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Somonauk Township
OAKMOUND CEMETERY HISTORY
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Oak Mound Cemetery
is located in DeKalb County, Illinois, in Somonauk Township, north of
Chicago Road at the intersection of Howison Road in Section 5 Township 37
north Range 5 east. There is a driveway into the cemetery from Chicago Road
on the south and Howison Road on the east.
Reuben Root claimed by squatter’s rights, in 1835, nearly
600 acres of land which included part or all of the original “old grounds”
of Oak Mound Cemetery. The previous owner, an unknown trapper, had
constructed a log cabin, in 1834, at the crossing of Somonauk Creek on the
old Chicago - Galena Road, which had been established in 1832. The cabin
was abandoned in the fall of 1834.
In 1847, David Merritt purchased some forty acres from the
government in Section 5, which included these three acres of the “old
grounds” of Oak Mound near the southeast corner of said forty acres, which
had been previously donated by Lucius Frisbie to the community. Mr. Merritt
had this three acre tract of the “old grounds” surveyed and platted,
setting aside two full lots, one for the sale of single graves and the
other for strangers. He then deeded the burial ground to the commissioners
of DeKalb County for the inhabitants of Somonauk Precinct as a burial
ground on May 3, 1847. Some thirty four years later, on September 15, 1881,
the Board of Supervisors of DeKalb County gave a Quit Claim Deed to this
burial ground to James French, William S. Beveridge, James H. Beveridge,
Charles E. Wilson and Josiah Fosgate, trustees of Oak Mound Cemetery
Association, Inc. On April 3, 1882, the Oak Mound Cemetery Association
Charter was issued naming the first Board of Trustees.
Mr. George Patten, in 1909, was the first to
take the initiative to begin work that would beautify the resting place of
his parents at Oak Mound Cemetery. The original part was cleared and the
old unsightly trees removed. He died on September 28, 1910, and his
brothers Jim and Harry continued the task George began.
Mr. George Patten had placed an endowment of
$40,000 on the cemetery, which was to be invested in “gilt-edge” and
dividend paying bonds. The income was to be used in the care and
maintenance of the cemetery. An additional sum of $10,000 he paid for the
work of beautifying and landscaping the cemetery. The endowment created has
been increased by the subscription of other lot owners.
Mr. Patten purchased additional land on the south
and on the west to increase Oak Mound property to seventeen acres.
Mr. Charles E. Wilson was chosen as President.
Mr. M. H. Beitel was chosen as Vice President, and Mr. Charles H. White was
chosen as Secretary and Treasurer.
Due to the slope and the
unevenness of the ground on the east side of the property, the selection of
fence became a problem. Mr. Meyer J. Sturm, an architect, was called in and
given the task of the design of a fence that would be ornamental to the
cemetery, regardless of cost. The first requisite was the proper design for
the entrances. It was decided that the gates should be of bronze instead of
iron. The fence is 1070 feet long and in its foundation 600 sacks of
cement and 150 yards of gravel . The total cost of the fence was $8,000.
The fence and the posts were constructed of the finest quality Bedford
stone.
A landscape artist was secured in platting
the grounds. The south and east part of the cemetery is a beautiful park,
with trees of many varieties. With the use of flowers and shrubs of all
colors and hues, the overall beauty of the cemetery would qualify as one of
the most beautiful in the state.
A large and convenient cement
house and barn were constructed for the use of the caretaker and is located
toward the west end of the cemetery.
The previous history of the people
involved in the land purchases, the endowment and the Cemetery Association
kept true to their promise to have Oak Mound Cemetery one of the finest in
the State of Illinois. The Caretaker is to be commended for the perfection
of his work.
The information was recorded from a
reading of the tombstones, obituaries and other records. By using the index
and locating a name at the head of a row, going north or south, the
researcher may readily locate an individual grave.
The full name of each individual, date of
birth, date of death, age and military service is recorded. An alphabetical
index includes the full name, maiden name and page number for an every name
reference.
We wish to express our appreciation to Mr.
Terry Desmond, County Clerk, and his staff for the cooperation and
assistance given to the members of the Society.
Verification of the records of birth and death
may be made by writing to:
Mr. Terry Desmond
County Clerk
110 E. Sycamore Street
Sycamore, Il . 60178
footnotes:
1. Office of the
Recorder, Sycamore, IL. . : Map of DeKalb County - 1876.
2. Combination
Atlas Map of DeKalb County, Il. - 1871: Thompson & Everts, pg 34.
Reprinted in Atlases of DeKalb County, Il . by the DeKalb
County Historical Society.
3. Office
of the Recorder, Sycamore, IL. .:
DeKalb County
highway map — 1988,
Oak Mound
Cemetery map - Plat Book ‘B’ pg 72,
Exhibit A -
Deed dated May 3, 1847,
Exhibit B - Deed dated
September 5, 1881,
Exhibit C - Deed dated April
3, 1882,
Exhibit D - Deed dated March
6, 1896,
Exhibit E - Deed dated June
26, 1897,
Exhibit F -
Deed dated August 13, 1910,
Exhibit G -
County Board of Supervisor’s records April 11, 1933.
4. The
Somonauk Book, 1928: Jennie Patten & Arthur Graham, reprinted 1978.
This book is being
published with the deepest respect for the deceased. It is a valuable
record of history.
THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF DEKALB COUNTY,
IL.
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Oak Mound Cemetery is located in DeKalb County, Illinois, in
Somonauk Township, north of Chicago Road at the intersection of Howison Road in
Section 5 Township 37 north Range 5 east. There is a driveway into the
cemetery from Chicago Road on the south and Howison Road on the east.
Reuben Root claimed by squatter’s rights, in 1835, nearly
600 acres of land which included part or all of the original “old grounds” of
Oak Mound Cemetery. The previous owner, an unknown trapper, had constructed a
log cabin, in 1834, at the crossing of Somonauk Creek on the old Chicago -
Galena Road, which had been established in 1832. The cabin was abandoned in
the fall of 1834.
In 1847, David Merritt purchased some forty acres from the
government in Section 5, which included these three acres of the “old
grounds” of Oak Mound near the southeast corner of said forty acres, which
had been previously donated by Lucius Frisbie to the community. Mr. Merritt
had this three acre tract of the “old grounds” surveyed and platted, setting
aside two full lots, one for the sale of single graves and the other for
strangers. He then deeded the burial ground to the commissioners of DeKalb
County for the inhabitants of Somonauk Precinct as a burial ground on May 3,
1847. Some thirty four years later, on September 15, 1881, the Board of
Supervisors of DeKalb County gave a Quit Claim Deed to this burial ground to
James French, William S. Beveridge, James H. Beveridge, Charles E. Wilson and
Josiah Fosgate, trustees of Oak Mound Cemetery Association, Inc. On April 3,
1882, the Oak Mound Cemetery Association Charter was issued naming the first
Board of Trustees.
Mr. George Patten, in 1909, was the first to
take the initiative to begin work that would beautify the resting place of
his parents at Oak Mound Cemetery. The original part was cleared and the old
unsightly trees removed. He died on September 28, 1910, and his brothers Jim
and Harry continued the task George began.
Mr. George Patten had placed an endowment of
$40,000 on the cemetery, which was to be invested in “gilt-edge” and
dividend paying bonds. The income was to be used in the care and maintenance
of the cemetery. An additional sum of $10,000 he paid for the work of
beautifying and landscaping the cemetery. The endowment created has been
increased by the subscription of other lot owners.
Mr. Patten purchased additional land on the south and
on the west to increase Oak Mound property to seventeen acres.
Mr. Charles E. Wilson was chosen as President. Mr.
M. H. Beitel was chosen as Vice President, and Mr. Charles H. White was
chosen as Secretary and Treasurer.
Due to the slope and the
unevenness of the ground on the east side of the property, the selection of
fence became a problem. Mr. Meyer J. Sturm, an architect, was called in and
given the task of the design of a fence that would be ornamental to the
cemetery, regardless of cost. The first requisite was the proper design for
the entrances. It was decided that the gates should be of bronze instead of
iron. The fence is 1070 feet long and in its foundation 600 sacks of cement
and 150 yards of gravel . The total cost of the fence was $8,000. The fence
and the posts were constructed of the finest quality Bedford stone.
A landscape artist was secured in platting
the grounds. The south and east part of the cemetery is a beautiful park,
with trees of many varieties. With the use of flowers and shrubs of all
colors and hues, the overall beauty of the cemetery would qualify as one of
the most beautiful in the state.
A large and convenient cement
house and barn were constructed for the use of the caretaker and is located
toward the west end of the cemetery.
The previous history of the people involved
in the land purchases, the endowment and the Cemetery Association kept true
to their promise to have Oak Mound Cemetery one of the finest in the State of
Illinois. The Caretaker is to be commended for the perfection of his work.
The information was recorded from a reading
of the tombstones, obituaries and other records. By using the index and
locating a name at the head of a row, going north or south, the researcher
may readily locate an individual grave.
The full name of each individual, date of
birth, date of death, age and military service is recorded. An alphabetical
index includes the full name, maiden name and page number for an every name
reference.
We wish to express our appreciation to Mr.
Terry Desmond, County Clerk, and his staff for the cooperation and assistance
given to the members of the Society.
Verification of the records of birth and death
may be made by writing to:
Mr.
Terry Desmond
County Clerk
110 E. Sycamore Street
Sycamore, Il . 60178
footnotes:
1. Office of the
Recorder, Sycamore, IL. . : Map of DeKalb County - 1876.
2. Combination
Atlas Map of DeKalb County, Il. - 1871: Thompson & Everts, pg 34.
Reprinted in Atlases of DeKalb County, Il . by the DeKalb
County Historical Society.
3. Office
of the Recorder, Sycamore, IL. .:
DeKalb County highway map — 1988,
Oak Mound Cemetery map - Plat
Book ‘B’ pg 72,
Exhibit A - Deed dated May 3,
1847,
Exhibit B - Deed dated September 5,
1881,
Exhibit C - Deed dated April 3, 1882,
Exhibit D - Deed dated March 6, 1896,
Exhibit E - Deed dated June 26, 1897,
Exhibit F - Deed dated August
13, 1910,
Exhibit G - County Board of
Supervisor’s records April 11, 1933.
4. The
Somonauk Book, 1928: Jennie Patten & Arthur Graham, reprinted 1978.
This book is being
published with the deepest respect for the deceased. It is a valuable record
of history.
THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF DEKALB COUNTY, IL.
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