Cemeteries

In Illinois, townships are often the caretakers of cemeteries that have been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. This is true in DeKalb Township where we maintain two cemeteries: Evergreen Cemetery and Oakwood Cemetery.

Jake Smith is our Cemetery Grounds Manager. Countless hours are put in by Jake and other Road District employees on mowing, pruning, weeding, and tree trimming to keep our cemeteries looking presentable and honorable for those resting there.

Burial Lots

Burial lots are only available in Oakwood Cemetery and information and availability can be obtained by contacting Jodie Peterson at the Township office.

Evergreen Cemetery

Prior to the township taking ownership, this cemetery was operated by various entities throughout its nearly 165-year history. Evergreen Cemetery at 724 South Seventh Street is DeKalb’s oldest dating from 1855.

It contains the last resting places of City of DeKalb’s co-founder, Lewis Hunley; the patriarch of the Gurler family, Benjamin Gurler; blacksmith and machinist, Phineas Vaughan; early merchants, John M. Goodell, Basil Ruby, Willard B. King and Robert Newitt; farmer Elisha Foster, whose old brick house stands atop the hill on Annie Glidden Road, south of Taylor Street; and the parents of barb wire inventor, Joseph F. Glidden.

Evergreen is also the final resting place of several soldiers who severed in the War of 1812, The Civil War, and the Spanish American War. As this part of the restoration project was being conducted, the Township was able to unearth the graves of military veterans which had been buried over time.

Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery is DeKalb’s second oldest cemetery, dating from 1865 and was originally called Oakland but the name was changed in early 1889.

Prior to 1865, there was no cemetery serving the DeKalb community. It had long been common practice to bury deceased family either on their own property or in places where it was safe to do so. Most would later be moved to cemeteries when they came into existence.

In 1854, the DeKalb Center Sewing Society purchased a few acres of open prairie for $124.50 from Norris Sweet, for what became Evergreen Cemetery. An unsuccessful attempt was made with in the next 10 years to expand Evergreen and when this failed, steps were taken to acquire land elsewhere for a second cemetery.

On May 3, 1865, five wooded acres were purchased from Dr. Rufus Hopkins for $175. The new site was a half mile west of the downtown DeKalb and just off of the main road (North 1st Street) with its northern boundary formed by the Kishwaukee River. Thus, Oakwood Cemetery was born.

Oakwood is the last resting place of farmers Thomas Dodge, Albert Schryver and Alexander Ray; the Reverend C. J. Malmberg; banker Ellzey Young; Justice of the Peace, Eli B. Gilbert; merchants H. H. Wagner and Charles Flinn; and photographer Jonas Oleson.

Several impressive family plots dot the landscape of Oakwood Cemetery with the George Gurler lot having five of its seven markers flush with the ground, which is usual for Oakwood. Obelisks from as early as the late 1860s, stone trees, and a pair of mausoleums and other interesting monuments can be viewed.

Oakwood Cemetery is still active, owned and maintained by DeKalb Township since the last 1990s. The park-like setting behind the Congregational Church remains appealing to people into the 21st century just as it did in the 1800s.

Restoration

DeKalb Township and DeKalb Township Road District have worked tirelessly to maintain and restore the cemeteries entrusted to us. We take this duty seriously as we maintain the final resting place and the heritage of the residents of DeKalb Township. Our hope is future generations can reflect on the history of DeKalb by strolling through the cemeteries as they offer so much information in the way of the history of a city and DeKalb is no different.