CUMBERLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS

 Garrett Cemetery
The Garrett Cemetery,[1] established in 1865 by George Washington Garrett and his wife Elizabeth Jane (Ward) Garrett, though deeded November 7, 1885, the first burial was October 30, 1865.  NOTE:  Remember the Cumberland County Courthouse burned to the ground in 1885.  It is located in Union Township, Cumberland County, Vevay Park, Illinois.  The directions to the cemetery:  from Casey, Illinois on U. S. Route 40, heading west to County Road 2275E (two and one-fourth miles), turn right to County Road 800N (one-half mile), then left and continue (one-fourth mile) to the cemetery on the right.  There are a few unmarked graves.  I have provided additional information that came from local newspapers.  


 
First row starting on South East Corner: 

Mary Elizabeth (Chadd) Culbertson born January 11, 1834 died June 25, 1899
David R. Culbertson[2] born August 19, 1818 died February 19, 1909


 
Second row starting South:  

John C. Delp[3] born April 1849 died 1914
Amos Reese[4] born 1870 died April 15, 1911
Harmon Elmer Reese[5] born November 15, 1833 died August 11, 1900
Harriett Amelia (Delp) Reese born February 28, 1845 died August 12, 1880
Infant Reese[6] born August 7, 1880 died August 7, 1880
Joseph William Garrett born June 26, 1848 died June 29, 1922
Viola Jean (Reese) Garrett born September 20, 1865 died November 30, 1923
Mark Garrett[7] born September 25, 1882 died September 25, 1883
Lewis Garrett[8] born March 10, 1899 died March 7, 1961


 
Three stones without inscriptions that I believe to be the following:  

Infant Willhite[9] born November 25, 1905 died November 25, 1905
Infant Hitt[10] born December 6, 1921 died December 6, 1921
Clinton Hitt[11] born 1933 died 1933


 
Third row starting South:  

George Washington Garrett, Jr.[12] born May 13, 1855 died October 30, 1865
Mariah Emily (Garrett) Wells[13] born February 26, 1865 died May 2, 1887
Elizabeth Jane (Garrett) Garrett[14] born October 21, 1859 died December 30, 1889
George Washington Garrett, Sr.[15] born May 20, 1822 died July 4, 1893
Elizabeth Jane (Ward) Garrett[16] born December 7, 1820 died March 25, 1892
Justice Andrew Garrett born June 20, 1857 died April 23, 1919
Bethshaba (Winnett) Garrett[17] born June 14, 1863 died August 17, 1927
Infant Garrett[18] born September 11, 1918 died September 12, 1918
George Nathan Garrett born May 6, 1882 died February 19, 1923
Dessie Ellen (Kemper) Garrett[19] born December 15, 1881 died June 8, 1952


 East of First row marked with stones:  

George Orndorff born September 1833 died October 28, 1908
Delilah (Lacey) Ornforff[20] born October 27, 1839 died August 14, 1912


 
There were additional known burials:  

 
Susan Harriet Graham[21] born August 28, 1904 died January 11, 1923
George William Garrett[22] born July 20, 1883 died September 6, 1884
Leslie Earl Garrett[23] born May 9, 1890 died November 5, 1890


When I interviewed various family members, no one seemed to have a plot of the burial places for the cemetery, though they said one existed.
They also said several children were buried without stones along the road.  

 
New Stones added since the Lacey’s read the cemetery.  

 
Robert Dale Sweeney

Charmaine Sweeney[24] born May 3, 1930 died March 4, 2005
Grover Scott Garrett born September 25, 1939
Carol Lorene (Little) Garrett[25] born November 2, 1940


 
Deed of Garrett Cemetery Dated November 7, 1885[26]

This indenture Witnesseth that the Grantors, George W. Garrett and Eliza Garrett his wife in the County of Cumberland and State of Illinois for the consideration of 1.00 Dollar, convey and quit claim to Three Trustees and their successors in office of Garrett Cemetery for Public use of the Township of Union, County Cumberland, State of Illinois, all interest in the following described real estate to wit:  commencing Seven (7) rods East of the One-Half (1/2) mile corner between Section Number Twenty-three (23) and Twenty-six (26), thence East Eight (8) rods, thence North Ten (10) rods, thence West Eight (8) rods, thence South Ten (10) rods to the place of beginning all in Section Number Twenty-three (23) in Township Number Ten (10) of Range Number Ten (10) East, containing 1/2 acres more or less.  Situate in the County of Cumberland, in the State of Illinois hereby releasing and waiving all rights under and by virtue of the Homestead Exemption Laws of this State.  

Dated this 7th day of November A. D. 1885.  
George W. Garrett            {sealed}
E. Garrett            {sealed}

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of:              George Winnett

State Of Illinois

Cumberland County SS            I, D. S. Hutchison a Notary Public, in and for the said county in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that George W. Garrett and Eliza Garrett his wife personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day, in person, and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered the said instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth, including the release and waiver of the right of Homestead.  

Given under my hand and Notarial seal, this 7th day of November A. D. 1885.  

D. S. Hutchison            Notary Public

Filed for the record the 12th day of June A. D. 1890 at 1 o’clock P. M .  

Eb Stewart            Clerk/Recorder


[1] Information taken from “Cumberland County, Illinois 1843 - 1993” and the Cumberland County Genealogical Society, Greenup, Illinois Volume 7, Number 2, 1972.  This was supplied by Dale and Pauline (Bowers) Lacey and their daughter Ruth Lacey.  

[2] There is one stone and no dates for him because he died in Vermilion County, Illinois.  Whether he was buried here has not been determined.  She was the wife of D. R. Culbertson and died June 25, 1899, aged 65 years 5 months 14 days.  The stone was read as Mary E. (Chace) Culbertson and her age should have been 68 years.  

[3] There are no readable dates on the stone.  He never married.  

[4] The Toledo Democrat, Toledo, Illinois:  Union Center News Thursday April 20, 1911.  Alonzo Reese was called to Allenville (Moultrie County, Illinois or Cape Girardeau County, Missouri) Saturday by the death of his brother Amos.  The body was sent to Greenup, Sunday evening and taken to the Garrett Cemetery, Monday for burial.  There are no readable dates on the stone.  Also listed in Squire Holt Undertaking Records.  

[5] The Toledo Democrat, Toledo, Illinois:  Casey (from the Banner) Union Center News Thursday May 25, 1905.  Alonzo Reece and Luke Gossett hauled gravel to the Garrett Cemetery Friday and helped erect the monument of Harmon Reese.  There is one stone.  

[6] The son of Harmon Elmer and Harriett Amelia (Delp) Reese, died August 7, 1880.  

[7] The son of Joseph William and Viola Jean (Reese) Garrett, died September 25, 1883 aged 1 year.  

[8] Private Medical Department World War II.  Due to an impassable road into the cemetery, his body was borne by team of horses with the casket on a wagon.  He never married.  

[9] The son of Senator Melvern and Susie Anna (Cartwright) Willhite.  The Toledo Democrat, Toledo, Illinois:  Vevay Park News Thursday November 30, 1905.  The infant child of S. Wilhoit and wife was buried at the Garrett Cemetery last Saturday p.m.  

[10] The stillborn son of James Arthur and Cora Alice (Garrett) Hitt.  The Toledo Democrat, Toledo, Illinois:  Death Reports 1921- 1922:  Thursday June 15, 1922.  Infant stillborn, December 6, 1921, Crooked Creek Township, James Hitt and Clara Garrett, Garrett Cemetery.  

[11] The son of James Arthur and Cora Alice (Garrett) Hitt.  

[12] The son of George Washington, Sr. and Elizabeth Jane (Ward) Garrett, died October 30, 1865 aged 10 years 5 months 17 days.  

[13] The daughter of George Washington, Sr. and Elizabeth Jane (Ward) Garrett, wife of Stephen A. Douglas Wells, died May 2, 1887 aged 22 years 2 months 27 days.  

[14] The daughter of George Washington, Sr. and Elizabeth Jane (Ward) Garrett, wife of Charles Homer Garrett, died December 20, 1889 aged 30 years 2 months 29 days.  

[15] Father

[16] Mother and wife of George Washington Garrett, Sr.  

[17] The wife of Justice Andrew Garrett, death date is not on stone, and there is one stone.  

[18] Infant daughter of George Nathan and Dessie Ellen (Kemper) Garrett.  

[19] Wife of George Nathan Garrett, death date is not on stone, and there is one stone but she is not buried there. 
        She is buried the Washington Street Cemetery, Clark County, Casey, Illinois.  

[20] The wife of George Orndorff there is no dates for George and it is not know if he was in fact buried beside his wife.  

[21] The Toledo Democrat, Toledo, Illinois:  Casey Route 7 News Thursday April 26, 1923.  Death Reports:  Susan Harriet Graham, October 28, 1904 Coles County Illinois, single, January 11, 1923, Crooked Creek Township, meningitis, 18 years old, Fred Graham and Anna Garrett, Garrett Cemetery.  The daughter of Frederick Mertiler and Anna Berl (Garrett) Graham.  Her brother, Joseph Wilson Graham says she was not buried in the Garrett Cemetery, but did not know where she was buried.  

[22] There is a high degree of certainty; he was buried in the Garrett Cemetery, however no readable stone exists if one was ever placed.  

[23] There is a high degree of certainty; he was buried in the Garrett Cemetery, however no readable stone exists if one was ever placed.  

[24] The wife of Robert Dale Finney.  

[25] The wife of Grover Scott Garrett.  

[26] Land Deed Records of Cumberland County, Illinois Book 12 Page 275.  


The information below was researched and submitted by, Grover S. Garrett    E-Mail:  gsgarrett@cafes.net.


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