"Cemeteries in Genealogy Research" - with Krista Horrocks presentation - November 19 2024

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Thanking Krista for all of her extensive research on the topics that impact cemeteries and the preservation of them, particularly here in Ohio, ranging from stressing the importance of documentation, understanding how the Ohio Revised Codes (laws) impact Ohio's cemeteries, and the importance of researching burial records including the W.P.A. individual veterans' grave cards, and the companion records mostly popularly known as the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat or Plot Maps that are most often found on county Recorder's websites.  Krista points out on the Ohio map the counties where we are still looking to find those cemetery maps for that county.  The Civilian Grave Cards at the O.H.C. are also discussed in this presentation.

How protecting and preserving our ancestors' gravesites helps let their legacies live on through the generations that come after them.  We can do our part to grant them the respect they deserve and to ensure they are not forgotten.

Thank you to the Ohio History Connection and to the Ohio Genealogical Society -- Ohio's most respected resources for Ohio history and Ohio genealogy -- for facilitating this presentation to the public.  Krista Horrocks' presentation is important for all of us researching our ancestors' lives.  Krista does a wonderful job of bringing it all together in a comprehensive manner on this vast subject, thus enhancing our education and answering so many of our questions.  

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Below is a link to the useful handout for Krista's presentation.:
https://www.ogs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CemeteriesforGeneaologyResearch_20241119_Reference-List.pdf

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"Unlocking the Pieces" -- The 2020 Ohio Genealogical Society Conference - "WPA Civilian Grave Registration" - Presented by Krista Horrocks

Sharing this link to the 2020 Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) yearly conference - "Unlocking the Pieces" schedule of seminars and speakers that is listed on line.

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If you are an OGS member you should also be receiving in the mail the hard copy booklet for this 2020 OGS conference - April 29 - May 2 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

Be sure to check out the Friday Page (no page numbers on the hard copy brochure - page 6 online.).

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Note: Reference the tabs with black background and white lettering on the left-hand side.

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Go down the page to the tab titled: METHODOLOGY

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Look under the 10:45AM Column.:

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F21 Researching the Ohio WPA Civilian Grave Registration - Krista Horrocks

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https://www.ogsconference.org/schedule/

The Ohio Genealogical Society is Seeking Historical Accounts of Ohio Cemeteries for publication!

Susan Dunlap Lee, the senior editor of the "Ohio Genealogical Society's Quarterly" publication is seeking contributing authors for this publication on the topic of preserving cemeteries through sharing of historical accounts of those interred in Ohio's cemeteries.  

Susan has provided the following information thus far.:

“..articles are more about the people in the cemetery, their relationship to everyone there, point out military graves, personal data. Sort of "My Town" kind of article that you can put together from those who are buried in the cemetery. Far from the usual cemetery inscriptions.”

Susan Dunlap Lee can be contacted directly at the following email address:  ogsq@ogs.org.

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If you are an Ohio Genealogical Society member, or have access to a library that contains OGS publications, you can reference the recent feature articles about the Stratford Cemetery in Delaware as an example for the type of content, etc. Susan is seeking for publishing cemetery articles.

Example.:

From Vol. 56 No 3. 2016 OGSQ (Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly starting on Page 320.:

"Stratford Cemetery: Restoring a Pioneer Burial Ground in Delaware County, Ohio"

Based on report by John Tetz

(Interview by Laurel Sheppard, OGSQ Assistant Editor)

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Please contact Susan Dunlap Lee directly at ogsq@ogs.org if you are interested in sharing your historical story about an Ohio cemetery you have researched; and/or if have any questions. 

Submission Guidelines

Thank you!

Upcoming Free Class at the Ohio Genealogical Society - April 15, 2016 at 10:00a.m. presented by OGS Library Director, Tom Neel - Join Tom for a "Visit to the Cemetery"

Sharing from Tom Neel of the Ohio Genealogical Society:

"The Ohio Genealogical Society, 611 State Route 97 W, Bellville, will offer a free class on Friday, April 15th, at 10:00 AM. Library

Director Tom Neel will lead a “Visit to the Cemetery” [in the library]. 

Students will learn how to record tombstones, study grave styles and symbolism, and explore preservation methods. 

Pre-registration is suggested by calling the library (419-886-1903) or emailing (tneel@ogs.org).

Classes generally run 1 ½ to 2 hours. The library has no admittance fee for those attending the class. 

They can stay the rest of the day to research in the library if they wish.

We are at Exit 165 on I-71 – a quarter mile past Der Dutchman restaurant."

Tom Neel, OGS Library Director

Upcoming Allen County Genealogical Society Meeting of Pre-Recorded Cemetery Preservation Workshop -- April 17th, at 2:00p.m. - at the Folsum Auditorium in the Allen County Museum, 650 W. Market St., Lima, Ohio

Sharing from the Allen County Chapter of OGS, upcoming for April 17th, 2p.m. chapter meeting open to the public -- pre-recorded presentation of Misti Spillman and her 2015 OGS cemetery preservation workshop.

"You know us genealogists and family historians, we love cemeteries! and our next ACGS meeting will fill the bill!

On April 17th at 2pm the Allen County Genealogical Society presents:

OGS Cemetery Restoration & Preservation Workshop

The Cuyahoga Valley Genealogical Society in collaboration with OGS and Misti Spillman has released a DVD presentation on Cemetery Restoration and Preservation. Misti Spillman, cemetery preservationist, demonstrates how to clean, repair, and reset headstones in this presentation. Sources for appropriate cleaning solutions and tools as well as a manual written by Misti are also presented.

You won't want to miss this info packed event! Join us and learn the real facts on cemetery preservation and restoration. You won't want to miss this meeting! See you April 17!"

Chapter meetings are held at 2:00 PM at the Folsum Auditorium in the Allen County Museum, 650 W. Market St., Lima, Ohio 45801. The public is always welcome and invited to attend."

Sharing News of Two New Publications from the Ohio Genealogical Society: "Ohio's Black Soldiers Who Served in the Civil War" and "Grave Marking Ceremonies"

Sharing information about two new books from the Ohio Genealogical Society:  

"Ohio's Black Soldiers Who Served In The Civil War" 

and

 "Grave Marking Ceremonies."

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If you reside in Ohio: 

To access the Ohio Department of Taxation's Sales Tax Finder Calculator, Click HERE.

Cemetery Preservation News from the Scioto County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

The Scioto County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society's cemetery preservation project was highlighted in a recent news article from "communitycommon.com"

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"An on-going project has been to locate and document cemeteries of Scioto County. 

We plan this year to acknowledge the caregivers of the cemeteries and have some “Wanted Posters” for cemeteries that have been forgotten or neglected in the area with “ADOPT A CEMETERY PROGRAM”. 

Do you know a cemetery that needs a little T.L.C. would you or a group like to donate time to cleanup or cut grass? 

Do you know someone who is already doing this? We would like to say “Thank you” to them for their hard work. 

Please let us know and send us an e-mail to sccogs@sccogs.com We have a member who joined our society because they came to hear our speaker about Gravestone Care. They wanted to learn because they had found a cemetery they had been cleaning up. 

Yes we have some wonderful people who see a need and want to help. We also have wonderful city workers and township officials who care for our cemeteries that need to know we appreciate what they are doing."

Inviting You to View the New Website of "Respectful Interment Preservations"

I am pleased to announce the launch of the new website of  "Respectful Interment Preservations" owned and operated by Mr. Jay Russell.  

Also known as "R.I.P.", the company has long had a presence on Facebook. 

There are also permanent links to "R.I.P." located in the right-hand column here under:

 "Ohio Based Gravestone Preservation Businesses"

Jay is also a member of the Ohio Genealogical Society's Cemetery Committee. He has recently been chosen to be a member on the Ohio Cemetery Law Task Force as the O.G.S. representative.  

"Respectful Interment Preservations" is a company with a background in historic preservation of Ohio's most endangered cemeteries. 

The 2013 Ohio Genealogical Society's Cemetery Restoration & Preservation Workshop -- October 11 and 12, 2013 -- Please see the Ohio Genealogical Website for Details and Registration

The focus of the 2013 Ohio Genealogical Society's cemetery workshop will be at the Norton Center Cemetery where the hands-on workshop will be held.  

"North Cleveland-Massillon Road
Norton
Summit County, Ohio" 

"Located on the west Side of North Cleveland-Massillon Road, south of Greenwich Road."

 

Currently, on "Find A Grave", there are 61 interments listed for the Norton Center Cemetery.  

Congratulations to Jay Russell of Respectful Interment Preservations (R.I.P.) on his Appointment to the Ohio Genealogical Society's Cemetery Committee

Sharing this good news from Jay Russell of  Respectful Interment Preservations (R.I.P.):

"Attended my first meeting at the Ohio Genealogical Society as a trustee. It was great. I have been appointed to the Cemetery Committee and as the liaison for the OGS chapters in Athens County, Vinton County, and Meigs County. I am excited for this opportunity to contribute to the OGS."

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So, if you are an O.G.S. member or an O. G. S. Chapter member of Athens, Vinton, or Meigs Counties, Jay Russell is the cemetery liaison you would need to contact to help you with your cemetery issues.

We look forward to hearing more positive news from Jay and the Ohio Genealogical Society's Cemetery Committee.  

Contact Info

Phone	(330) 722-3713
Email	RIP3747@earthlink.net

Focusing on the Ohio Genealogical Society and the Benefits of being a Member

As many of you who read my blog regularly already know, I am a great 'fan' of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  I am also a long time O.G.S. member who has benefitted greatly from my membership in various ways that have become important to me to further the success of my genealogical research.  

Receiving the publications of the Ohio Genealogical Society are one of the best benefits of being an O.G.S.member!  There is the "Ohio Genealogy News" published quarterly in a quality magazine format. My describing it as a "newsletter" would be shortchanging its wide scope of well researched content found in each issue.  

The "Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly"  always offers in-depth documented stories about such subjects as family histories, church histories, cemetery related stories, bible records, and so much more.     

The Ohio Genealogical Society is also actively involved with cemetery preservation in several aspects including its county cemetery vertical files at the society's library, the once a year hands-on cemetery workshop, and cemetery related links on their website.  

There is an online "Guide to Cemetery Reference Sources at the Library" that is a listing of the books on cemetery subjects the O.G.S. Library holds.  Here you can further link to the "O.G.S. Cemetery Information" to explore even more links to such topics as "Selected Cemetery Laws" and "Cemetery Preservation."

 

The O.G.S. website has a "Ohio Cemetery Locations Free Index" to everyone who visits the site.  It is most helpful for identifying in what county and township your cemetery is located.  For example, I did a random search for "Sheep Pen" and the results were "Highland"  for the county, and "Madison" which is for the township since "Sheep Pen" Cemetery is not located within any city or village limits, and the alternate cemetery names of "Gustin and Limes" are shown. This is helpful if you are only able to identify a cemetery by its lesser known name.

 

Exclusively for members, is the more extensive link titled:  "Ohio Cemetery Locations" which provides greater descriptive details about the location and GPS coordinates; and ownership information, if known, of an Ohio cemetery.

Since our focus is OHIO, exploring the gravesites of our ancestors buried in OHIO, and taking it one step further, the preservation of those OHIO gravesites; the one organization that can help us bring all of this focus together is the OHIO Genealogical Society!  

So, I invite you to spend some time exploring the O.G.S. Website and visit their library when you are in the Bellville, Ohio area.  Becoming a member will give you your greatest advantage, so please don't pass up learning more about how an O.G.S. membership can fulfill your research goals.   

The Ohio Genealogical Society
611 State Route 97 West
Bellville OH 44813-8813
Phone: (419) 886-1903
Fax: (419) 886-0092 

General Correspondence ogs@ogs.org

"Preserving Historic Cemeteries" from the Ohio Historical Society

A link to the "Preserving Historic Cemeteries" found on the website of the Ohio Historical Society is available on this post by clicking on the title, and a permanent link is located on the blog's right column.  

The depth and scope of this information is comprehensive and valuable whether you are someone who is new to cemetery preservation or have been participating in preserving cemeteries and gravesites for some time.  

The key to locating the final resting places of our ancestors rests (and no pun intended!!) with saving their gravesites in the first place, as we all know.  Too many burial sites have been lost already.  Since many folks did not have grave markers placed for them their names do not appear on any tombstone transcription lists.  

The next steps include contacting local cemetery sextons, funeral homes, or researching local church records and libraries or museums. Seeking published obituaries might also help us to discover where burials occurred.  

The Ohio Historical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, and The Association for Gravestone Studies are, in my opinion, the top three organizations that can help researchers who have an eye toward taking the all-important extra steps to preserve ancestral gravesites and monuments that mark their locations.    

Dean Cemetery - South Salem, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio - Progress Report from Scott Andersen

Per "Find A Grave" -- Dean Cemetery:  

"Cemetery notes and/or description:
This cemetery is located east of the center of Lyndon, on a farm once owned by James Dean, then Will Stinson, and then Morton Titus. The cemetery is over grown, and is on the edge of a field currently used for farming."

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Scott Andersen has been photographing the gravestones during his working visits at the Dean Cemetery since 2009.  

He has posted all of the currently documented burials at the Dean Cemetery on the website "Find A Grave."  Most memorials include a gravestone photograph.

Here is Scott's latest report on his project to restore the grounds at the Dean Cemetery:

July 25, 2012:

"Made it out to the cemetery today.  Things have grown up a bit, but its all soft stuff in the areas that we cut last fall.  So, I was able to clear it back out without much difficulty using a weedeater.   I ran out of string after about 20 minutes of work, so I'll have to go out again later in the week and finish up.  In that 20 minutes I cut down about what it took us all day to get through the first time.  So all the work we did last fall wasn't for naught.   Getting it trimmed back to that level will be fine for now, and I'll make another big push when the weather cools off, and perhaps I can burn some of the brush in the adjoining field."  

Scott

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Regarding the photograph below:

"The photo was taken in an area that I didnt get to cut today. We did have this spot cleaned out last fall. Grows fast!  But, it trims back easy."

Per the publication, "Ohio Cemeteries 1803 - 2003", by K. Roger Troutman, Editor, published by the Ohio Genealogical Society in 2003, on page 559, the Dean Cemetery is listed as: "Dean-Old Presbyterian (10341) Cond: N. Owner F. Location:  South of Lyndon.  From SR 28 at Lyndon go 0.6 mile south on Lyndon Salem Road to just north of Buckskin Creek.  East of Lyndon Salem Road 0.4 mile."  

The Condition "N" designates "neglected" to describe the current status at the Dean Cemetery.  The full definition for "N" is found on page 4 of the "Ohio Cemeteries 1803 - 2003" book:  

N:  "Neglected.  These cemetries suffer from benign neglect.  They probably have not been cleaned up or restored in the last ten years or more.  They are slowly disappearing for lack of human intervention to maintain them.  The term abandoned, used previously in the OGS cemetery books and in other publications, is now included in the term neglected."  

Scott deserves acknowledgement and thanks for his returning to the Dean Cemetery on a regular basis to remove the overgrowth; and to locate, clean, and photograph the gravestones.  

He has shared his gravestone pictures on the "Find A Grave" memorials he has created which greatly benefit those who are interested in learning more about the early area pioneers who are interred at the Dean Cemetery.  

I'm confident that in the future, the description of the condition at the Dean Cemetery will be upgraded from "N" to "R" -- meaning it has been Restored -- restored because Scott took the time and effort, on behalf of all of those buried at the Dean Cemetery, proving that indeed someone does care.