A metal marker near the gravesite of Vicksburg founder Newit Vick is missing from its location on Oak Ridge Road.

The marker, similar to others on roadsides statewide, was erected and paid for by the Mississippi Historical Society in the 1950s, said Gordon Cotton, historian and curator of The Old Court House Museum.

&#8220We’re not sure exactly when it was taken, but it was brought to my attention about a week ago,” Cotton said. &#8220We’ll probably never know who took it.”

David McDonald, District 1 supervisor, said he had received several phone calls about it from residents who missed seeing the sign.

&#8220It looks like it was run over. The post had been hit and the marker broke off of it,” McDonald said.

Whether it was intentional or not, McDonald said the marker, one of 24 in Warren County and 624 in the state, is gone.

&#8220I looked in the weeds where it fell, but I didn’t see any signs or pieces of it,” he said.

It marks the gravesites for Newit and Elizabeth Vick, who died hours apart on Aug. 5, 1819, most likely from yellow fever. Other members of the Vick family are also buried there.

Cotton said he’ll ask the state group to replace the sign, but he’s not sure when or if that will happen.

&#8220Back when it was erected it probably cost under $200,” Cotton said. Now the cost for the marker and post is $1,470, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Web site.

&#8220The state will likely not replace it because it costs too much. We’re looking at options to do it locally,” Cotton said. &#8220One thing we’ll definitely do is move it back closer to the graves and get it out of the way of traffic.”