I’ve been lucky to meet Matt Barnes online. He’s the project guru for maintaining and restoring Bush Cemetery in Rock Port, Missouri.
My Horn ancestors are buried in this cemetery. When Grandma Miller was first telling me about her ancestors, this cemetery is where they were buried.
Matt sent me a note night before last to let me know how spring clean up day went, and give me some photos of a stone he’s re-setting: “Mowed the cemetery and reattached the top of Ruth horne’s stone. I also removed several stumps”
This Ruth Horne was the widow of Lewis Skidmore Horne, who was brother of my ancestor William Steven Horn(e) (1831-1896). William was Grandma Miller’s grandfather.
Whenever I hear from Matt about his latest projects, I reflect about how it would be if every small cemetery in rural America had someone like him. I wouldn’t mind hearing from dozens of people all around the country about the work they’re doing to maintain and preserve the cemeteries where my ancestors are buried.
I subscribed to Matt’s YouTube channel. This is the kind of ongoing family history I want to hear about.
- Matthew Barnes. YouTube <youtube.com>. Retrieved Apr. 28, 2020.
- “Bush Cemetery, Atchison county Missouri.” Facebook <facebook.com>. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- “Bush Cemetery.” Findagrave <findagrave.com>. Retrieved Apr. 28, 2020.
Updated May 10, 2020 to add link.