Vincent Cemetery, Madison Co., IL Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives January 20, 2004 by Teresa Dugan This cemetery is located 3 miles north of Alhambra, Illinois. It is said to be the oldest cemetery in the state of Illinois. Margaret Sweeten and I, Teresa Dugan went to this cemetery on a sunny day that turned out to be quite warm. The cemetery is located on Mriscin Rd, actually in the middle of farmland. We could see it from a distance, but when we arrived to the site, it was surrounded by trees and a big NO Trespassing sign. Margaret and I stopped a man on an ATV, who directed us to a farmhouse. We found out that the man who owned the land, really put up the sign to keep out people who wanted access to the lake. We were told that we could go to the cemetery. We walked through the trees to the cemetery. It was in an obvious state of neglect and disrepair. Many of the stones were completely broken off at the base. In the midst of these stones was a large, make that huge monument to William Wriley Pearce Sr and his wife Barbara Allen Vincent Pearce. We walked the cemetery, recording every stone that could be read and recording the broken stones. This property was set aside by Isham Vincent, Barbara Vincent Pearce's father. It is located by a lake, a very peaceful setting. There were overgrown rose bushes around the perimeter of the cemetery. Daylillies were starting to come up through the overgrown grass. It must have been a beautiful cemetery at one time. There were many families, those that married into the Pearce family as well as the Vincent family. It also appeared that close family friends were also laid to rest, such as the Keowns had business ties that began in William Wriley Pearce's time. As we were leaving for the day, we met 2 men coming in the cemetery to go to the lake. They lived in the area all of their lives. One said that he was not allowed to go fishing there as a child until he mowed the grass in the cemetery. He still does mow the grass periodically out of respect. He stated that it was beautiful and well kept when he was growing up. It turns out that he is a distant cousin, as his family, the Early's had ties with the Pearces. There are stones with the name Early in the cemetery. We felt good that we were able to visit this family cemetery and a little sad that it had not been kept up and cared for. The sense of history was overwhelming at times. One could imagine our ancestors there, laying to rest the ones that they love and paying respect to those already there before them. We paid our respect and honor to our ancestors. We hope to go back again. Teresa Dugan (Pearce) Margaret Sweeten (Pearce) 2003 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Vincent Cemetery Solomon F Wolk Feb 11, 1860 - June 1904 Stone had fallen. ? Edward H. - Hester M. Oct 3, 1847 June 1, 1848 July 22, 1984 Jan 3, 1899 Moore Elmer A Esther L Feb 26, 1884 Feb 12, 1882 Oct 21, 1918 Nov 18, 1968 Old stone replaced, still with new stone Steele Frank N Eva P 1868-1933 1870-1953 This is a stone that has two family members immortalized on it Sarah J., wife of William Maurer Born Sept 13, 1862 Died June 5, 1906 Mildred Maurer daughter of W. & S. Oct 10, 1898 Jan 25, 1899 Fallen Stone J.B. Keown April 8, 1856 Dec 7, 1898 Henry O. Early Mary Ellen Early Oct . 29, 1868 Dec 16, 1855 July 12, 1910 Oct 28, 1909 Stone difficult to read John A. Early June 12, 1894 Mary, daughter of John A Early Jan 26, 1893 Oct 7, 1897 “Of such is the kingdom of heaven” Stone difficult to read J. B. Pearce Nov 18, 1853 July 21, 1891? Stone difficult to read W. E. ? Stone with 3 family members immortalized on it. Two other stones leaning against it. Pheobe Early Died July 19, 1872 Aged 84 years. Elizabeth Early June 3, 1832 June 5, 1878 Mathew Early April 20, 1818 Oct 2, 1897 “IN Memory of “ Jennie Binney Oct 29, 1860 Dec 24, 1899 Stone leaning against stone obove Elizabeth, wife of ? R. Early June 3, 1832 July 8, 1866 Broken stone, unreadable Broken stone, unreadable Sylvester, son of ? Stone on ground, broken, unreadable. Stone toppled- several people immortalized. Mildred A. Isaacs Nov. 13, 1861 Sept 25, 1864 Written below James P. Isaacs June 12, 1867 Nov 8, 1867 On other side of stone (must be mother) “She was a kind and affectionate wife and mother and a friend to us all" Martha Isaacs Jan 8. 1844 Oct 24, 1899 Aged 55yr, 9 mo, 16 days Sylvester Isaacs July 7, 1828 March 22, 1902 Small stone unreadable, H. L. E. ? Mead George W Mead Augusta Wise Mead Sept 2, 1835 Jan 30, 1846 April 26, 1904 April 27, 1921 Franklin Grover Mead 1805-1958 Stone broken in half-difficult to read James Matthews Stone broken in half-difficult to read. Louisa J. wife of J.A. Matthews Nov 22, 1869 Stone broken and unreadable 5 very old and unreadable stones, some of them broken, very worn. Andrew A. Son of A. & S. Keown Dec 31, 1862 Jan 13, 1863 “Suffer the little children to come on to me” Henry Son of A. & S. Keown Dec 13, 1861 Jan 13, 1862 “IN Memory of Father and mother” Andrew Keown Oct 15, 1794 Feb 20, 1880 Sarah C. Keown March 17, 1802 Sept 7, 1881 Catherine Wife of James Provence Dec 29, 1810 Nov 28, 1881 Stone very old, difficult to read James Pearce ? Several stones unreadable. Stone difficult to read Mary Wife of J.P. Stepp Stone difficult to read J. P. Stepp Martha Wife of J.P. Stepp Feb 1841 Jan 1873 3 Broken stones American Legion sign on grave, another small stone leaning on this stone R. J. Keown Company D 59 th Battalion June 24, 1840 Feb 19, 1886 Margaret Keown Oct 28, 1868 Aug 10, 1894 Pearce Ruth Cox Joseph P. 1863-1940 Stone unreadable Very old stone, difficult to read Christina Keown 1777? Old broken stone, unreadable Stone unreadable, leaning against larger stone Thomas P Keown Dec 21, 1798 Oct 7, 1867 Several family members immortalized on this stone Keown Elizabeth Died Sept 28, 1838 Aged 23 yrs, 2 mo, 15 days Nancy Died Jan 4, 1895 8 yrs, 8 months Sarah Died April 6, 1845 9 yrs, 1 mo, 22 days Other side of stone unreadable. Pile of broken stones, Keown on one of the stones. Broken stone Bartlett Broken stone difficult to read Davis Sharp? In Memory of Joseph Bartlett Pearce Annie Sharp Pearce 1847-1934 1853-1928 Betty Pearce Dotson 1884-1985 daughter of Joseph and Annie Pearce Pearce Allan V Pearce July 9, 1879 Nov 27, 1912 Stone difficult to read Joseph Pearce? ?? July 26, 1912 Oct 18, 1916 Roger M. Pearce 1888-1938 Nancy E Field Dec 19, 1829 June 15, 1867 Aged 37 yrs., 6 mo., 20 days Harmon Field June 6, 1826 Jan 29, 1900 Broken stone, difficult to read Tabor Adaline Wife of Wm. Widner Died July 24, 1872 Aged 32 yrs., 3 mos. Stone difficult to read Daniel Adams Died ??? Monument, very large In Memory of our beloved father William Wriley Pearce June 20, 1815 Nov 17, 1888 On the same monument Barbara Allen Pearce Nee Vincent June 4, 1818 April 1902 Passed to spirit life There are small stones surrounding and leaning on this monument John Keown 1822-1904 Unreadable stone, leaning ??? Died Aug 23, 1855 Small broken stones Small stone, difficult to read Infant J. Stepp & M. F. Stepp Ulysses Son of J & T? Oct 8, 1954 March 16, 1865 Stones on ground and broken Sarah Powers Robinson Born March 6, 1818 Died June 12, 1883 Rest In Peace Stone that is unreadable Isham Vincent Died Feb 26, 1840 Aged 78 yrs, 6 mos, 13 days Martha His wife March 8, 1849 Aged 62 yrs, 9 mos, 78 days 4 small old broken stones in row Stone difficult to read Elizabeth Wife of John Keown Nov 1889?? ??? John Keown Oct 1822 Jan 21, 1904 Lewis Son of J. & E. Keown May 20, 1850 Aug 14, 1859 Broken stone on ground that is unreadable Broken stone on ground Rev. David Foster Born May 1, 1780 Joined the Presbyterians in 1801 Was licensed in 1805 Was ordained in 1810 Died May 9, 1833 Aged 53 years, 5 days “He was a good man” Acts II 21 This stone by the lake, unreadable Keown ?? There are many old stones, very small The stone was difficult to read Schallenberg Johann There were faded silk and plastic flowers at this grave The stone was difficult to read Louise Schallenberg There were faded silk and plastic flowers at this grave Broked stone, difficult to read Elizabeth Wife of John Cox This stone is in German Peter Gehrig Aug 1860 There were four broken stones George W Son of G.J. & M. N. Hussoung Dec 25, 1867 Dec 28, 1886 At Rest George J. Hussoung July 2, 1832 April 17, 1896 This section difficult to read Mother 1844-1903 Broken stone is unreadable George This stone is difficult to read Elisabeth Widner Jan 1787 ?? 1862 There is another stone in German Schallenberg