Seeking living relatives of those interred in Bald Bluff Cemetery, Atlas, Illinois
Replies: 8
Seeking living relatives of those interred in Bald Bluff Cemetery, Atlas, Illinois
| Judyth Jones (View posts) | Posted: 17 Aug 2005 1:32PM GMT |
Classification: Query
Surnames: Baughman, Baxter, Brown, Butler, Cleveland, Coulter, Davis, Foster, Fowler, Fox, Ham, Hamner, House, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, Lam, Lovin, Marine, Marion, Mark, Mooney, Morgan, Motley, Owsley, Parker, Parks, Renner, Robinson, Sapp, Thomas, Thompson, Wethe
I am searching for living relatives of those interred in Bald Bluff (a/k/a) Ball’s Bluff Cemetery in Atlas Township, Pike Co., Illinois.
Eight other descendants and I have entered a lawsuit against the surrounding landowner to get a recorded easement to the cemetery, which we are entitled to by law. This owner, and her father before her, never stopped any cemetery visitors since they purchased the land in 1935 until the past several years. Now she has had her nephew stop visitors even though we have been trying to negotiate a settlement with her. A year ago, we elected to pursue a settlement through the court. Our next court date is September 1 when we expect a judgment at last. We are not asking for your financial support.
Our lawyer has asked that we build a list of living relatives that he might use this to demonstrate to the judge that there are many people who are interested in the preservation of this cemetery. Bald Bluff is about three acres with over 100 known names of those interred here between about 1850 and 1930. There are thirty-five known surnames. We believe that there are nearly two hundred graves when we are allowed in a map the area. Even though you may never have the opportunity to visit Bald Bluff, I know that you don’t want the owner’s nephew to continue to use the area for jeep racing and fee-based hunting. Over the past forty years, since the owner’s father died, the cemetery has suffered more abuse than nature. The perimeter fence was removed so that cattle could roam through the cemetery and, of course, they knocked over stones. A road was built around the circumference of the cemetery for the jeep club. In the building of this road, several tombstones were pulled down and then shoved down the hill. For the past four or five years, the nephew has allowed hunters to come on the land for a fee. When the court rules for us, as I am sure it will, we will rebuild the fence, set up many stones that are down on the ground, clean brush, and repair the road to the cemetery. Further, we will establish an association to maintain the cemetery. There are funds available for the cemetery’s maintenance once we clear up the access problem.
You can help by providing a list of names that you know of living relatives of your ancestor interred in Bald Bluff. Again, we are not asking for your financial support and you will not be party to the suit. Please include names of living relatives such as you, your children, grandchildren, siblings, parent, nephews, nieces, cousins will all swell the list. Please notify your research partners also. I will compile the list and eliminate duplications. We want to demonstrate to the judge that the cemetery matters to many. Your early response will be greatly appreciated.
We will save Bald Bluff Cemetery for future generations.
Judy Jones
Marietta, GA
Eight other descendants and I have entered a lawsuit against the surrounding landowner to get a recorded easement to the cemetery, which we are entitled to by law. This owner, and her father before her, never stopped any cemetery visitors since they purchased the land in 1935 until the past several years. Now she has had her nephew stop visitors even though we have been trying to negotiate a settlement with her. A year ago, we elected to pursue a settlement through the court. Our next court date is September 1 when we expect a judgment at last. We are not asking for your financial support.
Our lawyer has asked that we build a list of living relatives that he might use this to demonstrate to the judge that there are many people who are interested in the preservation of this cemetery. Bald Bluff is about three acres with over 100 known names of those interred here between about 1850 and 1930. There are thirty-five known surnames. We believe that there are nearly two hundred graves when we are allowed in a map the area. Even though you may never have the opportunity to visit Bald Bluff, I know that you don’t want the owner’s nephew to continue to use the area for jeep racing and fee-based hunting. Over the past forty years, since the owner’s father died, the cemetery has suffered more abuse than nature. The perimeter fence was removed so that cattle could roam through the cemetery and, of course, they knocked over stones. A road was built around the circumference of the cemetery for the jeep club. In the building of this road, several tombstones were pulled down and then shoved down the hill. For the past four or five years, the nephew has allowed hunters to come on the land for a fee. When the court rules for us, as I am sure it will, we will rebuild the fence, set up many stones that are down on the ground, clean brush, and repair the road to the cemetery. Further, we will establish an association to maintain the cemetery. There are funds available for the cemetery’s maintenance once we clear up the access problem.
You can help by providing a list of names that you know of living relatives of your ancestor interred in Bald Bluff. Again, we are not asking for your financial support and you will not be party to the suit. Please include names of living relatives such as you, your children, grandchildren, siblings, parent, nephews, nieces, cousins will all swell the list. Please notify your research partners also. I will compile the list and eliminate duplications. We want to demonstrate to the judge that the cemetery matters to many. Your early response will be greatly appreciated.
We will save Bald Bluff Cemetery for future generations.
Judy Jones
Marietta, GA