Thoughts by Trill: Memorial Day cemeteries, Part 1

Every year my mom and I decorate the graves of those who have come before us, for Memorial Day. It started out long ago with just the most immediate relatives in close proximity to where we live. I can remember that the furthest we'd go would be to DuQuoin. We'd take Grandma with us, because that is where her parents and grandparents are buried. We only went to the I.O.O.F. cemetery in DuQuoin at that point. Her parents and one set of grandparents are there. She only remembered vaguely where her other grandfather was buried. And she only knew about that one, because her older brother was buried beside him (her brother died when he was 2 years old). I can clearly remember the day we discovered the Nine Mile Baptist Church Cemetery. It was literally in the middle of the strip mines, and seemed as if the dusty gravel road would never end...then suddenly you were rewarded with an open area with green grass and extremely tall cedar trees. The cemetery. Then the internet came along and I was able to find the final resting place of several more ancestors. The first year we decorated all of their graves, I made the flower arrangements myself. Very ambitious of me, I know! I don't believe I'd do that now...there are simply too many!! :) Now there are so many...and they are spread out...so we have to break it down into separate trips.

This is what we refer to as the "South Run"...which last year (and now this year, too), we have split up into two different days, as well. Yesterday mom and I did the first leg of it...which is all relation through the Carlisle branch.

The South Run begins with the drive down to Hardin County. We stop at Lavender Cemetery first, which is north of Rosiclare. This cemetery is hidden from the main highway, but there is a good-sized sign directing you, and the print on it is in...none other than lavender. :) This cemetery sits high atop a bluff, overlooking a large meadow. There are usually horses roaming around freely down below. Yesterday there was a very nice and peaceful feeling there. However, that is not usually the case. Two sides of the cemetery border the woods. It's usually very windy up there, and the place just normally has a creepy vibe to it. I am not sure why...it just does. But thankfully not yesterday! I think that is the first time I've been there, and I didn't get creeped out. :)

Lavender Cemetery, Hardin Co, IL

There are a handful of key people buried here. First and foremost is George Lavender. He once owned the bluff and meadow (and probably a whole lot of other land around it), and donated this particular plot for the cemetery. He served as a Private in the 121st Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. George is my 4th-great grandfather.

George Lavender, 1785-1856

Then there is William Hines Hicks, who just has a field marker stone with his initials carved in it. The plant has always been there, as long as we've been going. Who knows how long it's actually been there! Makes it very easy to find the stone each year, though. :) William came to IL from Georgia, and is the son-in-law of George Lavender...making him my 3rd-great grandfather.

William Hines Hicks, 1804-1868

Moving along, you will find some of my Civil War Boys. I have always felt a special connection to all of my Civil War Boys. There are two of them here, brothers. Both sons of William Hines Hicks, making them my 4th-great uncles. Miles and Henry Hicks. William had 7 sons...6 went to War....and only 2 returned. His son Louis/Lewis is buried here, as well. He is the son that stayed home from the War. His stone is hand-carved.

Miles Hicks, 1839-1928

Miles Hicks and family

Henry Hicks, 1828-1862

Louis Hicks, 1832-1907

After Lavender Cemetery, we move along to Rosiclare. There are 3 cemeteries in town, and we visit each one. The first one is the Howard Cemetery. It's located behind a church, and is very tiny. I believe there might only be one stone in it (if even that) that is not the Howard name. Hannah Howard was a daughter of John and Elsie Miles, making her my 3rd-great aunt. Mom grew up knowing her son Percy, as he and her dad were cousins.

Howard Cemetery, Rosiclare IL

Hannah (Miles) Howard, 1876-1963

Percy Howard, 1899-1986

From here we go down the street to the Pell Cemetery. It's located caddy-corner to the Methodist Church, and is on a hill. But then all of the town of Rosiclare IS a hill. Here we have James and Elvira (Hicks) Carlisle buried at the bottom of the hill. Dad and Preston were with us the first time we found this place. It was overgrown, and the Carlisle stone was in two pieces. They were able to set the top piece up and lean it against the base. It's been like that ever since. But yesterday, we got there and found that someone in the past year, has come along and recemented it back in place! What an awesome thing to find!! :) James is also a Civil War Boy, but they have the wrong dates on his military marker. Not sure how or why. James and Elvira (yeah, yeah...I know...that's fate in a whole other area) are my great-great grandparents.

Pell Cemetery, Rosiclare IL

James and Elvira Carlisle, how it used to look

James and Elvira Carlisle, how we found it yesterday

James Carlisle, 1843-1905
Elvira (Hicks) Carlisle, 1849-1930

James Carlisle, wrong death date

After Pell there is one more stop. The Fluorine Cemetery, which is by far the largest one in Rosiclare.

Fluorine Cemetery, Rosiclare IL

Here we have John and Elsie (Gustin) Miles. John fought in the Civil War. This was the 2nd marriage for both John and Elsie. Their first spouses (John's wife and Elsie's husband) ran away together and married, leaving John and Elsie to eventually marry each other. Who needs tabloids, when you know your family tree? :) John and Elsie are my great-great grandparents. There are also probably a dozen distant aunts and uncles buried in this cemetery. One is Arthur Miles, a son of John and Elsie. He served as a Judge in Hardin County in his lifetime.