Westfall Cemetery
Westfall Cemetery is located in Copley Township west of the center of Section 29. Go west on Route 7 and then turn right on 1350E. The cemetery will be on the left-hand side of the road. It is a very well-kept cemetery in a scenic location.
Many thanks to the person (s) who takes care of this cemetery!
If you would like to contribute to this page in anyway. feel free to email me. Thanks!
HISTORY OF WESTFALL CEMETERY
Westfall Cemetery is located in the Southeast corner of the North West Quarter of Section twenty-nine (29), Copley Twp., Knox County, Illinois. The plot of land was purchased March 3,1858 A.D. from Isaac E. Hurr of the county of Knox, state of Illinois by church trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Those being Lewis Mitchell, Sylvanus Westfall, Lorenzo Lane, James Johnson and Gustavus Waddle. Purchase price for the three-acre plot was $24.00 of lawful money in hand. Deed of sale was recorded May 2, 1864 A.D. 2:00 P.M. at the Recorder of Deeds office, Knox County Court House, Galesburg, Illinois. The Deed states that the trustees and their successors shall build or cause to be erected a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
The cemetery located on the west two acres of the tract of land purchased by the church trustees was named after the Westfall family. Alexander Westfall being buried on Dec 17, 1862 at the age of 78 yrs. 8mos. 22days. Alexander was among the earliest burials but according to record was not the first.
It has been told that the families of the area cleared the cemetery from hazel brush making a total of 108 lots. One acre in front of cemetery of Oak trees next to the road was where the house of worship was to be located. Up keep of the cemetery in early days was done by each of the different families and small donations of money.
The original plot of three acres was surveyed by C. S. Richey, County Surveyor on Oct 30,1894. In 1904 according to a newspaper article the Cemetery was incorporated to be known as the Westfall Cemetery Association. The meeting was held at the home of Arthur Westergreen. Samuel Aston Westfall was elected sexton of the cemetery. Arthur Westergreen served as Secretary-Treasurer and A1bert Seiboldt as Vice President.
In 1942 after all lots being taken the cemetery board purchased a 1/2 acre tract of land to the west of cemetery being 82 ft. deep making 84 'Lots. This was purchased from Albert and Grace Seiboldt.
In 1968 the Cemetery Board turned over all funds and equipment to the Copley Twp. Board of Trustees. Up keep of cemetery is now maintained from Copley Twp. tax funds.
The last addition to the cemetery was purchased from Jerry and Inis King the 17th day of December 1985. The 1.25 acres of land were plotted by Ron Zuck into 176 lots with a circle drive. A plot for veteran’s burial and flagpole was included. The American Legion Post 726 of Victoria, Ill. erected the flagpole and mortar. Each Memorial Day they hold military services for those veterans buried in Westfall Cemetery. (Unknown author, submitted by Mike Osler)
Additional information submitted by Mike Osler. Thank you very much, Mike!!
| Bruce Cherrington Mar. 15, 1801-Mar. 4 1885 Rachel Cherrington Mar. 9, 1807-Jun. 19, 1889 |
Mary J. Cherrington 1864 - 1954 (Mary Jane Milroy Cherrington 2/14/1864-8/31/1954) Gardner B. Cherrington 1858 - 1934 (4/29/1858-5/18/1934) |
| Gardner A. Cherrington son o f S. R.? & S. S. b. 10/3/1855 d. Mar. 17, 1871 |
Elvine Crouch son of J. W. & R. Apr. 15, 1860-May 15, 1867 |
| J. W. Crouch Oct. 1, 1813-Nov. 17, 1873 Rebecca Crouch wife of J. W. Nov. 26, 1822-Apr. 11, 1874 |
Mary Eiker wife of N. d. Nov. 16, 1876 Age 17 yr 11 mo 21 da Infant Eiker died at the same time |
| Gardner Eldridge d. Jan. 18, 1870 Age 75 yr 7 mo 1 da |
Permelia Eldridge wife of Gardner d. Jun. 23, 1868 Age 68 yr 4 mo 8 da Other Eldridges buried here... |
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Benjamin Flynn son of J. & M.
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John Flynn d. Nov. 19, 1880 Age 64 yr 12 da |
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Mary Flynn dau of J. & M.
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Willie Flynn son of Wm. & M. E.
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| J. Haptonstall Co. A 59 Ill. Inf (Correction: Co. A 58 Ill. Inf.) |
Tryphena Haptonstall dau of J. & M.
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| Sarah J. Holm wife of John d. Jan. 16, 1880 Age 29 yr 6 mo 26 da (Full name: Sarah Jane Cherrington Holm) |
Albert Larson Apr. 12, 1860-Mar. 8, 1880 |
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John E. Larson
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William Larson 1831-1864 Catharine Larson 1829-1894
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| Betsey Moberg wife of Olaf d. Aug. 5, 1899 Age 87 yr 6 mo 23 da |
Olaf [Peter] Moberg d. Apr. 2, 1871 Age 62 yr 3 mo 22 da |
| James H. Patton Co. A. 59 Ill. Inf. d. at hospital at Louisville, Ky. d. Jan. 16, 1864 Age 21 yr 11 mo 24 da |
Samuel F. Patton 1st Lieut. Co. A. 59 Ill. Inf. d. Feb. 18, 1893 Age 53 yr 11 mo 5 da |
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Mary E. Patton wife of H. T.
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Sarah Grace Patton dau of H. T & M. E..
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Anna Peterson wife of L.
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Lars Peterson
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| Gustaf Pratt Jr. born in Sweden d. Feb. 8, 1876 Age 23? yr ? mo 13 da |
Charles N. Russell Jul. 2, 1820-Sep. 20, 1901 |
| Ernst Jacob Steffen b. Bobsdorf Per Prob Ste j Hagen H atski n, Germany Aug. 23, 1859-Nov. 2 3 , 1940 Alive Wyman Steffen wife of E. J. b. Persifer Twp. Knox Co., Ill. Mar. 19, 1860-Sep. 8, 1914 |
Charles H. Wagher Fanny E. Wagher children of B. & S. E. Wagher
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Priscilla [Crouch] Wagher wife of Barney Infant Wagher (son)
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Anna Wyman wife of A.
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Arthur Wyman
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Catharine [Minor] Wyman wife of Stephen
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Edward J. Wyman Jan. 10, 1833-Feb. 3, 1903 Susan E. Wyman his wife Nov. 24, 1837-Sep. 19, 1909
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Hannah Wyman wife of John Oct. 1 , 1836-Apr. 8, 1864 (Hannah Taylor Wyman) |
John Wyman Jul 2 5 , 1830-Jan. 3, 1904 |
William P. Wyman Aug. 18, 1862-Jan. 11, 1918 |
| Note: Additional Eldridges buried at Westfall Cemetery: | |
| Eldridge, Agnes E., b. 4/3/1859 d. 8/25/1860 (unmarked stone) | |
| Eldridge, Angelina C. dau. of J. & S. b. 9/14/1865 d. 5/19/1866 | |
| Eldridge, Augustus F. son of J. & S. b. 4/27/1867 d. 5/3/1868 | |
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