BANKERT CEMETERY
Alexander County/Illinois Genealogy Trails
This cemetery is located two miles west of Gale, situated on a high wooded ridge that overlooks the surrounding farmlands. Most of this information was contributed by Kevin Snell. He has added additional genealogical information.
Monument at top of Bankert Cemetery with an inscription which reads: In memory of the family of G. W. GEARING, d. 1851; F. BANKERT, d. 1865; Mrs. S. G. BANKERT, d. 1880, balance of the family is four children. (1860 Alexander County Census lists a Frederick Bankert, age 49; wife Sophia, 37; son Lenuul, 9; dau. Catharine, 6; son John, 11 and Frederick Jr. 2; also in this household was Rachael Gearing, 6.)
Four stone marked graves near the above monument, running along the top of the cemetery's ridge at it's highest point could possibly be the graves of the Gearings and Bankerts mentioned on the above monument.
BENIFIELD, Charley L., b. Jan. 26, 1875; d. Jan. 6, 1918. (Husband of Molly Kaufman Benifield who is buried at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure. He is Adam Kaufman's son-in-law.)
BENIFIELD, Infant, b. Jan. 11, 1902; d. Jan. 18, 1902. A little bud of love to bloom with God above. (This is Charles Edward Benifield, son of Charley L. and Molly Benifield; grandson of Adam Kaufmann.)
CRAIG, John, b. July 29, 1828; d. May 13, 1877, Aged 48 Yrs. 7 Mo 14 Days. Erected by wife (Sarah Craig). (This is a ver large headstone, approx. six feet tall with a very ornate top, deeply engraved.)
CRAIG, Leonard, Son of J. & S. J. Craig, b. & d. Jan. 23, 1862.
CRAIG, Louiza Agatha, daughter of J. & S. J. Craig, b. Dec. 27, 1856; d. May 1, 1862.
CRAIG, Rachel, In Memory of Rachel, wife of Nathaniel Craig, d. Mar. 30, 1868, Aged 36 Yrs --Mo --Days.
CRAIG, Sarah, b. 1833; d. 1909. (Wife of John Craig) (John and Sarah Craig listed in the 1870 Alex. Co. Census as 41 & 37 yrs. odl respectfully. John was born in Tenn. and Sarah was born in NC. Also listed in this household was: Warren Craig, 6 yr. old, b. IL; John Frasier, 31, b. IL; M. K. Frazier, 19, Female, b. IL; and Chert Rice, 15, male, b. IL.)
CRAIG, Sarah Lucretia, daughter of J. & S. J. Craig, b & d. Dec. 10, 1861. (This is the oldest marked burial in this cemetery.)
DAMON, W. S., Co. M, 6th Illinois Cav. (First husband to Allie L. Lonhienne)
DAMRON, Wm. J., Co. E., 18th Illinois Infantry.
EDMONSON, R. M., Co. M, 6th Illinois Cav. (This is Robert Edmondson, brother to Allie L. Lonhienne--the 1870 Alex. Co. Census shows he was born c1835 in TN.)
GEARING, Eve V., b. Mar. 27, 1888; d. Nov. 15, 1890. (Possible child of Mary & John Gearing.)
GEARING, John E., b. Jan. 2, 1849; d. Aug. 12, 1902. (Husband of Mary Gearing.)
GEARING, M.A.G., d. 1878. (Gearing family member. Headstone is hand-etched out of shale rock.)
GEARING, M.J.G., d. 1878. (Gearing family member burial. This headstone is hand-etched out of three inch shale rock found locally. This is possibly the grave of Mary Gearing, b. 1870, daughter of Mary & John.)
GEARING, Mary, b. Feb. 4, 1861; d. Oct. 23, 1897. (This headstone is hand-etched out of shale rock.)
GOODMAN, Arthur S., b. Feb. 28, 1902; d. Jan. 18, 1967. (Same stone as Beulah A.)
GOODMAN, Beulah A., b. Sept. 2, 1911; d. Jan. 18, 1980. (Beulah is the daughter of Eugene & Daisy Kaufman.)
GOODMAN, Rachel E., b. Feb. 8, 1860; d. Jan 23, 1883. "Though short my day yet now I rest, and praise my god among the best." Contributed by Sharon Brown.
HARDEN, Edward, b. 1874; d. 1919. (Same stone as Janet.)
HARDEN, Janet, b. 1882; d. 1908. (Same stone as Edward)
HOLSHOUSER, Lois Verdean, b. Aug. 10, 1931; d. Aug. 11, 1931. (Daughter of Wm. Albert & Alberta Kaufman Holshouser. This unmarked grave is located at the end of the infant's grandmother's footstone, Daisy Kaufman.)
KAUFMAN, Adam, b. Dec. 25, 1826; d. Dec. 14, 1905. A father and a husband dear, A faithful friend lies sleeping here. (Kevin Snell's great-great-grandfather--immigrated from Germany in 1840 alone at the age of 13 yrs.)
KAUFMAN, Daisy, b. Mar. 10, 1880; d. Nov. 16, 1960. (Same stone as Eugene--Daisy was Eugene's second wife. Her name was actually Laura Ellen Lawrence, but was called by her nickname, Daisy. She was the daughter of John F. & Sarah J. Lawrence.)
KAUFMAN, Eugene, b. Jan. 30, 1861; d. Feb. 13, 1947. (Same stone as Daisy--Some records indicate that Eugene's year of birth was 1868. Eugene was the son of Adam & Friedereke Kaufmann.)
KAUFMAN, Flora (Ellen), daughter of Eugene and Daisy Kaufman, b. Feb. 9, 1902; d. Feb. 15, 1902. Like a flower she passed away, Destroyed in all her bloom, Waking in a brighter time, She finds no death or gloom. (Granddaughter of Adam Kaufman.)
KAUFMAN, Frank B., b. Dec. 26, 1866; d. Jan. 4, 1889. (Son of Adam Kaufmann)
KAUFMAN, Friederike, wife of Adam Kaufmann, b. June 27, 1838; d. June 12, 1878. (Maiden name: Hoofmaster or Hoofmeister. Kevin Snell's gg-grandmother.)
KAUFMAN, George W., b. Sept. 27, 1859; d. July 15, 1880. (Son of Adam Kaufmann.)
KAUFMAN, Infant (Unmarked grave--great-grandchild of Adam Kaufman)
KAUFMAN, Julia, daughter of Eugene and Alice Kaufman, b. May 9, 1899; d. Sept. 2, 1899. Sleep on sweet babe and take thy rest, God called thee home, He thought it best. (Granddaughter of Adam Kaufman. Julia Adline was twin to Ida, who survived childhood.)
KAUFMAN, Lloyd E., son of Eugene and Daisy Kaufmann, b. Oct. 22, 1915; d. Feb. 7, 1919. A loved one from us is gone, A voice we loved is stilled, A place is vacant in our home, which can never be filled. (Grandson of Adam Kaufmann.)
KAUFMAN, Mary Alice, wife of Eugene Kaufman, died Dec. 8, 1902, Aged 29 yrs. A loving wife, a mother dear, a faithful friend lives buried here. (Mary Alice was the first wife of Eugene, some records indicate that her DOB was Feb. 25, 1873. She was the daughter of Malinda Lee Callens and step-daughter to Pink Callens.
KAUFMAN, Robert E., b. Sept. 10, 1861; d. Mar. 12, 1888. (George and Eve lies to my right and left. Robert is the son of Adam Kaufmann.)
LONHIENNE, Allie L., wife of U. L. Lonhienne, d. Sept 8, 1911, Aged 69 Yrs 11 Mo 24 Days. (She was sister to R. M. Edmonson and widow of W. S. Damon. She is buried between her first and second husbands.)
LONHEINNE, H. C., Recruit 19th US Infantry. (Civil War Veteran)
LONHEINNE, Urbain J., b. May 24, 1862; d. Dec. 30, 1915. (Second husband of Allie L.)
MOLL, Maryan, wife of Hamilton A. Moll, and daughter of Adam Kaufmann, b. Apr. 12, 1864; d. Mar. 24, 1886, aged 22 Yrs, 11 Mo. 9 Days.
SIMPKINS, Louisa, wife of W. C. Simpkins, d. Feb. 18, 1900, 41 Yrs, 9 Mo, 27 Days. (Date of birth should be approx. May 22, 1858. Daughter of Adam Kaufmann.)
SIMPKINS, W. Columbus, b. Nov. 2, 1861; d. Apr. 27, 1931, Husband of Louisa Simpkins.
SIMPKINS, William Harley, son of W. C. & L. Simpkins, d. Sept. 24, 1886, Aged 8 Yrs. 8 Mo 28 Days. (Dob Dec. 27, 1877; grandson of Adam Kaufman.)
UNMARKED GRAVES:
Two small stones appear to be infant burials, possibly Kaufman children.
KAUFMAN, Celest Louis, b. Jan. 8, 1924; d. ????
KAUFMAN, Virgil Wayne, b. & d. Nov. 1921. (Two small stones near oak tree approx. 10 feet from footstone of Lloyd E. Kaufman. Childen of Albert Frank Kaufman.)
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Genealogy Trails
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