Friends of Oakwood Cemetery
Macomb, Ill.

Photo Gallery

Oakwood Cemetery, Macomb, IL

May 25, 2018

Historical Marker dedication ceremony

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Gates of Oakwood Cemetery

Now admired for their principles, these members of the Allison family were viewed, in their time, as law-breaking troublemakers who risked fines and imprisonment.

Professors in China, Nai-tung and Lee-hsia Ting fled to Hong Kong in 1952 when the communists took over and immigrated to the U.S in 1956. At Western they developed distinguished careers and crusaded for freedom.

These modest stones mark the graves of noted bacteriologist and creator of the first measles vaccine Ruth Tunnicliff and her sister Sarah, who was associated with many social causes during the Progressive Era.

entrance to office

James Campbell laid out the new county seat of Macomb on the model of his hometown, Frankfort, Kentucky, and became the first circuit court clerk and postmaster.

Some years after his marriage to Matilda Jane Brooking, at the Brooking homestead, William H. Randolph acquired that land and laid out Oakwood Cemetery.

In 1911 Josie Westfall was appointed matron of the McDonough County Orphanage. By the time of her death, in 1941, she had served as a mother figure for more than 500 of the county’s most unfortunate youngsters.

hillside

Born in 1825 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, William Ball moved to Macomb1866, opened a barbershop on the square, and became the town’s most respected black business person.

In 1830, Kentuckian James Clarke moved to Macomb. In December of that year he rode to Springfield to purchase the land on which the town would be laid out and nearly died in a snowstorm coming back.

Born a slave, Sanford Daniels came to McDonough County after the Emancipation Proclamation. He was a hard working and patient man who coped well with his disadvantages and became a respected community elder.

view from cemetery road

When John Farwell died in 1867 during his senior year at West Point, his classmates contributed money to erect this monument, created by noted sculptor Leonidas Volk.

mausoleum

N. P. Tinsley became a prominent early merchant and pork packer and miller. He helped found the Union National Bank.

This stone marks the grave of celebrated WIU coach Ray Hanson. Hanson was a complex figure who generated much controversy during his lifetime but who did much to develop Western’s athletic program.