Okay here it is.
Years ago my Fathers people settled some land in Ohio. They took a portion of the land and built a grave yard up on a hill. There are gravestones so old in this cemetery that you cant even do rubbings and get any type of wording. I actually met a third cousin twice removed who is writing a book on our family heritage through Rootsweb. I had been doing the family history on our side she on hers (quite more dramatically and extensively I should ad - giving her credit and adding that she is the one that has linked my Father's heritage back to Alexander the Great - no joke - wild huh?) Anyway....the story and things I was able to share with HER....about the cemetery...
The story goes that the land all belonged to my Fathers Great Great Uncle (whatever his name is I forget now)who was a very well to do man, but a betting man, and lost so many parcels of land gambling that the man he bet against felt sorry for him and left him the family cemetery and one plot of land for a meager homestead. If you live in Ohio - you may know this town now as Dalton. West of Massillon and East of Orville. It used to belong entirely to one man in my Father's family. Since then? We've had some oddities about the cemetery - like the tree that sits at the bottom of the hill won a National award one year for beauty. And one crazy cousin dug his own grave before he died (was in the newspaper in the 50's), You have to be a blood relative to be buried there, and the last trustee was my Father who willed the responsibility to me - (Oh lucky me) but since I am an absent trustee and all members of my family are owners technically speaking - anyone married into or blood relative can be buried there free of charge. (plot wise) digging is another story - but now I'm told the county and the historical society keeps it up.
When I was a young girl we went almost every week to Schislers Cheese house, got some swiss cheese and crackers, had a picnic there, cleaned and mowed and pulled weeds. Tried to keep down wind from the hog farm below us (p.u.) and I'm not sure when anyone was buried their last - but my Father's ashes (portion) were scattered there not too long ago so he could be with his Mom and Dad.
That's the big story about my cemetery.
Will I be buried there? I'm supposed to be donated to the body farm in TN but if not there or a cadaver? Then I suppose there at my cemetery in the peaceful meadow.
Maybe Abbers will come take a picture of MY tombstone - I'll have a finger pointin' up for everyone too - lol. Maybe by then tombstones will have a push to talk feature DVD or something cool so you don't have to wonder whos in the box.
