Plans are being made to restore tombstone in Chambersburg Township
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By BETH ZUMWALT
As reported in last week’s Pike Press, a tombstone in Chambersburg that dates back to 1799 has been damaged and will need repairs.
The stone is on property owned by Illinois College and farmed by Travis Lawson.
Lawson contends the stone was not damaged by 4-wheelers, which has been suggested, but rather a big limb that fell on the stone.
“The 4-wheeler tracks everybody is seeing is where I went up there and pulled the limb off of the stone,” he said. “Yes, my son and I take our 4-wheeler and side-by-side up there to scout for deer but we are respectful of the stone.”
Lawson also contests the dates on the stone, saying Mary E. Johnson, was born in 1799 and that is not the date of her death.
The Kleinlein Family, who cares for the grave twice a year, and have for four generations, maintain Johnson died in 1799, making the grave one of, it not the oldest in the state.
Lawson said his family has contacted Kathy Robinson, a local stone restorer, about fixing the stone and cleaning it up to be more legible.
Robinson said she has been contacted by the Kleinlein family, who cares for another cemetery in the area.
“Paul Kleinlein contacted me about fixing the stone,”Robinson said. “I am scheduled to do some work in the area next spring and would be willing to take a look at it since I’m going to be in the area. I can’t go all the way over there for one stone.”
But, Robinson said she would have to work through Illinois College since they are the owners of the property.
Both the Lawson and Kleinlein familes have said they would pay for repairs.