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Archiver > INPCRP > 2005-03 > 1110111322


From: "Rex Kirby" <>
Subject: RE: [INPCRP] Matching up stones and bases..
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 06:15:22 -0600
In-Reply-To: <157.4bd9fbff.2f5b434e@aol.com>


Jack, Thanks for your suggestion. I have tried measuring but had not
thought of using cardboard. In my mind I can visualize several tombs and
bases I believe this will work on. Anxious to try.

I was out rambling around yesterday trying my best to make out scratchings
on some rocks being used as monuments that probably date to the mid to late
1800s. I can make out a few of the letters and a couple of numbers but not
the entire name or date which appear to be either initials or last name only
with only a year of death, I presume. The last enumeration for this
particular cemetery is of no help since they are listed as "illegible rock".
Do you have any idea how someone may have managed to scratch initials and
dates on rocks. I have tried to duplicate this process using several
different methods but my efforts so far would not be suitable for someone's
monument. The rocks I am using are some I found on my farm and a couple I
purchased from a landscape company. On one I made fair progress using a
large nail but don't think I would live long enough to get the stone
finished. I am beginning to think these may have been done by some
blacksmith in the community but am still puzzled on the how part.

As for reading them, I have tried rubbings with tissue paper and I have
tried using tin foil. The rocks are too rough to get a reading. I have
tried some "trick" photography with enhancements with a little success.
I use the work "trick" very loosely. I have been told I look rather funny
lying on the ground, camera in hand, with some spotlights focused on the
rock. Still looking for more ideas. I have convinced myself that if I
can't read these they will forever remain unknown. So I'm giving it my best
effort. And by the way none of the local funeral homes have any records
that far back. Can't find any old church records. For most no death
certificates on file that far back and no obits and so far no one living who
knows anything about them. I am still searching for old family bibles that
might help. Any other ideas?

And in another cemetery...

Unless I am mistaken some of the stones I am trying to piece back together
are made of sandstone and are very fragile. It appears that time has taken
its toll on the broken edges and I can get some of them to almost fit but
not quite. Of course, lettering on some help line them up even though they
won't quite fit back together. I recall a recent discussion about repairing
broken stones but don't recall what type of stone could be repaired. I
don't remember what materials might be used to stick these pieces back
together. Can you point me in the right direction here? The type of
tombstone I am referring to here are approximately 2 1/2 feet tall, about 12
- 14 inches wide and about 3 - 4 inches thick. I doubt very much that these
tombstones could be stood up properly even if put back together. There are
many of them that all look alike and so far I have been unable to determine
who made them or where the sandstone came from.

I will welcome any and all suggestions. I realize the sands of time have
run out on ever identifying many of these graves and they will forever be
unknown. I have identified many gravesites with my dowsing rods but putting
a name and date on a gravesite is another matter.

Thanks for your help.

Rex

PS. I forgot to mention that I am also working with census records and have
located two individuals who appear on the 1870 census but not the 1880 in
the community where they lived for several years although the rest of the
family is still at the same location. But this is "iffy" and remains in the
category of supposition and presumption based on presumption if you know
what I mean.

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 11:16 AM
To:
Subject: [INPCRP] Matching up stones and bases..


In a message dated 3/4/05 11:29:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:



But I have no idea what gravesite they
belong to.

Rex,
Try making tracings of the bottom of the tombstones and go thru the
cemeteries trying to match the tracings up to the pieces sticking out of the
bases,
if you can find any Bases.. If you cut these out of cardboard and carry them

with you, you may find some that fit. If they fit, they belong there.. The
stones are to heavy to carry, and there is no way you can remember each one.
But
you can carry a lot of cutouts. Try it, you may be surprised at how it can
work. It has for me.

Jack E. Briles Sr.
Floyd Co. INPCRP Coordinator
PO Box 444
New Albany, In. 47151-0444
(812)282-6585


==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
THIS IS A CEMETERY -----
"Lives are commemorated - deaths are recorded - families
are reunited - memories are made tangible - and love is
undisguised. This is a cemetery.
"Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence,
historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched.
"Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are carved
in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life -
not the death - of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for family
memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living.
"A cemetery is a history of people - a perpetual record of
yesterday and sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery
exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always."
--Author unknown -- Seen at a monument dealer in West Union, IA

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