asked to fill gaps in 177 year history >From The TENNESSEAN, July 1, 1999 The names are stripped or fading, the markers cracked and crumbling. Some lean slightly, the weight of more than a century exacting its toll. All have stories to tell tales of mayors and Civil War soldiers, slaves and freedmen snatches of Nashville's history. James and Charlotte Robertson are buried here. So is William Driver, the man who nicknamed the American flag "Old Glory." But it is the other stories, those not recorded in history books that the Nashville City Cemetery Association wants to hear. We want as many as we can get," added Laura Rost, the cemetery association's event coordinator. It is not an easy task. Rost estimates officials know the histories of about 1% of those buried in City Cemetery. And although records are kept of virtually everyone buried there, the 3-by-5 index cards generally consist of little more than the person's name, the date of burial, where they are buried and a one- or two-word description of how each died. There are other problems, as well. Walker says about 20 years of Civil War era records were lost, either to fire or some unknown accident, meaning there is no trace of some of those buried at the cemetery. By tracking down descendants, Rost and others in her organization hope to piece together a more rounded narrative of the cemetery's inhabitants. To do so, the association has sent news releases to several Middle Tennessee newspapers, from Columbia to Clarksville, asking readers to write in if they know they have a relative buried there. Rost is also considering looking for descendants in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, home to the largest genealogical research library in the world. "We know there will be relatives scattered across .the country," Rost said. "We're talking about people six generations removed from many of those buried there." The cemetery, established in 1822, was one of the earliest integrated graveyards in the country. It is home to 22 of Nashville's mayors, two original Fisk Jubilee Singers, the city's founder and a Tennessee governor. City aldermen voted to close the cemetery in May 1878 to prevent the spread of cholera. Since then, only descendants of plot owners have been allowed to be buried there. If you are a descendant of someone buried in Nashville's City Cemetery, the cemetery's association would like to hear from you and get biographical information about your relative. Write to: Nashville City Cemetery Association Metro Historical Commission 209 10th Ave. S., Suite 414 Nashville, TN 37203