In honor of my mother, Marjorie Valentine (Sims) Harrison, I am submitting her photo with my profile.
I have been working regularly (as in daily) on my family history information since 1993, beginning with the info that she had entered into my baby book!

I have compiled detailed enumerations for 8 1/5 cemeteries here in Coles Co, IL and have posted most of what I have on 5 of those here on Find A Grave at this time. The names of the cemeteries that I have compiled records for are: Stoner, Adkins/Woodson, Brown's (Unity) Chapel, Mt Tabor, McKenzie, Hurricane, Miller-Coartney, Fudge & Grant.
I've worked some on Kickapoo (Mt Zion), Whetstone, and a few other Cemeteries. I've added links and photos to memorials for all known burials at Mt Tabor, Miller-Coartney, Grant and Fudge.
I'm adding family & requested memorials & photos for Mound/Roselawn Cem in Charleston, Bethel and Rest Haven Cems in Lafayette Twp, as well as a numerous others.

NOTE: I have obtained a plot map for the Bethel Cem, accompanied by names of lot owners and/or occupants, plus a partial down the row enumeration done by James Heidlebaugh in 1981.

I have done a detailed work up for the Grant Cem, Hutton Twp, Coles Co, IL. I have photographed all legible grave markers and have posted memorials for each of them with marker photos plus other names which were included in an enumeration done by the Coles Co Genealogical Society.
When I began this new project, there were nine memorials posted on FAG and three marker photos.
As of today (8-1-2015), there are now 83 memorials with marker photos on 80 of them (some memorials have multiple photos).
There are several foot stones with initials only that cannot definitely be linked to a specific person. I have photos, but have not posted them.

I also have over 100 Williams family kin in Harmony Cem in Cumberland Co, IL, including 3 generations of direct Williams family ancestors, as well as having made other submissions on memorials in several other cemeteries in IA, IL, IN, OH, WV, and WA.

As a photo volunteer, I actively visit several more cemeteries in this area to search for and photograph markers.

I have purchased bound copies of the enumerations that James Heidlebaugh compiled for Janesville (or New Gordon), Thomas Lincoln (or Old Gordon or Shiloh), and Beals Cemeteries. They are down the row readings and are VERY helpful in locating markers!
The Janesville Cemetery has published two books containing complete burial records (as of the date of publication) and I have both of those books.

I have been part of a small group working on cleanup of the Cossell Cem, located NW of Charleston. We are slowly making progress!
During the summer of 2015, several work days accomplished nearly complete removal of downed trees, all underbrush, removal of several unwanted trees, and removal of broken down barbed wire fencing. More work remains to be done, but ALL visible markers can now be easily accessed. A future task will be probing for markers which have fallen & possibly covered by sod. Hopefully broken markers can be restored.

I am primarily researching: Harrison, Sims, Williams, Reynolds, Malcom(b), Stotts, McCreery, Stoner, Schnorf, Adkins, Pettit. But of course, there are many MANY more names which I have found to be members of my extended family!

I am also researching my Hardin and Dean family members, who are related to my Stoner family.

I have attended the annual Sims Family Reunion at Fox Ridge State Park in Coles Co, IL. I am the local Sims family genealogist. For 2017 I was the Sims Reunion President.

In 2014, I began searching for information on my wife's ancestry. Names include: Thomas, Elder, Brooks, Blake, Johnson, Pilkington, Miller, Offill, Richards, Elliott, Norman, Davis, Wright, Wallace, Beaman, Dage, Perkins, Clark, Brockway, Cooley, Durfey, Skinner, Goodwin, Hull, Fickle, Slaymaker, Voetgling, Beck, and Tatman. (so far). We have attended the annual Miller-Elliott Reunion in Dieterich, Effingham Co, IL. She was pleasantly surprised when I informed her that she was directly descended from King Edward I (1239-1307). He is her 22nd g gf!

In August, 2018 I received 22 boxes and totes of research material from the estates of two of my cousins. I will need to find homes for some of the material I do not link up with.

I firmly believe that anyone capable of finding, reviewing and posting information on FAG does not need specific directives from other volunteer contributors about how to manage the memorials they have spent their time to research and posted. If errors or omissions in content are observed, then a suggestion to the contributor through the Edit process INCLUDING corrections or additional information about names, dates and/or family links should definitely be appropriate.

Update 10 Mar 2021
On Saturday, 6 Mar, Steve Lawyer, David Kent Coy and I took measurements to create a complete mapping of the McKenzie-Waltrip Cem in Hutton Twp, Coles Co, IL. Photos of all existing grave markers were taken. Notes were made for potential locations of unmarked graves with the plans to return to probe and/or "witch" in an attempt to identify locations of additional burials.
Anyone may contact team leader, Steve Lawyer, at [email protected]
to obtain a copy of the resulting map and burial listings.

Some broken markers have been repaired, but there still are others needing work.

During August 2021, Adjacent property owner, Ron Hayes, and I had to physically clear 10 years growth of trees & Shrubs to reach the small Leitch family cemetery in Pleasant Grove Twp. We then clear cut all trees & shrubs within the cem and I have worked on repairs of the two broken markers for Robert Leitch & his wife Jane (Erwiin) Leitch. New photos of the only 6 markers present will be posted on FAG when available.
Robert Leach bought property in Coles Co in 1836 after moving here with his wife and the first two of their ten children.
Sometime after settling here, he altered his name to be Leitch. Both spellings can be found on land records.

I have participated in a MAJOR cleanup of the Mt Tabor Cem, Pleasant Grove Twp, Coles Co, IL during the middle of Sep, 2022.

In honor of my mother, Marjorie Valentine (Sims) Harrison, I am submitting her photo with my profile.
I have been working regularly (as in daily) on my family history information since 1993, beginning with the info that she had entered into my baby book!

I have compiled detailed enumerations for 8 1/5 cemeteries here in Coles Co, IL and have posted most of what I have on 5 of those here on Find A Grave at this time. The names of the cemeteries that I have compiled records for are: Stoner, Adkins/Woodson, Brown's (Unity) Chapel, Mt Tabor, McKenzie, Hurricane, Miller-Coartney, Fudge & Grant.
I've worked some on Kickapoo (Mt Zion), Whetstone, and a few other Cemeteries. I've added links and photos to memorials for all known burials at Mt Tabor, Miller-Coartney, Grant and Fudge.
I'm adding family & requested memorials & photos for Mound/Roselawn Cem in Charleston, Bethel and Rest Haven Cems in Lafayette Twp, as well as a numerous others.

NOTE: I have obtained a plot map for the Bethel Cem, accompanied by names of lot owners and/or occupants, plus a partial down the row enumeration done by James Heidlebaugh in 1981.

I have done a detailed work up for the Grant Cem, Hutton Twp, Coles Co, IL. I have photographed all legible grave markers and have posted memorials for each of them with marker photos plus other names which were included in an enumeration done by the Coles Co Genealogical Society.
When I began this new project, there were nine memorials posted on FAG and three marker photos.
As of today (8-1-2015), there are now 83 memorials with marker photos on 80 of them (some memorials have multiple photos).
There are several foot stones with initials only that cannot definitely be linked to a specific person. I have photos, but have not posted them.

I also have over 100 Williams family kin in Harmony Cem in Cumberland Co, IL, including 3 generations of direct Williams family ancestors, as well as having made other submissions on memorials in several other cemeteries in IA, IL, IN, OH, WV, and WA.

As a photo volunteer, I actively visit several more cemeteries in this area to search for and photograph markers.

I have purchased bound copies of the enumerations that James Heidlebaugh compiled for Janesville (or New Gordon), Thomas Lincoln (or Old Gordon or Shiloh), and Beals Cemeteries. They are down the row readings and are VERY helpful in locating markers!
The Janesville Cemetery has published two books containing complete burial records (as of the date of publication) and I have both of those books.

I have been part of a small group working on cleanup of the Cossell Cem, located NW of Charleston. We are slowly making progress!
During the summer of 2015, several work days accomplished nearly complete removal of downed trees, all underbrush, removal of several unwanted trees, and removal of broken down barbed wire fencing. More work remains to be done, but ALL visible markers can now be easily accessed. A future task will be probing for markers which have fallen & possibly covered by sod. Hopefully broken markers can be restored.

I am primarily researching: Harrison, Sims, Williams, Reynolds, Malcom(b), Stotts, McCreery, Stoner, Schnorf, Adkins, Pettit. But of course, there are many MANY more names which I have found to be members of my extended family!

I am also researching my Hardin and Dean family members, who are related to my Stoner family.

I have attended the annual Sims Family Reunion at Fox Ridge State Park in Coles Co, IL. I am the local Sims family genealogist. For 2017 I was the Sims Reunion President.

In 2014, I began searching for information on my wife's ancestry. Names include: Thomas, Elder, Brooks, Blake, Johnson, Pilkington, Miller, Offill, Richards, Elliott, Norman, Davis, Wright, Wallace, Beaman, Dage, Perkins, Clark, Brockway, Cooley, Durfey, Skinner, Goodwin, Hull, Fickle, Slaymaker, Voetgling, Beck, and Tatman. (so far). We have attended the annual Miller-Elliott Reunion in Dieterich, Effingham Co, IL. She was pleasantly surprised when I informed her that she was directly descended from King Edward I (1239-1307). He is her 22nd g gf!

In August, 2018 I received 22 boxes and totes of research material from the estates of two of my cousins. I will need to find homes for some of the material I do not link up with.

I firmly believe that anyone capable of finding, reviewing and posting information on FAG does not need specific directives from other volunteer contributors about how to manage the memorials they have spent their time to research and posted. If errors or omissions in content are observed, then a suggestion to the contributor through the Edit process INCLUDING corrections or additional information about names, dates and/or family links should definitely be appropriate.

Update 10 Mar 2021
On Saturday, 6 Mar, Steve Lawyer, David Kent Coy and I took measurements to create a complete mapping of the McKenzie-Waltrip Cem in Hutton Twp, Coles Co, IL. Photos of all existing grave markers were taken. Notes were made for potential locations of unmarked graves with the plans to return to probe and/or "witch" in an attempt to identify locations of additional burials.
Anyone may contact team leader, Steve Lawyer, at [email protected]
to obtain a copy of the resulting map and burial listings.

Some broken markers have been repaired, but there still are others needing work.

During August 2021, Adjacent property owner, Ron Hayes, and I had to physically clear 10 years growth of trees & Shrubs to reach the small Leitch family cemetery in Pleasant Grove Twp. We then clear cut all trees & shrubs within the cem and I have worked on repairs of the two broken markers for Robert Leitch & his wife Jane (Erwiin) Leitch. New photos of the only 6 markers present will be posted on FAG when available.
Robert Leach bought property in Coles Co in 1836 after moving here with his wife and the first two of their ten children.
Sometime after settling here, he altered his name to be Leitch. Both spellings can be found on land records.

I have participated in a MAJOR cleanup of the Mt Tabor Cem, Pleasant Grove Twp, Coles Co, IL during the middle of Sep, 2022.