Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Spotlighting a "Bryan Times" Veterans Day story that highlights the presentation by Brian D. Fritsch of the Williams County, Ohio G.I.S. Department - published on November 11, 2023.

Sharing a link to this story - "Fritsch Discuses Veterans' Gravesite Dashboard" by the "Bryan Times"  covering this program that was part of the most recent meeting of the Williams County, Ohio Genealogical Society - a Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  

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Here is the main link for Williams County Engineer's Brian D. Fritch, the coordinator of the G.I.S. (Geographical Information System) Department, for the veterans graves locations in the county by utilizing the 1930s - Depression Era - W.P.A. Cemetery plat maps that were created by workers of the Works Progress Administration during that time period. 

These unique cemetery plat maps list the names of veterans who served in American wars, uprisings, and rebellions since the American Revolutionary War. 

Black coffin-like symbols shown on the grave plots of these maps depict where each listed veteran was buried (i.e. row / grave/ lot).  

The corresponding number designating the war they served in is provided, if known, by their name in the listing of all veterans.

Shown below is a composite image of a typical Veterans Graves Registration Project (Works Progress Administration - AKA "W.P.A.") Title Page for the cemetery plat maps used for a collection of these maps for a county in Ohio shown on the top half. 

Below the Project Title image is the numbered list designating the wars, uprisings, and rebellions that American soldiers served in through World War I, which was the last war at the time these maps were drawn.   

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This is the main link for the 
"Williams County Geospatial Hub.":

"The Williams County Geospatial Hub contains useful information about drainage, location, and parcels in the form of interactive maps, apps, story maps, and dashboards."

Williams County Veteran Grave Locations.:

Williams County Veteran Grave Locations.: 

Interactive Dashboard

 Story Map

Web Experience

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Sharing here also is a link to what I feel is a companion website created by the Williams County Recorder. :

"Works Progress Administration (WPA)"

"When the Great Depression hit the United States in 1929, the American economy hit rock bottom. The value of the dollar became nearly worthless and millions of Americans lost their jobs. 

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced “The New Deal,” a series of new programs designed to pick America back up on to its feet and get the economy moving again. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was one of those programs."

"Initially designed to fund the building and improvement of America’s infrastructure, it also funded Veterans Graves Registration, the arts, history, and culture of America. In short, the WPA employed out-of-work Americans who were certified by local agencies as meeting certain qualifications."

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Additionally, note on the left hand side of this page is a listing of each of the townships in Williams County

Accessing each township brings up its listing of cemeteries with their map images. It is best to view them full size.:

Brady, Bridgewater, Center, Florence, Jefferson, Madison, Millcreek, Northwest, Pulaski
Saint Joseph, Springfield, and Superior.

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Williams County, Ohio cemeteries as listed on Find a Grave

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