WILSON CEMETERY, Williamson Co., Illinois Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by Phil Russell - tprussell@comcast.net ============================================================================ "Wilson Cemetery is located in an isolated strip-mined area half a mile west of Cambria, in the southwest quarter of Section 32, Blairsville Township, Williamson County, Illinois. This cemetery is the final resting place of two Revolutionary War soldiers: John Painter (1754-1851) who served in the North Carolina Line Regiment; and Philip Russell (1765-1842) who served in Perkins Virginia Regiment. Both graves are marked with government markers. The cemetery is badly deteriorated, overgrown by many years accumulation of bushes and weeds. Most of the visible stones are broken..." Thus, the late Hugh North described Wilson Cemetery in 1976 when he served as chairman of the Historic Sites Committee, one of several Bicentennial projects carried out by the Williamson County Historical Society. Later that year, Mr. North added a brief note to his records: "Wilson Cemetery has been cleared and sowed in grass. Several markers have been repaired. The road leading to the cemetery has been improved so it is now accessible at all times." Reclaiming Wilson Cemetery was a major chore! The road had to be repaired in order to get equipment to the site. Huge trees (victims of some long ago wind-storm) had to be sawed into smaller sections before they could be removed from the cemetery. The headstones, broken by the windfall trees, had to be cemented and reset. Through one of the government funded youth programs, Mr. North acquired the part- time services of a half dozen young men to help with the heavier clean-up work. Under his direction and using his equipment, they turned Wilson Cemetery into a place of quiet beauty. That was in 1976! The Bicentennial celebrations ended; related projects were recorded and filed away. Unfortunately, a great deal of enthusiasm for historic preservation was also filed away. The Spirit of '76 had all but disappeared by '77! Wilson Cemetery was also recorded and filed away, but it was not one of the abandoned projects -- as long as they were physically able to do so, Hugh North and Henry Tyner continued to maintain the cemetery. Mr. North passed away in February of 1980; Mr. Tyner passed away in 1982. At Wilson Cemetery neglect has taken over; vandals have paid their "respects." (From "The Saga" of Southern Illinois, a publication by the Williamson County Historical Society - 1982.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE: - June 1998 Two generations of the Russell family returned to Wilson cemetery in June of 1998. The purpose of the visit was to clean-up the cemetery and do a survey for current and future genealogy researchers. The condition of the cemetery was deplorable. All that could be seen on initial contact was a field of very high weeds. It had rained the prior two days so even the approach to the cemetery was difficult. Fortunately the weather cleared and heavy weed cutting equipment was brought in to tackle the formidable job. The cemetery was cleared of the high weeds and plans are underway to provide funds to keep it mowed until the county can come in and set up a perpetual care program. (Planned for Fall of '98) ============================================================================ Baxter, Martha J. - b. 27 Aug. 1822; d. 1 Jan 1885 Cawvey, Wilson - b. 20 Feb. 1853; d. 18 Feb. 1929 Lucinda - daughter of W. & L.F. - b. 26 Aug. 1881; d. 6 June 1912 Nina M. Sanson - b. 11 May 1888; d. 15 Jan 1913 (probably a dau of W. & L.F. Cawvey) Lucy F. Coggin, wife of Wilson Cawvey - b. 18 Feb. 1859; d. 30 Mar 1893 (This stone is flanked by two small stones engraved with doves. One of the stones is inscribed "Son", the other stone is blank) Colbert, Almeda - b. 12 Sept. 1884; d. 24 Sept. 1966 Daugherty, dau of I.F. & Minnie Daugherty - d. 26 Jun. 1908, aged 22 days Davis, Alfred B. - Co. I, 13th Ill. Cav. Alice Josephine, wife of A.B. - b. 31 Mar 1845; d. 22 Feb. 1905 Katie B., dau of A.B. & A.J. - b. 29 Aug. 1885; d. 17 Jan 1910 Farmer, Beulah - 1901; 1942 Fletcher, J.R. - 1835; 1918 (Civil War Veteran) N. E. - 1840; (not inscribed) Flynn, James - b. June 1841 in County Down, Ireland; d. 12 Mar 1887 Hagler, H.J. - b. 23 Feb. 1822; d. 11 Nov. 1901 Elizabeth - b. 10 Nov. 1849; d. 29 Oct. 1937 Harvel, Alice May, wife of Charles M. Harvel - d. 14 Jan 1902; aged 19y 8m 9d Pearl - dau of C.M & Norma J. Harvel - d. 23 Aug. 1909, aged 2y 4m 28d Henry, James - b. 11 Mar 1815; d. 22 Apr. 1887; aged 72y 1m 8d Eliza Ann - dau of James & Maryann - d. 26 Jun. (date missing) Theodore - son of J. & M.A. - d. 31 Jul. 1852, aged 1y 1m 9d Wm. J., - son of J. & M.A. - d. 4 Feb. 1864, aged 19y 4m 15d "Co. G., 31st Ill. Inf." (Civil War Veteran) Hill, Julius A. - d. 27 Jan 1885, aged 44y 5m 7d (Civil War Veteran) Hurst, Bennett - 1794; 1879 Johns, Wilma Irene - dau of W.H. & Bertha - d. 15 Jul. 1905, aged 1y 5m 28d Johnson, Geo. T. - b. 9 Feb. 1830; d. 10 Sep. 1901 Frances M. - wife of G.T. - d. 5 Nov. 1916, aged 84y 8m 21d Charles D. - son of G.T & F.M. - d. 5 Jan 1897, aged 23y 27d Nancy - dau of G.T, & F.M. - d. 7 Jul. 1853, aged 2y 5m 22d {illegible} - dau of G.T. & F.M. d. 19 Aug. 1867, aged {illegible} Massy - dau of G.T. & F.M. Johnson and wife of S.A. Cr??we?? - d. Apr. 1895, aged 19y 1m 29d Jones, Owen - d. 4 Dec. 1917, age about 45y Lurinda F. - 1858; 1932 Lewis, Pearl - wife of Herbert - b. 7 Apr. 1896; d. 2 Apr. 1913, aged 16y 11m 25d Rosalie - dau of Herbert & Pearl - b. 24 Mar 1913; d. 13 Jul. 1913 Louden, Mary A. - wife of Thos. E. - d. 11 Oct. 1854, aged 39y 2d Lovelace, J.E. - 1862; 1945 Margaret - dau of L. & E. - b. 22 Jul. 1913; d. 4 May 1916 Martha M. - b. 1 Oct. 1862; d. 31 Aug. 1941 Mannering, William - b. 14 Oct. 1821; d. 19 Aug. 1850 Mohan, Sadie E. - b. 4 Oct. 1862; d. 3 Oct. 1932 Myers, Romelia - son of J & L - d. 18 Jun. 1861 Eleanora - dau of J & L - d. 9 Oct. 1865, aged 2y Painter, John - 1754; 1851 "Pvt. N. C. Line" (Revolutionary War soldier) Rachel - (no inscription. She was the wife of John Painter) Pollard, Martha J., wife of J. R. - b. 13 Feb. 1880; d. 24 Mar 1907 infant of J.R. & Martha - b. & d. Mar 1907 Ralph, son of J.R. & Lizzie - b. 17 May 1915; d. 30 Jan 1919 Zella H. - d. 26 Jan. 1908; aged 22 days Richart, William - b. 30 Jun. 1790; d. 16 Apr. 1842 Sarah N., - Wife of Wm. - b. 16 Aug. 1799; d. 22 Aug. 1840 Hugh M. - b. 23 Feb. 1826; d. 14 Jan 1905 - "Co. G., 81st Ill. Inf. Civil War" Rebecca H. - b. 17 Apr. 1829; d. 13 Nov. 1902 Little Bertha, dau of H. M. & R. H. - b. 26 Jul. 1870; d. 29 Jan 1876 Robert B. - b. 13 Jan 1836; d. 11 Jun. 1842 Robertson, Isaac N. - b. 5 Oct. 1869; d. 12 Mar 1938 Daisy D. - b. 27 Jan 1878; d. 3 Mar 1948 Kenneth Ray - b. 12 Sep 1911; d. 14 Oct. 1914 Rodd, Richard - b. 1824; d. 1920 Margaret - b. 1824; d. 1881 Adella C., - dau of R & M - d. 21 Mar 1867; aged 6y 2m 10d P. S., son of R & M - d. 5 Feb. 1885; aged 33y 8m 11d Rejina T., dau of R & M - d. 12 Nov. 1885; aged 20y 11m 5d Russell, Philip - d. 17 Aug. 1842, aged 77y 9m 3d - "Pvt. Perkins Va. Regt. Rev. War" Elizabeth Stewart - wife of P. Russell - d. 17 May 1828 (Born in Scotland, Elizabeth Stewart came to America when she was 17 years old. She married Philip Russell in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The graves of Philip, Elizabeth and Priscilla are covered by inscribed concrete slabs.) Priscilla - wife of Samuel T. Russell - b. 9 Apr. 1805; d. 14 Sep 1843 (Priscilla was the daughter of Joshua and Winifred Teasley Tyner. Three daughters of Joshua Tyner married sons of Philip and Elizabeth Stewart Russell) Samuel F. - b. 19 May 1833; aged 6y 3m 23d Artamissa A. - dau of ????? Russell - d. 17 Aug. 1849, aged 2y N.J. (no further inscription) S.J. - d. 30 Dec. 1845, aged 2y W.W.R. (The graves of N.J., S.J., and W.W.R. are marked by hand lettered field stone. They are near the graves of Priscilla, Elizabeth and Philip. N.J and S.J. were children of William Washington Russell and Nancy Hogg Russell. It is believed that W.W.R. marks the grave of William Washington, son of Philip and Elizabeth Russell) Smith, Jas. C. - b. 1888; d. 1921 Susie E. - b. 1889; d. (illegible) Carter L. , son of J.C. & S.E. - d. 10 Jul. 1910; aged 1y 3m 4d Mary T. - b. 1910; d. 1913 Homer C. - 1912 Mildred - 1919 Stephenson, Mary, wife of W. M. Wilson - b. 11 Oct. 1800; d. 24 Sep 1862 Stocks, Michael - d. 1 Dec. 1855; aged 63y 10m 15d Martha, wife of M. Stocks - d. 12 Aug. 1845; aged 36y Tyner, Samuel - b. 1877; d. 1955 (son of James M. and Josephine Emerson Tyner) Tiner, Richard - b. 17 Jan 1854; aged 55y 6m (son of Joshua and Winifred Teasley Tiner/Tyner) Rebecca S., wife of Richard - d. 27 Mar 1846;aged 45y 2d (nee Arnet) Winifred E., dau of R. & R. - d. 5 Mar 1848;aged 18y 3m 10d Tyner, Lucinda - b. 14 Sep 1820; d. 2 Feb. 1897 (Daughter of Wm. McDowell and Nancy Bailey Russell. Lucinda was married first to Jos. or Jas. Arnold; her second marriage was to Richard Tiner/Tyner; her third husband was James Myers) Tyner, J. M. - b. 16 Jun. 1849; d. 22 Oct. 1911 (James Monroe was the son of Richard and Lucinda Russell Tiner/Tyner) Josephine - b. 1855; d. 1946 (nee Emerson, Wife of James Monroe Tyner) Tyner, Donald - b. 1922; d. 1929 Tyner, Reba - b. 1905; d. 1928 Tyner, Wanita Agnes, dau of Asgal & Lottie - b. 26 Nov. 1908; d. 23 Nov. 1914 Vaughn, W. A. - b. 5 Oct. 1873; d. 11 Feb. 1917 Eudora - b. 14 Oct. 1877; d. 22 Feb. 1967 J.M. - (hand lettered field stone) M.H. - (hand lettered field stone) Emy - (hand lettered field stone) Watson, Tula - b. 1902; d. 1942 Wilson, Wm. - b. 10 May 1787; d. 21 Aug. 1857 Hannah - d. 1 Sep 1836 "In memory of Hannah Wilson a native of England who died Sep 1 1836 aged 50 years. She with her husband William Wilson, emigrated to the U.S. in 1830 and settled in Franklin County, Ill where they spent six years in peace and happiness. Then it pleased God to call her from this life. She was a worthy and acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church." ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Phil Russell < tprussell@comcast.net > ====================================================================