Cemeteries are an important and endangered part of our historical record. Most “modern” cemeteries are often large, well-manicured landscapes, or are part of a large churchyard and kept in excellent repair for long periods of time. However, this is not the case with all cemeteries. In earlier years, specifically throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and in Greene County specifically, most folks were buried in small plots somewhere on their farm. These are the cemeteries that are often easily forgotten. As families move on and land changes hands, these small family cemeteries can become overgrown, and as time passes, we sometimes lose them as woods regain their control of the natural habitat.
Headstones fall over with time, and leaves, as they fall, bury the fallen headstones and make them hard to find. This can make it an arduous task for researchers to uncover the final resting spots of local historical figures and ancestors. But, thankfully, there are resources to help uncover these abandoned resting places.
Cemetery Records completed by Dorothy Hennen and her husband James Hennen throughout the 1960s and 70s are an invaluable reference. This 12-volume set of books is available at Cornerstone Genealogical Society and contains records of nearly 700 cemeteries throughout Greene County. This is an extensive and valuable work, although it only reflects the cemeteries that the Hennen’s located. Unfortunately, they missed a handful, and these were not properly identified. Sadly, some were completely lost to development and the progress of time.
A second great reference, and perhaps the most important (as well as a major reference used by the Hennens in their work), were surveys conducted by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) throughout the 1930s. Theses surveys documented the location of all veterans’ burials throughout the county. Each survey locates the cemetery as it lies on the property upon which it is situated, shows its boundaries, and locates each veteran’s burial within the plot. Even cemeteries without veterans’ burials were surveyed and you can find a sheet for every located cemetery within the county. The surveys are arranged by township, and are available for view at Cornerstone Genealogical Society.
I cannot understate the importance of these WPA surveys, especially when used with the Hennen Cemetery Records. They make locating cemeteries possible, though not always easy. With the proper amount of research, we can find them.
People often ask us at the Greene County Historical Society the best method to locate a cemetery. These two sets of records are the best and often the only actual option, especially where other information is not easily available.
