Disturbing Images

Westphal-Westfall Genealogy

Disturbing Images

Please be advised the following images may be graphic in nature and unsuitable for viewing by some. Please view at your own risk !!! I assume no liabilities for what you are about to see. As a genealogist like many, I was very disturbed at what I had come upon. Viewer discretion is advised !!!!!!

The images below were taken on April 24, 2009. The name of the cemetery is Knob Hill, and is located in section 29 of Flowerfield Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan.

When I was there the day before these first two pictures were taken, I actually seen cattle lying on the stones above (look close there is a part of a stone as well as a whole headstone above the whole stone is inside of the barnyard) and in the photo below cattle were able to lie against the fence and rest against the stone shown below !!!

The images above and below this text is of the same headstone. This stone lies about 12 inches away from the fence. Not much longer this stone too will probably end up in the barnyard. You can make out on the headstone that this is a female named Mary who was born in 1870.

The headstones shown above and below lie just above the grade to the barnyard to the left.

Below is another view of those headstones shown above.

In the next three images you can actually see and feel just how close these cattle can get to the headstones. Not to mention the drainoff from the barnyard has more than likely has saturated the ground where the remains of some are buried. My ancestors "DID" at one time live within 1/2 of this cemetery back in the late 1800's. I am sure glad they moved away from that area before they had died.