Early Documentation

Carwyn posted asking about early cemetery documentation, and I would like to address that.  Thank you Carwyn for your wonderful comments!

Beginning in 1850, as the county was established and cemeteries were developed, there were not any guidelines for cemetery record keeping.  After laying out the land to be used, usually a map was created and a log/record book instituted to keep track of the burials.  Sadly, over time, these records and maps have all but disappeared.   I do not know of any public cemeteries in this county that still possess all of their early original burial records.  Some have been lost, while others - even up until recent years - have been taken by persons who had access to those items.  Apparently, it never occurred to those individuals that they were stealing public documents and property.  For whatever reasons this was done, it has created monumental problems.


This creates a challenge found in almost all historic cemeteries - graves that can not be identified.  Sadly, there are depressions in the ground which appear to be graves, but we will never know who is buried there.  When "deeds" were given out for lot sales, those deeds were not recorded at the County Recorder's office, and many families no longer possess the original copy.  So...with missing records, maps and deeds, an unmarked grave is likely to remain unmarked - - and unknown.

I have a LONG list of persons who were reported deaths in obituaries or family records, but may never find their burial place.  This doesn't even include all of those who died in the mining camps, along the rivers, caught in snow storms or many of the other hazards of life experienced by early settlers. 

Unmarked graves are up and down the county.  Some are buried so deep by mining debris or natural shifting of soil, that no remnants remain of a burial. Some just have rocks marking their grave, with no detectable writing on them.  Still others came and died so quickly that no one knew their name, and were unable to mark their burial place. Miners, trappers, traders, and others came and went at an amazing rate in the early years - even before the county was established.  Family plots on private property may or may not contain visible names of the deceased - and no written documents will provide information.  Persons were buried before the establishment of cemeteries, and most of those graves, too, are lost.

With those things in mind, it is impossible to have COMPLETE records of any of our historic cemeteries or burials.  The list of "unknowns" is heart-wrenching and long.  But, many people have taken time to research what data is available, to come up with the best documentation possible.  The cemetery districts keep up-to-date records, but with so many missing pieces, their records will never be totally accurate.  Modern cemeteries keep burial permits, death certificates, and sometimes family genealogy donated to them, as well as pictures, etc.  

Some of the cemeteries are not covered under an official cemetery district - these may be on private land.  Regardless, they are to remain cemeteries or burial grounds.  Some cemeteries have been full for a long time, and since there are no longer active burials going on, they are pretty much abandoned and left to vandalism or overgrowth and decay. 

There are laws governing how cemeteries are to be operated - local, state,federal.  Many of these laws have come about due to past practices which proved to be detrimental in some way.  One of the many areas that have been addressed is better record keeping!  (At some point in the future, I will post about some of the laws governing cemeteries.)

Someone who purchases a plot in a historic cemetery - that is still doing active burials - should also be advised that they cannot have a guarantee of being buried in that exact plot.  There may be an unmarked/undocumented burial there and this will prevent another burial in that exact location - - - which will not be discovered until the new burial is to take place.  This is the risk they take.

I hope this helps.  If anyone has any further comments to add, please do so!!