... the missing graveyard.
                    As the pioneers settled along the frontier, new life was abundant, but death continued to be ever present and required that new burial sites be established. The first gravesite of a settlement was most often on private land and became the family plot. One  such plot was provided by Wm. W Williams, emigrant from Kentucky to Greene County, Il.. The site was in Rubicon Township, Greene Co., Il. (in the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Sec. 24, T.11N. R.10W). It was located approximately 200 feet east of Rubicon Creek, and approximately 150 feet north of the public road numbered 1850 North.
go to map:     Rubicon plat map
                                           
                    During the 1970's the land around the plot was broken out of pastureland and began to be cultivated for the production of grain crops. The landowner removed the perimeter fence and eventually, during the 80's, excavated the entire plot, burying all the markers along the bank of Rubicon creek. By probing we were able to locate and recover the following stones. These represent a small portion of the originals. Of the many not found, some were memorials to free men who chose to stay with "uncle Billy Williams".

           
  Pioneers and settlers represented here are Williams & (Edwin) Henderson.
These families settled on the prairie in and around Greene County as early as 1819.

The stones were recorded by Karen Barnard and Mary Hilman as follows:

Tree trunk:         Wm. W. Williams   born - July 9, 1791  died - Dec 26,1884
                         Lydia, wife of Wm W.   born - Aug. 22, 1786     died - Apr 29, 1858

Granite stone:   (front) Edwin Henderson     born - June 15, 1815     died - Apr 30, 1889
                            (right)  Eliza J. Henderson    wife of E Henderson    born - Jan. 22, 1820
                            (left)    Mary L Henderson    b - Aug. 16, 1847      d - Mar. 23, 1848
                            (left)   Elmer Henderson    b - July 24, 1861     d - Oct. 2, 1865

Marker:               Elmer, Son of E. & E. J. Henderson-d - Oct 22, 1865  Aged  4 yrs-3 mo

- broken stone:  (no name) Aug 13,17--   d - Apr 23, 1839  Aged_71 y,8 m,16 days

- stone broken off :         Lydia      Wife of W. H. Williams      6--

- marker:             Newton Son of Wm W. & L. William  d. June 19,1850 Aged 26 y, 1 day

- marker:                           Martha      Apr 16, 1843        Oct 28 1896-

- marker:              Frank Wilson, son of J.A. & M.F. Stickel d. 2/27/1883  Age 3 m, 5 days

- foot stones:                     M. H.                   /                        F. S. 

          The Henderson family, in 1818, came down from Ohio (a keelboat) to Cairo, then up the Mississippi to the Wood River area, then to Greene County the following spring. James Henderson, pioneer, was first to settle in Greene County north of Apple Creek in the White Hall / Belletown vicinity. - go to: Henderson Cemetery       
              Wm. W. Williams (born 1791) emigrated from his birthplace, Virginia, to Kentucky when 17 years of age and  then to Illinois during 1831.                     
                    The  recovered  stones are  located  at  the residence of Sam / Susie Thornton in the S W 1/4 of  Section 27, Rubicon Twp, Greene Co, Il., on the bank of Rubicon Creek, downstream from their original location.
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Other Williams & Henderson marker images.       
 
                                  

  TreeTrunk-detail         all.markers.recovered          Wm. H. Williams

Wm W Williams obit        Eliza published obit        Eliza Williams obit.

Henderson stone, diff. camera      detail, west - Mary      detail, west - Elmer       detail, south       detail, east

Newton           Elmer          Frank Stickel, grandson           Stickel base



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