Oak Ridge Cemetery issued the following announcement on Sept. 10.
The Sangamon County Historical Society will again sponsor the popular cemetery walking tour this fall.
“Echoes of Yesteryear: A Walk through Oak Ridge Cemetery” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday,
October 14 at Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Avenue in Springfield. (The last tour begins at 3:15
p.m.) The rain date is Sunday, October 21.
“This year’s Cemetery Walk will celebrate the Illinois Bicentennial by providing visitors with a glimpse into
the history and heritage of Springfield and Sangamon County,” said Mary Alice Davis, chair of the
cemetery walk.
Actors dressed in period costumes will portray seven early settlers who arrived here near the time when
Illinois was admitted to the Union as the 21st state. The personal stories of each historic individual will be
interpreted at their respective gravesites in the cemetery. These authentic stories, which have been
thoroughly researched, will take the audience back to an earlier time and provide insight into their lives.
• Moses Broadwell(1764-1827), came to Sangamon County near Pleasant Plains in 1819. He
purchased nearly 2,000 acres of land, and with his son John built Broadwell Inn, which is now
Clayville Historic Site.
• John Kelley (1783-1823) One of the first settlers in Sangamo Country arrived in 1819 along with
his brother Elisha and a large extended family. The family built a cluster of nine cabins where they
later hosted judges, lawyers and others who traveled here to attend court.
• John Todd Stuart(1807-1885), a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, came to the Village of Springfield
in 1828 when it was still considered frontier. Stuart later became Abraham Lincoln’s mentor and
first law partner.
• Catharine Bergen Jones(1817-1915), traveled to Springfield by wagon in 1828 with her father,
Reverend John Bergen, a Presbyterian minister from New Jersey. In 1914 she assisted in helping
women register to vote and cast the first ballot of her life.
• (Aunt) Carrie Post (1824-1914), namesake of the Carrie Post King’s Daughters Home for
Women, mother of Charlie (CW) Post who was the founder of Postum Cereal Company, and
grandmother of socialite and business women Marjorie Merriweather Post.
• Martha Hicklin (1838-1922), came to Springfield in the 1860s with her husband Hezkiah, who
established a barbershop in the downtown area. She served as vice president of the Illinois State
Colored Historical Society.
• Catharine Lindsey (1877-1957), a Springfield civic and religious leader, and mother of earlytwentieth-century
poet Vachel Lindsey, who authored “The Golden Book of Springfield.”
Attendees will be transported by bus to the first gravesite, then walk to the other grave-sites before
boarding the bus to return down the hill. The walk is approximately one mile.
In addition to the walk, attendees will be able to purchase books published by the Society. Refreshments
also will be available for purchase.
The popular cemetery walk, which is sponsored by the Sangamon County Historical Society and cosponsored
by Oak Ridge Cemetery, was held annually for twelve years beginning in 1996 and ending in
2008. It was brought back three years ago by popular demand.
The event is free to the public, however donations are suggested. Parking will be available in designated
areas of the cemetery.
300 S. SEVENTH STREET • SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62701 • (217)789-2255 •
OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
Mark Mahoney
Director
For more information about the event and Sangamon County Historical Society, go
to www.sangamonhistory.org or call 217-525-1961. The walk is endorsed by the Illinois Bicentennial
Commission, www.illinois200.com • #IllinoisProud.
Original source can be found here.
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