BERRY CEMETERY

Near Oakland, Illinois
The oldest burial place in Eastern Illinois
By Judge Lyman T. Yeargin [c. 1920's]

Information contributed by Deanna Wolff and Caroline Coon

No sooner had we uploaded this nifty piece by Judge Yeargin from the 1920's when Caroline Coon sent a whole slew of info on this cemetery which was printed in the Coles newspapers of the time. I have added them onto the Judge's compilation. After the transcription are the newspaper articles dealing with the cleanup of Berry Cemetery and some more historical information. Many thanks to Caroline for this info and to Deanna Wolff for giving the info to Caroline!

Judge Yeargin's work:

The oldest cemetery in this section of Illinois is the Berry Cemetery one and a half miles north and east of Oakland. Oakland was settled in 1830 by Samuel ASHMORE. History tells us that he was the first person to locate in Oakland, then almost a forest of trees. However, Mr. Ashmore came to this part of Illinois a year or two previous to 1830, for he lived in the Brushy Fork neighborhood in 1828-29. When the Berry graveyard was laid out, Mr. ASHMORE and Samuel BLACK and a few other neighbors living in the Brushy fork neighborhood built a log church and services were held in this church nearly a year before the first burial, which according to known records was in 1832, that of a Mrs. Eliza MORRISON, who came from the state of Virginia the previous year. However, we must take exceptions to this statement, for a short time ago we found a gravestone marked 1814, but all other marks had been completely obliterated by the ravages of time. Two other very ancient tombstones were found by Mr. Roy Mitchell and Major Matthew Miller. There was no lettering on these tombstones, for age had obliterated them. No other tombstones of a like character had ever been seen before by any of the party who visited the Berry cemetery at this time which was in September 1917. Mr. Wilbur HACKETT, a son of the late George HACKETT, who came to Illinois sometime between 1830 and 1840 says that he has not the least doubt but that the French and the Kickapoo Indians used this cemetery to bury their dead in before the 18th century. Mr. HACKETT says that he has heard his father tell of the French and Indians who were here when he first came to this country.

This cemetery is in a most deplorable condition. In all probability there has not been an interment in it for the last 25 years. There are no roads leading to it. It is surrounded on three sides by corn fields and on one side by a large pasture. Sumac nearly as tall as a horse was found growing abundantly. The barbed wire fence which surrounded the cemetery is all down. In fact it presents a most desolate looking appearance. Most of the tombstones have fallen either flat on the ground, in front of the graves or to one side. Indeed, a grave could not be found but that was flat. There are no rounded mounds. In going to this cemetery Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Miller and this writer missed finding it by a half mile or more although in earlier days Roy Mitchell had visited this cemetery many times. There used to be a public road leading to it, a cut off to the East after you crossed Hoag's Branch bridge, but this road has been closed up for over 20 years. In going, the trio climbed several fences, went through several valleys and once went through a corn field, crossing Hoag's Branch three times in their wanderings. In the Berry graveyard lie the remains of a great many of the old pioneers. These were the early settlers. They were buried there because there was no other cemetery within thirty or forty miles. The grandfather and grandmother of the former State Senator Stanton C. PEMBERTON, sleep their long last sleep in this graveyard. Here also lies the body of Samuel ASHMORE, the first settler of Oakland. Also Samuel H. ASHMORE, C. C. ASHMORE's grandfather. Three or four of the old pioneer KIRKPATRICK's, three or four of the HAMILs, three CAMPBELL's, Uncle Mose LUCE, Daniel STITES and his wife, Thomas MOODY, Josiah BLACK and his wife, Samuel and Daniel B. POWERS and wife.

Another grave in the Berry graveyard is that of Thomas AFFLECK, who died in 1852. Thomas AFFLECK was in life one of the most noted men in the community. He was born in Scotland but located here in 1832. He was a fine violinist and took great pleasure in playing for the "Hoe Downs" as they were called in those days. He was a model farmer, frugal and thrifty. It is said that he wore a No. 9 hat and by actual measurement his head measured 24 inches in circumference. He was also a great hunter, and when he wanted game he would "harness" up a yoke of cattle to his sled and strike out for the hunting grounds, where, turning his cattle loose to feed he would sit and wait and watch for his game, and would rarely miss a single shot in bringing down a deer. The one great fault Mr. AFFLECK had was he drank too much. This was especially so after he lost his wife who lies buried beside him. Finally he went with his son, Rev. A. O. AFFLECK to Terre Haute, where he died. Before leaving Oakland he secured a promise from Dr. RUTHERFORD and Mr. MOSELY that they would see that he was buried in the Berry graveyard. Hearing of his death Dr. RUTHERFORD and Mr. MOSELY sent Aleck MITCHELL over to Terre Haute after the remains and they were interred as stated previously by the side of his wife. Another noted character who helped to erect the log church near the Berry graveyard was Wm. SHADD, who was a blacksmith. The people called him "Old Shadd" for a nickname. He came here from along about the White River in Indiana in 1831. He had quite a large family, all of whom were thrifty and they soon owned a large farm. "Old Shadd" was a great talker and was always telling improbable stories. One time he exhibited to Dr. RUTHERFORD his "spring lancet" and his "pullikin," the latter for extracting teeth, and estimated the number of teeth drawn with them, or it, at several barrels, and the blood shed by the "lancet" at the hogshead measure. Poor "Old Shadd." He was gathered to his fathers long ago in the fullness of time and a good old age. Another old pioneer who helped to lay out the Berry graveyard and build the log cabin church was William NOKES. He used to tell that he was a great heart smasher among the ladies and had been compelled at a single term of court in Louisville, Ky., to answer to a dozen breach of promise suits. He went by the name of "Old Bag of Shot," a name given him in honor of one of his stories in which he claimed that he once carried a bag containing a bushel of shot along the streets of Louisville and as the frost had just come out of the ground he sank to his knees every step while the bricks of the pavement piled around his feet. The story grew by repetition until the shot became two bushels and the displaced brick reached to his waist. Another story told of him is that he went to old Squire ASHMORE and made a complaint against a young man of 18 years for assault and battery. Though he was at that time somewhat feeble, the Squire persuaded him that it would not look well for a man who had carried two bushels of shot to prosecute a stripling of eighteen years, and so in his good nature, Mr. NOKES withdrew his complaint. We might go on, and still on, and relate early history of these old pioneers, who helped build the log cabin church and lay out Berry graveyard, but will not this time.

Silently do these old pioneers slumber. Nothing disturbs them. They lived in an age of honesty, of frugality, of neighborly kindness and God fearing manliness. Some have been dead over sixty years. Many of their children are dead. Only now and then do we find any of them. Grandchildren there are in plenty in our community. These boys and girls are getting along in years. They have families of their own, aye, many have grandchildren. To them has been left a blessed heritance and names to keep untarnished.

In looking over the slabs, or tombstones, the following names, dates of locations and deaths were found inscribed:

Name	Born	Died	Age at Death	Spouse	Parents	Loc.	Sources
Thomas AFFLECK	Dundrie Scotland 1785	June 4 1852,	67 yrs.			1836	exact DOD date & age from src 2
Mary Hannay AFFLECK	Scotland 1784	March 12, 1840	50 yrs.	Thomas		1836	exact DOD date & age src 2
Sarah Kirkpatrick ANNIN		March 12, 1852	34 yrs	Joseph W			2
Sarah ANNIN		October 24, 1851	6 yrs.	only dau of Joseph & Sarah			2
Ben APPLEGATE	1864	1938		Last burial in this Cemetery			2
Lula APPLEGATE	1886	1919			Ben.		2
Ethal L. APPLEGATE	1912	1919			Ben & Lula		2
Lucinda APPLEGATE	November 4, 1833	March 10, 1909					2
Jacob APPLEGATE		May 2, 1874	64 yrs, 3 mos.				2
Hettie APPLEGATE		1874	1 yr. 10 mos.				2
Joed APPLEGATE		January 2, 1873	16 yrs.		J.Y. & L.		2
E. ARCHER		November 9, 1856	26 yrs				2
George ARCHER		March 1855	8 mos		E. & S.J.		2
L. E. ARCHER	Vermont 1783	September 27 1866	83 yrs. 7 mo			1835	exact DOD & age src 2
Mary F. ARCHER		October 18, 1851	2 mos.		E. & S.J.		2
Sarah J. ARCHER	July 12, 1828	April 6, 1896					2
Andrew J. ASHMORE		March 6, 184(?)	19 yrs.		J. & Sarah		2
Elizabeth E. ASHMORE		August 13, 1832	1 yr		S.C. & S.		2
John V. ASHMORE		Aug 25. 1835	1 yr, 6 mos		S.C. & S.		2
Rachel E. ASHMORE		October 12, 1851	3 yrs.		S.C. & S.A		2
Ruth ASHMORE	Georgia 1792	1855				1829	1
Ruth Cowan ASHMORE		June 21, 1855	62 yrs, 10 mos, 12 dys	Samuel			2
Samuel T. ASHMORE		Nov. 23, 1847	25 yrs		J. & Sarah		2
Samuel C. ASHMORE	Georgia 1806	April 12 1855	48 yrs, 11 mos			1831	exact DOD & age src 2
Samuel ASHMORE	Georgia 1795	October 28, 1836	60 yrs. 10 mos, 4 days			1829	exact DOD & age src 2
Sarah ASHMORE		December 6, 1898	87 yrs, 9 mos	Samuel			2
Susannah R. ASHMORE		Aug 7, 1832	3 yrs		S.C. & S.		2
Letitia K. BAKE		May 28, 1856	26 yrs, 6 mos	John D.			2
Filmore BANDY	June 15, 1851	March 2, 1876					2
Lulie M. BANDY	Nov. 25, 1871	March 2, 1873			F. & A.		2
Lucy J. BARBER		October 5, 1851	6 mos		J. & L.		2
Orcelia E. BARBER		Sept. 2, 1848	6 yrs, 6 mos		J. & L.		2
Catherine E. BARBER		May 18, 1847	9 mos		J. & L.		2
John L. BARBER		October 21, 1846	3 mos		J. & L.		2
Camilla BATES		April 12, 1862	23 yrs, 9 mos	J.J.			2
Sarah E. BELL		August 12, 1852,	10 mos, 11 days		R. & S.M.		2
Infant BELL					dau of R. & S.M.		2
Infant BELL					dau of R. & S.M.		2
Infant BELL					son of R. & S.M		2
Infant BELL					son of R. & S.M		2
Isabella Jane BLACK		Dec 20, 1854	10 mos		J.O. & M.A.		2
Josiah BLACK	Kentucky 1793	April 22 1839	46 yrs, 7 mos			1831	exact DOD & age src 2
Susanah R. BLACK	Kentucky 1798	July 9, 1862	64 yrs, 3 mos	Josiah		1831	exact DOD & age src 2
James BLACK	Kentucky 1798	April 12, 1874	76 yrs, 7 mos			1828	exact DOD & age src 2
Elizabeth BLACK	Kentucky 1797	April 12, 1869 {or 1889}	72 yrs, 8 mos, 21 dys	James		1828	exact DOD & age src 2
George BOWDRE	Ohio 1820	1862				1848	1
George W. BOWDRE		December 27, 1854	34 yr, 8 mos				2
Sarah J. BOWDRE		Oct. 9, 1851	2 yrs, 9 mos		George W. & M.B.		2
Mary E. BURT		February 22, 1853	1 yr, 16 d.		M. & A.		2
Laura J. BURT		October 19, 1858	1 yr. 5 d.		M. & A.		2
John M. BURT		October 23, 1859	1 m. 27 d.		M. & A.,		2
Alaison BURT		November 28, 1854	9 mos		M. & A.		2
Hannah BURT		November 29, 1859	66 yrs. 3 mos	Munsell			2
Munsell BURT		March 8, 1860	11 mos.		James M. & X		2
Letitia Ann BUSBY		May 1, 1856	31 yrs, 2 mos	William D.			2
James CALDWELL (Aka: Cauldwell src 3)		Feb. 25, 1850	6 mos		John & Mary		2
James B. CALDWELL (Aka: Cauldwell src 3)		May 19, 1860			John & Mary		2
Margaret CALDWELL (Aka: Cauldwell 3 )		1862	20 yrs	John			alt. death date src #3: 23 Apr 1860
Nancy G. [or B. 3] (Aka: Cauldwell 3)		June 17, 1895	80 yrs, 5 mos				2
Hester CAMPBELL		October 8, 1841	5 yrs. 8 mos		D. & A.C.		2
Hester E. CAMPBELL		October 11, 1841			Sam		2
Abraham T. CAMPBELL		March 11, 1840 (or 11 Nov 1840 3)	5 yrs. 9 mos		D. & A.C.		2
Elizabeth CAMPBELL		November 27, 1839	11 yrs. 3 mos		D. & A.C.		2
Moses L. CAMPBELL		June 2, 1852	19 yrs, 28 days		J. & D.		2
Annie M. CAMPBELL		Dec. 23, 1862	3 mos		J.P. & S.M.		2
C. Manuel CAMPBELL		Nov 21, 1839	28 yrs, 2 mos				2
Charlotte J. CHAPMAN		March 6, 1830			S.E.		2
Samuel E. CHAPMAN	May 3, 1821	January 20, 1896					2
Rachel W. CHAPMAN	Nov. 13, 1823	Sept. 2, 1906 (or Sept 12, 19063)		Henry			2
Henry W. CHAPMAN		September 27, 1858	39 yrs				2
William F. CHAPMAN		Oct. 12, 1855	1 yr. 9 mos	Henry & Rachel			2
Napolean B. COMBS		May 9, 1844	29 yrs., 3 m.				2
John CUTLER		May 18, 1847	57 yrs.				2
Letitia E. DRAKE		Nov 28, 1856		John Drake			3
Aaron A. HAMMIL	November 14, 1823	July 14, 1896					2
Andrew S. HAMMIL		6 Mar 18??			J.A. & A.
Catherine M. HAMMIL	June 18, 1833	October 22, 1869		Aaron A.			2
Elizabeth HAMMIL	Tennessee 1802	Nov. 17 1889	87 yrs, 11 mos	James H.		1829	exact DOD & age src 2
Frank HAMMIL		April 23, 1899 (18983)	27 yrs, 7 mos				2
Harriet J. HAMMIL		Feb 19, 1872	30 yrs, 10 mos	S.B.A.			2
Iantha A. E. HAMMIL (aka Jantha 3)	Jan. 18, 1857	Nov. 5, 1897			A.A. & C.M.		2
James H. HAMMIL	Tennessee 1799	Sept 27 1856	57 yrs, 10 mos			1829	exact DOD & age src 2
Jeremiah L. HUNTER		14 Sep 1858			H & E Hunter		3
Jonathan R. HAMMIL		May 23, 1850	15 yrs, 3 mos		J.H & E.		2
Mary A. HAMMIL		Mar 27, 1870 (22 Jul 18693)	16 yrs		A.A. & C.M		2
Roella M. HAMMIL		July 20, 1869	1 yr, 2 mos		A.A. & C.M.		2
Rosa D.J. HAMMIL	Sept. 14, 1859	Sept. 17, 1910					2
Sarah J. HAMMIL	1832	1914					2
Sarah M. E. HAMMIL		July 20, 1872	21 yrs, 8 mos		A.A. & C.M.		2
Unknown HAMMIL		24 Aug 1869			dau of James H. & E.		3
Catharine HODGE		Sept 8, 1851	17 yrs, 5 mos	Thomas			2
Infant HOGE		June 29, 1836			son of S. & LF.		2
Infant HOGE		17 Sep 1836			dau of S. & L.F.		3
Elizabeth A. HOGE		Aug 18, 1845	18 yrs, 10 mos		S. & LF.		2
Letitia R. HOGE		Sept 17, 1836	1 yr		S. & LF.		2
Thomas J. HOGE		August 3, 1846	7 yrs.		S. & LF.		2
Nathan S. HOOSER		July 5, 1845	1 yr, 3 m.		J.D. & M.C.		2
Flora HUNTER		April 6, 1852	11 mos		J.S. Hunter		2 - exact DOD from src 3
Jeremiah L. HUNTER		Sept 14, 1858	1 yr		M. & ?		2
John H. HUNTER		October ? 1855	1 yr		M. & ?		2
Joseph HUNTER		Mar 9, 1889			J.S. Hunter		3
Sarah HUNTER		1839	9 mos				2
L.C. KINCAID		October 3, 1872	59 yrs				2
Martha KIRKPATRIC(K)		18 August 1865			J.P. & E.		2 & 3 (date 18th)
Isaiah KIRKPATRIC(K)		May 26, 1856			J.P. & E.A.		2
Louburda A. KITE		September 6, 1872	1 yr. 5 m.		B. & E. A.		2
Calvin A. LLOYD		Feb 27, 1867 (18613)	11 yrs		J.E. & C.E.		2
Catharine E. LLOYD		June 23, 1850	23 yrs, 6 mos	James E.			2
H. A. Lloyd		1824					3
Harve L. LOYD	1847	1924					2
Moses LUCE	1785 Virginia	1838				1837	1
Catherine LUCE	1780 Georgia	1844 Indiana		Moses		1837,	1
Laura MCDANIELS		August 26, 1875 (May 26, 18793)	22 yrs, 25 d.	H.H.			2
Rosa MCDANIELS		Sept. 5, 1875	17 days		H.H. & Laura		2
Michael L. McGUIRE		2 Oct 18453	8 yrs				2
Thomas McGUIRE	Tennessee 1792	Dec 21 1844	52 yrs, 10 mos			1840	2
MILHOLLAND		1855	30 yrs.				2
Allison MILHOLLAND		1 Apr 18?					3
Dorcasan MILHOLLAND		1855 (24 Oct 18513)	1 yr. 7 m.		dau of A.J. & M. A.		2
Thomas MOODY	Ohio 1799	December 23, 1862	63 yrs, 10 m.			1839	exact DOD & age src 2
Sarah MOODY	Ohio 1806	April 24, 1857	49 yrs	Thomas		1839	exact DOD & age src 2
Eliza A. MORRISON	Virginia 1812	August 10 18322	29 yrs, 2 mos.	C. Morrison3		1831	The first person buried in this graveyard.
Elizabeth E. MORRISON		1837	2 yrs.		Eliza		2
Infant girl MORRISON		April 31, 1841			Eliza?		2
Alexander NEWMAN	Tennessee 1793	September 29, 1851	58 yrs.			1829	exact DOD date from src 2
Margaret M.C. NEWMAN	Tennessee 1789	August 24, 1866	77 yrs. 3m	Alexander		1829	exact deat date from src 2
Johnthan M. NEWMAN		August 8, 1863	32 yrs, 10 m.				2
Hezekiah B. NEWMAN		December 22, 1844	25 yrs.				2
Sarah E. NEWMAN		1859 (25 Mar 18513)	23 yrs	J.M.			2
Elizabeth PEMBERTON		April 1844			infant dau of J.C. & C.		3
Martha PEMBERTON		August 25, 1851	39 yrs., 1 m	A.D.			2
Sally PEMBERTON	Virginia 1782	May 25 1850	68 yrs. 6 m.	Stanton		1831	exact DOD date & age src 2
Stanton PEMBERTON	Virginia 1778	May 30 1838	60 yrs, 3m			1831	exact DOD date & age src 2
Daniel B. POWERS	Ohio 1807	August 29, 1892	85 yrs, 1 mo			1838	#1 & exact DOD date & age from src 2
David POWERS		1847	10 mos				2
Eliza POWERS		Jan. 24, 1842	1 yr (10 yrs, 9 mos3)				2
George POWERS		Mar. 23, 1847	3 yrs				2
Ira POWERS		Mar 31, 1847	8 mos				2 - 3(exact DOD)
John M. POWERS		Mar 1, 1862			D.B & M.		3
Maria POWERS	Ohio 1808	April 17, 1861	53 yrs	Daniel B. & M.		1838	#1 & exact DOD date & age from src 2
Sarah Ellen POWERS		Mar 3, 1858			D. & J.M		2, 3(exact DOD)
William F. POWERS		Oct. 3, 1845	6 yrs, 6 mos				2
Catherine RAINS		March 27, 1853	13 yrs., 5 mos		S.E. & L		2
Henry RAINS		(Jan3 ) or Feb. 10, 1839	9 mos		R. & E		2 & 3
John RAINS		July 30, 1853	1 yr. 5 mos		R. & E		2
Lydia A. RAINS		Feb. 12, 1854	1 y.o.		R. & E.		2
Richard RAINS		March 20, 1853	27 yrs, 11 mos				2
Samuel L. RAINS		October 21, 1846	3 mos		J. & L.		2
Samuel (E.3 ) RAINS	Ohio 1785	April 253 1853			R. & E		1 & 3
William S. RAINS		March 3, 1853	1 yr. 5 mos				2
B.F. SMITH		May 13, 1880	6 mos.		T.A. & C		2
Catherine SMITH		Dec. 5, 1879	26 yrs.				2
Nancy SPURGON		Oct 16, 1851	32 yrs.	James			2
Daniel STITES, Sr.	Ohio 1795	Feb. 24 1855	60 yrs			1840	#1 & exact DOD date & age from src 2
Christiannah STITES	Ohio 1800	May 24 1855	55 yrs	Daniel		1840	#1 & exact DOD date & age from src 2
Thomas STITES		April 9, 1845	20 yrs, 3 mos		D. & C.		2
Abner TRUAX		July 27, 1877	56 yrs.				2
Arvil V. TRUAX		Dec 4, 1870	1 mo. 12 days		D.M. & R.J.		2
Stillman G. TRUAX					D.M. & R.J.		3
Manda E. WELLS		July 11, 1878 (July 14, 18783)	47 yrs, 4 m	I.S. or D.S.			2
Infants ZIMMERMAN		Nov 12, 1863		son and daughter of W.B. & L.J.			2
Infant ZIMMERMAN		December 20, 1862			dau of W.B. & L.J.		2
John T. ZIMMERMAN	March 1855	October 14, 1857			W.B. & L.J.,		2
James M. ZIMMERMAN		August 26, 1852	1 yr. 11 mos		W.B. & L.J.		2
Elizabeth P. ZIMMERMAN		September 26, 1854	2 yrs 10 mos		W.B. & L.J.		2
Two Infants

Sources:

1: Judge Lyman T. Yeargin [c. 1920's]

2: Deanna Wolff and Caroline Coon (sources #44 & 45)

3: Various Oakland Newspaper articles (The Ledger, the Messenger, the Ledger-Messenger)

Newspaper Articles dealing with Berry Cemetery

WILL CLEAN UP BERRY CEMETERY

Last Resting Place of Many Oakland Pioneers to Be Taken Care of

"Ledger", February 1919

Our friend and former schoolmate Elmer TRUAX, has circulated a subscription paper and received enough funds to place the Berry cemetery in a respectable looking condition. The Berry cemetery is the oldest cemetery in all Eastern Illinois and in its sacred grounds rest a great many of our old pioneers whose children and granchildren yet reside among us, an honor to their parents and their grandparents. Neighbor TRUAX, in his efforts to place this sacred spot in good condition, is to be commended and we are glad to say that not a man, woman or child who was asked for a mite to carry on the good work refused to contribute something. When it comes to doing our duty as a community, no better people on earth can be found than "We, Us & Co."

FIRST INTERMENT IN TEN YEARS

Was Made Tuesday in the Old Berry Graveyard Near This City

"Ledger", 1919

The interment of Mrs. Ben APPLEGATE and daughter in the Berry graveyard last Tuesday was the first since 1909, ten years ago. It will be remembered that The Ledger a year or so ago published an extended account of this, the oldest burial grounds in all Eastern Illinois. The condition of this graveyard at that time was deplorable but since a number of good people have joined together and placed the sacred spot in a decent looking condition. The Berry graveyard is over 100 years old and even at the present time no road leads to it, the funeral procession having to go via private ground. Mur SUDDUTH the undertaker had to use horses to his hearses instead of his automobile hearse on account of the difficulty experienced in getting to the graveyard.

DANIEL B. POWERS FAMILY AT BERRY

Unknown Newspaper, unknown Date

We have several sources of information concerning a church at the old Berry Cemetery. The Coles County history states, "The first church was organized by the Old School Presbyterians in the year 1831. They built a small log church on the site of the upper grave yard which afterward was turned into a school house..."

In an old Presbyterian history, it says that "The Bethel Church was organized on July 17, 1831, by the Rev. Stephen BLISS. Samuel ASHMORE, Samuel BLACK and a few neighbors living in the Brushy Fork neighborhood built this first church house 20 feet by 22 feet of hewed logs on the site of the upper grave yard, the old Berry Cemetery. According to the customer of the times, the logs were contributed by Congress. This church building was dedicated by the Rev. Isaac Bennett with the following members:

W.W. Morrison, Mary MORRISON, Robert BROOKS, Mary BROOKS, Alexander LAUGHLIN, John LAUGHLIN, Stanton PEMBERTON, Sarah PEMBERTON, Ruth ASHMORE, Hezekiah ASHMORE, Elizabeth ASHMORE, James BLACK, Elizabeth BLACK, John KING, Elizabeth KING, James BOVELL, Jane BOVELL, and Lavina LAUGHLIN. Mr. Logan PEMBERTON, in his history of the church, omits Ruth ASHMORE, Elizabeth ASHMORE and Elizabeth BLACK from the list and adds Gideon ASHMORE, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. ASHMORE, Samuel and Letitia HOGUE and Mr. and Mrs. Eli MORRISON.

This church building was afterward used as a school house and finally sold and moved out on the prairie" (Possibly to the site of the Berry School that is remembered by so many folks.) Many of these persons listed as church members are buried in the old church yard.

When the Berry cemetery was surveyed last year, it was found that a small lot on the west side of the grave yard was included in the plot. No doubt, this is the site of the early log church.

Some folks have mentioned the fact that perhaps sometime, the Berry Cemetery Association could rebuild this old church, maybe of logs and with a shaker roof and puncheon seats. This building could be used by townsfolks for sunrise services, breakfast meetings or community out door sings. If there is enough interest we're sure that the folks here in Oakland could and would do it. If anyone thinks this would be a good idea, why not write the Ledger-Messenger a letter?

--- Ashmore Buried at Berry

We do have a lot of information on many of these old settlers. A lot was written about Samuel ASHMORE, the first settler, and fortunately, we have access to these facts. Samuel and his second wife, Ruth, are buried int he old church yard, as well as many of his sons and daughters and their families.

From a letter, written in 1896, by his son Carol Omar by his wife, Ruth, we have fascinating information. (Samuel's first family, wife Letitia GUTHRIE and ten children born from 1796, 1798, 1799, 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812, to 1815. Letitia must have died around 1816, for his second family, wife Ruth COWEN, was started with children born in 1818, 1819, 1824, 1826, 1828, 1829 and 1832.

Mr. C.O. ASHMORE, at 76, wrote that his father and his family landed at Oakland in 1829. "There were no settlers within 14 miles. We lived on the LAUGHLIN place. Our first cook house was built by putting forked poles in the ground and covering with clapboards; our sleeping quarters was a covered wagon and father's carriage, which was the only carriage in the country.

We broke out 20 acres and planted to corn before we built our house. In breaking the prairie we used six yoke of cattle and one team of horses on the lead, with me riding the lead horses. We planted our corn by cutting into the sod with an ax and dropping the corn in the hole thus made and pressed the sod together with our feet and corn went 75 bushels to the acre. After our corn was planted, we built our house. The house was 24 by 16, built of white oak logs. We lived in the house until cold weather without any door or sash in the windows and there was no chimney. This was the first house in the locality.

Our nearest neighbors were about 700 Kickapoo Indians' their encampment was on the Brushy Fork about 7 miles from our place. There were no white neighbors to come and see us and we were glad when some of our Indian friends came to call. (There are six or seven Indian graves at Berry). Our first visitors were my brother, Clayton (Letitia's child born in 1806) and his wife, who came 40 miles on horseback. I can tell you we were glad to see them come riding in. The first white woman my mother saw was a Mrs. MODELL who came from St. Omar when my brother General Jackson was born in 1829.

We had to endure a great deal of hardship and privations in those early days. We had to go 35 miles to a mill to get our corn ground to make bread. There were no roads and quite often we would get stuck in the mud and we would have to unload our wagons and carry the loads great distances and we would have to hallow and thrash our oxen for all we were worth to get our empty wagons out of the mud. A big piece of home made corn bread tasted pretty good after so much hard work to make it possible. Often the men would be away from hone and mother and the three little children often had to stay several nights alone at a time."

Samuel's stone is in good shape at Berry as well as Ruth's, his son Samuel C., his sons-in-law, James BLACK, Josiah BLACK and Samuel HOGE. And of course, many members of their families..........

There are many things of interest at Berry. Oakland's first settler, Samuel ASHMORE who settled here in 1829 and died in 1838 is buried here. He was born in 1776 and was a Captain in Gen. Jackson's army. His stone is in fine shape and standing proudly. His two son-in-laws and their families, Samuel HOGE and James BLACK are in the family group...Thomas AFFLECK, a native of Scotland, lies in this cemetery. He was called a fool in his own country because of his mechanical inventions. He came to American and settled in Oakland because of the ridicule piled on him in his native land. later his inventions were considered wonderful and were used. After his wife died and was buried here, his only wish was that he be laid by her side at Berry. His friends carried out his wishes...There are lots of mysteries here. On the Margaret CALDWELL stone, small letters (ser.) appear after her name. We have reliable information that an abstract of adjoining land bore the instruction that their family servant be buried at Berry. Could Mrs. Caldwell have been that colored servant? We are researching this story. Indian graves bear only symbols of snakes and suns and trees and several stones have the old fashioned anchor and Holy Bible in relief. One whole family, the RAINS, died int he same year, 1853. Can anyone tell us why? Am epidemic perhaps....Twin babies are in the ZIMMERMAN plot and there are two stones for at least two old settlers, and old one and a newer one....HAMMIL is the most prevalent name there, although many families have several members there...According to the old records, in July 1831, Samuel ASHMORE, Samuel BLACK and Rev. Stephen BLISS organized and built the first church house, 20 by 22 feet of hewed logs on the site of the Berry graveyard. According to the custom of the times, the logs were contributed by Congress. This --- building was afterwards used as a school house and was finally sold and moved out on the prairie, north and east of the cemetery. There are many old tales about the cemetery. One concerns a death by suicide. Folks felt it was not proper to bury him inside the churchyard. He was buried outside the cemetery to the north in the woods. Can anyone verify this story? And can anyone tell us anymore about the Indian burials? We would appreciate any information about these pioneer ancestors. Please send us any that you might have. And remember that the Berry cemetery is your cemetery and one of the most historic spots in the whole county or even in this part of the state. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to anyone who has helped with this restoration.

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