Sangamon Sun

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.