Springfield Chapter NSDAR
Springfield, Illinois

Revolutionary Soldier Gravesites Marked by Springfield Chapter

	October 19, 1911. On the 130th anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, the Springfield Chapter and the Sons of the American Revolution dedicated a bronze tablet to honor those Revolutionary soldiers who are buried in Sangamon County. The tablet was placed on the base of a stone column at the south entrance of the court house and unveiled by Mary Lawrence Radcliff and Harold C. George, descendants of Joel Maxcy and Philip Crowder, both of whom are buried in Sangamon County. Soldier names on the tablet are: Isaac Baker, Moses Broadwell, George Bryan, John Burton, Enos Campbell, Christian Carver, Michael Clifford, Phillip Crowder, James Dingman, Robert Fisk, James Haggard, John White, Ezekial Harrison, John Lockridge, Thomas Massie, Joel Maxcy, Peter Millington, Zachariah Nance, John Overstreet, William Penny, John Purvines, William Ralston, Thomas Royal, and John Turley. Three years later the names of Aquilla Davis, John Stringfield, and Bazel Clark were added. This marker has been moved to a kiosk outside the Old State Capitol located at 1 Old Capitol Plaza, Springfield, Illinois. The photo on the left is reproduced from Revolutionary Soldiers Buried In Illinois, by Mrs. Harriet J. Walker; 1917. Click the photo for a larger image.

	On October 19, 1923, Springfield Chapter placed a bronze marker on Revolutionary Soldier Moses Broadwell's grave. The marker was unveiled by Mary Elizabeth Huber and Mary Jeanette Irwin, great-great-great-granddaughters of Moses Broadwell. He was believed to be the only soldier buried there at the time. He died April 10, 1827, aged 63 years 26 days, and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois, Block 13, Lot 14. Click the photos for a larger image. Present marker showing is not the DAR marker.

	In May 30, 1930, the Springfield Chapter marked the grave of Revolutionary War soldier Henry Kelley, at Kelley Cemetery, New Berlin, Illinois. Henry is the father of Elisha Kelley, a bounty hunter from North Carolina who explored Sangamon County in 1817 and returned to North Carolina to encourage his father and four brothers to emigrate to Illinois. Elisha's brother, John, built the first home site in Springfield, known as the Kelley Cabin. From Springfield: travel west on Iles Ave to Centennial Park Place Subdivision. Turn left on Centennial Road. Continue on Centennial Road to the Hedley Road intersection. Kelley Cemetery is approximately 1/2 mile southeast of the Centennial and Hedley intersection. Click the photos for a larger image. The marker is dated 1928 but was not dedicated until 1930.

August 23,1964. Springfield Chapter marked the grave Revolutionary War soldier Augustine Sims at Rogers Cemetery near Waverly Illinois. The bronze marker was given by Mrs. Ruth Ryser in the name of her Klamath Falls' Eulalona Chapter Oregon. Mrs. Ruth Ryser, now Mrs. Ruth Hadlock is a descendant of Augustine Sims and was registrar of Eulalona Chapter in 1964. From Springfield: travel south on Route 4 to Route 104 at Auburn, Illinois. Turn right and take Route 104 through Waverly, Illinois, to Roger Road. Roger Road is approximately 1/4 mile outside of Waverly. Turn left on Roger Road and follow it to the end of the gravel road to find Rogers Cemetery. Click the photos for a larger image.

marker

On October 9, 1969, a marker was dedicated at the grave of Revolutionary War Patriot Ezekiel Harrison in Harrison Cemetery on Salisbury Road between Salisbury and Pleasant Plains. Click the photo for a larger image of the gravestone. The marker is no longer there.

	May 12, 1970. Springfield Chapter dedicated a marker at the grave of Revolutionary War soldier John Purvines. Richland Cemetery is near the intersection of Salisbury Road and Richland Road, Salisbury, Illinois. Several descendants were present including: Mrs. Russell Genther, Mrs. W. R. McMillan and Mrs. George Witty, great-great-granddaughters of John Purvines; and Robert W. Butcher, great-great -great-great-grandson of John Purvines. The DAR marker is unfortunately missing. Click on the photos for a larger image.


	October 13, 1970. The Springfield Chapter dedicated a government plaque at Richland Cemetery near the intersection of Salisbury Road and Richland Road, Salisbury, Illinois, on the headstone of Revolutionary War soldier William Penny. Click the photos for a larger image.

On October 15, 1970, the gravesite of Revolutionary War soldier Thomas Owsley Sr., was marked at Oak Ridge Cemetery, in Springfield, Illinois. Thomas Owsley Sr. was chapter charter member Elizabeth Owsley Brown Ide's great-great-great-great grandfather. Click the photo for a larger image.

October 15, 1970, the gravesite of Revolutionary War Soldier Henry Owsley was marked at Oak Ridge Cemetery, in Springfield, Illinois. The DAR marker is unfortunately missing.

	On October 17, 1970, the gravesite of Revolutionary War soldier Philip Crowder was marked at Crowder Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. Crowder Cemetery is adjacent to Illini Country Club. The American flag was placed June 2006 by Philip Crowder's great-great-great-great-granddaughter Janice Goble Caloia, associate member of Springfield Chapter. Blake Brown, a Troop 3 Boy Scout member from Douglas Avenue Methodist Church, chose Philip Crowder's gravesite for his 2011 Eagle Project. The improvements made included installation of two new signs, a new fence, and a flag pole. Travel north on Old Chatham Road past Laurel Street. This street enters into Tara Hills Subdivision. The next road enters into Fair Oaks Subdivision. Turn left into Fair Oaks Subdivision to park and walk north along Old Chatham Road. The cemetery sign can be seen from Old Chatham Road. Click the photos for a larger image.	L-R: Eagle Scout Blake Brown, Janice Goble Caloia (Phililp Crowder's descendant), David Campbell (his 1976 Eagle Project was the original renovation of the gravesite), Gary Crowder (Philip Crowder's descendant) and Brenda Holmes (Philip Crowder's descendant).


	On January 12, 1973, the gravesite of Revolutionary War soldier Enos Campbell was marked at Sackett Cemetery, located northeast of Pleasant Plains, IL, in Sangamon County, on private property. Boy Scout Troop 215 member Ian Johnson, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, made and erected a cemetery sign for his 2009 Eagle Project. In addition a path was cleared to Enos Campbell's grave and GPS coordinates were taken. Springfield Chapter member Harriet Kern Council is a great-great-great-granddaughter of Enos Campbell. GPS coordinates to the four corners of Sackett Cemetery are: SE N 39 52.304 W 089 47.064, SW N 39 52.303 W 089 47.081, NE N 39 52.326 W 089 47.063, NW N 39 52.322 W 089 47.091. The DAR marker is unfortunately missing. Click the photo for a larger image.

	On January 12, 1973, the gravesite of Revolutionary War soldier Thomas Massie was marked at Morgan Cemetery, in Springfield, Illinois. Take Route 97 west to Route 125 junction. Continue west on Route 125 about 1 mile to N. Farmingdale Road. Turn left (south) onto N. Farmingdale Road and travel 2.5 miles. Morgan Cemetery is on the left (east) side of the road. Click the photos for a larger image.

	On November 24, 1973, the gravesite of Revolutionary War soldier William Ralston was marked at Morgan Cemetery, in Springfield, Illinois. The marker was incorrectly placed on William’s son’s grave. (John H. Ralston). Take Route 97 west to Route 125 junction. Continue west on Route 125 about 1 mile to N. Farmingdale Road. Turn left (south) onto N. Farmingdale Road and travel 2.5 miles. Morgan Cemetery is on the left (east) side of the road. Click the photos for a larger image.

	On January 31, 1975, the grave of Revolutionary War soldier Joel Maxcy was marked at Old Salem Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. He was 15 years old when he served his country during the war. Follow Old Jacksonville Road past Brook Hills Golf Club. Turn right onto Bradford Lane (County sign 1 A.S. Old Jacksonville Road and 5.3 W). Travel 0.4 miles on Bradford Lane to Old Salem Lane. Turn left on Old Salem Lane and travel 0.6 miles. Old Salem Cemetery will be on the left. Click the photos for a larger image.

	1975. The grave of Revolutionary War soldier Archibald Turner was marked at Old Salem Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. Follow Old Jacksonville Road past Brook Hills Golf Club. Turn right onto Bradford Lane (County sign 1 A.S. Old Jacksonville Road and 5.3 W). Travel 0.4 miles on Bradford Lane to Old Salem Lane. Turn left on Old Salem Lane and travel 0.6 miles. Old Salem Cemetery will be on the left. The marker shown is not the DAR marker, which is unfortunately missing. Click the photos for a larger image.

	On October 6, 1996, the grave marker of Revolutionary War soldier Messenger Lewis was dedicated at Martin Cemetery, located on private property of Jim and Pat Funderburk, southeast of Rochester, Illinois. The cemetery can't be seen from the road and is in a wooded thicket behind a house and across a large ditch. From Springfield: Interstate 55 to exit 96A (Route 29 E), follow route 29 to10 E (Jett Road), turn right onto 10 E, almost immediately there will be a "T" road, turn left at the T, go past 7 S (Breckenridge Road) and the next intersection will be 2300 N / 400 E, turn left at 2300 N (also known as Boyd Farm Road but the sign does not indicate that.) Drive approximately 1/4 mile to 10303 Boyd Farm Road (Rochester, IL) to a brick home which will be the third residence on the north side of the road. Click the photos for a larger image.

	On August 16, 2014, Springfield Chapter held a ceremony to remark the grave of Revolutionary War Patriot Enos Campbell. The ceremony was held in conjunction with The Sangamon River Chapter National Society United States Daughters of 1812 who honored Ephraim Gard, a patriot of the War of 1812. Enos Campbell's daughter Jane was married to Jacob Gard, the firstborn son of Ephraim Gard, and is also buried at Sackett Cemetery in Gardner Township. The marker placed for Enos Campbell on January 12, 1973 had been missing for quite some time. Springfield Chapter was contacted by Boy Scout Troop 305 member Ethan Ankenbrandt who had chosen Sackett Cemetery for his Eagle Scout project. Springfield Chapter coordinated the repair of Enos Campbell's stone. The ceremony was held at Peter Cartwright United Methodist Church in Pleasant Plains due to inclement weather. Guests and descendants visited Sackett Cemetery after the rededication ceremony.

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Revised: September 28, 2020