Information provided by David Pittman, revised 2025.
RESEARCH NOTES
The following information is based on several sources.
The primary source is the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and Illinois Department of Natural Resources survey of April, 2008, following a prescribed burn of the complete cemetery. One hundred stone markers were identified, all of them subsequently cleaned and digitally photographed, with inscriptions recorded. A new survey of grave markers by volunteers was begun in 2024 and will be ongoing.
The Peoria County Genealogical Society has an online posting based on volunteer staff efforts to document Root Cemetery burials. Additional information about Root Cemetery burials has come from volunteers using the Find a Grave database and from descendants of families. These sources are used to fill in, wherever possible, full names, gender, birth, and burial dates.
The Chillicothe Historical Society has also provided useful burial information, which is incorporated into this list.
BURIAL SUMMARY
There are 142 burials under 44 surnames listed here for Root Cemetery.
The first known burial is Mary Dawson, who passed in December, 1834.
The last known burial is James Farden, who passed December, 1933. Mr. Farden was buried into the family area that included his wife, who had passed in 1923, and four of their six children.
There are 51 burials of children aged less than 10 years (38%).
Five large families have a combined 59 burials (40%) at Root Cemetery. These are the Cratz/Crots/Krats, Dowdall, Farden, McCulley, and Moffitt families.
There are 10 Civil War veterans buried in Root Cemetery. A permanent aluminum sign honoring their service and that of a veteran of the War of 1812 was erected at the cemetery in 2025 by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Colonel John C. Bryner Camp 67. They are James Samuel Crotz, David W Farden, Ralph Farden, Jackson McCulley, Justin Minor, Steward Neill, John Sargent, and William Weakham. Please see Root Cemetery Human History for biographical information.
SURNAMES
There are 21 burials from one family surname (15%).
There are 14 burials with two family members (10%).
There are 36 burials with 3-4 family members (26%).
There are 12 burials with 5-7 family members (8%).
There are 59 burials with more than 7 family members (40%).
AGE
Total numbers vary from previous total.
There are 29 burials aged less than 2 years (20%).
There are 13 burials aged 2-5 years (9%).
There are 11 burials aged 5-10 years (8%).
There are 5 burials aged 10-20 years (3.8%).
There are 17 burials aged 20-30 years (12%).
There are 9 burials aged 30-40 years (6.3%).
There are 6 burials aged 40-50 years (4.2%).
There are 9 burials aged 50-60 years (6.3%).
There are 11 burials aged 60-70 years (8%).
There are 16 burials aged 70-80 years (11.2%).
There are 6 burials aged 80-90 years (4.3%).
GENDER
Eight markers are missing data. The remainder break down as 69 women, 65 men.
Females were more likely than males to die in the infant to 2-year-old group, the 10 to 20-year-old group, and the 50-60 year old group.
Men were more likely than women to die in the 20 to 30-year-old, 30 to 40-year-old, and 40 to 50-year-old group.
There was no significant difference in the 2 to 5-year-old, 5 to 10-year-old, or 50 to 90-year-old age ranges.
BURIAL TIMELINE
Busiest time of burials was 1850-1864, with 58 deaths or nearly 50% of known total burials. The following 20 years, 1865-1889, witnessed 26 or nearly 20% of known burials. All Root Cemetery burials after 1900 (15 burials, 16.3%) were into existing family plots. Some family members chose to be buried in other nearby cemeteries; Northampton Blue Ridge Cemetery opened in 1841 and City of Chillicothe Cemetery in the 1860s.
1830 – 1834: 2 burials
1835 – 1839: 7 burials
1840 – 1844: 6 burials
1845 – 1849: 11 burials
1850 – 1854: 19 burials
1855 – 1859: 18 burials
1860 – 1864: 12 burials
1865 – 1869: 9 burials
1870 – 1874: 4 burials
1875 – 1879: 9 burials
1880 – 1884: 6 burials
1885 – 1889: 7 burials
1890 – 1894: 8 burials
1895 – 1899: 2 burials
1900 – 1904: 1 burial
1905 – 1909: 2 burials
1910 – 1914: 6 burials
1915 – 1919: 0 burials
1920 – 1924: 3 burials
1925 – 1929: 1 burial
1930 – 1934: 2 burials
No further burials known.
SPECIFIC BURIAL INFORMATION
| Last Name, First Name | Born | Died | Age |
| Beaumont, Amanda | Oct 2, 1871 | Dec 15, 1875 | 4 yr 2 mo 13 days |
| Briggs, George William | Nov 11, 1850 | Mar 8, 1855 | 4 yr 4 mo 27 days |
| Burnett, Henry James | 1871 | 1959 | 88 yr |
| Calvin, John W | Feb 22, 1875 | Aug 2, 1875 | 6 mo 9 d |
| Clifton, Anna (Root) | Dec 19, 1813 | Sep 19, 1838 | 24 yr 9 mo |
| Clifton, William (Anna Clifton’s son) | Nov 24, 1834 | Jul 24, 1839 | 4 yr 8 mo |
| Both Anna (Root) Clifton and her son William Clifton are buried in the Root family area. Anna was married at age 20 to John S. Clifton. She died three years later, and their son died one year later. John moved to Peoria, remarried, and is buried at Mt Hawley Cemetery. | |||
| Cook, Lenora H | Oct 1, 1847 | Nov 23, 1847 | 1 mo 22 d |
| Cratz, Charles | July 1, 1869 | Dec 16, 1892 | 23 yr 5 mo 15 d |
| Crotz, Ella | Dec 6,1887 | Feb 16, 1892 | 4 yr 2 mo 10 d |
| Crotz, Everett J. | 1906 | 1908 | 2 yr |
| Crotz, Jacob F | Jan 15, 1885 | Jan 5, 1912 | 27 yr 6 mo 10 d |
| Crotz, James Samuel (CIVIL WAR) | May, 19, 1847 | April 22, 1925 | 78 yr |
| Crotz, Letitia L (Farden) | Feb 1849 | 1911 | 61 yr |
| Crotz, Nettie | Nov 14, 1883 | Feb 13, 1892 | 8 yr 2 mo 29 d |
| Crotz, Sophia | 1813 | Oct 26, 1865 | 52 yr |
| Kratz, Jacob | July 5, 1812 | Jan 15, 1885 | 62 yr 6 mo 10 d |
| Davidson, Isabella J | Dec 30, 1834 | Oct 30, 1842 | 7 yr 10 mo |
| Davidson, Jane | Dec 7, 1811 | June 13, 1869 | 57 yr 6 mo 6 d |
| Davidson, John B | Mar 11, 1811 | Apr 6, 1857 | 46 yr 26 d |
| Davidson, John J. | 1843 | 1912 | 69 yr |
| Davidson, Mary A | Mar 27, 1859 | Aug 4 1850 | 4 mo 8 d |
| Davidson, Thomas | ? | Jul 10, 1839 | MISSING DATA |
| Davidson, William J. | Dec 14, 1854 | Aug 30, 1855 | 3 yr 4 mo 24 d |
| Dawson, Andrew | Jan 29, 1798 | Oct 21, 1864 | 66 yr 8 mo 23 d |
| Dawson, Elmira | Sep 13, 1811 | Jan 10, 1847 | 35 yr 3 mo 27 d |
| Dawson, MAxxxx (First known burial) | Dec 18, 1783 | Dec 22, 1834 | 51 yr 4 d |
| Dawson, William | Jun 15, 1802 | Sep 18, 1851 | 49 yr 3 mo 27 d |
| Ditmon, Mary E | Jul 27, 1851 | Oct 28, 1852 | 1 yr 3 mo 1 d |
| Ditmon, Matilda | Nov 11, 1852 | Sep 18, 1854 | 1 yr 9 mo 28 d |
| Donath, George | Jan 21, 1824 | Feb 1, 1857 | 33 yr 1 d |
| Donath, Mary Ann | Oct 22, 1823 | Mar 18, 1857 | 33 yr 4 mo 11 d |
| Dowdall, Alexander | 1815 | Dec 13, 1851 | 36 yr |
| Dowdall,, Bessie | 1895 | 1895 | <1 yr |
| Dowdall, Cora H. | Dec 3, 1877 | Aug 23, 1878 | 8 mo 20 d |
| Dowdall, George H. | 1889 | 1894 | 5 yr |
| Dowdall, Hannah M | Aug 30, 1845 | Apr 8, 1864 | 18 yr 7 mo 9 d |
| Dowdall, J W | June 30, 1855 | Aug 20, 1865 | 10 yr 1 mo 2 d |
| Dowdall, Mary | Feb 11, 1819 | Mar 16, 1881 | 62 yr 1 mo 5 d |
| Dowdall, Matilda | MISSING DATA | ||
| Dowdall, Minnie B. | 1887 | 1890 | 3 yr |
| Dowdall, Samuel A. | May 25, 1851 | Aug 22, 1853 | 2 yr 28 d |
| Dowdall, Sarah | MISSING DATA | ||
| Dykes, Alonzo W. | Nov 24, 1837 | Aug 8, 1841 | 3 yr 8 mo 14 d |
| Dykes, Ellen M. | Jan 3, 1846 | Feb 26, 1848 | 2 yr 1 mo 23 d |
| Dykes (an infant) | May 10, 1848 | <1 yr | |
| Dykes, Seny Ann | Jan 28, 1831 | Dec 21, 1849 | 18 yr 10 mo 24 d |
| Farden, Charles J. | Mar 13, 1878 | Jul 22, 1878 | 4 mo 9 d |
| Farden, Daniel | Oct 1, 1869 | Oct 18, 1869 | 17 d |
| Farden, David Wesley (CIVIL WAR) | Dec 2, 1846 | Jun 4, 1883 | 36 yr |
| Farden, Grace | 1880 | 1911 | 31 yr |
| Farden, James (last burial) | Dec 7, 1844 | Dec 3 1933 | 89 yr |
| Farden, Mary Ann Crotz | Mar 13, 1850 | May 1,1923 | 73 yr |
| Farden, Minderva | Dec 15, 1857 | Feb 15, 1885 | 27 yr 2 mo |
| Farden, Myrtle E. | Aug 20, 1888 | Jan 16, 1889 | 4 mo 27 d |
| Farden Ralph (CIVIL WAR) | June 24, 1811 | July 18, 1882 | 71 yr |
| Farden, Susan Leonard | Feb 13, 1821 | Feb 13, 1901 | 80 yr |
| Hamlin, Lucy | 1779 | Feb 8, 1841 | 71 yr |
| Hamlin, RB | Mar 18, 1808 | Sep 29, 1859 | 51 yr 6 mo 11 d |
| Hamlin, Betsy | Aug 13, 1815 | May 12, 1875 | 59 yr 8 mo 30 d |
| Hickson, Martha E. | Dec 9, 1843 | Nov 9, 1850 | 6 yr 11 mo |
| Hixson, Isabinca | April 19, 1850 | Apr 16,1853 | 2 yr 11 mo 27 d |
| Hixson, Susannah | Feb 16, 1845 | Mar 14, 1847 | 2 yr 29 d |
| Hoover, Izza L. | ? | Aug 16, 1861 | |
| Hutchison, Absalom | Dec 4, 1782 | Apr 18, 1851 | 68 yr 4 mo 14 d |
| Hutchison (infant) | Sep 27, 1851 | Oct 1, 1851 | 4 d |
| Hutchison, John G. | Sep 3, 1856 | Oct 7, 1857 | 1 yr 1 mo 4 d |
| Hutchison, Nancy | May 16, 1795 | Jul 19, 1857 | 62 yr 1 mo 25 d |
| Jenkins, Jesse | Aug 24, 1796 | Oct 29, 1890 | 94 yr 2 mo 5 d |
| Jenkins, Lydia B. | Feb 15, 1845 | Nov 11, 1922 | 77 yr 8 mo 26 d |
| Kiser, Emma | Sep 18, 1871 | Oct 20, 1933 | 62 yr 1 mo 2 d |
| Kiser, Minnie A. | Jan 28, 1859 | Dec 29, 1911 | 52 yr 11 mo 10 d |
| Kiser, Newton | Apr 25,1819 | Jun 6, 1881 | 62 yr 11 d |
| Kiser, Rebecca | Mar 31, 1833 | Jun 10, 1891 | 58 yr 2 mo 10 d |
| Kitts, Helen | Jul 23, 1858 | Sep 23, 1860 | 1 yr 10 mo |
| Kness, Leonard C. | May 31, 1884 | Oct 15, 1891 | 7 yr 4 mo 15 d |
| Lamoree, Eliza | 1829 | Feb 3, 1854 | 25 yr |
| Martin, Bradley | Mar 7, 1844 | Sep 2, 1867 | 23 yr 5 mo 26 d |
| McCulley, B J. | MISSING DATA | ||
| McCulley, Charels E. | 1860 | Feb 16, 1861 | 1 yr |
| McCulley, Francis N. | Dec 21, 1854 | Jan 5, 1861 | 6 yr 15 d |
| McCulley, Isaac N. | May 8, 1852 | Jan 11, 1861 | 8 yr 8 mo 3 d |
| McCulley, Jackson (CIVIL WAR) | ? | Jul 8, 1899 | MISSING DATA |
| McCulley, James J. | Aug 15, 1858 | Mar 19, 1860 | 1 yr 7 mo 4 d |
| McCulley, Mary A. | Oct 31, 1856 | Mar 14, 1858 | 1 yr 4 mo 14 d |
| McCulley, Sarah A. | 1830 | Nov 1853 | 23 yr |
| Mead, Charles S. | Aug 10, 1853 | May 10, 1854 | 1 yr 9 mo |
| Mead, Hezekiah | Dec 12, 1821 | Mar 19, 1845 | 23 yr 3 mo 7 d |
| Mead, William | Aug 25, 1820 | Aug 14, 1844 | 23 yr 11 mo 20 d |
| Minor, Catherine (Mother) | 1796 | Jan 8, 1878 | 82 yr 11 mo 1 d |
| Minor, Justin L. (CIVIL WAR) | ? | Sept 8, 1871 | MISSING DATA |
| Moates, Elizabeth | 1790 | Oct 1862 | 72 yr |
| Moffitt, Abner | May 23, 1815 | Jan 21, 1858 | 42 yr 7 mo 29 d |
| Moffitt, Allen | Feb 8, 1837 | April 13, 1857 | 20 yr 1 mo 5 d |
| Moffitt, Allonzo | Oct 22, 1826 | Jan 10, 1850 | 23 yr |
| Moffitt, Catherine | Jun 15,1817 | Feb 4, 1840 | 22 yr 7 mo 19 d |
| Moffitt, Elizabeth | May 17,1821 | Oct 7, 1861 | 40 yr 4 mo 21 d |
| Moffitt, Hiriam N. | Jul 5, 1829 | Apr 5, 1857 | 27 yr 9 mo |
| Moffitt, Hugh | 1806 | 1880 | 74 yr |
| Moffitt, Jacob W. | Sep 10,1841 | Jan 9, 1921 | 79 yr 3 mo 30 d |
| Moffitt, Jane T. | 1809 | 1887 | 78 yr |
| Moffitt, Jesse | Apr 24, 1820 | Nov 30, 1856 | 36 yr 7 mo 6 d |
| Moffitt, John | Jul 16, 1838 | Sep 19, 1845 | 7 yr 2 mo 3 d |
| Moffitt, John | Oct 6, 1821 | Feb 1, 1845 | 23 yr 3 mo 26 d |
| Moffitt, John | Nov 22, 1833 | May 20, 1842 | 8 yr 6 mo 2 d |
| Moffitt, Joseph | Dec 27, 1852 | Jan 17, 1853 | 21 d |
| Moffitt, Juliather (first burial) | ? | Jul 17, 1833 | MISSING DATA |
| Moffitt, Lydia C. | Mar 2, 1842 | Jul 2, 1850 | 8 yr 4 mo |
| Moffitt, Lydia | 1842 | 1914 | 72 yr |
| Moffitt, Lydia | May 18, 1777 | Sep 13, 1850 | 73 yr 3 mo 26 d |
| Moffitt, Rachael | 1800 | Mar 7, 1860 | 60 yr |
| Moffitt, ? | Oct 18, 1830 | 1848 | 18 yr |
| Moffitt, William | 1797 | Feb 8, 1845 | 48 yr 21 d |
| Neill, Steward (CIVIL WAR) | May 24, 1828 | Apr 2, 1885 | 56 yr 10 mo 9 d |
| Neill, Lydia | Nov 30, 1831 | Nov 20, 1857 | 25 yr 11 mo 27 d |
| Neill, Cynthia L. | May 22, 1855 | Sep 23, 1856 | 1 yr 4 mo 1 d |
| Nelson, John J. | Jul 22, 1868 | Jan 30, 1869 | 6 mo 8 d |
| MBR (?Racalv?) | MISSING DATA | ||
| Racalv, John W. | MISSING DATA | ||
| Reed, Aaron | Jul 20, 1793 | Oct 26,1873 | 80 yr 3 mo 6 d |
| Reed, Sarah | Dec 31, 1797 | Dec 16, 1874 | 76 yr 11 mo 16 d |
| Riley, Ada I R | Dec 4, 1854 | Sep 8, 1855 | 9 mo 4 d |
| Riley, Hannah | Feb 1, 1825 | Nov 10, 1854 | 29 yr 9 mo |
| Root, Jeriel, Sr. | Dec 31, 1770 | June 18, 1857 | 76 yr 5 mo 18 d |
| Jeriel Root, Sr., was the cemetery founder and land donor. Born in Coventry, Tolland County, CT. He was married to Sarah Coleman Root. She was age 18 years old when she married 31-yr-Jeriel Sr. She had ten children of whom three are buried in Root Cemetery (Lucia, 1804-1834; Anna 1813-1835; Jeriel, Jr., 1816 -1839). | |||
| Root, Sarah Coleman | Jul 10, 1783 | Sep 10, 1839 | 56 yr 2 mo |
| Root, Jeriel, Jr. | Mar 19, 1816 | Jan 6, 1839 | 22 yr, 9 mo 18 d |
| Root, Lucia B. | Feb 22, 1804 | July 11, 1834 | 30 yr |
| Lucia B. Root is buried at Root per Find a Grave but not confirmed by INPC.Anna Root Clifton (12/11/1813 – 9/19/1838) is buried in the Root family area next to her 4-year-old son, William Lucas Clifton. She was married at age 20 to John S. Clifton. She died three years later, and their son died one year later. John moved to Peoria, remarried, and is buried at Mt Hawley Cemetery.One of the Root family children, Phebe (1812-1847), died along the Oregon Trail in Wyoming.Two of the children are buried in nearby Blue Ridge Cemetery: Erastus (1805-1906) and Lucas (1810 -1864).Clarissa (1802-1866) is buried in Benton County Iowa. Emily (1808-1890) is buried in Sparland.Alma (1820-1903) is buried in Knox County, Illinois.Alfred (1820-1864) is buried in McLean County, Illinois. Alma and Alfred were twins. | |||
| Sargent (infant) | ? | Mar 17, 1838 | <1 yr |
| Sargent, John (CIVIL WAR, brother of Lydia Neill) | NO OTHER DATA | ||
| Sargent, Juliather | Feb 13, 1801 | Jan 11, 1882 | 80 yr |
| Sargent, Snowden R. | May 27, 1802 | May 6, 1838 | 36 yr 11 mo 10 d |
| Saxton, Andrew A. | 1844 | Jul 1857 | 13 yr 28 d |
| Saxton, Frederick | 1806 | 1879 | 73 yr |
| Saxton, Frederick M. | Apr 21, 1853 | May 9, 1868 | 1 yr 2 mo 10 d |
| Saxton, George O. | Sep 3, 1827 | Sep 25, 1853 | 26 yr 23 d |
| Tatley, Elizabeth | Feb 21, 1853 | May 3, 1865 | 12 yr 2 mo 10 d |
| Watson, Anne | 1868 | 1869 | 1 yr |
| Watson, Betsy | 1837 | 1914 | 77 yr |
| Watson, Janey | 1875 | 1875 | < 1 yr |
| Watson, Minney | 1872 | 1874 | 2 yr |
| Watson, Rosey | 1878 | 1879 | 1 yr |
| Weaklam, William (CIVIL WAR) | May 11, 1836 | Sep 8, 1905 | 69 yr |
| Whittaker, Annie G. | Jul 7, 1885 | Jun 26, 1886 | 11 mo 12 d |
| Young, Ruetta | May 7, 1857 | Aug 18, 1886 | 9 yr 3 mo 11 d |