Memorial Day Ceremony Held at Historic Union Cemetery

100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors performed at Union Cemetery on Memorial Day. –Courtesy of the 100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors.

100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors performed at Union Cemetery on Memorial Day. –Courtesy of the 100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors.

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By Karen Haave

Memorial Day 2023 marked a renewed interest in an historic Will County cemetery, with a poignant ceremony and an inaugural non-profit group to help preserve it.

Union Cemetery, at the corner of 80th Avenue and Monee-Manhattan Road, was established in 1857 and granted Historic Landmark status on October 12, 2002. It is the only landmarked site in Green Garden Township. Just one-half acre in size, it boasts majestic monuments and an impeccable landscape.
During a Memorial Day program on May 27, Union Cemetery also claimed unique bragging rights with an appearance by the 100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors.
“Our interest in the 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry ‘The Will County Regiment’ led us to research each of the members of that historic regiment,” Capt. Tim Marcus explained. “In visiting the graves we were able to locate, we found many were buried in small remote rural cemeteries, seemingly quite forgotten. Thus, we found Ulrich H. Hinrichs’ grave in Union Cemetery.”
The 100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors decided to conduct Memorial Day ceremonies at three select small county cemeteries, including Union Cemetery. The program included Marcus’s recitation, taken from the Sons of Union Veterans Memorial Day service, composed and edited by Marcus and local historian Andy Partak.
“Friends, We assemble once more to pay tribute, and respect to the memory and the principals for which they fought,” he read.
“With bowed heads, solemn tread, and voices hushed, we meet to remind our people of their duty to the soldiers, who wore the blue, to the flag for which they died, and that it is for us to keep green the memories of their heroic service and unselfish sacrifice.”
“Supreme Ruler of the Universe! God of battles and of peace! We thank You for this day and hour; for this blessed privilege of meeting here today to do homage to a Nation’s dead.”
“Thank you that in the day of trouble and the hour of danger Thou in Thy infinite wisdom raised up men who were ready to do battle and, if need be, to die that this country might be preserved.”
“Bless our country. Preserve its integrity, and at last gather us with You in the Great Camp of Eternity.”
A brief biography for Ulrich H. Hinrichs, excerpted from The History of Will County, Wm. Le Baron, Jr. and Co., Publishers, 1878, noted, “Ulrich H. Hinrichs, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Frankfort Station; one of our earliest settlers; was born in Germany; came to the United States in 1855, and to Illinois, and settled in Will Co. in the same year; his farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $8,000. He was married to Miss Caroline Karch, who was born in New York; they have six children: Henrietta C., Charles F., Margaret C., Elizabeth F., Louis M., and Henry J. Mr. Hinrichs was a volunteer in the late rebellion; he enlisted in the 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry; served nearly three years, and was discharged with honor at the close of the war, 1865.”
Originally called General Missionary Society of the German Baptist Church of North America, the cemetery’s constitution bears some familiar names from Green Garden, Frankfort and Monee Townships, including G.H. Dierks, O.H Remmers, S. Dierks, W Folkers, W.Carstens, C.Lehmann. G Jacobs, H. Peters, M.H. Harms, J.F. Dierks, B.B. Boeken, H.A. Boeken, G.A Boeken, C. Jacobs, A. Carssens, H. Brookman, F. Brookman, H. Janssen, F.R. Theilen, and J.H. Stafson, have bought from G.A Dierks the SouthEast Quarter of Section Fourteen (14) in Township Green Garden (34) in Range Twelve (120 containing one half acre of land and have united under name “Green Garden Cemetery Union”.
“From a copy of  handwritten notes, I have the first burial at the cemetery (listed as) Mohlman, Haro B. – Born December 29, 1814  –  Died September 10 1856,” Christofilos said.
“Maria Jacobs was the second person buried there, Born November 11, 1821, Died November 5, 1856.
“As Friends of Union Cemetery Association, we do not own the land, we are just looking to assist Ron in being caretakers of the property and to educate our community about the history found at Union Cemetery.
“If a cemetery becomes abandoned, a township has the authority to go in and clean up and make orderly.
“Thanks to Ron Wagner, while no one was overseeing the cemetery, since the death of Milbert Johnson, Union cemetery continued to be mowed and made presentable to our community.”
According to the Reading the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society did on the cemetery, there are at least 174 people laid to rest at Union Cemetery.  
“A reading is where people walk a cemetery and record the headstones they see and record it. As you know, as time passes, the reading of some of the headstones become impossible to read, and some stones also break apart and are lost. I have a  copy of handwritten notes showing there are more than 174 people laid to rest at Union Cemetery. As Friends of Union Cemetery Association, we are looking to research this and come to a better understanding of who is buried there and their history.”
While all of the grave sites reportedly have been sold, not all are used. 
“Our role as Friends of Union Cemetery Association will be to maintain and educate the community about the Union Cemetery, not bury people,” she added.
“I look at this as a journey we have just begun as Friends of Union Cemetery Association, and we plan on working with the historians in our community as well as the government authorities. It is our desire to learn all we can about Union Cemetery and make it known to our Green Garden Community.
“For me, this journey to learn about the cemeteries in our community began as a fact finding mission. Along the way, I have met  some many amazing people whom I have come to call friends.   Richard Stuenkel was one of those people. He loved this community, the people in it and its history.  While we miss him deeply, the spark he ignited in each of us who knew him continues on.”  
The Memorial Day ceremony included a tribute to Mr. Stuenkel.
Just the week before the Memorial Day program, Heidi Christofilos and a group of history buffs met to formally establish the Friends of Union Cemetery Association.
“Several months ago,” she explained, “Green Garden Township requested a committee be formed to learn about the cemeteries in our community, who runs them, and their current needs.  
“At this time, through our contact with people in the community, the committee discovered three things.  
“First, Union Cemetery was granted Historical Landmark Status October 12, 2002, and is the only landmarked site in Green Garden Township. 
“Second, the last board member, Milbert Johnson, who had helped to oversee  the cemetery had passed away in 2013, and no one had been overseeing the cemetery since his death. 
“The reason the cemetery continued to look presentable, we learned, is because Ron Wagner for more than two decades had been mowing the cemetery without pay. As a child, Ron said, Union Cemetery was his after-dinner cemetery to mow since it was just a half an acre, and he lived across the street. His family has a history of taking care of cemeteries.  
“As a committee we were very moved by Ron’s service to those buried at the cemetery and his quiet faithful commitment of service in our community.
“Originally,” Christofilos continued, “the committee encouraged the township to take over the running of the cemetery. While they were willing to pay for Ron to mow the cemetery, they didn’t want to take on the cemetery as their responsibility.
“As we asked more questions about what was in the best  interest of the cemetery long term, our local historians – Richard Stuenkel, Sandy Vasko, Christina Holston, Anne Nagle – all encouraged the committee to start a Friends of Union Cemetery Association.  
“So we contacted people we had met over the past few months who had helped clean the cemetery or had shown a personal interest in it, and we formed an organization specifically for Union Cemetery. 
“Our stated purpose for Friends of Union Cemetery, taken from our Constitution, is: ‘To preserve, maintain, and restore the cemetery grounds and gravestones to honor our community ancestors laid to rest at Union Cemetery, to provide education on the communities’ history, and care about the environment around us’.” 
The association’s new officers were sworn in during the Memorial Day program: Christofilos as president of the group, with Reinhold Schultz as treasurer, Brooke Shepherd as secretary, and Jane Bushong and Russell Standish serving as directors. (It was traditional for the officers to conduct their annual meeting at the cemetery.)
“There are several more people who are just as vital as the board who have signed on to be Friends of Union Cemetery,” Christofilos noted.
“We also have had important advisors all along the way. Richard Stuenkel, who passed away May 12, was a great resource to the endeavor and was passionate about starting this organization. We miss him deeply. His daughter Barbara Stuenkel also has been invaluable, and we are so thankful for her knowledge in so many areas to help bring Friends of Union Cemetery Association from an idea into reality.”
Friends of Union Cemetery Association have filed the papers with the IRS for designation as a 501(3)c not-for-profit. 

“We plan on having fundraisers to help oversee the care of the property,” she said.


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