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Vermilion County, IL Cemetery Listings
THE MT. PISGAH BURYING GROUND
[Transcriber's Note: aka Concord Cemetery. Located three miles west of Georgetown.]
There is much of interest in the old burying grounds of any section and particularly is that true of those of Vermilion County. An exhaustive study of these well repay the trouble. Silent as these spots are, there is a story for one who reads in the recorded lives the conditions of life at any period, better perhaps than in any other way. The old stones which marked the graves of the citizens of early times were much more satisfactory than are the monuments lately erected, massive and giving an assurance of long existence, but with the most meagre information recording only the date of birth and that of death, perhaps.
The earlier stones were largely made of sandstone, many times wooden slabs taking the place of more substantial material. These sandstones have almost all of them been destroyed. In another decade there will be even less. The men and women who lie in these old cemeteries determined the history of this section. Today it is well to wander among the markers of these lives and note how this one came to his new home with faith and trust, and that one came, each to take his place among men, to live his own life, and to help make the history of his own section of the country.
Mount Pisgah cemetery has some recent graves but many that are full of interest because of their being the last resting place for some kind and hardworking pioneer whose life was the sacrifice, no less noble because unconscious, to advancing civilization. Without his efforts the wilderness would not now be blossoming like the rose.
It was in the fifties that David Swank and Levi Long bought the site of the old cemetery and dedicated it for burial purposes. Before this time it must have been a private burying ground, for thirty or forty years. This cemetery is three miles west of Georgetown.
There are two graves made in 1827. Earlier dates have been found on certain stones. Mr. W. L. Long claims he found a stone with the date of 1822, but it is not now to be found. It is possible that such stone was to mark the grave of one of the earliest settlers. Recently there was a record of a girl of thirteen who had died in 1815 and been buried at that place.
The first graves in this old burying ground were on the branch of the little stream called Concord branch now in the northwest part of new addition.
The graves of two men in this part are surrounded with a rail pen. If any one in this community knows anything about these men it is hardly possible to learn it. There are old sandstones lying about from which the epitaph has been completely obliterated. Old cedar posts are standing, with the inscriptions which were rudely made with a knife, yet plain and distinct. These are seventy-four years old. One of these have the inscription, "Nancy, wife of William Brown. Died June 17, 1863."
Another cedar marker bears the inscription of Mary J. Gephart, Died May 15, 1838.
Many wooden markers have no inscription, and many of the sandstone markers are so obliterated that they have no definite information of who lies buried in that place to give the passing stranger.
Among the oldest graves the stones tell the resting place of Elizabeth, wife of J. J. Lyons, who died Christmas day, 1827. She was the first wife of Jotham Lyons, Sr. Jotham Lyons, Sr., died August 2, 1843, and was buried in this cemetery.
Richard Swank, so says one marker, died 1827. His descendants in that part of the country are legion.
Absolom Starr died October 14, 1829, and was buried in this burying ground.
Another marker gives the information that Kansander, wife of John Jones, died August 31, 1834, and yet another that John Jones himself, died October 26, 1837.
Brazelton Milliken died August 26, 1835.
Emmanuel Gephart died in 1838.
Josiah Long died about the close of the Mexican war. George M. Widener died in 1840.
This burying ground is the resting place for many of the Long and Jones, the Pantas and Hewitt families.
It was in the middle thirties that the Cumberland Presbyterians established a church in the Mt. Pisgah neighborhood and put up a meeting house on the site of the present house of worship, which was used until after the war, when the present church was built. This old burying ground is on a high rolling elevation and although is almost completely surrounded with water, is very dry in location.
Source: "History Of Vermilion County, Illinois", Lottie E. Jones, Volume I, Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911.
Transcribed by K. Torp
