Mr. Kevin Peterson
Supervisor of Hallock Township
21203 N. Blue Ridge Road
Chillicothe, IL 61523

Dear Mr. Peterson:

I am writing to express my concern about the destruction of Root Cemetery.   Jeriel Root, my ggg-grandfather, deeded the cemetery to Hallock Township in 1850, to be kept as a cemetery for eternity, with gates and bans.  I feel very sure he did not intend for it to be overgrown and ignored.

I have corresponded with several other descendents of the Roots, as well as descendents of other families who are interred at Root Cemetery.  All are upset with the lack of care.  One,  man from Georgia went to the cemetery three years ago.  He walked in as far as he could, but the weeds and prairie grass were taller than he is.  He could not find any tombstones. William Blick discussed the cemetery with Hallock Township in the 1970’s, trying to get it cleaned up and expressing a wish that it not be despoiled.  Mr. R----- Moats, of Oregon, and his cousins from Ohio, have a ggg-grandmother buried there, also.  They would like to be able to visit her grave, as I would like to be able to visit Jeriel and Sarah Root’s graves.  

I believe it is almost criminal to let this particular cemetery go to ruin.   It is one of the oldest in the midwest. Lucia Root was buried there in 1834.  Her sister, Anna, was buried in 1838. Jeriel Root, Jr. and Sarah Coleman Root were buried in 1839.  The Roots were among the original settlers in Hallock Township.  They moved there from Chillicothe’s sister city, Chillicothe, OH in 1830, along with their neighbors, the Moates, the Moffitts, the Sillimans, and the Hicks.  James Root, Jeriel’s grandson, was the first white child born in Chillicothe.   Lucia Root was the first schoolteacher there.  She taught in Mr. Hallock’s cabin.  Jeriel’s son, Erastus, built the first log cabin on the land where Chillicothe was built.  In fact, he sold the land his cabin was on to be built into town lots.  Jeriel and Erastus Root, as well as many of their neighbors, signed a petition to request aid from the government against the Indians in their quest to settlle the area.  You can see it at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/3208/curry/blckhwk.htm.  In fact, Jeriel’s sons and sons-in-law actively fought in the Blackhawk War.  Jeriel was instrumental in starting several Baptist Churches in Illinois.  Without these pioneers, Hallock Township would not be as it is today!  We need to appreciate them and respect their gravesites.

All I request from the township is that they honor their original commitment, which I enclose.
Respect your founders, and keep it as a cemetery.  I don’t think it needs to be perfectly manicured, but I hope to be able to see the graves of my ancestors on my next visit to Illinois, which is also my home state.  I understand that the Marines have volunteered to keep the gravesites cleared, and that it will cost the township nothing.  Please help us out. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,
Peggy Robbins

Purposed Care

The Marine Corps has agreed to maintain the graves and a small area directly surrounding the graves. This being done, there would be no cost to Hollack Township. A professional horticulturist in Chillicothe has volunteered to help design a meandering walking path which would grant access to some [or many] graves while maintaining the natural prairie status of 98% of the cemetery. This compromise would meet with agreement from all of us who are pushing for preservation of the graves.

The fact that so many of the stones are missing or gone works in Hollock's favor. This would reduce the amount of "a path" that would disturb the Nature Preserve.

Plus, a path-way could be constructed out of natural grasses so there wouldn't have to be a foreign substance such as concrete in the cemetery.

The cost to your Township would be null ($00.00). Volunteer help could maintain it and post notices to stay out of the prairie grasses. Due to the amount of vandalism that has occurred in the past, a monitored cemetery seems like it accomplish more of a Natural Preserve status.

 

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