Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails
Cottonwood Cemetery History

" In September 1921, the following ladies taking their dinners hired Bill Kelly of Hanna City to take them to Cottonwood Cemetery: Emma Bradley, Bathena Coon, Olive Blackman and Margaret Price. From this meeting came the annual dinner and bazaar, which is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary.

One hundred and eighteen years ago on March 8, 1853, in consideration of the sum of $20.00, David and Christina Vanover Harper deeded to the trustees from the Methodist Episcopal Church a 2 acre tract of land for the erection of a house of worship. The first church was built of cottonwood logs from whence came the name "COTTONWOOD". It stood where the flag pole now stands.

The two acre tract of land became the present old cemetery. A few years later it became necessary to replace the old log church. On March 25, 1874, Henry and Martha Hulick deeded to the trustees of the Methodist Church one acre of land across the road for the sum of $1.00. This new tract was to be used for the erection of a new church. The present building was erected in 1875 and for many years was the center of worship for the surrounding countryside. In the intervening years church attendance swindled and the services were discontinued about 1918.

The present Cottonwood Cemetery Association became incorporated [on] October 22, 1913, eight years later on July 21, 1921, the Central Illinois Conference of the Methodist Church issued a quit claim deed to the trustees of the Cottonwood Cemetery Association for the building which was rededicated as the Cottonwood Funeral Home.

The new addition of one acre adjoining to the South of the old cemetery was purchased by Irwin Blackman from Mr. Morse on February 16, 1943, and presented to the Cottonwood Cemetery Association.

In 1954 school was discontinued at Cottonwood and consolidated with Edwards.

Among names associated with the history of Cottonwood are: Yinger, Shepherd, King, Shugart, Boxwell, Wolford, Walford, Harper, Moody, Blackman, Siegel, Bradley, Edwards, Holt, Price, LaFollette, Coon, Largent, Rynearson and many others. Some of these belong to soldiers of the Civil War."

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Katie Harper, Great - Great Grand-Daughter of David & Christina Harper, donated the data,© 2008.
Steve Slaughter, transcribed the data from the original dating 1971.
Candi re-typed Steve's transcription in html format for exclusive use on the Peoria County, IL Genealogy Trails Web Site.