Work Begins to Restore Lohr Pioneer Cemetery   by Larry Kershner Press-News Editor

(Above) MCPCRP MEMBERS WORKING at the old Lohr pioneer cemetery site. In the foreground is Neal DuShane, probing for sunken headstones. In the background is Marlene Kershner and Steve Ham trying to determine how graves are arranged using divining rods and flags. It is believed at least four to eight graves are part of this old family plot. (Press-News photo by Larry Kershner.) (Pictured at right) THE LOHR BROTHERS, from left, Conrad, Peter and Bill were early settlers of East Cedar Township. It is believed their graves and some of their family members are buried at the Lohr Cemetery, which is on land owned by the late-Loren Muller in section 15. (Photo courtesy of Steve Ham.) Work started a few weeks ago to restore the old Lohr pioneer cemetery, located in section 15 of East Cedar Township in Mitchell County. Members of the Mitchell County Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project (MCPCRP) undertook the challenge, after loggers had pushed several waste logs on top of the old cemetery, destroying a fence that marked the boundaries of the burial site. The cemetery, thought to contain from six to a dozen graves, is on the land owned by the late-Loren Muller. It was named after the Lohr family which settled on the land. MCPCRP member Steve Ham and a neighbor, Bob Hollatz worked four weeks ago to clear away the logs discarded by the logging crew. Ham reported that the fence pipes are in good enough repair that they may be usable to reset around the burial site. Additional MCPCRP members Neal DuShane and Marlene Kershner, returned to the site with Ham and Hollatz to begin trying to find the outlines of the graves and to probe for headstones. Old reports say there were several small headstones standing just six inches or so above the ground. Buried at the Lohr site are thought to be the three Lohr brothers--Conrad, Peter and Will--and perhaps some of their family members, who helped to settled section 15 of East Cedar township. The second crew to work used divining rods to try and map the outline of the graves, while others used metal probes to try and find headstones which may have sunk into the ground over decades of neglect. Ham said old timers who grew up in the area recalled seeing headstones at the site. No headstones were located, although one probe indicated a stone could be underneath a stump from a tree which grew inside the fenced area. Ham said several stumps in the cemetery will be removed later this year and complete the process of restoring the burial site. The fence appeared to be somewhat damaged but could be restraightened and reset, Ham said, with some chain link restrung around it. A marker will possibly be erected denoting the site as a pioneer cemetery. Researchers do not know exactly who is buried in the cemetery. It is hoped those records may be uncovered in the future. Many pioneer cemeteries' records have been lost in church or home fires; or have otherwise been mislaid or discarded. MCPCRP was organized last fall with the intent of storing upwards to 15 pioneer cemeteries in Mitchell County, which have been long forgotten and neglected. Leaders say the project intent is to restore dignity to these burial sites; record for genealogical purposes the information on the headstones. Restoration work includes locating, straightening and resetting headstones and markers, replant grasses and find organizations which will help maintain the old cemeteries and notify the organization if repairs are needed. Restoration work started last fall on the Farley pioneer cemetery, located south of Mona--section 14 of Otranto Township. That work is scheduled to continue this spring and summer. Also the Osage FFA has agreed to work with MCPCRP members in restoring and researching the Dudley pioneer cemetery site--section eight in East Cedar Township--this spring.