East Aurora Cemetery

Plot Owners

Many thanks to Stephenie Todd for contributing this. She found the plat for this cemetery and although it doesn't list burials, it does name the plot owners. The following is a list of those plot owners.


Stephanie's Note: "Aurora Attorney Ronald Moses told me the East Aurora Cemetery (also known as Root Street Cemetery) was started with cholera epidemic victims, mostly Irish railroad workers (see Section 2, Lot 29). According to Ronald Moses, about 1935, the mayor of Aurora instructed Park Supt. Ray Moses to collect the loose tombstones and they were used for fill at the Phillips Park Golf Course. Ron said he was told they were buried behind the pond and Pony ring and at another site on the edge of the causeway. An article from the Beacon News dated July 9 (no year) claims they were buried under the 5th tee at the Phillips Park golf course."

General Note: Platted in 1848. George Wilder - Surveyor.
Lots 23.6 ft. by 8'-0".
Lots 18.9 ft. by 8'-0".


Original map made by city council August 19th 1872.
This Plat made July 15th 1930, from original map.
Double lots - top name owns south half.
J. W. Parington recorder.
Alleys - 2"-0". 4'-0", and 12'-0".

This Plat drawn July 1930 by office of Frank B. Gray - architect - Aurora, Ill.
E. W. Radoff


Section 1; Lot

1. Yelden
2. Ladd
3. Barbour/ Atkins
4. J. Huntoon/ Atkins
5. Saterfield/ Payson
6. Messenger
7. Mrs. Gault/ Huey
8. Emerick/ White
9. R. Hopkins
10. G. Traves
11. Underwood/ Slosson
12. Taylor
13. Johnson
14. Wetheral/ Saterfield
15. Grouch
16. Ryder/ Green
17. L. Peters
18. Stinson/ Lavinge
19. Frear/ Olin
20. Berry/ Little
21. Hance/ Evarets
22. Washburn/ Rang
23. Bacon/ J. A. Wade
24. Montany
25. Stoughton
26. Levis/ Traves
27. L. D. Maynard
28. R. Smith
29. Lockwood
30. C. R. Ford
31. Hollenback
32. Kildare/ Nixon
33. Rockabrand
34. Town/ Prindle
35. Gunnison/ Spaulding
36. Tiffany/ Merritt
37. Peck/ Graves
38. Frost
39. Meeker
40. Purdy/ Van Hassel
41. H. S. Wells
42. A. H. Fenton
43. Trask/ M. Warden
44. A. Hard
45. J. H. Thompson
46. W. Higgins
47. L. Huntoon
48. B. Stewart
49. L. Cotterell
50. L. Gates
51. G. Ormes
52. Schickler/ Reed
53. H. Huntoon
54. Benson
55. Hoyt
56. Hoyt/ Bright
57. Templeton/ McCray
58. Allen/ Scragg
59. Puffer/ Kuhne
60. Height


Section 2; Lot


1. W. Scott/ Briggs
2. Admon/ Vieck
3. J. S. Hall/ Rosevere
4. Valentine/ Farr
5. Putney/ Watson
6. Pratt
7. Burton
8. Mosley
9. Perrigo/ Thorp
10. Housten/ G. Hoega
11. J. Wickizer
12. E. Nichols
13. Williams/ Eastman
14. F. Nadue
15. Griffen/ Wilson
16. I. A. Buck
17. J. Russ
18. J. Tomlin
19. Torrey
20. L. Titsworth
21. Potter/ Simpson
22. Emerson
23. G. W. Cooper
24. J. Wightvick
25. L. Otis
26. Page/ Hopps
27. B. Green
28. I. Stewart
29. R. R. Co.
30. Lindsley/ Holden
31. Dennison/ Holden
32. Vermiljer
33. N. Clark
34. Mrs. Light
35. Vaughn
36. Rogers; Baurder (Bauder ?)
37. Shute
38. G. F. Buck
39. D. A. Lillie
40. E. Page
41. Horr
42. P. Chadwick
43. J. Hackney
44. A. Hackney
45. J. Clark
46. C. Roberts
47. S. Swarthout
48. E. Lillie
49. J. Denny
50. W. Howell
51. Johnson
52. H. Fickenshir
53. Rundell
54. Soles
55. C. Bates
56. C. Bates
57. G. H. Gardner
58. Squires
59. Mrs. Cowls
60. S. Taylor
61. James/ Bixley
62. J. Fleming
63. C. Slosson
64. C. H. Goodwin
65. R. Miller
66. B. Hackney


Section 3; Lot


1. E. R. Allen
2. W. Carr
3. Mrs. Peck
4. H. Miller
5. J. Swarthout
6. H. F. Kingsbury
7. N. Barrell
8. C. Wagner
9. I. Fox
10. W. J. Strong/ G. E. Strong
11. D. Eastman
12. S. Luce
13. A. Ayers
14. J. Witheral
15. M. Hines
16. Dr. Dales
17. Rogers
18. O. D. Howell
19. F. Vaughn
20. Hass/ Blanchard
21. G. Evans
22. N. Billings
23. D. McCarty
24. M. B. Miller
25. C. Van Osdell
26. R. N. Mathews
27. Benedict
28. C. Bonney
29. O. D. Day
30. J. Merritt
31. J. Merritt
32. Morrison
33. W. R. Parker
34. I. T. Bevier
35. P. M. Stolp
36. N. Hard
37. Mrs. N. Brown/ Mrs. Reed
38. C. Beard
39. Mrs. Crane
40. J. Means
41. A. A. Dexter
42. Adams
43. Hays
44. L. C. Lee
45. J. W. Tripp
46. St. Johns/ H. J. Fuller
47. Wood
48. W. D. King
49. Mrs. Cotton./ Bruce
50. E. Goodwin
51. Burr Winton
52. Mrs. Fitch
53. Mrs. H. Brown
54. Witham
55. S. McCarty


Section 4; Lot


1. Bryer/ Garmes
2. Jerusalem Temple Lodge
3. M. Miles
4. I. O. O. F.
5. H. N. Goodrich
6. A. Farnsworth
7. Anderson
8. G. Slater
9. W. H. Hawkins
10. L. Jenks
11. J. Rippon
12. Wm. Morse
13. W. S. Peters
14. W. Shutte
15. O. N. Shedd
16. M. A. Gunnison
17. Farwell/ Gerhard
18. H. Denney/ Mrs. Hitchcock
19. Wm. Richards
20. Pafaffle
21. Huxham/ Thomas
22. R. Stephens/ Pratt
23. R. Dewey
24. Clark/ Babcock
25. I Gilson
26. H. Burrough
27. G. Waterman
28. A. Thornton
29. Church
30. E. Thompson
31. H. Howland
32. J. B. Clark/ Blaksley
33. P. W. Mathews/ Griffin
34. W. Fowler
35. C. Marsh/ Dodge
36. Woolson/ Lincoln
37. H. Leyton/ Fred Fienert
38. L. Gardner
39. Alexander
40. H. Parrish/ Wm. Russell
41. Thos. McCray
42. J. Pease
43. Wm. Gardner
44. P. Innes
45. E. W. Allen
46. J. P. Wightman
47. G. Smith
48. Robinson
49. Martin/ Breese
50. H. Leyton/ Fred Fienert
38. L. Gardner
39. Alexander
40. H. Parrish/ Wm. Russell
41. Thos. McCra

ROOT STREET (EAST AURORA) CEMETERY
Aurora twp, Kane County, Illinois

Many thanks to Janet Pearson for contributing this transcription.


The Root Street Cemetery, now known as Memorial Park, was the first burial ground in Aurora, Illinois, platted in 1848. The ground was purchased from Mr. Charles Bates in 1850. Many old pioneers were buried in this cemetery, but there is no permanent record, and with the ravages of time and vandals, not much is left of this hallowed ground.

In 1928 Lutz White, late Historian wrote "Root Street Cemetery, in which were buried the pioneers of Aurora and a number of Civil and Spanish American War Veterans, is in a run-down condition". As a result the City fenced in the cemetery with an 8-foot iron picket fence. From time to time Memorials were erected in memory of those who had a part in the building of the community.

Taken from "Story of the Root Street Cemetery" by Jack Remington. March 27, 1907. And "Dedicated First Cemetery to City Builders" 9-15-46, Aurora Beacon-News. Copied by members of the Aurora Chapter, No. 5-007 IL---NSDAR

NOTE: Fence mostly taken down and now part of grounds of the Aurora Police Station - District 2

*** THE FOLLOWING TRANSCRIPTION TAKEN JUNE 30, 2000 ARE FROM THE ONLY REMAINING STONES***

Janet has taken digital pictures of these remaining stones. Email her at janetpearson@earthlink.net


BATES

Malinda W, wife of C. BATES died November 20, 1878, aged 72 years, 8 months

George M BATES, son of C & M Bates, aged 21 years.

BREWSTER

Oramel Brewster, WIS, LT. ARTY. (Claimed Residence in Rubicon, Enlisted 12 Sept 1861, 7th LA Reg. WI, mustered Out on 20 July 1865)

COGSWELL

G. O. Cogswell, Co E, 38th Ill Inf.

EMERSON

Edwin Emerson, 2 Lieut, CO C, 10 MO CAV

GARDNER

George R. Gardner, Capt, CO. H., 13 ILL INF

GUNNISON - stone with last name only

HOPKINS

Robert Hopkins, died Oct 18, 1863, aged 50(?) years

Harriet Hopkins

Milton Hopkins, son of Robert & Harriet, died Feb 15, 1860, aged 20 yrs, 11 mos, 10 d. "Gone but remembered with the fondest affection"

MOSLEY

Albert Mosley, 127 Ill Inf

Henry Mosley, Co A, 127 Ill.

WINTON

Burr Winton, died Dec 14, 1886, aged 84 years, 11 months, 12 days

Arabella, wife of Burr Winton, died June 3, 1868, aged 56 years

Mary Winton (nothing else readable)

WORTH

Charles Worth, 124 Ill. Inf.

Civil War Soldiers Buried in Root Street Cemetery
[Source: "The Beacon News Online", May 13, 2005]

The Root Street Cemetery is the final resting place for 20 Civil War soldiers.

The Root Street Cemetery, also known as Memorial Park or East Aurora Cemetery, was platted in 1848. The Sons of the Union Veterans were able to determine the names of the veterans buried there because the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution documented the gravesites in the 1930s.


Soldiers' names listed in red will be getting a new headstone.

Martin V.B. Akin died March 24, 1868 - Civil War Soldier
William F. Blakeslee died March 8, 1963
Oramel Brewster died Aug. 8, 1874
Jonathan C. Cogswell died Jan. 1, 1863
Thomas Cuthbert died Jan. 9, 1884
Wilson Deniston died Sept. 4, 1861
Edwin Emerson died Oct. 19, 1862
George H. Gardner died Jan. 5, 1863
Thomas Hagen died March 10, 1865
Frederick Hoff died June 23, 1861
Hiram J. Howland died May 3, 1863
Thomas H. Hughan died in 1890
Joseph E. Merrill died on an unknown date
Levi Morgan died on an unknown date
Albert Mosley died Sept. 7, 1863
Henry Mosley died Nov. 25, 1869
Clark Smith died Dec. 10, 1866
Edward Squires died March 5, 1890
Charles L. Titsworth died June 23, 1863
Ira N. Warner died March 6, 1877

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