"Ohio Genealogical Society" Blog - Featuring Photographs posted from the O.G.S. Cemetery Workshop of 2011

The "Ohio Genealogical Society" not only has a recently re-designed fantastic and user-friendly website, it also has a wonderful blog with great photographs!

Click on title to view the photographs posted on the "Ohio Genealogical Society's" Blog showing hands-on work that was done during their cemetery preservation workshop that was held in September, 2011.

If you are not a member of "O.G.S.", please consider joining and visiting their new library!!

Spotlighting "Find A Grave" Contributor, Robert "Rob" Weller

Click on title to link to Mr. Robert "Rob" Weller's "Find A Grave" Profile Page.

To date, Rob has posted 208,540 grave records (which I often call memorials) on "Find A Grave."

Be sure to check out Rob's interesting listing of "Virtual Cemeteries" as well while visiting his Profile Page.

Rob is to be commended for his dedication and also his courtesy for honoring requests for corrections submitted through the "SAC" -- "Suggest a correction or provide additional information" which, under "Find A Grave's" guidelines, is the proper practice for contacting a contributor for requesting changes on a posted memorial.

Keep up your great work on "Find A Grave" Rob!

More on Gravestone Conservation Online Information

Taking a moment again to review some tips about cemetery preservation offered online.

Click on title to link to the Main Page for the "Connecticut Gravestone Network." Click on "Website Info" and some links appear for categories such as:

Rubbings, cleaning, resetting stones, inscriptions and neglect which all come under the topic heading of "Conservation Topics"

"EHow" - "How to Clear Moss Off a Gravestone"

There are many more sites and links too numerous to spotlight at one time, but please be sure you are not led astray with practices that are harmful to a gravestone.

If in doubt, please check out "The Association for Gravestone Studies" as they are the most trusted resource for learning and practicing the proper methods for restoration work on any type of grave stone or marker.

"Grave Adventures of the Holmes County Library Ladies" - Featuring a video of the Berlin Township Cemetery

Click on link above to view the video produced by the library ladies of Holmes County, Ohio.

Their website is: "Grave Adventures of the Holmes County Library Ladies."

I will also post a permanent link to their website above as there are all sorts of useful and interesting links to view and enjoy!

"Contact Us"

"You can contact the Library Ladies via our address or email below:

Holmes County Library Ladies
Holmes County District Public Library
3102 Glen Drive
Millersburg, OH 44654
330-674-5972, ext.203
Email the ladies at Libraryladies@holmeslib.org"

Announcing Holycross Family Reunion tentatively scheduled for August 25 - 26, 2012 In Or Near North Lewisburg, Champaign County, Ohio

SAVE THE DATE

The bi-annual Holycross Family Reunion for all descendents of John Holycross (b. VA 1740) and his five sons is tentatively scheduled for 25 and 26 August 2012 in or near North Lewisburg, Ohio (exact location TBD).

Monitor the website for details, contact information, and RSVP’s.

Visit: www.holycrossfamilyreunion.com

Please share this information with other family members.

The sons of John Holycross all emigrated to the North Lewisburg, Ohio area in 1810 with their entire families. One son, Abram, later emigrated to Indiana and, ultimately, Illinois. Because of the huge numbers of Holycross descendents still located in the North Lewisburg vicinity, more attendees should be available.

Everyone with a Holycross among their ancestors is encouraged to come and meet your extended family.

Rick

Richard L. Haslep

Tel: +1-817-483-2982

Cell: +1-817-366-8052

4607 Michelle Drive

Arlington, Texas 76016

USA

Update on Cemeteries in Perry Township - Fayette County, Ohio

PERRY TOWNSHIP
Howard D. Smith, Fiscal Officer	11 Zimmerman Rd. SW. WCH 43160	3-31-16
Richard L Wilson, Jr.	9725 Wash.-New Martinsburg Rd. SE, 43160	12-31-12
Heath Dustin Smith	55 Zimmerman Rd. SW. WCH 43160	12-31-13
Sam Bowers	161 Greenfield-Sabina Rd. Greenfield 45123	12-31-13

2012:
Trustees: Cemetery:

Richard Wilson - WALNUT CREEK CEMETERY

Sam Bowers - SUGAR GROVE CEMETERY

Heath Smith - COCHRAN CEMETERY

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From the Perry Township Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2012:

"Pros Attorney explained that the Sugar Grove Church wanted to deed the cemetery to the township, as per Ohio R.C.. The church has had the cemetery surveyed and wants part of it for church parking. The Attornery General of Ohio has a cemetery department but is not involved in this kind of dispute.

After a very long discussion a motion was made by Smith and seconded by Bowers to accept the cemetery back with a $6000.00 settlement payment due upon receipt of deed. There was an agreement for the church to re a line the drive over about ten feet and that the grave that is to be moved, be moved before issueing the deed. Also there was a gentleman’s agreement that a church board member would meet with a trustee some time each year to review the line fence.

Vote to accept this was 3 Yeas.

Link to "What's New at Grave Addiction"

Click on title to link to "What's New at Grave Addiction" on the "GraveAddiction" website.
There are several newer links posted with photographs at Ohio cemeteries.

In the left-hand column with the heading:
"Click on any of the titles in the option box below to view the photo:" is a listing of photographs of the designated cemetery . Most cemeteries are in Ohio, however, a few are from other states. Even if a person's name isn't listed as such in the link, it might be worthwhile to click through the links as there may a surprise waiting for you at your chosen cemetery!

Some Upcoming Meetings in Northeastern Ohio from the "Cleveland District Round Table" website

Click on title to link to the 
"Cleveland District Round Table" website.

Abstracted from their website:

"Monday 6 February 2012 7:00 p.m. "Stories in Stone: A Grave Marker or a Legacy?" 

will be presented by Michael and Monica Johns of the Johns-Carabelli Monument Company at the meeting of East Cuyahoga County Genealogical Society." 

******

Ross de John Community Center, 6306 Marsol Road, Mayfield Hts. OH 44124

 "Thursday 29 March 2012 10:00 a.m. 

Alan Rabe will discuss "Graveyard Restoration"at the meeting of Lake County Genealogical Society."

****** 

Morley Library, 184 Phelps Street, Painesville, Ohio 

(one block south of US 20 at State Street.

Spotlighting Congress Green Cemetery in North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio on "Ohio History Central"

Learn more about the Congress Green Cemetery and its history on the website "Ohio History Central" - click on link above.

Currently, "Find A Grave" has 103 burials listed at the Congress Green Cemetery.

Announcing a Meeting scheduled for 7:00p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Library in North Ridgeville, Lorain County, Ohio

“Tombstone Symbolism and Photography”

Announcing an upcoming meeting featuring a presentation about Tombstone symbolism and photography:  

When: May 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Where: North Ridgeville Branch Library, 35700 Bainbridge Rd., North Ridgeville

 

"Terry Hart will discuss the meaning of symbols and icons found on American tombstones. 

An understanding of the symbolism may help researchers learn more about their ancestors and better appreciate the actual artwork of tombstones.

Social time: 6:30 pm, program & meeting 7:00 pm

Contact Jean at jecopeland1975@gmail.com or Pete at hritsko@centurytel.net for more information."

Spotlighting Martha Ann Spain Bishop buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery in North Lewisburg, Champaign County, Ohio

Click on title to link to the "Find A Grave" memorial for Martha Ann Spain Bishop Wilson who was buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery in North Lewisburg, Ohio.

 

Monument for William Wilson and his wife, Martha Ann Spain Bishop Wilson.  

 Photograph courtesy of Mr. Ralph Lowell Coleman, Jr.  

Ralph also has provided her burial location in Maple Grove Cemetery:  Square 70, Lot 3, Site 2.

Martha Ann Spain Bishop Wilson was a daughter of Joshua Spain and Mary Inskeep Spain who were buried at the nearby Butcher Cemetery.   

Martha first married married Henry Bishop on August 24, 1854.  He died on April 25, 1880. 

The two children of Martha and Henry were buried with Henry at the Butcher Cemetery.  

Daughter, Emma F. Bishop, died on February 16, 1865.  She was a little more than a year old.  

Son, William A. Bishop, was about 7 years and 8 months old when he died.  All their inscriptions are on the Spain monument at the Butcher Cemetery.  

Update for Sugar Grove Cemetery, Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio

From the December 12, 2012 Meeting of the Perry Township Trustees (Fayette County, Ohio)

"THERE WAS A BIG DISCUSSION ON THE SUGAR GROVE CEMETERY.  WAS RESOLVED TO MEASURE THE POTTERS FIELD AREA FOR APPROXIMATE GRAVE SITES ADDED TO THE GRAVE SITES THAT ARE ALL READY PLOTTED TO COME UP WITH A FAIR AMOUNT FROM THE CHURCH FOR SUCH.  BOWERS IS TO CONTACT THE COUNTY ASSIST PROS ATTORNEY WITH ALL THE PARTICULARS PERTAINING TO CEMETERY AND THE TOWNSHIP HAVING TAKEN CARE OF IT FOR YEARS AND HAVE HIM GET A READING FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS TO THE TOWNSHIP TAKING THE CEMETERY DEED AND CONTROL OF IT BACK AND AS TO WHAT OBLIGATION THE CHURCH OWES TO TOWNSHIP FOR PAST CARE PLUS THE GRAVE SITES IT HAS TAKEN, AND A READING ON THE GRAVE SITE TO BE MOVED,  ONCE A READING IS OBTAINED FROM THE STATE LEVEL THERE WILL BE A MEETING WITH THE TWP BOARD AND THE CHURCH BOARD."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Find A Grave" shows 29 burials at the Sugar Grove Cemetery .

"OhioGravestones.org" shows 4 burials at the Sugar Grove Cemetery.

Also, on "Rootsweb" -  Sugar Grove Cemetery has 22 gravestone photographs on 6 pages. 
                                                                          

Spotlighting the Greenfield Historical Society - Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

The Greenfield Historical Society in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, has a wonderful website containing several links with online information available to the public. 

Click on title to link to the Home Page of The Greenfield Historical Society.

The  Genealogical Information page contains several links including to the Sheep Pen Cemetery listing of 2010.  

Other links include:

Link to the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society (SOGS) 

"SOGS" is the genealogical society for Highland County, Ohio.  Their genealogy resource library collection is kept at Southern State College in Hillsboro, Ohio.

A link to their history of the life of  Noble Edward Irwin - "A brief summary of one of Greenfield's most highly decorated serviceman." 

The three-generation Patterson Family Tree 

The Ravenscroft Family Monument

and several others.

The Greenfield Historical Society
103 McArthur Way
Greenfield, Ohio 45123
(937)981-7890

Email:  

info@GreenfieldHistoricalSociety.org

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If your ancestors lived in southern Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio and/or Madison Township, Highland County, Ohio, the City of Greenfield would be one of the larger nearby cities for them to visit for shopping, etc.  The county boundary line in the early days was "invisible" and many early settlers owned land in both counties. 

Sharing a recent news story about the Ava Maria Cemetery in Watertown Township, Washington County, Ohio

Click on link to read a December 29, 2011 news story featured in the "The Marietta Times" written by Tom Shawver about the history of the Ava Maria Church and adjacent cemetery.  Many members of the Schwendeman family are buried there.  There are five photographs of different views of the cemetery included with his story.

Currently, "Find A Grave" lists 119 interments at the Ava Maria Cemetery.

The Cemetery is listed as the "Ave Maria - Saint John" Cemetery on page 669 of the book, "Ohio Cemeteries: 1803 - 2003" published by the Ohio Genealogical Society in 2003.   

Featuring the "FAQs" of the "Association for Gravestone Studies"

I hope everyone enjoyed a happy and safe New Year for 2012.  

The new year will bring us renewed hope and energy needed to move forward with cemetery preservation projects.  

Some may involve issues dealing with the gravestones themselves.  Transcribing their inscriptions, repairing them, or doing rubbings of the words and symbols on the markers make for an exciting time full of promise and reward. 

The website of "The Association for Gravestone Studies" offers much information on all aspects. 

Clicking on the title takes us to their "Frequently Asked Questions" page which provides many helpful tips. 

Also, please take a look at the Ohio Chapter of the Association for Gravestone Studies on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ohioags