Hi List, Is anyone researching, or have information on the "JONES" & "CLARK" families in DeWitt Co., Ill. in the late 1800's? On the 1860 DeWitt Census at: < http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/il/dewitt/census/ > , gif. "0602.gif", one finds beging on line two, household 815: "Stephen Clark" 5? Oh. Harriet " 44 " Ann " 29? " Wm. " 28 " Clara Jones 22 " Julia " 20 " ?Columbus?" 16 " Mary Clark 15 " Clementine Jones 14 " ??Ja? Clark. 10 " Also note that a household away is a J.W. Jones & Sarah E. Jones. ( a Brother?) I have cross check 23 different "Stephen Clarks" on both the Ill. and Ohio "1850 Census" films, WITHOUT noteing any positive match that would include the other "CLARKS" cited on the above noted 1860 DeWitt Co., Illinois Census. From the Illinois marriage site, I had found the Dates, Volume and Page numbers for the marriages of: Clara JONES to Charles SMITH, Julia JONES to Robert ORR and Clema JONES to Gilbert COX. From family notes and newspaper clipping we are very certain that these three are sisters. SO I have sent for copies of those pages in hopes that they would yield some additional information. Should someone recognize these folks, I would appreciate any assistance or information. Ron B'ton, Fl.

I am still working on the pioneer Mahlon and Darius Hall family so if any of you out there have any information on the family I would love to have it. Is anyone interested in what I come up with?? I would be glad to share what I have rounded up. While I am at it, I don't think I have ever told you all that I have the printed census for Bath County, KY 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850and will do limited look-ups. Please don't ask for all of a surname, I don't have time for that. Earliene Kaelin [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for DeWitt County, IL http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/ Home Page http://www.telisphere.com/~cartmill/

A link to Illinois Cemetary Care including option to send email message to comptrollers office regarding cemetary concerns. A Message From Comptroller Dan Hynes: http://www.ioc.state.il.us/office/cemeterycare/index1.cfm Carol Heller

I found this at the Clinton Library in the book "American Aerial County History": The town of Solomon- "Harve Wilson owned the first blacksmith shop also across the road from the store. Other owners were Winford Kanser, Tom Payton, Henry Peavler, Gordon Worthy, Lee Kelley and Bill Peavler, a son of Henry. Again, I can't say that the names given are in the order of ownership. When Henry Peavler had his blacksmith shop, it stood on the same side of the road, as the store, and his house stood just a few yards south and west of the shop." The town of Solomon was bulldozed under in 1966. Debbie Champion

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------1C28E3D4118DD4A4271B5BB5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Patsy Cooley wrote: > Well, believe it or not I received a call today from the Comptroller's Office regarding the letter I had sent requesting they check into the poor conditions of the cemeteries that Earliene brought to our attention. I had received a letter from them earlier this week. The gentleman that called was extremely nice and seemed truly interested in trying to find a solution to this problem. He told me the State Comptroller had actually taken a trip around the State of Illinois and one of the counties he visited was Dewitt. They recognize there is a problem and are trying to get state funding to help. We also talked about other alternatives such as civic organizations, clubs, patriotic societies, etc., that might be willing to work on the cemetaries as a group project. > > The gentleman also talked about the legal aspects of this problem, with some of the cemetaries being located on private property. Which cemetaries had to be licensed and many other considerations. Anyway, he asked about the cemetaries with the worst conditions. (Earliene, since you have been there I hope you can address that question). > > There is a hotline setup to turn in complaints, give suggestions, report conditions, etc. The number is toll free 877-203-3401. > > Earliene, it appears your efforts are going to pay off. > > Patsy Patsy, Terrific work! Was there any mantion or provision for checking on whether there is still family ownership of any of these cemetaries and how that could behandled if there is? I wonder if the sale of farm property to current owners also included the burial plots. Seems as if they would be excluded. How could cemetaries to included in sales of farmland unless no one gives a wazoo about them. That's spooky---when do ancestral burial plots become land for growing corn or soybeans!? Earliene, I live up in the Chicago 'burbs, but would be willing to help out if you come back to DeWitt Co. I'm a good letter writer and am retired now so have a bit more uncommitted time available. warren --------------1C28E3D4118DD4A4271B5BB5 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="docdiggs.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Warren P. Derrick Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="docdiggs.vcf" begin:vcard n:Derrick;Warren P. tel;fax:(630) 668-5456 tel;home:(630) 668-5326 x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;523 Delaware Trail;Carol Stream;IL;60188-1415;USA version:2.1 email;internet:[email protected] x-mozilla-cpt:;3 fn:Warren P. Derrick end:vcard --------------1C28E3D4118DD4A4271B5BB5--

Just a thought on this...each student at the high school in Clinton (which also include the towns of Wapella, Lane, Kenney, Hallsville, DeWitt, Midland City, Birkbeck) are required to do 40 hours of community service during their four years in high school. Maybe the high school could be contacted to see about including cemetery cleanups. Even with being on private property, the owners may agree to it, if the school contacts them. I just joined this list, so I am not sure where the cemeteries are that need help. I must have not been on the list when all of the email started. So I'm coming in in the middle of the conversation! Debbie Champion Clinton, IL -----Original Message----- From: Patsy Cooley <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Friday, October 29, 1999 5:03 PM Subject: Dewitt Cemetaries Well, believe it or not I received a call today from the Comptroller's Office regarding the letter I had sent requesting they check into the poor conditions of the cemeteries that Earliene brought to our attention. I had received a letter from them earlier this week. The gentleman that called was extremely nice and seemed truly interested in trying to find a solution to this problem. He told me the State Comptroller had actually taken a trip around the State of Illinois and one of the counties he visited was Dewitt. They recognize there is a problem and are trying to get state funding to help. We also talked about other alternatives such as civic organizations, clubs, patriotic societies, etc., that might be willing to work on the cemetaries as a group project. The gentleman also talked about the legal aspects of this problem, with some of the cemetaries being located on private property. Which cemetaries had to be licensed and many other considerations. Anyway, he asked about the cemetaries with the worst conditions. (Earliene, since you have been there I hope you can address that question). There is a hotline setup to turn in complaints, give suggestions, report conditions, etc. The number is toll free 877-203-3401. Earliene, it appears your efforts are going to pay off. Patsy

Well, believe it or not I received a call today from the Comptroller's Office regarding the letter I had sent requesting they check into the poor conditions of the cemeteries that Earliene brought to our attention. I had received a letter from them earlier this week. The gentleman that called was extremely nice and seemed truly interested in trying to find a solution to this problem. He told me the State Comptroller had actually taken a trip around the State of Illinois and one of the counties he visited was Dewitt. They recognize there is a problem and are trying to get state funding to help. We also talked about other alternatives such as civic organizations, clubs, patriotic societies, etc., that might be willing to work on the cemetaries as a group project. The gentleman also talked about the legal aspects of this problem, with some of the cemetaries being located on private property. Which cemetaries had to be licensed and many other considerations. Anyway, he asked about the cemetaries with the worst conditions. (Earliene, since you have been there I hope you can address that question). There is a hotline setup to turn in complaints, give suggestions, report conditions, etc. The number is toll free 877-203-3401. Earliene, it appears your efforts are going to pay off. Patsy

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------B9535BFF94826277D0CA39DC Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit "Warren P. Derrick" wrote: > Shirley Schuldt wrote: > > > Earliene, > > > > I wish I lived in DeWitt County. That is really a thin excuse for neglecting a > > cemetery. Isn't there any civic or county pride left? Since you made a trip to > > the county, I believe you don't live there, either. Are there any DeWitt > > Countians on the list? Who and where are the members of the Genealogical > > Society? > > > > Shirley > > > > Earliene Kaelin wrote: (Partial quote for ref. only.) > > > > > I have been told that the condition of Hall Cemetery is partially due to the > > > fact that " those Hall's haven't been in DeWitt for years and years".... > > I suppose I am one of the fortunate ones doing DeWitt Co. research. My ancestors > from there are, with a couple exceptions, are buried in the [Old] Baptist > Cemetery just NE of Kenney off of St. Rt.54. It is in excellent condition and > shows ongoing care, by whom I do not know. There may still be a Baptist Church > Congregation that cares for it, but there is no church at that location any more. > > Tunbridge Cem. is also in good condition, although this past July when I was > there, someone had built what appeared to have been a large bonfire of what > smelled like burnt railroad ties at one end and a couple headstones were lying > off in the overgrowth to the back. > > I agree that it is unconscionable that several of the [family oriented?] > cemeteries are overgrown and uncared for. It seems a small expectation that the > County or the resident farmer should be able, and one might actually hope, > willing to show sufficient respect to keep these "lost" cemeteries mowed. The > comeback would of course be that it costs money to do this and to repair fences > and whatever else need to be done. > > My family on my Father's side (Mom's side was in DeWitt Co.) in E. TN still has a > large number of folks living there. The ancestors are buried in 3 or 4 different > cemeteries within about a 4 mile radius of their original settlement. The > original burial ground is still family owned and the original deed still exists > and is in force. A family member acts in a legal capacity for any questions or > actions that may arise. We donate money for the upkeep of the cemetery and local > family does the work, including having the headstones cleaned by a local stone > mason/restorer. > > While those of us who research DeWitt Co. would like to see all the cemeteries > cleared and fixed up, this may be, sadly enough, impossible without family > involvement and (donated?) money to cover the costs---they will not be cheap. I > wonder too, how many of these family plots are still family owned. Can this be > checked out? If there are families out there somewhere, they should certainly be > willing to help restore their ancestors burial places to a better condition > > Warren Derrick --------------B9535BFF94826277D0CA39DC Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="docdiggs.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Warren P. Derrick Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="docdiggs.vcf" begin:vcard n:Derrick;Warren P. tel;fax:(630) 668-5456 tel;home:(630) 668-5326 x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;523 Delaware Trail;Carol Stream;IL;60188-1415;USA version:2.1 email;internet:[email protected] x-mozilla-cpt:;3 fn:Warren P. Derrick end:vcard --------------B9535BFF94826277D0CA39DC--

I just received a reply to my letter that I wrote to the State Comptroller of Illinois regarding the cemeteries in Dewitt County. This is the jest of their reply. - ------------------------------------------------ Thank you for your inquiry placed to our Cemetery Care & Burial Trust. Reports of neglect to our office help us better understand & address consumer problems throughout the state. We appreciate your input & will work towards resolving the situation. Our objective is to make sure your concerns are addressed when handling this sensitive area. While every complaint does not technically fally within our jurisdiction, we stand ready to help you in any way we can. We are in the process of working to address your concerns. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- We need more people to write letters. This sounds like a canned letter they send out. Patsy

Earliene, I wish I lived in DeWitt County. That is really a thin excuse for neglecting a cemetery. Isn't there any civic or county pride left? Since you made a trip to the county, I believe you don't live there, either. Are there any DeWitt Countians on the list? Who and where are the members of the Genealogical Society? Shirley Earliene Kaelin wrote: > I have been told that the condition of Hall Cemetery is partially due to the > fact that " those Hall's haven't been in DeWitt for years and years" so, > just for the benefit of anyone connected to the following is related in one > way or another to Mahlon and Hannah Hall that are buried in Hall Cemetery: > Axy ELY m/ Greenberry Hall (son) > Stephen NEAL m/ Cassandra Hall (daughter) > William NEAL m/ Elizabeth Hall (daughter) > Sarah E. DYE m/ Benjamin Hall (son) > Richard P. HAVENS m/ Hester B. Hall (granddaughter) > J. J. MORROW m/ Hannah Hall (granddaughter) > William MILSTED m/ Lurena Hall (granddaughter) > Eliza THORNLEY m/ Jonathan R. Hall (son) > Marena or Mourning STOUT m/ Mahlon P. Hall (son) > Andrew J. MORROW m/ Elizabeth J. Hall (granddaughter) > H. H. BOWLES m/ Cassandra Hall (granddaughter) > Martha BANTA m/ Joel Hall (grandson) > Sarah WEAVER m/ James A. Hall (grandson) > Sarah A. PERRY m/ Thomas J. Hall (grandson) > Sarah CANADA m/ Henry C. Hall (grandson) > Sarah ELLINGTON m/ Richard J. Hall (grandson) > Samuel SUMNERS m/ Rosilla Hall (granddaughter) > Sallie SELLARDS m/ George W. Hall (grandson) > Mary HARKRADER m/ Mahlon R. Hall (grandson) > John A. DUNCAN m/ Emeline M. Hall (granddaughter > > I used the records I have here at home so there may be errors but I came as > close as I could using the census, cemetery, marriage, death, and probate > records and not having a general knowledge of this family. > Seems to me all of these families couldn't have left DeWitt and if they did > there should be descendants that care about their ancestors. > > Earliene Kaelin > [email protected] or [email protected] > Coordinator for DeWitt County, IL http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/ > Home Page > http://www.telisphere.com/~cartmill/

I have been told that the condition of Hall Cemetery is partially due to the fact that " those Hall's haven't been in DeWitt for years and years" so, just for the benefit of anyone connected to the following is related in one way or another to Mahlon and Hannah Hall that are buried in Hall Cemetery: Axy ELY m/ Greenberry Hall (son) Stephen NEAL m/ Cassandra Hall (daughter) William NEAL m/ Elizabeth Hall (daughter) Sarah E. DYE m/ Benjamin Hall (son) Richard P. HAVENS m/ Hester B. Hall (granddaughter) J. J. MORROW m/ Hannah Hall (granddaughter) William MILSTED m/ Lurena Hall (granddaughter) Eliza THORNLEY m/ Jonathan R. Hall (son) Marena or Mourning STOUT m/ Mahlon P. Hall (son) Andrew J. MORROW m/ Elizabeth J. Hall (granddaughter) H. H. BOWLES m/ Cassandra Hall (granddaughter) Martha BANTA m/ Joel Hall (grandson) Sarah WEAVER m/ James A. Hall (grandson) Sarah A. PERRY m/ Thomas J. Hall (grandson) Sarah CANADA m/ Henry C. Hall (grandson) Sarah ELLINGTON m/ Richard J. Hall (grandson) Samuel SUMNERS m/ Rosilla Hall (granddaughter) Sallie SELLARDS m/ George W. Hall (grandson) Mary HARKRADER m/ Mahlon R. Hall (grandson) John A. DUNCAN m/ Emeline M. Hall (granddaughter I used the records I have here at home so there may be errors but I came as close as I could using the census, cemetery, marriage, death, and probate records and not having a general knowledge of this family. Seems to me all of these families couldn't have left DeWitt and if they did there should be descendants that care about their ancestors. Earliene Kaelin [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for DeWitt County, IL http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/ Home Page http://www.telisphere.com/~cartmill/

Is anyone researching the early Stout family in DeWitt?? I would like to know if Marena or Mourning J. Stout is the daughter of Jesse and Anna STOUT. She was born abt. 1828 Ohio. Married first James Hall then Mahlon P. Hall. Thank you for any help. Earliene Kaelin [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for DeWitt County, IL http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/ Home Page http://www.telisphere.com/~cartmill/

I have a more than a few inquiries so thought I should clear up the copyright on the cemetery pages. The Copyright was placed there only to protect the information from being used commercially. If you find an ancestors gravestone or you want to print a picture of the cemetery please do so. These pictures were placed on the Internet for those of you who cannot get to DeWitt. If there is anything I can do to help any of you please let me know. I am here to help you. I am just sorry that I couldn't take a picture of every gravesite. Earliene Kaelin [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for DeWitt County, IL http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/ Home Page http://www.telisphere.com/~cartmill/

Hello to all..... Sorry for the group message...it was just was easier. To all that I promised lookups I didn't forget you. We have had a tough month at our house and I just have not been able to get out and around. My husband had knee surgery on Sept.24th, and I had out patient surgery last Thur. so we are kinda slow going at the moment. If all goes well we/I will start in the next couple of weeks. So Sorry for the delay, please bear with me. Janice

Hi, I am new to your list. I am a descendant of the Peavler's that lived in DeWitt County. Is anyone else related to this line or researching them? Thanks! Debbie

Does DeWitt Co have additional marriage license information other than a simple handwritten ledger entry? Also would like to know where I can obtain Civil War Draft Registration copies for DeWitt Co. I am seeking the parents, birthplace and additional information on Milton OKERSON (OAKERSON). B. Okerson Rodgers [email protected]

Well, I have finally gotten my project done (I think) and you can now see most of the pictures I took at the cemeteries while in DeWitt. Please be gentle with me as this was a huge project and you may find some linking errors, if so just let me know what it is and I will go about fixing it. I have used thumbnails so the initial page won't take so long to load but be patient as they are still large files and take time to load. Remember also that some of the cemeteries were dark and it was hard to get a real good shot. I hope that each of you find a picture you wanted to see. I would also appreciate any help in getting the attention of the State Controller. If we can just save a few gravesites then all of this will have been worth it. I have made a link to the page at the bottom of the cemetery table on the county page but here is the address: http://members.xoom.com/Earliene/pages/cemetery.htm I hope that you enjoy what I have done. Earliene E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/

Rootsweb main server is down so the County page is on their old server and none of the new stuff will be there. I will let you know when it gets back up. EE-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/

I have a picture that my great aunt sent me of the Cloverleaf class at the Clinton Presbyterian Church in that picture is: Jack Blue, Goldie Newcom, Lois McPeek, Ethel Weber, Edith Rogers, Viola Walden, Rozella Nixon, Helen Crum, Almon Finger, Opal Thompson. If anyone would like a copy of this picture I can scan it or send it by mail. Earliene Kaelin E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/

Anyone looking for David H. Botkin? I found his gravestone in Texas Christian Cemetery and he is not listed in the inscriptions, The stone is broken and was probably missed by those doing the inscriptions. David H. Botkin d. Sept. 23, 1879 27y 4m 7d Using the 1870 census it looks like David was the son of John and Nancy Botkin. He is listed as 18 year old on that census. Marriage records say he married Cora C. Huchin 12/24/1873 who was the daughter of Charles E. Huchins and Harriet. Charles and Harriet are buried at Pleasant Valley. After David died Cora remarried to Walter F. Stafford 11-14-1880 Anyone wanting a copy of the picture let me know and I will send it. Earliene E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Coordinator for: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildewitt/