Cemeteries in Northern Illinois

LONG CEMETERY - EST 1849

Long Cemetery is located at 5200 South Main Street, Rockford in the wooded area behind the house at the address. It was necessary to drive into the driveway and walk ahead and to the right to access the cemetery. It had been abandoned long ago with frequent articles documenting its neglect appearing in the area newspaper. The first burial took place in 1849 and the last was in 1907. There were probably less than 20 burials in Long Cemetery, many are not yet verified. One confirmed burial is that of a Civil War Veteran named Conrad LaGrange buried at Long Cemetery. He was killed at Shilo, April 7, 1862.

The stones were removed a few years back and placed in Historic Midway Village to put on display as a late 1800s cemetery. However, the bodies remain buried in Long cemetery. Long Cemetery's past maintenance and care is a disgrace to Rockford Township. The new Township Supervisor and his board has reportedly shown interest in restoring the cemetery. We commend them for their efforts and hope to see results soon.

The driveway at 5200 S Main residence.	Go to the right to enter the cemetery.
Lilies lay nearly flat in the cemetery	Fallen trees are throughout the cemetery
Brush, lillies, ferns, rotting logs and soft ground.	Evidence of old campfire and empty glass jar
Pink flags attached to sticks mark the boundaries of the cemetery.	A possible piece of headstone sits atop a rusty mattress spring.

Cemeteries in Winnebago County

Cemeteries in Northern Illinois
Cemeteries in Southern Wisconsin

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