St. Anthony Cemetery
The early history of this Catholic cemetery was lost in a fire in the 1940’s. A computer database has been designed to document gravesites and demographic information.

Directions: N. Merchant and Roadway Avenue.

Oakridge Cemetery
This non-denominational city cemetery is the final resting place of Ada Kepley, the first woman law graduate in the United States. Mrs. Kepley was an ardent advocate of women’s rights and friend of Susan B. Anthony. She published a newspaper, and wrote books and songs. Mrs. Kepley was also a zealous prohibitionist, whose numerous detractors chafed at her activism. One was driven to make an attempt on her life!

Lying in wait for the Kepleys, to return home late one night, the perpetrator shot at, but missed, Mrs. Kepley as she ascended the stairs to her downtown home. Mrs. Kepley was not unscathed, as unfortunately, the shot hit her dog.

Col. John J. Funkhouser, a Civil War veteran, was offered the office of Secretary of War by President Grant, but he declined. He later became the first mayor of Effingham. Col. Funkhouser’s father, Senator Presley Funkhouser, had considerable influence in the decision to move the county seat from Ewington to Effingham, spelling the demise of Ewington.

Mary (Mother) Newcomb came to Effingham during the Civil War, after her husband, Hiram, enlisted in the 11th Illinois Infantry. She was 44 years old at the time.

After Hiram was wounded in battle, Mary brought her husband back to Effingham, but he died shortly after, on February 26, 1862. Fulfilling his dying wish, Mary returned to the regiment to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers until the end of the war. Mary visited the Lincoln White House and had a visit on the porch with Mr. Lincoln.

Another resident with a strong Lincoln connection was Catherine (Katie) McPherson Kelly Clutter, who was born in Washington D.C. Katie remained in Washington City while her husband, Tom Kelly, was on detached duty during the Civil War. Katie - a personal friend of Mary Todd Lincoln - frequently cared for “Little Tad.” Tom Kelly died in 1876, and in 1879, Katie married Noah D. Clutter of Effingham.

Meet these and many other fascinating figures from Effingham’s storied past during the annual cemetery walk, “Glimpses of the Past.”

Directions: E. Jefferson Avenue, about 1/2 mile east of downtown. Entry may also be gained off E. Temple Avenue.

Freemanton Cemetery
The weathered sign bearing this inscription greets visitors to this early cemetery. The soft limestone headstones are worn and inscriptions faded, but the glimpse into history is crystal clear. The hardships of pioneer life are painfully evident in the words, which chronicle the short lives of many laid to rest here. Family plots, Civil War and War of 1812 veterans.

Directions: W. Rt. 40. About 6-7 minutes from Effingham. South side of the road.

Wallace Cemetery
In its past life, so to speak, the Ballard Nature Center was a farm owned by Wallaces. This tiny cemetery, located on a bluff overlooking prairie and a creek was quite large at one time, but most of those interred here were eventually moved the short distance to the cemetery in Altamont. Today, the Wallace cemetery is the resting place for just a handful of graves.

Directions: W. Rt. 40. About 10 minutes from Effingham on the south side of the highway. Look for the Ballard Nature Center sign, just past Bunny’s Blueberries.