History of Mayfield Cemetery

Mayfield Cemetery, formerly known as Brush Point Cemetery until the 1920’s, is located in Section 10 at the corner
of Aldrich road and Church road. Access to the cemetery entrance is from Church road.

The reading of the cemetery commenced at the East end of the cemetery recording from South to North by row.

“George Townsend and Rachel, his wife, deeded to the Supervisor of Mayfield Township, in trust for a burying ground
for the use of the people of the Township of Mayfield and vicinity for $5.00, the following parcel of land described as
follows:

Commencing thirty eight links West of the Northeast corner of the Northeast quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section
10 Township 41 N Range 4 and running thence West 4 chains forty eight links thence South 4 chains forty eight links
thence North 4 chains forty seven links to the place of beginning containing and laid out for two acres of land.

                                                                                          George Townsend
                                                                                          Rachel Townsend

Witness: Wm. S. Barnett
dated 01 Feb 1853
Deed BL 12 pgs 52, 53.

The two (2) acres of land were laid out in lots which were sixteen feet by sixteen feet 16’ x 16’ and sixteen feet by twenty-two
feet 16’ x 22’) with an aisle between the rows which run East and West. The lots sold in the early 1890’s for $5.00 and
$10.00 a lot for perpetual care.

Hardships befell the early settler when the loss of the eight year old son of William Wyke and one year old twin died with
black measles during the winter and could not be buried for several weeks. The family of Ephrain P. Nichols lost three
children who died of diphtheria within nine days.

Mr. George Clarke led the citizens of Mayfield township to organize the Mayfield Cemetery Association on April 9, 1884.
The group elected Edwin Townsend, Henry Osborne arid William H. Townsend to serve On the first Boaid of Directors.
At a second meeting on May 29, 1884, the Association approved a constitution and by-laws stating their goals as administering
their local cemetery. Concerned that the town’s burial site had been neglected, the local inhabitants formed the Association to
preserve and maintain a proper, decent place for the deceased citizens. Although the society called itself  “The Mayfield
Cemetery Association”, the cemetery was known as the Brush Point Cemetery until the late 1920’s. The Association usually
met annually at the town’s Wesleyan Church to hear a treasurer’s report, recommend any administrative changes for the
cemetery and elect officers.

(Ref Mayfield Cemetery Assn. Records Oct. 1980.)
Books on hand Reg. History Center NIU

There are some markers indicating deaths before 1853, which would indicate burials were made from other cemeteries or
from the early family farm burial grounds. The cemetery was platted in May of 1888. The Mayfield Cemetery Association
received a Cemetery Authority License July 5, 1949, from the State of Illinois.