A Lincoln County resident hopes to locate the owners twotombstones he found after purchasing a home in the East Lincolncommunity.

“They had made steps out of them, I think,” said MarvinMartin.

Martin said he has no idea where the tombstones came from or howlong they’ve been missing from their graves but said they are stillin good shape.

“It’s possible these were replaced with bigger ones, but theseare still in really good shape and the dates are clear, so it’spossible they weren’t,” he said.

The names on the markers are of a father and his 22-year-olddaughter. H.J. Maxwell was born Sept. 26, 1840, and died Feb. 13,1912. The name on the second stone is C. Virginia and states shewas the “daughter of H.J. and Sarah C. Maxwell.” She was born Nov.24, 1868, and died Oct. 30, 1891.

Martin said he found the tombstones in his front yard, wherethey were apparently being used as steps leading to a room full ofscrap items, such as metal and bathtubs.

He purchased the house on Stoneybrook Drive nearly a year ago,he said, but he “didn’t know what to do or how to start” to locatefamily members.

His son, Edward Martin, recently began encouraging him to try tofind the Maxwell family so he could return the markers.

Martin said he has not attempted to call Maxwells listed in thephone book.

“There are so many of them, and so many are unrelated,” hesaid.

Martin said his hope is that the tombstones, which are nearly acentury old, can be returned to the graves.

Anyone with information on the markers can reach Martin atMartin’s Grocery and Grill at (601) 833-1473 or at his home at(601) 833-6357.