ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Vermilion County, Illinois

     When in 1812, Cynthia, wife of James A. Gordon, passed away, her husband dedicated a part of their farm as a free burial ground.  After Mr. Gordon's death in 1839, Judge Wilkins of Danville acquired the farm, which he later sold to Washington G. and Nora Emerson Knight.
     About 1910, Charles McMillan persuaded Mr. Knight to lay out a portion of his land adjoining on the North into cemetery lots which he (Mr. Knight) sold for $20.00 each for 8 grave spaces.  Because of the great number of McMillans buried in the older section it became the McMillan Addition and the newer section the Knight Addition of Gordon Cemetery.
     In 1925, W. G. Knight sold all of this farm to the Interstate Water Company.
     A group of people whose family were buried there, held meetings with the aid of Attorney David Allison were able to form a corporation, receive a charter from the State of Illinois recorded Aug. 7, 1929.
Ernest Wynn - President (deceased)
Grimes, W. S. - Vice President (deceased)
Fannie Hilleary - Secretary (deceased)
Burton Butler - Treasurer (deceased)
Trustees: F. C. Ashcraft (deceased, Allie Ashcraft, Lawson Jones (deceased), Stella Blair, J. A. Gutterridge (deceased).
     In 1944 a Trust Fund was established with Marion Stine as Truste Officer with the First National Bank of Danville.  This fund has increased to $5300.00.  The Corporation hopes in time the fund will become large enough that the interest will care for the upkeep of the cemetery.
     Respectfully submitted, Mrs. Zola D. Russell, Secretary, 514 W. Clay St., Danville, Illinois.