The Value of Old Genealogy Quarterlies and Cemetery Inscriptions
Do you read Michael John Neill’s Genealogy Tip of the Day posts? One of his recent posts, “Those Old Genealogy Quarterlies,” reminded me of the valuable resources hiding in plain sight on my own bookshelves — namely, the county record books I’ve collected over the years.
While investigating my Mystery Match, I revisited my copies of Warren County, Indiana Cemetery Inscriptions. [Available at FamilySearch Library] Thanks to the highlights I had previously made for my ancestral surnames, I was able to quickly scan through the books for any mention of William Nelson Crawford’s parents. While searching for Crawfords, I noticed numerous entries for the FOSTER surname — which wasn’t a complete surprise since my FOSTER line also traces back to Warren County.
What did surprise me, however, was finding the BRILES and RICKETTS surnames highlighted as well. These names are on the maternal side of my tree, while the CRAWFORD and FOSTER lines are paternal. This realization helped me better understand how I might share both paternal and maternal DNA with my Mystery Match.
As I continued browsing Volume 3, I came across an intriguing entry for Charles Crawford, listed as the son of J. H. and E. J. Crawford. This detail was helpful but not conclusive, as I needed more information to confirm his connection to my family tree. Interestingly, the arrangement of the tombstone inscriptions provided an additional clue. Since the cemetery books record tombstones in relation to each other, I noticed that Charles was buried near Amelia and John Swisher, not among the other CRAWFORD headstones. This placement reinforced the theory that Charles Crawford (1861-1861) was the child of James H. Crawford and Eliza Jane Swisher Crawford.
These cemetery books are invaluable for more than just identifying names and dates. They also preserve information from tombstones that have since disappeared. I learned this lesson firsthand during my first visit to West Lebanon Cemetery. I distinctly remember seeing a SMITH stone on the east side of the walkway, directly across from my CRAWFORD ancestors. But when I returned several years later, the SMITH stone was gone. Thankfully, the inscription had been recorded in Volume 2 of the Warren County, Indiana Cemetery Inscriptions.
Interestingly, no Hannah Smith appears as a burial in Warren County, Indiana, on Find a Grave. This suggests that the cemetery book may be the only remaining record of her burial. Based on my memory of the stone’s location, I theorize that Hannah Smith might be the mother of Martha Smith Crawford, but further research is needed to confirm this connection.
These experiences are prime examples of why older genealogy books and quarterlies are still essential resources. Unlike online databases, they often contain unique information, like stone placements, missing tombstones, and context that can’t be found elsewhere. For me, these books have proven to be more than just dusty tomes on a shelf — they are a vital link to the past.