Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

I am reporting the missing Woodmen of the World tombstone of my Grandfather, Alexander W. Samples from the cemetery in/ the Dye Mound Cemetery, Montague County, Texas.

I have asked all my cousins if anyone has a photograph of his monument, which is a granite monument in the shape of a tree trunk about 4 to 4 1/2 ft tall. It would have his birth and death dates engraved on the stone. I believe that since his grave and that of my grandmother were at the very back of the cemetery by the fence, someone with a pole rig on the back of a pickup or small truck could have lifted the stone without anyone seeing them.

I had heard there was more than one dissacration of graves and theft of tombstones in the North Texas area due to many cemeteries being out in the country and remote enough that no one would see the thieves in the act of stealing one. I would have reported this to the local sheriff and Texas Rangers if I could have offered proof of the stone being missing with a photograph. All my cousins said they believed there was a stone and some thought their families had a photo, but to date no one has come up with it.

I had talked to a monument company in San Antonio about a replacement and they said the only way was to order one from Italy. I figured the cost of freight alone would be prohibitive. So, all the living cousins chipped in and we replaced his stone with a smaller, flat stone with a brass W.O.W. marker affixed.

We had a hard time figuring out what the W. in Alexander's name stood for. But the consensus was it was Wesley. The 1890 census had a Wesley Samples, a teenager living with his older brother. I assumed this was Alexander. Just Sayin...RJS

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Barre, Vermont is the source of many headstones in the northeast. Has to be cheaper freight costs.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

I think thieves are one of the lowest forms of life already, but stealing a headstone? How can such slime even exist? I'm glad we get to see evidence of good people still existing here on this site every day, because there's so much selfishness, and disregard for others out there. I'm sorry for your family Robert. It's good you all were able to "replace" it with a marker, but that was a piece of history and family history that should've been there for many years to come.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

USAF Major: Thanks for the advice, but we've already purchased a stone, had it engraved and I added a WOW brass marker and it is installed. Hopefully, no one will desire taking this tombstone.

The committee that runs the administration of the cemetery does not believe anyone stole his tombstone. But several of my cousins and second cousins believe he had a WOW tree type stone, and I do. But no one has come up with a photograph. Just Sayin...RJS

BullG8r Loc: Navarre, FL. (Panhandle of FL)

I used to work in Bedford, MA and the city guarded their cemetery 24/7/365 because of tombstone thieves. Bedford is located a few miles from where the "rude Bridge" where the shot heard round the world was fired. Many of those early patriots are buried in Bedford and their tombstones are the thieves' targets. I was told they turn them into coffee tables that are highly valuable and sought after.

It is widely known that hand carved tombstones are the first true American folk art. All I know is, if they catch one of these thieves, he/she should need a tombstone...

Barnacles Loc: Northern California

AGREED!

Paul britton Loc: Carlsbad nm

Anyone who steals tombstones is a low life anyway just saying