Combs Cemetery is located in Section 14 of Rosefield Township.

HISTORY

Taken from a HISTORY OF SOME PEORIA COUNTIES CEMETERIES, written for a College Thesis in 1936 by an unknown person. Copied by Margaret Herberger in 1956. Condensed from the article as published in the Prairie Roots, Summer 1978.

The Combs Cemetery is located on the western slope of a double knoll overlooking Kickapoo Creek. (N.W. 1/4 Sec. 14, Rosefield Twp.) It is so far removed from the hard road that the sounds of traffic do not disturb the serenity of the scene. Three magnificent White Oak trees spread their shade over the graves and tall dark cedars add a touch of solemnity to the tranquil setting. Land for the cemetery was donated by John COMBS, the first Supervisor, in 1850 and grew up around "Combs Meeting House," the first Methodist Church in Rosefield Twp., established in 1837.

According to Ephraim YINGER of Hanna City, who is 84 years old, the only surviving member of the early Church membership, the Church stood approximately at the present gateway to the cemetery and faced south. It was subsequently removed to Cottonwood and the cemetery was then neglected. Tombstones fell over and the plot became a tangled mass of weed and vines.

In 1929 the Methodist Conference appointed Edward SIEGEL of Edwards Station a committee of one to stimulate interest in restoring the cemetery. The effort was quite successful and as a result the cemetery was cleaned up, restored, and enclosed by a new fence.

On June 20, 1937, a meeting was held at the cemetery and plans to incorporate were formulated. The cemetery is still in use.

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