Max H. Lude, president of the Frankfort Area Genealogical Society, is on a mission to locate abandoned cemeteries.
“We have a map with GPS locations of old cemeteries and are trying to identify all of them,” Lude said. “We have been to 187 cemeteries, but we know there are more out there. We are asking residents to help us locate their loved ones.
“A Civil War memorial was recently located,” Lude said. “It will be cleaned, restored and moved to the correct location. The Benton and West Frankfort Genealogy Societies are working together to identify abandoned cemeteries.”
Lude said the society has developed books to assist families who are researching their ancestors.
“One of our books, ‘The Historic Shawnee Trails,’ is available at the Franklin County Jail Museum and in the antique shops located on the Benton Public Square,” he said. “The book sells for $15. Five dollars goes to the society to help us with other projects. We are also working to identify all of the war veterans who are buried in county cemeteries.”
Residents are invited to visit the Frankfort Area Genealogical Society, 200 St. Louis St., in Frankfort Heights, Lude said.
“Someone is in the office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays,” he said. “Our office is located in the former Logan School building in the Heights.”
Lude said members are available for lectures. “We provide a history of our area at no charge,” he said.
For more information, call 932-6159 or 937-4385.
West Frankfort, Ill. —
