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 The Association was initiated shortly after World War II as one
of the few county based cemetery association in Illinois. It
currently manages forty-six cemeteries in Logan County, although
that number changes as cemeteries are added or transferred to other
entities. Some cemeteries are closed to further interment.
White pointed out that most cemeteries in Illinois are managed by
the township in which they are located, not the county in which they
are located. “I think Logan County is one of three or four county
cemetery associations in the state,” he said. The cemetery
association is responsible for maintenance of cemeteries it manages,
sale of cemetery plots, and opening and closing of graves.
“The state has become much more involved in cemetery management
since the scandal at the cemetery in the Chicago area a few years
ago. They require more detailed record keeping,” he said.
While the Association has been in existence since the late 1940’s,
there are cemeteries in Logan County that are much older than that.
 Many of cemeteries were private family cemeteries that are now
closed. “Some of these family cemeteries have only one grave in
them. Others are closed because the last member of the family has
been interred there,” White said. Many of these are from the 19th
century and records are held by families or have been donated to the
LC Cemetery Association. Some have no records. Many are very
difficult to find.
The Carlock Cemetery in Eminence Township was used from 1831 until
1871. The Goldsmith Cemetery in Broadwell Township was used from
1832 until 1920.
Logan County did not even exist until 1839 when Illinois state
legislator Abraham Lincoln prevailed in his quest to carve off
territory from Sangamon County.
The oldest cemetery in what is now Logan County may be the Perry
Cemetery in Oran Township. It was opened in 1818, the year Illinois
became a state, and closed in 1899.
In some cases, a cemetery name has been changed further complicating
record keeping. Warrick cemetery in Broadwell Township is now called
Joe's. Rimmerman, containing a half dozen stones, is now referred to
as Schrader.
White stated that a person cannot dig a grave on private property
and bury someone. The State of Illinois has to give permission and
certain rules have to be followed, such as placing a marker at the
site.
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When a person wants to purchase a grave site, a visit to the
cemetery is scheduled with the current Association superintendant
Tim Skelton to select the requested grave. If the area desired is
filled, a site as close as possible is offered. Once a site is
chosen, the Cemetery Association will give the person purchasing the
site a deed with a description.
“Once the loved one is interred, the Association is responsible for care of the
grounds around the grave. The memorial markers are considered private property,
and we do not repair ones that have fallen into disrepair. The markers for
veterans are the property of the Federal Government,” he said.
The Logan County Cemetery Association receives some tax money to carry on its
mission.
Sometimes a township wants to give up care of a cemetery and transfers it to the
Logan County Cemetery Association. The LC Association will take over care of the
cemetery and will take the township funds that have been accumulated for the
cemetery. The money will be placed in a savings account and the Logan County
Cemetery Association will only get the interest from the account. The principal
is held unused in case the township at some point in the future wants to again
take control of the cemetery. Then the principle is transferred back.
Darrell White said that if a person contacts the Cemetery Association requesting
help with genealogical research, he usually refers them to the Logan County
Genealogical & Historical Society. He is a life member of LCG&HS.
The LCG&HS meets the third Monday of the month at their headquarters at 114
North Chicago Street in Lincoln at 6:30 p.m. They always have an interesting
guest speak and the public is invited to attend.
[Curtis Fox] |
