the village, was part of the Illinois land grant to the Illinois Central, which agreed to sell the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter for $1,000. A committee was named to complete the deal, the members being Alexander Hawthorn, Dr. S. L. Kerr, Robert A. McClellan, George L. Gibson and L. B. McOmber.

Over a year elapsed before the committee reported at a meeting held August 17, 1860. Reverend Branch again presided and Dr. Stockwell acted as Secretary. The committee reported that the necessary stock had been subscribed in shares of $10 each, and the purchase agreement for the land was approved. With the exception of Mr. Gibson, replaced by Dr. Stockwell, the original committee was elected as trustees of the new cemetery association. Dr. Kerr became president, Mr. Hawthorn, vice president and Mr. Gibson was elected treasurer.

W. R. Willis, W. H. Boies and G. L. Gibson were named to prepare a charter at a meeting September 7, 1860. It was decided to enclose the east half of the forty acres with a fence. An assessment of six per cent was ordered, payable at once, and it was voted to turn the ground over to the lot owners when funds were received from sale of lots to reimburse the stockholders. The charter, dated January 14, 1861, was approved by Governor Yates February 14.

The south ten acres were platted in 1861 by I. J. Marsh, county surveyor, and recorded at Metamora, then county seat. The north line of the platted area was the street at the south side of the mausoleum, but only those lots south of the Wathen and Schafer lots at the ends of the diagonal drives were put on sale. In 1885 the three tiers of lots next north, to the present mausoleum site, were staked and put on sale. In l936 the four north tiers were opened. A tier of lots on the south side of the cemetery was secured in 1917. This ground was an existing township highway, then vacated, and a quit claim deed was secured from adjoining land owner James W. Cleary for $175 for his portion of the old unused road.

The original price of lots was $10, one-half cash with one year's time at ten per cent on the other half. At the April 15, 1861 meeting it was decided to sell the west twenty acres of the original purchase, and it was transferred to Lewis B. McOmber June 12, 1868, his brother Horace taking the north half.

For years a wooden sidewalk connected the city with the cemetery at the city limits. In 1903 a cement walk was laid to the gates costing $728. In 1926 the present ornamental entrance was built and the half-mile long road covered with crushed stone, allocated from the state by Governor Small. Much of the cost of the new road, $2,502, was contributed by subscriptions.

A 200 crypt mausoleum of steel reinforced concrete blocks was erected in 1908 on Blocks 22 and 33 near the north half of the cemetery by A. E. Fleming and J. J. DeMotte. Mr. Fleming later purchased the DeMotte interest and the building came into the cemetery association

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