Peoria County, IL Genealogy Trails
 

Combs Cemetery History
Abstracted from the WPA files, at the Peoria Public Library, by Candi Horton, 2002.

  The Combs Cemetery is located N.W. 1/4 Section 14 of Rosefield Township. Three magnificent white oak trees spread their shade over the graves and tall dark cedars add a touch of solemnity to the tranquil setting. Land for the cemetery was donated by John Combs in 1850. The cemetery grew up around the "Combs Meeting House," which was the first Methodist church in Rosefield Township, established in 1837. The church was later removed to Cottonwood and the cemetery was then neglected. Tombstones fell over and the plot became a tangled mass of weeds and vines.

  About 1929 the Methodist Conference appointed Edward SIEGEL of Edwards Station, a committee of one to stimulate interest in restoring the cemetery. A meeting was held in the fall of that year at Hall's Pavilion and a cemetery organization was formed. Theodore PLACK was chosen as president, Anna MAGEL, Sectary and Henry REENTS as Treasurer. Contributions were taken. The deplorable condition of the final resting place for many prominent persons in Peoria County history arouse a community spirit that a day was set aside to clear out the debris. A fence was needed and it was suggested that the money for supplies be drown from the treasury and another day set aside for building the fence. This was done and a well ordered burial ground once more stood as a symbol of respect for the early pioneers who lie there. Prominent names may be deciphered from the old weather beaten sandstone tombstones: Van ARSDALE, VORHEES, RYNEARSON, SLANE, MILLER, YINGER, KING, NIXON and COMBS.

  On Sunday, June 20, 1937, a meeting was held at the cemetery and plans to incorporate were formulated. Pledges for a 5 year period netting $68. a year was made by the people present and hopes of increasing this amount by additional subscriptions are held.

[Since the above was wrote vandalism has taking place at the cemetery. Many of the headstones are now gone. The cemetery is groomed and still active. Who has the records and cares for it I do not know. The Peoria County Genealogy Society has this cemetery also listed to be know as Kramms Station but where that name comes from I do not know either. 2002]