Book on Oak Ridge Cemetery

[Rob Wick]

One of the highlights of the recent trip to Springfield included getting my copy of Joe Di Cola's book on the Chicago World's Fair autographed and personalized. It has a place of honor on my shelves.

Another highlight was going through Oak Ridge Cemetery and seeing other graves besides Lincoln's. The same publishers who brought out Joe's wonderful book also published one on Oak Ridge Cemetery. The authors are Edward J. Russo and Curtis R. Mann. Curt Mann and I go way back (we're both from the same small town). He works for the Springfield Public Library and is an excellent historian in his own right. There are a number of pictures of the cemetery in the 1860s as well as of the Lincoln tomb. It is well worth your time.

Best
Rob

[LincolnMan]

That walk was a highlight for me too Rob- and we barely covered any of it! The cemetery is full of notables that were involved with Lincoln. I suppose you could spend a week there finding them. Does the volume you mention provide a listing that would be helpful?

[Rob Wick]

It really doesn't have a detailed listing, as it is more pictures than text, but it does mention people of some note who are buried there. I think the best sources would be Find-A-Grave, plus Oak Ridge's website.

Best
Rob

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi...Rid=107259

http://www.oakridgecemetery.org/tour.html

[Joe Di Cola]

The "tour" site has the most sites listed (70), whereas find-a-grave only has 40. Rob, thank you for the kind words about the book.

Joe

[RJNorton]

One of the highlights of the recent trip to Springfield included getting my copy of Joe Di Cola's book on the Chicago World's Fair autographed and personalized. It has a place of honor on my shelves.

I second Rob. The book is fascinating. For those new to this topic we have a thread on it here. Kudos, Joe!

[Rob Wick]

The "tour" site has the most sites listed (70), whereas find-a-grave only has 40. Rob, thank you for the kind words about the book.

Joe

You're welcome. It's the least I can do for my Pop!

Best
Rob

[LincolnMan]

Ah, father and son bonding...

[maharba]

Who are the folks buried closest to Abraham Lincoln in Oakridge cemetery? There is the monument to Governor Tanner, for one. But who ALL else? Is Abraham Lincoln buried in 'Block 10' in Oakridge cemetery? Has anyone, here, been there and walked around and taken notes and written down names, I wonder? Thanks.

[Gene C]

Been there, but not done that.
Those buried closest to him are his wife and children.

It is a beautiful and peaceful place.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Guess you have checked this out already:
http://www.oakridgecemetery.org/tour.html

[maharba]

Thanks Eva, yes I checked that and it is interesting. That I understand, Oakridge cemetery is a going financial enterprise and claims to be the '2nd most visited here in the States'. If a man from say Long Island wanted to be buried there, a whole lot of space and lots are open at Oakridge, for such a man and his family. Over the years, many folks wanted to be buried 'in Lincolns cemetery', for various reasons. Their further inclination might be: to be near to Abraham Lincoln (for an eternity). What I'm wondering is: WHO IS 'near Lincoln' in Oakridge cemetery beyond the obvious wife and some kids? If a man had a pencil and paper and walked due North in a clockwise, ever-widening spiral walk: WHAT names on what stones would he find? I wonder if there is not, yet, some open space kept set aside, near? For instance, our current president is a past Illinois senator. Many years from now, when he passes away, it would seem natural to have his Memorial there, closeby Abraham Lincoln.

[Eva Elisabeth]

As for the who is near Lincoln - have you tried to email the cemetery to inquire? Or ask whether that's in the map/guide they offer at 2$?

[Rob Wick]

First, here is a map that I imagine you've looked at, but it will help you with the other materials I will make reference to.

The majority of people who knew Lincoln or were alive when he was in Springfield are buried in the northeastern section of the cemetery. Herndon, for example, is buried in Block 14. Although not a contemporary of Lincoln, the poet Vachel Lindsay is also buried in that section. Many of Springfield's prominent residents (those who lived in the Old Aristocracy Hill neighborhood, for example) are buried in the older section of the cemetery.

Three names well known to Lincoln students are buried in Block 32 (the section to the right as you would look at the front of Lincoln's tomb). Oliver Barrett, Benjamin P. Thomas and Harry E. Pratt are all buried within sight of each other and in the shadow of the man whose story they helped bring to the nation.

Finally, the Illinois Digital Archives has the interment records of Oak Ridge Cemetery online. You can take the aforementioned map and see the general area where anyone is buried.

Best
Rob

[Donna McCreary]

I have found the cemetery book to be most helpful. The photos are fantastic.

And Rob, you are correct, the Illinois Digital Archives will help a person find anyone who is buried in Oak Ridge. It is another tool that I find myself searching frequently.