My name is Darin Tillman. This project started in 2019. My 5th great-grandfather/4th great-grandparents, as well as a few other relatives. Are buried here in this cemetery. Along with other friends of the day. A few are old soldiers; the earliest burial was in the 1820s. Over the years, the previous landowners. Had kept farm animals, inside the cemetery fencing. By doing so. The gravestones were severely damaged or knocked over and buried. I gained access in 2019. I was allowed to search for my 5th great-grandmother's stone. I have yet to find her stone. But in this search, I started finding other lost gravestones. I, photograph and document the information from the stones & locations, that I find them. I am creating a Cemetery inscription map/book. I also, take these photographs and place them on Find A Grave. So other relatives of these pioneers, that are buried here. Can view their ancestor's gravestone. Here is the weblink: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/40004/bradley-cemetery In 2024 during the pandemic, my cemetery access was taken away. Earlier this year I learned. That the land the cemetery is on was sold. I contacted the new owners, and have gained access again. Knowing it had been 3 years since I or anyone else was allowed to visit the cemetery. I took my weed eater. Upon arriving, it was even more heartbreaking. Then my first ever visit to the cemetery. I spend a lot of my free time. Driving 1hr 10mins one way to the cemetery. I have been weed-eating, cutting brush, and clearing out the cemetery. Trying to clean it up. Just to be able to start searching for other buried stones. To date, I have located and photographed 72% of the gravestones buried here. My goal along with cleaning up the cemetery & gravestones, clearing brush and trees. Is Restoration & Preservation. This is number one goal on the listed. I would also like to get all the gravestones that are not broken. To stand upright again. The gravestones, which are broken. I would like to try and repair them, if possible. If a repair is possible, get those standing. If a repair is not possible. I would like to get them in a concrete base of some sort. I would also like to get a sign for the cemetery. With the name and grave mapping. New fencing & landscaping. A stone road going back to it with a little parking area. So, relatives can once again visit and see gravestones of relatives long forgotten and buried with time. I originally had a goal of $10,000 but never had any donation. So, I lowered it. The new landowners are very open to a positive change to the cemetery. As well as its future.
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