Jasper County
Facts and Findings

If you know of any interesting facts about Jasper County and its people, please let me know.  I'm especially interested in finding buildings that are on the Historical Register, information about the monument to the pilot on the Courthouse Lawn in Newton, any veterans' monuments, etc. Your information will be added to this list for others to see (and you'll be given credit, of course!).  For more information on the people listed below, why not "Google" them?  Some of them have very intriguing stories!


New!!!!!

The 1884 History of Cumberland, Jasper, and Richland County, Illinois is online at the Internet Archive.  It is viewable in several formats and searchable.
 

http://www.archive.org/details/countiesofcumber00chic

Our thanks go to Mike Hebert for this information.



Burl Ives,  famous balladeer, stage and screen star (1909-1995)

Born in Hunt, Jasper County, Illinois, Ives sang folk songs from an early age, many of which he learned from his pipe-smoking, tobacco-chewing grandmother. In 1930, Ives dropped out of college and hitchhiked across the country learning folk songs from miners, cowboys, hoboes, and evangelists. It's hard to say which song or performance is the most memorable in the career of Burl Ives. Broadway boasts of his role in the 1950s as Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Millions remember Ives from the 1962 television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which still runs every Christmas season. Children sang along with his records on such classic tunes as, Holly Jolly Christmas, and Little White Duck. On the big screen, Burl's performance in The Big Country won him an Academy Award for best supporting actor. Burl Ives died of cancer on April 14, 1995. He was 85. He is buried in Mound Cemetery, Hunt City, Jasper County, Illinois.



Irene Hunt, (1907-2001) author of "Across 5 Aprils" (based on the life of a Jasper County family during the Civil War).

Irene Hunt was born to Franklin P. and Sarah Land Hunt in Pontiac, Illinois. Her family moved to Newton, Jasper County, Illinois when she was young. Her father died when she was seven years old, and she moved in with her grandparents. During this time, Ms. Hunt listened to her grandfather’s stories of when he was a boy during the Civil War, providing the background for what would be Hunt's first novel, Across Five Aprils. The time between her father’s death and her graduation from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1939 were Hunt's "quiet years." Though she had originally been interested in writing after receiving her Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1946, Hunt did not write any literature until she'd completed thirty-nine years of teaching. She taught French and English in the Oak Park, Illinois public schools for fifteen years, psychology at the University of South Dakota for four years, and language arts in the Cicero public school system.

Hunt wrote Across Five Aprils when she retired in 1964 at age 57. This book won seven major awards, including a Newbery Honor in 1965. Her second novel,, Up a Road Slowly, received the Newbery Medal in 1967, marking it the most distinguished children's book in America that year. In all, Ms. Hunt won sixteen awards for five of her seven novels.

Ms. Hunt died on May 18, 2001 at age 94 in Champaign, Illinois.


Know of anyone else?  Please contact me and I'll add them.
Embarras River Bridge

The iron frame Embarras River Bridge in Newton has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. This bridge is also known as the Old Mill Bridge and is located just west of the Old Mill Inn and goes over the Embarras River.  The north side of the bridge connects with Wade Township Road 164, which continues through farm bottom land.

The bridge, built in 1890, is still is use by traffic. It was built by the Chicago Bridge Company and is one of the oldest and largest Pratt through truss bridges remaining in Illinois.  The road north of the bridge is the old Palestine to Vandalia road, connecting Palestine (the first city in Illinois) and Vandalia (the second capital of Illinois).

Interesting Fact (submitted by Lawrence Kestenbaum)

Did you know about the juxtaposition of Jasper and Newton that takes place in (I think) nine states. Either it's Jasper and Newton counties side-by-side, or a Jasper County with a Newton county seat, or a Newton County with Jasper as the county seat.

The "American Heritage" magazine had an article about this, probably about 25 years ago. Jasper and Newton were war heroes (Revolutionary War or War of 1812). A friend of mine reports that his Methodist-minister father has an expression of "like Jasper follows Newton".



At one time, Jasper County had 2 legal distilleries......1) Kraus Brothers in Bend; and 2) Gen. Dobell in Wheeler. There are no distilleries in Jasper County now (at least none that I know of)..

Jasper County Civil War Units


During the Civil War, Jasper County men served in the following units:



CIVIL WAR VETERANS BURIED IN JASPER COUNTY
Is your Jasper County Civil War amcestor listed here?
If not, e-mail me and let's get him added!



Name Rank & Unit
Cemetery
Contact
USA
Abbot, James P.
Private, Company F, 46th Illinois Infantry
Abbott Cemetery, Smallwood Township

USA
Aten, John H.
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township

USA
Andrews, William
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Andrews Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township

USA
Bailey, Jacob
Private, Company B,  155th Illinois Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township

USA
Bailey, John H.
Private, Company I, 5th Illinois Cavalty
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Bailey, John L.
Private, 38th Illinois Infantry
Bailey Family Cemetery, Hunt Township

USA
Banta, William H.
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Billman, John
Unknown
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township

USABostick, James L.Private, Company K, 32nd Illinois InfantryShiloh Cemetery, Willow Hill
USABostick, John T.Private, Company K, 38 Illinois InfantryEidson Cemetery
USABostick, RichardCompany I, 98th Illilnois InfantryUnknown
USA
Brooks, Nathan
Private, Company H, 38th Illinois Infantry
Plainfield Cemetery, Crooked Creen Township
Julia Allison
USA
Brooks, Nelson
Private, Company H, 38th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Julia Allison
USA
Bower, J. W.
Private, Company I, 12th Indiana Cavalry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township

USA
Brothers, Gustavius A.
Private, Company D, 42nd Ohio Infantry
Riverside Cemetery, Newton
David Phillips
USA
Brothers, John M.
Sergeant, Company B, 28th IA Infantry, 42nd OH
Bethel Cemetery, Fox Township
CSA
Brown, Henry
Unknown*
Trexler Cemetery, North Muddy Township

USA
Brown, Oliver Perry
Captain, 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Shiloh Cemetery, Hunt Township
Charles R. Jenkins
USA
Brown, Robert H.
Sergeant, 21th Indiana Battalion
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Bryan, Reuben
Private, Company I, 98th Illinois Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Chapman, Isaac
Private, Company D, 97th Illinois Infantry
Hunt Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Annette Rockeman
USA
Chapman, Thomas S.
11th Missouri Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Carr, M. H.
Private, 111th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Carter, Joseph
Private, Company D, 143rd Illinois Infantry
Ward Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Mary Garrison
USA
Carter, Solomon
Private, Company H, Regiment 38
Private, Company D, 143rd Illinois Infantry
Ward Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Mary Garrison
USA
Casey, Mathew
Private, Company K, 32nd Illinois Infantry
Roman Catholic Cemetery, Ste. Marie

USA
Cheek, George W.
Private, Company I, 98th Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Cherry, Jesse M.
Private, Company F, 146th Indiana Volunteers
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Choate, Henry
Private, Company G, 62nd Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Clark, Austin
Private, Company E, 123rd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Clark, Henry H.
Private, Company E, 123rd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Clark, Josiah
Private, Company E, 123rd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USAClark, Noah S.2nd Lieutenant, Company G., 117th Infantry, OhioTrexler Cemetery
USA
Clemons, John T.
Private, Company E, 123rd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Combs, Joseph
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Cowger, John B.
Corporal, Company K, 21st Illinois Infantry
Plainfield Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Julia Allison
USA
Cowger, Milton Shiver
Private, Company K, 21st Illinois Infantry
Songer Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Julia Allison
USA
Cramer, Alvin I.
Private, Company K, 32nd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Cramer, R. L.
Private, Company K, 32nd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Cummins, John F.
Sergeant, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Plainfield Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Julia Allison
CSA
Cummins, Robert Scott
Corporal, Company I, 19th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
5th (Hunt's) Kentucky Mounted Infantry
Hunt Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township

USA
Dare, C. R.
Private, Company D, 98th Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Davee, Grant
Private, Company C, 2nd Illinois Cavalry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Davison, John
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Dougherty, William A.
Private, Company A, 20th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Downey, John F.
Private, 130th Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Edwards, William D.
Private, Company K, 63rd Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Ervin, Andrew J.
Private, Hospital Steward, 155th Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
CSA
Eskridge, William M.
Corporal, Company D, 27th Kentucky Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA Evans, William F.F. "Fletch"
1st Lieutenant, Company G, 38th Indiana Infantry
Riverside Cemetery, Newton

USA
Finney, James K.
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township

USA
Foreaker, Kizzine
Private, Company B, 123rd Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Gibson, Lewis
Private, Company D, 59th Indiana Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Goodin, Orville S.
Private, Company G, 21st Illinois Infantry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township

USA
Hall, William Cyryus
Corporal,  Company G, 136th Illinois Infantry
Shiloh Cemetery, Willow Hill
Violet (Hall) Toler
CSA
Halley, John H.
Colonel, Missouri Infantry
CS Staff as Recruiting Officer
Riverside or Calvary Cemetery, Wade Township

CSA
Hambric, James L.
Private, Company K, 60th Virginia Infantry
3rd Regiment, Wise Legion
Riverside Cemetery, Newton

USA
Hampsten, Henry
Private, Company E, 62nd Illinosi Infantry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Harding, George Columbus
First Lieutenant, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Will Urban
USA
Harding, John H.
Corporal, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Harrell, Joseph T.
Private, Company H, 38th Indiana Volunteers
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Harrell, Thomas H.
Private, Company I, 33rd Indiana Volunteers
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Harris, John
Private, Company I, 79th Illinois Infantry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Henderson, Martin
Unknown
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Hickox, Ezra A.
Corporal, Company G, 5th Illinois Cavalry
Company D, 38th Illinois Infantry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township
USA
Higgins, Austin T.
Company B, 155th Illinois Infantry
Todd Cemetery, Willow Hill

USAHile, Jacob F.Private, Company C., 62nd Illinois InfantryMcFadden Cemetery, Granville Township
CSA
Hilton, G. W.
Private, Company K, 51st Virginia Infantry
Brockville Cemetery, Hunt Township

CSA
Hilton, G. W.
(also spelled Hylton)
Private, Company D, 10th Virginia Cavalry
Brockville Cemetery, Hunt Township
USA
Holsapple, John W.
Private, Company I, 10th Indiana Cavalry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Holsapple, William A.
Company I, 10th Indiana Cavalry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USAHunt, William T.Corporal, Company H, 123rd Illinois VolunteersSwick Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
CSA
Johnson, James T.
Unknown*
Trexler Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Kibler, Isaac
Corporal, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Plainfield Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Marie Miller
USA
Kilbourn, James C.
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Kilbourn, John H.
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
CSA
Knotts, John K.
Private, Company H,  13th Tennessee Cavalry
Mound Cemetery, Hunt Township

USA
Lake, Francis M.
Private, Company F, 59th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township
CSA
Lanter, James Lewis
Private, Company A, 37th Virginia Infantry
Mound Cemetery, Hunt Township
John Jeffers
USA
Lewis, George W.
Corporal, Company K, 59th Illinois Infantry
Trexler Cemetery, North Muddy Township
Linda (Kralman) Lambert
USA
Lyda, Michael
Private, Company D, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Manifold, Henry
Unknown
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Martin, William R.
Private, Company B, 38th Illinois Infantry
Vanderhoof Cemetery, Newton
Linda Gerus
USA
Mathews, Lee
Unknown
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
McCormick, James
Unknown
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
McCormick, William A.
Corporal, Company D, 26th Indiana
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
McFadden, James
Private, 9th Indiana Cavalry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
McKinley, Lewis
Private, Company B, 155th Illinois Infantry
Vanderhoof Cemetery, Newton
Sue Mendenhall
USA Mendenhall, Benjamin C.
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Songer Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Avice Woodard
USAMorey, CharlesCorporal, Company I, 98th IL InfantryBethel Graveyard
USAMorey, George W.Private, Company I, 98th Illinois InfantryBethel Graveyard
USA
Murphy, Cornelius
Private, 18th Indiana
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Nickerson, W. H.
Chaplain, 32nd Ohio Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Fox Township

USA
Nickerson, W. V.
Sergeant, Company E, 125th Ohio Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Fox Township
CSA
Perkins, Isaac
(Note: Could also be Isaac "Pickens"
Unknown
McFadden Cemetery, Yale
(aka Mattison Cemetery)

USA
Powell, Elijah
Private, 98th Illinois Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Reisner, Elephos (Eliphas)
Private, Company K, 38th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Hidalgo
Julia Allison
USA
Rice, Francis M.
Corporal, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Robins, Albert S.
Private, Company E, 154th Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Fox Township
USA
Rodeffer, William
Private, Company F, 46th Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Fox Township
USA
Roney, Samuel A.
Private, Company D, 79th Indiana Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township

USAShedelbaur/Shedelbower, Joseph38th Illinois InfantrySte. Marie
USA
Smith, Abraham
Private, Company B, 48th Reg. Illinois Infantry
Bailey Cemetery, North Muddy Township
USA
Smith, J. W.
Private, Company H, 38th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township

USA
Snedeker, George
Private, Company G, 85th Indiana Volunteers
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Southerland, Henry
Private, Company E, 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Stewart, William
Private, Company F, 46th Illinois Infantry
Bethel Cemetery, Fox Township
USA
Thompson, Willis
Private, Company E, 26th Indiana Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Torbutt, James W.
Private, Company E, 37th & 97th Illinois Infantry
Aten Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
USA
Turner, Christopher "Price"
Private, Company D, 97th Illinois Infantry
Cummins Cemetery, Rose Hill
Annette Rockeman
USA
Von Ruedgisch, Otto
(served twice)
Private, Company B, 155th Illinois Infantry
Recruit, Company F, 11th Illinois Infantry
Fairfield Cemetery, Grove Township
Jim Von Ruedgisch
USA
Ward, Stephen
Private, Company E, 66th Regiment Illinois
Songer Cemetery, Crooked Creek Township
Julia Allison
USA
Weaver, Abraham
Company B, 155th Illinois Infantry
Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Smallwood Township
Lenette Johnston
USA
Wilson, Joseph Allen
Private, Company D, 97th Illinois Infantry
Riverside Cemetery, Newton (Wade Township)
Julia Allison
USA
Wright, William W.
Private, Company D, 1st Org Cavalry
Backbone Cemetery, Grandville Township

* = "CW" is on their tombstone; no further information is known at this time.


Jasper County Cemeteries:

(Note:  Information on Crooked Creek Township and Fox Township cemeteries provided by Rhonda Swisher.  Thanks, Rhonda!!!)

Please, please, add to this list.  If possible, include the location. As you can see, I don't have locations for several cemeteries listed above.

JASPER COUNTY CEMETERY NAME CHANGES:

These Jasper County cemeteries are "lost" because the name change is not known. If you know of any of these, please let me know.



Dark Bend
Fact or Fiction?????
by
Linda Lambert

Dark Bend is generally known as the portion of the Embarrass River bottom that is north of the river in southeast Jasper County and southwest Crawford County.  It is an area that has become notorious because of all the legends and stories about the area.  Supposedly it was a safe haven for thieves, murderers, counterfeiters and moonshiners.  The area got its name from the dense swampy woodlands, the thick timber, the criminal element and from the lack of lights at night. The area was difficult to build in and construction of roads and highways was literally impossible because of the terrain.  Most of the area was not surveyed until after Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818.  Those surveys were not completed until 1839 and none of the land sold until the 1840's. Before the land was sold, squatters were the only people who lived in the area.  Most of them were criminals who used the rough terrain as a hideout and who developed a close mutual protection fraternity.  In other words, they protected their own in thwarting the arrest and conviction of its members.   Lawmen tended to stay away from the area and its inhabitants.

The end of the "Bend" began when Ste. Marie was founded by Joseph Piquet from Alsace, France.  He bought thousands of acres of land, which he in turn sold to his family and friends.  Then about 1850 German immigrants began to settle around the Bend. 

But the legends and stories persist.




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Linda (Kralman) Lambert (ktlkate220@gmail.com)
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