If you suspect that an ancestor was buried in a family cemetery on a farm, it will be necessary to determine the exact location of this property. Land records in county courthouse and old local maps and atlases will help you find the old farm place. There are topographical sheet maps provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, available from many sporting good stores in some areas, that indicate the locations of many rural cemeteries. Historical societies are good sources to contact regarding the location of cemeteries and their records in their locality. In some states the highways commission will provide detailed county maps, which reveal the location of cemeteries.
County atlases often list the majority of cemeteries that existed when published.
These old atlases will be found in found in public libraries and often in the land office at the county courthouse. The material used for tombstones has changed through the years. Marble or limestone have replaced slate and sandstone. The ancient craft of carving stones has been replaced by mechanical methods. Dates can sometimes be determined by the type and style of stone used.