The Maddox Cemetery, located on former Maddox land currently owned by farmer Bobby Walker in Crawford County, Illinois, and containing the bodies of Maddoxes spanning three generations, has been unconscionably abused. We have sent Mr. Walker numerous pleas to sell the site for our preservation effort, but he has ignored or declined them. In 1995, we saw at least 5 gravestones at the site, but Mr. Walker has obviously destroyed and displaced them. Now, only Thomas and Charlotte’s graves are visible. It is shameful… and illegal.
hisXmark 
David – Have you contacted the Crawford County Historical Society for help? I know that in the late 90’s they were very active and helped me on several occasions. Do you have any course of action in mind? This cemetery touches me greatly and I am saddened that I have let time go by and not done anything about it. Can we make this our number 1 priority to resolve. There are many Maddox descendents that live in Crawford County that may be of help. Again, what do yoiu have in mind and what can I do to help!
Nancy Fore
Hi Nancy. This is David’s son, Justin (I wrote the posting). I think your idea of contacting the Historical Society is a good one. I’ll write them an email today and cc you on it. I think I should also write one more letter to Mr. Walker explaining that we want him to recover the displaced headstones. When I send the email, would you please forward it to as many local Maddoxes as you can? Thanks!
Do you have any name or address of some office regulating the preservation of historic cemeteries in Illinois to whom we could write complaining about the documented abuse? Why don’t we all write a letter?
I have the Illinois State code that applies to the desecration of cemeteries, which makes Mr. Walker’s offense a felony. I think the right thing to do is to send him a last letter of request. What I want him to do is to recover the headstones that he displaced.
I think most or all the headstone are there. Some might be 2-3ft deep, but I think we could find most of them. Which brings up a question. Should someone take a shovel and try and relocate them? Should they be relocated to another cemetery or the nearby treeline? What would be the “right of way” laws regarding access to the cemetery if we are able to purchase/restore it?
Earlier today I email you some contact information for a close family friend in Palestine who is very active in the preservation of Palestine. I think she can give us some insight on how to approach this. She is also very well respected in the community. As always, if you are able to secure the cemetery I can offer my time to restore/stabilize the grounds. I will be in Crawford County next week, and I will try and speak to a few members of the community regarding this. Thank you and your family for taking the lead on this.
BTW, you have a great family! It was a honor to finally meet them!
Hi Steve. I just saw your note… thanks… on many accounts! If you can get any closer to the truth about Mr. Walker’s intentions and the actual status of the headstones, that’d be great. Once we hear back from you, we’ll have a better understanding of how we should proceed – whether it might require a lawyer, as Nancy suggests, Let us know! -Justin
I strongly feel that we need to get an attorney involved and act quickly before spring planting. Too much time has passed and too many headstones displaced. We may not have a cemetery left if we don’t have an attorney behind us. We also need to know if a fence can legally be placed around the cemetery, and other things we can do to protect the cemetery. I fear talking to Mr. Walker without legal representation of an attorney due to his evident past disregard to our concerns may lead to ‘problem solved’. NO Cemetery left. I am willing to contact Mark Weber after Christmas when he is again available or can leave that to you Justin. Your choice.
Hi Nancy. it looks like Steve may be able to get us a better sense of what Mr. Walker is up to and whether the rest of the headstones are still somehow accessible. After he gets back to us, let’s all talk. Thanks!.
Time has passed. Somehow I lost contact with the hisxmark website. Referring to our last communication in 2012, did Steve ever connect with Mr. Walker to see where we go next in regards to protecting the cemetery? Thanks for all your hard work and your excellent website. Best regards.
Hi Nancy. Unfortunately Steve was no able to convince the landowner to budge, and I did not pursue other options. Any thoughts?
I haven’t been out there for a couple of years but each year I am there, it gets smaller and smaller. Professor Maddox is correct, that I was not able to have an intelligent conversation with Mr. Walker. I may take a trip out there soon and take some pictures to see how things have changed.
I’d love to see new photos, Steve! And if there’s a new opportunity to work on this problem, please let me know.
Hi there. My name is lori ann (maddox) ford. My father was emerson ethridge maddox. My grandfather was charles lee maddox. I’m sad to see the state of my families cemetry. My family lives in edgar county il. The walkers farm all the way over here too. I believe the land he has is worth more to him farming then any family cemetery that’s not directly related to him. I would love to be able to reach out to extended family and maybe help with this matter. Thanks for letting me bend your ear, Lori ford
Thanks Lori Ann. We’ll definitely reach out if/when we can take new action.