The Press., 1891-10-08
{FOr The Press.) HOW SOMERS CEMETERIES ARE NEGLECTED.

It is very sad experience for a person upon visiting their native town after an absence of fifteen or twenty years, to find that so many of the old friends and prom inent inhabitants of their day have died and new generation taken their place.
 Still as great if not 8 greater trial awaits them if perchance they visit the graves of some of these former acqualnt- ances, to find their last resting place marked by 8 prostrate stone, or, if not pEnstrate, standing at an angle of consid- erkAy less than ninety degrees.
 Such has been the experience of a great many who have formerly lived in Somers.
 "A short time ago the writer counted 24 gravestones lying flat upon the ground, in what is known as the Center Cemetery. Among the number was one erected by Ray. MT. Oviatt during his pastorate here, at-the grave of Rev. Samuel Allir, the first minister in Somers. Besides these a es9eat Anany were standing at all possible angles, some of which will undoubtedly be overcome by the frosts of the coming winter.
 The West Cemetery has suffered this samefneglect. In fact what is known as the old part is in as bad, if not in worse condition than the Center Cemetery. Near one corner is little mound where a little child was buried several years ago. Originally this grave was marked by a neat marble slab, which bore this inscrip- tion: "Gone, but not forgotten" We must doubt the truth of this inscription, for though both pareuts of the child are living, and are classed among Somers prominent people, it is several years since the little slab has fallen from it's founda- tions, and but for the kindness of some passer-by, who has leaned it against it's base stone, the record which it bears might have been lost forever.
 These are only two out of many cases which person may observe in wandering through our cemeteries. In some instanc- their ancestors, and erected or reset their monuments. About a year ago the de- sceDdants of Robert Pease, who was one of the thirty six men who volunteered to defend their country at the time word first came that the continental troops had been fired upon by the British at the beginning of the revolutionary war, erected stone which was duplicate of the original one which marked his grave, but which had fallen and broken.
 Our West Cemetery is the oldest one in town, The first burial within it was that of Mary Kibbe in 1733. In it lie the re- mains of Somers' pioneer settler, Benja- min Jones, who died in 1754 As you leave the old part, with it's freestone mon- umepts, and wander eastward, you first x5ass1 1shrough that part which was filled when the marble slab was universally used.. Further on you encounter some patterns of later period, and in the ex- treme eastern part MT. Roswell Keeney, president of the Somersville Mfg. Co.,, is erecting handsome tomb for himself and family, patterned after the latest monu- mental designs.
 This cemetery is history in itself. In it the tastes and fashions of all genera tions are represented, from the time of Somers' first settler to the present day.
 It is to be regretted that through the neglect of the present generation these records should be permitted to fall into oblivion, and it is earnestly hoped that at the coming town meeting our selectmen which have fallen, and erect those which are leaning, also make such improve ments from time to time as are necessary to keep our cemeteries in 8 respectable condition. ***,
 SOmeTS, Conn.