HISTORY OF SOUTH GROVE CEMETERY

    SOUTH GROVE CEMETERY is located on the Northeast quarter of the Northwest Quadrant of Section 14 in South Grove Township.  The entrance to the cemetery is on North Malta Road just north of Old State Road.

    This is an old cemetery with many old settlers buried in their final resting place.  The overhead sign at the entrance, SOUTH GROVE CEMETERY, is near the center of the cemetery.  There appears to be one driveway at the center area with a gate.  The cemetery is surrounded by a woven wire fence and some trees. The grounds are well groomed.  It is very peaceful.

    Some new burials have been made since the original reading of the cemetery in 1976.  There are many old tombstones that have been damaged by time and weather making them very difficult to read.

    The cemetery property was donated to the school district by Mr. James Byers, Sr. Free lots were stipulated to be given to those living in the district, but some years later this was changed to enable a family to reserve a lot large enough to accommodate the entire family for a fee of $25.00.  In1946 the Board of Trustees, by the law of the State of Illinois, May provide for perpetual care and the money ($3,00) was invested in Government bonds.

 “James Byers and his wife, Jane Byers deeded to William M. Byers:

    The following described land being in the East half of the N. W. ¼ of Section 14 commencing at the Quarter corner on the line between Section 11 and 14 running thence South on the line between the East & West half of said section 56 rods and 19 links thence North 85 degrees West 49 rods thence 89 degrees 31 rods to the division line between the East & West half of said quarter section thence North on said line 51 rods to the N. W. corner of said lot thence East on line between the North & South half on said section 80 rods to the place of beginning containing 27 acres and eight rods more or less. All in the townships 41 range 3 east reserving the grave yard and school house lot from the last described piece of parcel of land containing ten and a half acres.

Dated 12 October 1869.”

    This cemetery was recorded from the Northeast corner to the Southwest corner.  The ownership of lots is unknown in the older portion of the cemetery.  There may be graves located in this section, but the information is unknown at this time.