In May, 2000, Jim and Mikki Judge began searching for the graves of her great great grandparents, Nehemiah and Phebe DeMaranville. They learned from a second cousin, the graves were in Hunter Cemetery. They located the cemetery in Section 18 of Wheatland Township, Bureau County, Illinois. Not only did they find the graves of Nehemiah and Phebe, but they also found the cemetery in a great state of disrepair.

They met with the current land owner, Alan Read, and discussed the possibility of restoring the cemetery. Mr. Read gave his enthusiastic consent and in June, 2000, the restoration began. Early on, Jim and Mikki expended most of the restoration effort personally, traveling from their home in Iowa to the cemetery nearly every weekend. To date, over 100 headstones have been located, and the restoration process is well under way.

In November, 2000, Jim and Mikki met with Ron Moranville and discussed the establishment of the Hunter Cemetery Restoration Trust Fund. Trustees were named and began raising money to help pay for the restoration. Jim Judge was named Director.

The Trustees conducted a work weekend at Hunter Cemetery in June 2001. Two days were spent working at Hunter Cemetery. The family members present formed the Hunter Cemetery Association and established a Trust to provide for perpetual care.

In 2002 the Hunter Cemetery Association was recognized as a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service.

We hope you will see it in your hearts to become a part of our group and to help support this very worthwhile project of restoring a part of our American heritage.