Brown County IL Archives Cemeteries.....Bell-Keith Cemetery ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Charlotte Ramsey nicki@cei.net November 1998 BELL-KEITH CEMETERY SW quarter of Section 29-Brown Co. Illinois-Missouri Twp LASTNAME FIRSTNAME BORN DIED OTHER INFO ASHCRAFT Eli Co.F 119th Ill Inf C.S.A. ASHCRAFT Elizabeth Clements Wife of Eli Ashcraft AUSMUS Bell Wife of James Ausmus (she died at 3pm Sun) AUSMUS Child Child of Dudley Ausmus AUSMUS Child Child of Dudley Ausmus AUSMUS James 1889 Hus of Bell (he died at 8pm Sat) AUSMUS Rose Ann 02 JUN 1875 10y 14d dau of WJ & EB AUSMUS Sarah Rigg Wife of Henry Ausmus AUSMUS W J & EB One grave BATES Elizabeth Carr 1818 Wife of William Bates -mother of Emeline Bates Bell BATES Matthew 15 APR 1864 Co.E 119th Inf -son of William Bates & Elizabeth Carr BEARD Six Beard graves Members of Thomas I Beard family, wife Catherine Bell BELL 2 children Of Richard & Winnie Stinson BELL 2 children Of John B & Elizabeth McMullin /Carter BELL 3 children Of James Bell BELL 5 children Of Robert Bell BELL Alta MAR 1879 09 SEP 1881 Dau of Marion Bell & Nancy E Ausmus BELL Annie Bell Lester 1841 Wife of James Bell BELL Arthur 1887 AUG 1891 3y -son of James R & Melissa A Harriss BELL Arthur A 11 NOV 1868 16 APR 1870 Son of Marion Bell & Nancy E Ausmus BELL Bura/Rura 08 DEC 1882 Dau of Marion Bell & Nancy E Ausmus BELL Eliza Jane Smith 1816 26 AUG 1883 67y -wife of Ira Bell BELL Elizabeth Carter 2nd wife of John B Bell BELL Elizabeth McMullin 1836 1st wife of John B Bell BELL Emeline Bates 01 JAN 1837 08 AUG 1919 Wife of Ira Bell BELL George A 1845 26 APR 1852 7y - son of Ira & Eliza J Smith BELL Infant Of John Bell BELL Ira 27 OCT 1830 09 OCT 1908 Co.E 119th Inf -husb of Emeline Bates -son of John B & Eliz McMullin BELL Ira 14 MAR 1808 27 JUL 1876 68y 3m 13d -husb of Eliza Jane Smith -son of Robert & Jane Anderson BELL Iva 12 JAN 1888 Dau of Marion Bell & Nancy E Ausmus BELL J R Grandson of Ira Bell BELL James 1803 06 JUL 1839 36y husb of Annie Bell Lester -son of Robert & Jane Anderson BELL James M Son of Ira & Eliza J Smith BELL Jane Anderson 1780 Mother of our line of Bells BELL John B 05 FEB 1800 13 FEB 1881/2 Son of Robert & Jane Anderson BELL John W 1854 18 AUG 1854 Son of Ira & Eliza Bell BELL John W 26 OCT 1857 17 DEC 1945 husb of Mary Keith -son of Ira Bell & Emeline Bates BELL Mary E 11 SEP 1856 10y -dau of Ira & Eliza J Smith BELL Mary 'Mollie Keith 01 AUG 1867 04 JUL 1909 41y 11m -wife of John W Bell BELL Minnie 05 JAN 1870 09 JAN 1874 Dau of Marion Bell & Nancy E Ausmus BELL Richard 'Dick 1812 Son of Robert & Jane Anderson -husb of Winnie Stinson BELL Robert 1772 25 SEP 1858 Father of our line of Bells BELL Robert T 1832 1903 Husb of Emily Davis -son of John B Bell & Elizabeth BELL William J 28 SEP 1851 Son of Ira & Eliza J Smith BELL Winifred 'Winnie Stinson 1813 Wife of Richard Bell CLANTON Infant CLARK Abner 05 AUG 1891 70y 11m 20d -husb of Judith Singleton CLARK Judith Singleton 07 NOV 1889 67y -wife of Abner Clark CLARK Thomas 07 SEP 1886 42y -son of Abner Clark & Judith Singleton CLARK Thomas 05 MAY 1873 49y 6m 20d -Brother of Abner COFFMAN Mary Jane Bell Wife of Moses Coffman -dau of John B & Elizabeth Bell COGBURN 4 Cogburn graves Family of Margaret Rigg COX Robert A 07 OCT 1902 57y -grandson of Beverly & Hilda Stubblefield CRAWFORD Child Of Robert Crawford & Martha Houston DALEY Ann Queen 30 OCT 1866 38y 8m 20d -wife of Peter Daley -S-in-law to Sarah Bates Queen FORSYTHE Barbara 05 JUL 1937 FORSYTHE Dona Joan 21 JUL 19_8 FORSYTHE John William 1857 1919 Husb of Laura Wilson Allison -son of Thomas F & Parthena Bell FORSYTHE Laura Jane Wilson Allison 1861 1947 Wife of John William Forsythe FORSYTHE Louvisa 1862 01 OCT 1883 21y -dau of Thomas Forsythe & Parthena Bell FORSYTHE Parthena Bell 1835 01 OCT 1886 51y -wife of Thomas Forsythe -dau of Ira Bell & Eliza J Smith FORSYTHE Thomas 18 FEB 1896 67y 8m 9d -husb of Parthena Bell FORSYTHE William Edward JUN 1895 26 NOV 1896 5m -son of John & Laura J Wilson Allison GARD Joel 17 OCT 1812 27 MAR 1886 Grandchild of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts GARD Nancy 10 MAR 1808 31 AUG 1891 Grandchild of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts GILLESPIE Ella Mae Keith Dau of George H Roberts & Susan A Keith HANSON Mrs. HAUCK Mr. HILL Alonzo A 1831 1921 Husb of Mary Roberts HILL Alonzo 06 FEB 1868 8m 9d -son of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts HILL Charlie 07 APR 1879 5y 11m -son of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts HILL Florence 19 FEB 1865 1y 1m 2d -dau of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts HILL Grant 13 MAY 1889 19y 9m 7d -son of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts HILL Jessie 02 MAR 1900 7y 5m -son of George Hill HILL Lonnie 02 JUL 1891 6y 9m -son of George Hill HILL Mary 15 OCT 1856 11m 15d -dau of Alonzo Hill & Mary Roberts HILL Mary Roberts 1833 1911 Wife of Alonzo Hill -dau of George Roberts HOUSTON 2 children Of Andrew J & Katie Bell Houston HOUSTON George 02 JAN 1883 4m 24d -Son of Andrew J & Katie Bell Houston HOUSTON George W Son of Aaron Burr & Martha Jane Bell Houston HOUSTON Infant Child of Aaron Burr & Martha Jane Bell Houston HOUSTON Infant Child of Alexander Houston HOUSTON Martha Jane Bell 03 APR 1877 44y 1m 25d -wife of Aaron Burr Houston HOUSTON Martha R 18 DEC 1857 Dau of Aaron Burr & Martha Jane Bell Houston HOUSTON Nellie 1887 02 JAN 1888 5m 3d -dau of Andrew J & Katie Bell Houston KEITH Albert A 'Bert 1880 1954 Son of Peyton R & Mary E Bell KEITH Barton Frederick 1922 Son of Fred & Mauvine Barton KEITH Charles I 1869 1952 Son of Peyton A & Mary Moses KEITH Fred 1886 1972 Wife of Mauvine Barton -son of John & Maggie Bell Keith KEITH Infant 1919 Son of Fred & Mauvine Barton KEITH J D Son of Peyton R Keith & Mary E Bell KEITH John 1858-59 1938/1936 Husb of Maggie Ellen Bell -son of P A & Mary Moses Keith KEITH Maggie Ellen Bell 21 AUG 1866 1946 Wife of John Keith -dau of James R & Melissa A Harriss KEITH Mary E Bell 1855 15 SEP 1887 42y 1m 28d -wife of Peyton R -dau of Ira Bell & Emeline Bates KEITH Mary Moses 1831 16 JUN 1897 66y 9m 11d -wife of PA Keith KEITH Mauvine Barton 1881 1946 Wife of Fred Keith KEITH Peyton A 1825 12 JAN 1887 62y 11m 27d -husb of Mary Moses KEITH Peyton R 26 JUL 1856 17 DEC 1945 Husb of Mary E Bell KEITH William Austin 1883 1957 Husb of Gertie McDonald -son of Peyton R & Mary E Bell KENDRICK Child LAMB Mrs. MASON Girl MCCLELLAND Mary Veith 1891 1937 Wife of Herbert -dau of Mary E Bell & PeterVeith MCDONALD Eliza 1868 1921 Mother of Austin Keith's wife, Gertie McDonald MCKEAN Mary Parker Sister of Winslow Parker MCMEANS 6 graves MCMEANS John A Mexican War Veteran PARKER Harry 19 OCT 1856 28 JUN 1950 Husb of Margaret Bell -son of Orlando & Susan PARKER Ira Leotis 'Otis 1880 1962 Son of Harry Parker & Margaret Bell PARKER Margaret Bell 1858 07 FEB 1887 28y 11m 19d -wife of Harry -dau of Ira Bell & Eliza J Smith PARKER Orlando 1825 10 FEB 1890 65y 3m 29d -Mexican War Veteran -husb of Susan PARKER Sidney 06 FEB 1868 NOV 1932 Son of Orlando & Susan PARKER Susan 1832 23 AUG 1912 80y -wife of Orlando Parker PARKER Winslow Uncle of Orlando Parker PEMBERTON Matt 25 NOV 1876 06 JUN 1901 PORTER Child PORTER Elizabeth Kerr 25 DEC 1842 04 MAR 1916 Wife of Ira Porter PORTER Harriet 15 FEB 1882 27 NOV 1907 PORTER Ira 04 APR 1844 11 SEP 1908 Husb of Elizabeth Kerr -son of Rodney Porter & Rebecca Bell PORTER James PORTER Rebecca Bell 1805 06 JUN 1876 71y -wife of Rodney Porter PORTER Robert 1829 24 JUL 1859 30y 5m -Son of Rodney Porter & Rebecca Bell PORTER Rodney 1800 12 JUL 1864 64y -husb of Rebecca Bell PORTER Sara Emily 21 MAR 1831 11 FEB 1912 Dau of Rodney Porter & Rebecca Bell PRICE Marion 18y -son of Salena C Price PUTMAN Charles PUTMAN Simon Husb of Hulda Singleton PUTMAN Hulda Singleton Wife of Simon Putman QUEEN 6 children Of Wm Queen & Sarah J Bates QUEEN Sarah J Bates 27 MAR 1847 27 MAR 1883 Wife of William -dau of William & Elizabeth Carr Bates RIGG Susan 11 NOV 1854 6y -dau of WT & P Rigg ROBERTS George H 20 DEC 1831 27 MAR 1890 Husb of Susan A Keith ROBERTS James H 01 JAN 1894 14y -son of George H & Susan A Keith ROBERTS Susan A Keith 1851 1934 Wife of George H Roberts ROBERTS Viola 06 SEP 1882 11y -dau of George H & Susan A Keith SAMMONS Sarah 'Sally Bell 27 OCT 1810 12 MAY 1855 Wife of George Sammons -dau of Robert Bell & Jane Anderson SCOTT 3 children Of Mary Scott SHAFFER 5 graves SINGLETON Elcy 1851 Wife of James W Singleton SINGLETON James W 14 JUL 1851 58y -husb of Elcy STINSON 2 children Of Bill Stinson STUBBLEFIELD Beverly 04 DEC 1861 77y 8m 23d -husb of Susan STUBBLEFIELD Child Of Beverly & Susan STUBBLEFIELD Susan Wife of Beverly Stubblefield THOMPSON Mr. TURNER Addie Singleton 14 FEB 1894 76y 10m 6d -wife of Benjamin D Turner TURNER Benjamin D 01 OCT 1877 57y 4m 21d -hus of Addie Singleton TURNER Travis 25 DEC 1865 7m 6d -son of Benjamin D Turner & Addie Singleton VEITH Noel 24 FEB 1910 25 FEB 1910 Child of Edward & Kate McCaskill VEITH Edward 26 MAR 1876 10 DEC 1968 Husb of Kate McCaskill -son of Mary Forsythe & Peter Veith VEITH Harvey 1916 1942 Son of Edward & Kate McCaskill VEITH Kate McCaskill 07 AUG 1877 23 APR 1941 Wife of Edward Veith VEITH Lyle Herbert Child of Edward & Kate McCaskill VEITH Mary Forsythe 1854 1921 Wife of Peter Veith -dau of Thomas Forsythe & Parthena Bell WATTS 3 sisters Of Thomas Watts WATTS Child 11 FEB 1866 4d -Child of JW & PA WATTS Mary A 21 SEP 1865 1y 4m -dau of JW & PA WATTS Mrs. P A Wife of J W Watts WEBSTER Rosa 01 MAY 1878 5y 3m -dau of JS & ME WILSON 4 children Of Hezzie Wilson WILSON Wife Wife of Hezzie Wilson WYATT Child Child of Matt Wyatt HISTORY OF THE BELL-KEITH CEMETERY In 1926, there were markers for 85 of the 178 stones recorded. It was assumed that there were three burials for every stone in this cemetery. In an effort to establish the time of the beginning of the Bell-Keith cemetery, we must assume that probably the Bell family began to bury family members near the family home, as was not unusual in those days, and only the dates on the stones can set the time. Relatives and neighbors began to bury in the same location and the tract was established by mutual consent. As would be guessed, this area was settled by the Keith and Bell families who came here from Kentucky by way of Indiana. The well traveled trails established by horseback and wagon travel came from the south, past the Keith settlement and wound along the south side of the cemetery, around to the west side and on north through the Bell settlement and beyond. Thus at the time of its beginning, the cemetery was on the traveled trail, but as roads began to be laid out along section lines, the trail was abandoned and the cemetery is now about sixty rods from the road. The cemetery was not mentioned in abstracts until Peyton R. Keith stated that land "except that being used as a cemetery and road leading to it" be deeded. So actually it could not be considered in legal transactions until it was established as a Cemetery Association and was recognized by the State of Illinois under its Cemetery act of 1903. On April 28, 1936, the Bell-Keith Cemetery Association was organized at a meeting in the Brown County State Bank. Thomas H. Forsythe was elected president, George G. Roberts, vice- president, and Thomas F. Veith as secretary. Other trustees were Ira L. Forsythe, Ed Veith, and Bert Keith. The association was organized for the purpose of administering a trust fund left to the cemetery by Mrs. Elizabeth Hill for maintenance purposes. Subsequently the association voted to increase by contribution the amount left by Mrs. Hill to $500.00. A U.S. government bond was purchased with the money and made it necessary for the cemetery to be registered with the State, given a number and placed under their jurisdiction and subject to the State Cemetery Act. Because of this, the Secretary Treasurer must full out annual reports of the Cemetery Care Funds and open the books for inspection and audit by a man from the office of the State Auditor. Because it was not a matter of public record and whereas the parties desired to make it so, an agreement was made on the 3rd of January, 1949 between Bert A. Keith and the Trustees of the Bell-Keith Cemetery that the legally described tract laid out many years before, consisting of two acres, more or less, and its roadway, consisting of a strip of land 33 feet wide be binding on all heirs, executors, etc., of the land owner and the succession in office of the cemetery association members. The trustees at that time were Thomas F. Veith, Edward A. Veith, J. Fred Parker, George G. Roberts, Bert Arthur Keith, and Ira L. Forsythe. Ira recalled when as just a boy, the cemetery had been neglected and allowed to grow up to brush and sprouts. The men of the neighborhood went in and together cleared the overgrowth so that it could be kept mowed. Milt Hogan mowed it with a sythe for many years for $1.25 a day. Peyton R. and son, Bert Keith saw to its care for many more years, then Ira Forsythe saw to its upkeep also for many years. For several years it has been mowed at least three times at a cost of $25.00 per mowing with the mower furnishing all his equipment. (1972) One day while Ira was visiting with Peyton R. the old man was complaining because he supposed that when he was no longer around, the roadway would be allowed to become overgrown with brush. Ira told him if he would deed a right- of-way to the cemetery, he would promise to see to it that the road would be kept free and the cemetery easily accessible at all times. Mr. Keith thought about it a bit then agreed to deed the right-of-way. Before he could change his mind or forget about it, Ira loaded him in the car and took him to the Courthouse where the deed was properly made and recorded. It must be said that Ira kept his promise and the roadway was kept clean and in very good order. Earliest burial dates began around 1836 with the wife of John Bell and 1839 with James Bell. The last burial was that of Ed Veith on December 10, 1968. There are two stones already set with peoples' names who are still living with intentions of being placed there beside their loved ones. (Fred Keith -died in 1972) and Mrs. Gertie (Austin) Keith. The little cemetery is well kept, fenced, a peaceful, secluded little knoll, away from the traffic of a busy road --- a pleasant place to be laid to rest. Trustees of the Bell-Keith Cemetery at the close of 1972 were: Ira L. Forsythe, President, J. Fred Parker, Lenore Veith Redmond, Lois Ritchey Glasgow, Secretary-Treasurer, Leon Roberts and Ruth Keith Kerr. As in many little country cemeteries, there are stones and unmarked burials where people passing through in those early times who lost family members from illness or accident found it necessary to bury near where the death occurred. So it is, that there are some stones with names of people strange to this locality, people who never did reside in this area. Some bothered to erect a stone while others gathered a native stone from a nearby stream or out-cropping to mark a grave until such a time as they were removed to facilitate mowing and upkeep. Since the writing of this information early in 1972, another death has occurred and the burial made in the Bell-Keith Cemetery. Fred Keith's body was placed beside that of his wife, Mauvine, and two small sons on November 28, 1972. This material was written by Lois Ritchey Glasgow with the help of Ira Forsythe. Compiled and submitted by Charlotte Ramsey with info from Charlotte Ramsey and Linda George Maniaci http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/brown/cemeteries/belkeith.txt