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Save the Thompson Cemetery in Rural Illinois

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Save the Thompson Cemetery in Rural Illinois

Save the Thompson Cemetery in Rural Illinois

Save the Thompson Cemetery in Rural Illinois

Save the Thompson Cemetery in Rural Illinois

Save the Thompson Cemetery in Rural Illinois

David Thompson
David Thompson
David Thompson
David Thompson
1 Campaign |
Roodhouse, United States
$800 USD 4 backers
2% of $40,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

What is the Thompson Cemetery? 

 

The Thompson Cemetery is a rural cemetery in Central Illinois. The descendants of Revolutionary War soldier, John Thompson,  as well as his friends, family, and neighbors are interred there.  The first burial appears to have been John Thompson, in 1843.  Although there is no headstone for his wife, Winifred Brickey, we believe her grave is there as well. The last burial appears to have been William "Bill" Thompson in 1940.  There are at least 42 adults and 20 children buried there with many unmarked graves. The cemetery is located adjacent to farm fields in Barrow, Roodhouse, Illinois. The coordinates are: 39°30'30.2"N and 90°24'11.4"W.

 

Why is it worth saving?

 

This cemetery is a part of United States history and the families that were the earliest settlers of Central Illinois. The memory and the history of those buried in the cemetery is worth preserving for future generations. The number of children buried there is a testament to how hard the life was for the early settlers.

 

What needs to be done?

Through the years the Cemetery has been maintained by the families of those buried there. Funds were raised and the Cemetery grass has been mowed, but very little has been done in the last 50 years to maintain more than that.  For example, many of the gravestones have fallen over and are stacked in a pile and there is no longer a sign.

In the last year, a Thompson Cemetery Board has been formed and we have taken over the management of the Cemetery. We have established the following goals:

  • Normal Maintenance: This is the priority to raise funds so that the Cemetery will be funded in perpetuity.
  • Loose Gravestones: To preserve the many loose and broken stones
  • Thompson Cemetery Sign: Install an entrance sign
  • Install a Bronze Plaque:  To commemorate  the Cemetery and provide website information where more information can be found
  • Website: Maintain a website for Cemetery information
  • Cleaning of the Stones: Use historical preservation techniques to clean and preserve the stones
  • Fence: There is currently a fence. Decide whether to maintain or eliminate the fence
  • Genealogy Research, Data Archive and Family Networking

 

Fundraising

 

The Board has established a fundraising goal of $40,000 during the campaign which ends in July 2017. The money will be used for the capital projects with the remaining funds invested so that the maintenance expenses will be covered in perpetuity. We want this the be the final fundraising campaign.

 

Please donate to the Thompson Cemetery Association. The Association is a Federally recognized non-profit and your contributions are fully tax deductible.

 

Contributions may also be mailed: 

 

Peoples Bank & Trust 
PO Box 258
White Hall, IL  62092
Deposit to:  Thompson Cemetery Association #100403490

 

 

 

 

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Choose your Perk

Mowing Supporter

$60 USD
This level supports one mowing
0 claimed

Grave Stone Cleaning

$100 USD
Supports the cleaning of gravestones using historical preservation best practices
0 claimed

Loose Stone Memorial

$500 USD
Supports the resetting on gravestones and creation of memorial for broken stones.
0 claimed

Cemetery Sign & Bronze Plaque

$1,000 USD
Allows the installation of "THOMPSON CEMETERY" sign over the entrance and a bronze plaque to provide information about the Cemetery.
0 claimed

Benefactor

$5,000 USD
Major contributor to the establishment of funding for improvement and the care of the Cemetery in perpetuity.
0 claimed
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