Dear Editor,

The story about the history of Livingston was very interesting.

Livingston Guilderoy Parker was a man of high intelligence, stamina, and fortitude. He was a born leader and proved this time and time again while in the service of his country.

Parker was a man of many areas of expertise, possessed a strong personality, and had a high level of honesty which made him a leader within a township, county and country.

When he orchestrated the building of the Franklin Baptist Church, he did it with a strong belief, hope and degree of love.

What would this historic man of integrity think today if he looked down and saw:

1. His church, the center of dissention in the township, has been locked away from public use.

2. That the very church that he helped to build is now being shrouded with deceit, dishonesty, and self aggrandizement.

3. These issues being discussed in court because of a lawsuit introduced against the township trustees, members of the Livingston Cemetery Association, and the three adjoining land owners who would not gift or sell their land to enhance the project.

Livingston Guilderoy Parker believed in democracy and fought in the military to insure us of having a democratic government. Seeing his homestead area in Appanoose County today with the unrest caused by just two landowners would disturb him greatly. He would be greatly disappointed to see what it is costing residents of the county and to witness the misuse of power at our community’s beautiful Livingston Cemetery area in Franklin Township.

Donna Terry

Numa