N E W S
VAUGHN HILL CEMETERY
VAUGHN HILL CEMETERY
WOODRIVER, ILLINOIS
This little grave yard was forgotten for along time but some good people went in and cleaned it up. There is men who fought in the revolutionary war and the civil war. The famous is the people who died in the Wood River massacre. My husband took me to this cemetery in 1999 . We got up before dawn so I could be at its iron gates when the sun came up. I spent about two to three hour in this little grave yard. Not sure how many rolls I shot but my husband had to go to the nearest Wal Mart and buy me some more film, took a few rolls of slides also. He ask me if I was afraid to stay by myself in such a deserted place. I told him that I had the dead to keep me company. It was a wonderful place and I would love to go back when we have a snow on the ground. Here is some of my favorite shots, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
This is the front gate of the cemetery now but not way back then, I have learned a lot about this cemetery and how it was established. I know why the people from the Wood River massacre was buried here now. This is the site of one of the first Baptist churches that was built in this area. There was five of them. The minister of this little meeting house was William Jones and his wife was Elizabeth, and yes they are both buried here. Mr. Joseph Vaughn owned the land, he sold them 1 1/2 acre and donated a half acre and twenty rods, the land was sold for $5.00 an acre. Mr. Vaughn and his family also are residents of this cemetery. The other site also talks about John Rattan and yes he also is buried here. The Moores and the other families in this area all attended this little Baptist church.
This is the grave markers of William and Elizabeth Jones. William was the minister of the First baptist chuch that once stood next to this cemetery. Elder Jones was also a captain of his company in the war of 1812.
Wm Jones Sen.
Born
Sep 12,1771
Died
Jan 2,1813
Elizabeth
Wife of
WM Jones
Born
?Oct. ?1, 1783?
Died
Sep 24, 1810 or 16?
This was given to me by a direct descendent of Wm Sr. Jones,[Janet Rogers].
Some of the inscriptions are incorrect as we have found with all our documentation but I would love to share what we have with you. There are quite a few of the Jones family there as the wife of David Starkey is Mary Jones the daughter of Rev. Wm and Elizabeth Jones..From records I have Mary's daughter Lucida listed as "Lucinda". Wm Sr. Jones died Jan. 2, 1845 according to court records. His wife Elizabeth died in 1840 and even though her tombstone says she was born in 1783 her son James said his mother was 60 yrs. old at the time of her death. Just a female thing to fib on years!
Martin Jones was the son of Wm Sr. Jones. Martin died Feb. 10, l847, again court doc. His wife Margaret Wright Jones was an amazing woman. In l812 her father Toliver died. Her mother Elizabeth died in the following year giving birth to son Samuel. Then a man named Samuel Hutton married Margaret around l8l3. Margaret was the young lady who set out with Mrs. Reagan and the children on that fateful l8l4 day. For some reason she decided to turn back home before the massacre. In l8l4 her new husband died and then in 1815 she married Martin Jones. She had 13 children , 6 daughters and 7 sons. She was born on June 13, 1798 and according to her daughter Sarah Levinia Jones Owens that was in VA. The 1850 census says TN. Yes the big Owens obelisk has Jones blood. Now on to the Margaret and Martin monument (by the way Martin has another stone that was lying on the ground and next to it was a Sarah Jones who was Wm Sr.'s wife after Elizabeth died).
First side
This is all on one grave marker
Martin Jones
Born
May? 24,1791
Died
Feb? 19, 1845
Margaret
Wife of
Martin Jones
? Jun 19, 1798
Died
Aug 11, 1881
Second side has two names on it but very hard to read
? Jones? Lutisia or Luhsia or Lutina
dau of of
M&M Jones
M&M Jones
Born April 24? 18?
Aug 10 1823? Dec? 1854
Died
?
Don't know if the second is a boy or girl.
On the back of their stone (M&M's)
are the names of two of their daughters: Luticia Jones b. April 26,l839 and d. Dec. 7, 1854. This death date might really be the date of her sister Margaret who is listed on the stone below her. Margaret was born Dec. 19, 1827 and according to the tombstone date she died Feb.8, 1852. This is impossible as it is recorded in court records that she married Salathiel Starkey on Mar. 21 l852. Therefore it could be possible that the stone cutter mixed the death dates of the sisters. Thanks for clearing this up Janet.
Maybe Sarah Jones
This marker is hard to read
Mary
Dau. Of
D & MS. Starkey
Died Mar? 5?, 1870?
Aged maybe 6 yrs. Just not sure, there is more writing but cannot make out.
Malinda Starkey
Died
Jan 16, 1872
Aged
?
This date might be wrong this gravestone is hard to read.
Lucida A.
Daughter of
D & M Starkey
Born
Oct. 26,1851
Died May 6, 1872
Mary
Wife of
David Starkey
Died
June 6, 1877
Aged 68 yrs. 1 mo. 26days
William Starkey
Died
The rest is unreadable
David Starkey
Born
Jan 28, 1802
Died
Apr. 23, 1869
Head stone broke and unreadable
Head stone broke and unreadable
Elvira
Daughter of J & S Starkey
Died
Jan 3, 1863
This grave marker is broken and cannot read the rest.
The stone is broke but I could make out most of the marker
Sarra ?
Wife of
Jesse Starkey
Died
Mar.? 1, 1873
Aged
? 9 yrs. Maybe 11 mos. 21 days
There is more written but cannot read.
I think the name is
M & M Jones?
Nancy A. or Nadey A
Died
Oct 26,1841
Aged 16ds.
There is other writing but unable to read.
The infant you found named Nancy? that lived 16 days ,dying on Oct 26, 1841 would fit in the births of children for M and M Jones.
Egar G.
SON OF J.W & R.E?
Starkey
Died Aug? 185? Aged, 5mon.
Not sure what the first name is,
Sthas?
Son of? & S
Starkey
Born
July 29, 1851
Died
Sep. 24,1851
Starkey
Died
May l9, 1851
Aged 5 yrs 1 mon. 16ds.
In Memory of
? Starks
Bottom reads
Born
Aug 29,1814
Died
Sep 30, 1869
This marker has a big anchor on the top of it.
Thos. O'Neil
CO.F.
10 ILL.Cav.
G.F.Morgen
?
144 ILL. INF
Corpl.
Henry Lawence
Co.k
80 Illinois
no date
James Fortinier
2nd ILL. Cavalry CO.P
1832-1884
John Ratten
Continental
Line
Rev. War
1747
1821
Mary Virginia wife of
Ben J. Flack
Born Feb. 25,1861
Died Jan 21,1908
A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled
Joel P. Sullivan
1857-1923
G.A.B
Front of stone
John Henry
1830 - 1908
Mary E. Henry
1830 - 1908
Back of the stone
John J. Henry
Oct. 30, 1863- July 18, 1927
Sarah A. Henry
Wife of John J. Henry
June 12, 1864- May 23, 1904
Two small stones in front of the big one has mother and the other father
Two small stones
George Y. Henry
1869-1947
Ema M. Henry
1883-1966
Rotsch
This is all on the same stone.
Amelia Rotsch
Born Dec. 25, 1887
Died Dec. 31, 1912
Rotsch
Charles
1848-1929
Father
Sarah
1865-1932
Mother
James M. Anderson
Died
Sep. 5, 1888
Aged 37ys 11 ms.
Blessed are they that died in the Lord. For thy works follow them.
Eddie
Died July 29, 1884
Aged 1yr. 11ms. 8ds.
Della
Wife of
Geo. Y. Henry
Born Sep 23, 1874
Died Dec. 18, 1890
At rest but not forgotten.
Joseph
Aug 2, 1862
Aged 2yrs.
Mitchel
One side
The other side
Hope
Eliza
Mitchel
Born July 10, 1804
Died Sept 6, 1887
Farewell dear Mother sweet thy rest
M.A.Dolbow
Children of
Mark A. Dolbow
Infant daughter
Born & Died
Jun 1866
Emma Alice
Born June 18, 1862
Died May 12, 1866
Sarah Eloba?
Born May 2 1871 or 74
Died May 11 1871 or 74
Name?
Died
Feb. 24,1881
Age 44ys.
There is more written but cannot read.
?
Apr. 20, 18
Died Aug 8, 1917
?
Son of?
Born
June 12, 184?
Died
Mar.13, ?
Abe Haller
June 6, 1867
July 21, 1867
Albert Haller
Jan 17, 1883
Jan 26, 1883
There is something written on bottom but can not read.
The only part of this marker I can read is the very last line.
The God of life and love
Family Plot
John W. Kendall
Born
Jan. 20, 1810
Died May 22, 1874
Blessed are they that died in the Lord, for thy works follow them.
There is written real small the words
W. Temple Edwardsville
Nancy B. Kendall
Born Jan 30, 1812
Died
April 19, 1885
Daisy E.
Daughter of J.H & E
Kendall
Born 1876?
Julia L.
Daughter of J.W. and B. Kendall
Died Aug. 27, 1889?
Aged 25ys 5ms 12ds
More writing but can't read
John Green
Born May 5, 1847
Died Oct 8, 1896
Laura K. Green
Born Aug 28, 1847
Albert G.
1836-1915
Haller
His wife
Annetta
1844
John D. Janssen
1860-1902
Janssen
Myra.A.Haller
1872-1898
Warren Haller
1891-1906
Anne Ha Teipel Haller
Wife of
Albert Haller
Born in Wood River TWP.
March 24, 1840
Sep 15, 1929
Fannie E.
Wife of A. Campbell
Aug. 29, 1856
July 4.1903
We miss thee from our home dear Mother
Campbell
Lawrence
John
1864- 1944
Luella
1871-?
Rest at Peace
Nettie Blye
Lawrence
May 8, 1910
Aug. 19,1952
Edward Worthington
1879-1905
Mother
Jennie L. Owens
1856-1948
Yeager
Milton e.
1896-1953
Hallie I.
1897-no date
Robert N. Green
1884 father 1948
Viola Owens Green
1894- mother 1945
Brattow
1859- 19
Top of stone broke off.
J.H. Bratton
1863-1939
Owens
Catherine Wesley Clarence
1889-1950 1883- 1937 1907-1917
Lillie Marie
Dau. Of
J & N Owens 1911-1912
William A.
Very old cannot read the rest.
Broken marker
Noah? Lawrence
Born
Dec 10, 1810
Died
Oct 4, 1866?
In Memory of
Gilbert Cooper
Jan 30 1865
Aged 40ys. 10ms. & 2 ds
There is more writing but unable to read
Haller
Thomas J
1848-1928
His wife
Margaret R. 1863-19-
Son
Walter Haller
1897-1965
The gravestone is broken and is very hard to make out what it has on it.
It does look like the name Haller is there.
Haller
Daniel -Eva
No dates
This is all on one Gravestone.
1st side
Sarah L.Owens
Born
April 27, 1828
Died
July 2 1902
Middle of stone
Josiah .P. Owens
Born
May 26, 1829
Died July 27, 1884
Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord
OWENS
2nd side
Janette Owens
Born
Jan 13, 1861
Died July 31, 1866
This marker is very hard to read
Charles
Jan? 187?
Jan 22? 1882 or3?
The bottom has more writing but cannot read.
Charles Owens
Dec 27, 1841
Aug 26, 1921
Frank Fentress
1887-1938
Tomb stone hand carved and hand made
Lewis (the s is backwards)
Copeland {the n is backwards}
Another gravestone lying against the one above
Not readable.
William R.Ray
Mar. 20, 1854
Mar 27, 1906
M?osam-?e
Not sure about the first name
W.R.Ray
Born Dec 10, 1879?
Died May 4, 1882?
There is more on the marker but unable to read.
Small marker with W.R.R
N.W.L
Infant
AW
Anna Largent
Broken
Squires
Leana
1806-1849
Joseph
1802-1849
Guess Fortinier
1867-1868
Amos Squires
1831-1913
Lucy his wife
1836-1908
Aug Squires
1872-1914
SQUIRES
Margret Berry? Not sure about the last name.
Born
Aug 4? 1812?
Died
Oct. 2 1853
In memory of William Moore,George Moore
Joel Moore
John Moore
Rachael Regan
Elizabeth Regan
Timothy Regan
Killed in wood River massacre July 10, 1814
W.M Jackson
1847-1931
Isolina
1862-1938
Joseph Vaughn
Died
Oct 16, 1863
Aged
54 years 20ds.
Susanna
Wife of
Joshua Vaughn
Oct 4, 1863
Aged 49 yrs 10 mos.
Eldon E.
Dec 25, 1904
Dec 26, 1957
Charles W.,
Dec 31, 1896
Feb 16 1957
C Margraretta
March 27. 1866
May 16 1952
Charles W Sr.
1854-1923
Phillip E.
Perrott
1844-1914
Lucile Vaughn
Husted
1902- 1989
E.Lynn
1894-1949
Henry E
Hunnington
Born
Aug 20 1838
Died
No 15, 1872
Two Infants but can not read the dates [Kendall]
There is a spot in the cemetery that they put a lot of the grave markers they found when they cleaned it up. This is a few that could be read, somewhat.
Elizabeth
Wife of Alton or Avton maybe?
Restemier
Born
18?
The rest is missing.
Antoine
Restemier
Died
June 17, 1865
And the rest is hard to read.
Stone broke in two pieces all that can be read is died May 15 1845
Unable to read grave marker.
Cannot make out name
Born July 28, 1869
Died Oct 21, 1869
Unable to read
Unable to read
A.M.B or C
O.B or C
M.L
This marker was hard to read
Coope or Coper? IT is real hard to make out.
Could not make out first name
Born Jan 1, 1818
Died
? 1818?
Edgar B. son of --- R.A Powless?
Dead July 20, 18?
Aged 4 yrs 5 mos 8dys
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven.
Unable to read.
Sarrah
Is all I can make out.
The top part of the stone looks like a lamb so it could be a child.
A.G.B
Wilson McGee
Died
Jan 11, 1863 AGED
10 YEARS.
Cannot make out what the top of the marker says.
Ann. M
Daug. Of
? D& g Berry
Died
Sep 21 18 {37}?
Aged 1 yr. 10 mons. 7ds.
G.A.B
Herman Georg
.Sohu cou
J.O. & J.F Wolf
Geb. Am 3.Dec. 1889
Gust. Am 4. Apr.1890
Jelzo. I not sure what this stone has written on it . I think it is witten in German.
My husband and I walked this cemetery November 24, 2002. There is at least 42 different names is this small cemetery. The biggest families are the Starks, Haller, Vaughn, Owens, and Kendall. Then the other families are Henery, Green, Lawrence, Jones, and Squires. Then there are the ones that died in the Wood River massacre. There is a monument there for them. Their grave markers cannot be found, it might be one of the many hard to read or just gone with time. There is a lot more individual names in this cemetery . Maybe when thier love ones died they moved on or maybe they were just passing by, we may never know.
This is where the other grave site is located, it is like finding a treasure map and following it to find the gold. I did find another site and it spoke of the first monument and I did see a photo of it but that is not enough for me. I need to find it and photograph the monument myself. My next stop will be the first monument and when I find it I will post it. This monument reads; In remembrance of the Pioneer days of this area and to the memory of the victims of the Wood River Massacre who were killed by Indians near this site on July 10, 1814. Rachel Reagan, Elizabeth 7, Timothy 3, wife and children of Reason Reagan. John 10, George 3, sons of WM. Moore. William 8, Joel 11 sons of Capt. Abel Moore. This is the top of the monument the bottom reads; The victims are buried in Vaughn Cemetery on highway 111 south of the airport. Capt. Abel and Mary Moore are buried 100 yards north of the site. This Monument dedicated July 10 , 1980. Erected by Bushrod's Raiders.
To the right is the grave site that I said I would fined, it is on the edge of a soccer field. The Moore's have a new grave marker but their old one is still there. It is so weird how you can live in a area all your life and not know the history. We have drove by this place hundreds of times and never new this was here. I seen the big marker and new it was a memorial for those that died in the Wood River massacre but did not know of the grave near by. One of the other sites posted that the Moores were side by side where there pioneer cabin was built.
This is the first Monument that was put up, It is located on Fosterburg rd. by the Alton State Hosptial
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