Liter Cemetery, Literberry-Arcadia Township Morgan County Illinois

Cemetery transcription by members of the Jacksonville Area Genealogical and Historical Society


Jonas Liter laid out this burial ground on May 22, 1869. Deed Record 34, page 272, dated March 1, 1885, describes the cemetery as containing two acres. Deed Record 45, page 87, shows that on Oct. 17, 1889, a lane to the cemetery was deeded to the Liter Cemetery trustees, the purchase price being $56.00. Liter Cemetery is about 1/2 mile northeast of the village of Literberry and about 1/2 mile south of the Cass-Morgan county line. Legal description of the cemetery site is in the southeast quarter of Section 2 , Township 16 N, Range 10 W. Liter Cemetery has a good fence and is well maintained.


* = No Stone Found
** = Soldier

Words in brackets [ ] or parenthesis ( )are not on stone.

BERGIN, David C. Died 26 Feb 1847 22 Yr 9 Mo 9 Da
(David's tombstone is on a trash pile with several other foot stones.)

Jonathan C./G. Died 15 Dec 1848 49 Yr 6 Mo 25 Da

* BOURNE, Fanny May Died 26 Feb 1899 17 Yr 8 Mo 19 Da

Joseph Died 26 Feb 1904 Age 64 Yr

BURTON, Mabel Alberta 3 May 1898 - 30 Dec 1904 Dau of C.A. & P.L. Burton

William Alvin 23 Oct 1896 - 29 Dec 1904 Son of C.A. & P.L. Burton

BUTCHER, Jane Liter 1858 - 1921

* Grace Died 1 Aug 1896 Age 8 Mo 20 Da

CAMPBELL, David E. 1853 - (30 June) 1913

Mary E. 1867 - 1950

Lucinda (Liter) Wife of S.J. Campbell Mother
1842 - 27 Nov 1902 60 Yr 8 Mo 20 Da
(Lucind Liter was born in Bourbon, County, Ky., but lived in Illinois nearly all her life. She married Stephen J. Campbell in Morgan County, Ill., on March 25, 1869. Lucinda Campbell and Margaret Meyers sold the lane leading to Liter Cemetery to the board of trustees in 1889.)

COLLINS, Eliza Died 25 Oct 1888 76 Yr 5 Mo Wife of E.D. Collins

** Jesse H. Died 17 Oct 1875 34 Yr 10 Mo 24 Da
(Jesse H. Collins enlisted on Aug. 9, 1862 in Co. E of the 101st Ill. Inf. Reg. serving as a private, he was mustered out of service on June 7, 1865.)

COONS, William J. Died 24 Aug 1874 Age 11 Mo 17 Da Son of J.M. & E.L. Coons

COWNOVER, Elizabeth (Marshall) Died 12 Oct 1829 22 Yr 5 Mo 3 Da
Wife of P. Cownover
(See pages 230 and 231 of "Morgan County Family History, 1976" for family information and a photograph of this tombstone. She supposedly was the first white woman to die in what is now Cass Co., Ill.)

* DARLAND, Nancy Died 16 Nov 1895 Age 38 Yr

ENNIS, Samuel Covington (23 Aug) 1835 - (28 Feb) 1918 CIVIL WAR OBIT
Son of Isaac Ennis
(He was a trustee of Liter Cemetery in 1889.)

Sarah E. (Liter) 1851 - 1924 Wife of S.C. Ennis (Her death certificate shows that she was born at Literberry on May 15, 1851, daughter of Kentucky natives Jonas & Emaline Liter. Cause of the death of Sarah was accidentally drowned in a cistern. Date of the drowning was April 2, 1924.)

FITZPATRICK, Janie (Liza Jane) Died 5 Jan 1891 32 Yr 5 Mo 8 Da
Wife of A.A. Fitzpatrick

Vernie J 188 - 13/15 Aug 1889 Son of A.A. & E . Fitzpatrick

FOSTER, Eva Died 3 Mar 1896 Age 2 Mo 12 Da

** GILPIN, Charles W. Died in Bongapong, Philippine Islands 4 July 1900 Age 32 Yr 11 Mo 7 Da Co. B 34th Reg. U.S.V.

GRIFFIN, Agnes Died 18 May 1883 (Her death certificate shows that this unmarried woman was born in Iowa. She was killed at 8:30 p.m. when a cyclone struck the village of Liter, now known as Literberry.)

Angeline Died 21 May 1883 22 Yr 3 Mo 26 Da Wife of S. Griffin
(No death certificate for Angeline is on file in Morgan County but it is likely she died of the cyclone that struck three days before her death.)

Lillian L. Died 18 May 1883 Age 6 Mo Dau of S. & A. Griffin
(An entry in "Coroner's Record Book A" on page 54 shows that she was found dead after a cyclone that struck at 8:30 p.m. on May 18, 1883. The child was described as 20 inches in height, a white female with blue eyes and light hair.)

Stimpson Died 24 May 1883 32 Yr 4 Mo 23 Da

HIXON, John William Sr. 1857 - 1934

M. Darthula 1862 - 1942

James Edgar 1886 - 1937

HOLTZMAN, Anna M. 1875 - 1964

Emmaline 12 Jan 1835 - 23 Apr 1917 Mother

Thomas 30 Nov 1831 - 18 Nov 1907 Husband

* LANHAM, Pleasant Died 11 Apr 1879 Age 55 Yr (From Death Certificate)

LITER, Abraham Died 23 July 1880 81 Yr 7 Mo 23 Da
(The following biography is found on page 74 of "Atlas Map of Morgan County, Illinois, 1872": ABRAHAM LITER was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, November 30, 1798. He is the oldest child of Jacob and Catherine Liter, who were formerly natives of Maryland, though both having settled in Kentucky when quite young, previous to their marriage, in 1839. (Editor's note: "in 1839" probably should not end that sentence, but in fact start the next sentence.) He moved to Morgan County, Illinois, and located on a farm in Jersey Prairie, and there Mr. Liter and wife spent the remainder of their lives. Abraham Liter spent his boyhood on his father's farm, and when he arrived at the age of twenty-two he was married to Miss Sarah Miller, by whom he had three children. About six years after their union she died, and he remained a widower eight years. He then married Miss Elizabeth Liter, by whom he had nine children, two of whom are deceased. In 1839 Mr. Liter moved to Morgan County, and settled on the farm where he resides. His avocation has substantially been that of a stock dealer and farmer. While residing in Kentucky he employed a portion of his time in driving horses and mules to Milledgeville, Georgia, and other southern cities. A portion of Mr. Liter's farm is situated within the corporation of Jacksonville. Mr. Liter is now at the advanced age of seventy-four years, and is enjoying good health. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.)

Elizabeth (Liter) Died 2 Oct 1875 Wife of Abraham Liter

Abraham 23 Dec 1839 - 2 Nov 1912

Mary Deaton 5 Dec 1835 - 8 July 1905 Wife of Abraham Liter (Mary Deaton and Abraham Liter were married in Morgan County on November 5, 1867. For an extensive biography of her father, Joseph P. Deaton, see page 75 of "Atlas Map of Morgan County, Ill. 1872.")

Abraham 1847 - 1929

Mary E. (Hanes) 1857 - 1929 His Wife
(Abraham Liter and Mary E. Hanes were married in Morgan County on March 1, 1877.) Ethel May Died 20 Apr 1896 9 Yr 9 Mo 29 Da Dau of A. & Mary E. Liter

** LITER, Andrew Died 24 Feb 1863 36 Yr 11 Mo 24 Da

(Andrew enlisted as a private in Co. E of the 101st Ill. Inf. Reg. on Aug. 9, 1862. He was discharged as disabled on Feb. 11, 1863 and died 13 days later. His broken tombstone is in the southeast corner of Liter Cemetery.)

Charles A. 1865 - 1929

Charles E. Died 24 Feb 1869 Son of G.B. & A.E. Liter

** Charles M. Ill. Pvt. 64 Regt. C.A.C. 4 Oct 1936

Christena Died 25 Feb 1872 70 Yr 11 Mo 5 Da

George Died 23 Jan 1861 57 Yr 1 Mo 6 Da

Mary A. Died 22 Sept 1896 80 Yr 8 Mo 4 Da Wife of George Liter

Aaron S. Died 25 Aug 1873 30 Yr 4 Mo 25 Da Son of Geo. & M.A. Liter

George Thomas 19 Oct 1839 - 8 Aug 1918 Father
Son of John & Margaret (Couchman) Liter

Elizabeth Ann 26 Mar 1856 - 29 Apr 1931 Mother

Infant Born 4 Feb 1888 Son of G.T. & L.A. Liter

Infant Died 24 June 1892 Dau of G.T. & L.A. Liter

Infant Born 5 Jan 1899 Son of G.T. & L.A. Liter

Henry Samuel Died 12 Nov 1881 42 Yr 10 Mo 20 Da
(Henry Samuel's tombstone is beside that of Mathias P. Liter. Henry Samuel's death certificate shows that he was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky 43 years ago but that he lived in Illinois 42 years. The certificate describes him as a malformed dwarf with no occupation.)

Infant Died 22 Feb 1899 Age 3 Hrs
(The death certificate shows this female died 1 mile west of Liter but doesn't name the parents.)

** LITER, George B. 16 Apr 1841 - 17 Aug 1920
(George B. Liter was born in Kentucky as were both his parents, George & Mary Bryant Liter. The following news item appeared in the Jacksonville Journal of Thursday, June 13, 1878: "Geo. B. Liter, who formerly belonged to the 101st Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, will sometime this week get back pension since 1865 from Uncle Sam, amounting to $539, on account of a wound received at the battle of Dallas, Georgia." Page 456 of "History of Morgan County, Illinois, 1878" shows that George B. Liter enlisted as a private in Co. E of the 101st Infantry Regiment on Aug. 9, 1862 and was
discharged, disabled, on Oct. 27, 1864.)

Anna Eliza (Stevenson) 14 May 1849 - 16 July 1913 Wife of George B. Liter
(Anna Eliza was the daughter of James Stevenson and Mary Wright Stevenson, both natives of Kentucky. Anna Eliza married John T. Liter in Morgan County on Aug. 28, 1862. He died Dec. 13, 1864. On Sept. 23, 1866, Anna Eliza married George B. Liter in Morgan County.)

Nellie M. Died 11 Apr 1889 19 Yr 1 Mo 29 Da Dau of G.B. & A.E. Liter

Jacob Died 5 Apr 1847 Age 74 Yr

Catherine Died 6 Apr 1846 Age 69 Yr Wife of Jacob Liter

Sarah Died 6 May 1872 59 Yr 5 Mo 20 Da

Jesse Died 2 July 1894 78 Yr 1 Mo 15 Da
(See page 254 of "Morgan County Family History, 1976")

Susan E. (Butler) Died 31 Oct 1859 30 Yr 2 Mo 26 Da Wife of Jesse Liter

Elizabeth (Hall) 4 July 1836 - 22 Dec 1922 Wife of Jesse Liter

(She was a native of Virginia, daughter of Nelson Hall and Katherine Crow Hall.)

John Died 1/4 Dec 1874

Margaret (Couchman) Died 25 Sept 1871 67 Yr 5 Mo 9 Da Wife of John Liter

** John H. 14 Feb 1836 - 16 Jan 1896
(John H. Liter enlisted as a private in Co. E of the 101st Ill. Vol. Regiment on Aug. 9, 1862. He was mustered out on June 7, 1865. On February 13, 1868, he married Eliza J. Goodpasture in Morgan Co., Ill.)

LITER, Eliza J. (Goodpasture) 24 Mar 1848 - 25 July 1889
(Eliza J. & her husband have an unusual tombstone. It is a tall, dark granite spire, heavily decorated and flecked with what appears to be mica. In addition to the tombstone just mentioned is another tombstone stacked on a trash heap. It is engraved "Eliza J., wife of J.H. Liter, died July 25, 1889 aged 41 years 4 months 1 day".)

Tommie E. Died 10 Oct 1880 3 Yr 3 Mo 5 Da Son of J.H. & E.J. Liter

John T. Died 13 Dec 1864 26 Yr 4 Mo 9 Da
(John T. Liter married Ann E. Stevenson on Aug. 28, 1862, in Morgan County, IL.)

John William (22 Sept) 1859 - (30 Mar) 1911 Son of Joseph Liter

Anna E. 1870 - 1950

Jonas 1819 - 1897
(Jonas Liter was a petit juror in Morgan County in March of 1857. He laid out the village of Liter and Liter Cemetery on May 22, 1869.)

Emmeline (Shead) 1831 - (4 Sept) 1906 Wife of Jonas Liter
(Emmeline Shead (also found as Shedd) married Jonas Liter in Morgan County, IL on Feb. 4, 1849.)

Mary C./G. Died 10 Jan 1859 5 Yr 10 Mo 29 Da Dau of Jonas & Emmeline Liter

Thomas E. Died 18 May 1883 16 Yr 4 Mo 2 Da Son of Jonas & Emmeline Liter

William F. Died 7 Jan 1859 2 Yr 3 Mo 21 Da Son of J. & E. Liter

Joseph Died 21 June 1884 68 Yr 6 Da
(Joseph Liter's death certificate shows that this married man was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., and that his age was 68 years and 9 days. The following biography is found on page 736 of "History of Morgan County, 1878": LITER, JOSEPH, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 2, Post Officer Liter; born in Bourbon Co., Ky., in 1815, and settled in Morgan Co. in 1839; he was married to his cousin, Catherine Liter. She was born in Fayette Co., Ky., in 1830. Two children, Mary E. and John W.; owns 245 acres.)

Tena Catherine (Liter) 1830 - (17 Oct) 1907 Wife of Joseph Liter
(Her death certificate shows that Tena Catherine Liter was born in Ky. She lived in Illinois 64 years. She died 17 Oct 1907 age 75 yr 9 mo 23 da.)

LITER, Mary E. Died 1 Jan 1886 28 Yr 7 Mo 9 Da Dau of Joseph & Catherine Liter
(Her death certificate shows that she was born at Liter, Morgan Co., Ill. Mary Elizabeth's death certificate further shows that she was unmarried. The cause of death was listed as "brain fever".)

Jonas F. 1864 - 1927
(His death certificate is incorrectly listed as Jonas F. Lister. He was a son of Jonas Liter.

Jonas F. Liter died on April 15, 1927)

Clara M. 1867 - 1953

Rex R. 1894 - 1901

(Jonas F., Clara M., and Rex R. are a family grouping)

Leonard 1856 - 1927

Mary 1861 - 1938 Wife of Leonard Liter

Lewis Died 17 1852 23 Yr 3 Mo 7 Da

Lewis 17 Dec 1811 - 26 Jan 1895

L. H. 15 Apr 1853 - 27 Jan 1927
(From his death certificate it is learned that Luther H. Liter, a resident of rural Palmyra, Ill., died at Jacksonville on Jan. 27, 1927. The death certificate shows that he was born at Literberry in 1851, a son of Jesse and Susan Butler Liter, both natives of Kentucky. Luther's age is given as 75 years.)

Martha B. Nov 1864 - 13 Oct 1865 Dau of E.B. & J. Liter

Infant of E.B. & J. Liter Stillborn 11 Sept 1872

Mary E. Died 20 Oct 1853 in the 25th year of age Wife of Joseph Liter

Eliza Jane Died 10 Oct 1847 13 Yr 6 Mo 29 Da Dau of J. & M. Liter
(She is buried beside Mary E. Liter listed above.)

Mathias P. Died 18 Sept 1890 47 Yr 7 Mo 12 Da
(Mathias P. Liter married Frances Adams in Morgan County on March 3, 1868.)

Sellie Died 21 Aug 1893 15 Yr 8 Mo 15 Da Son of J.T. & Purfina Liter

LITER, T. E. Died 18 May 1883 Age 16 Yr

(Page 54 of "Coroner's Record Book A: and the death certificate show that this boy died of injuries received in the cyclone that struck the village of Liter at 8:30 p.m. on 18 May
1883. He died a few hours later.)

W. D. 25 Oct 1851 - 29 Mar 1916
(A large gray granite tombstone marks this man's grave. He was born in Kentucky. His mother's name was Margaret Couchman Liter and she was a native of Kentucky. The following obit appeared in the Jacksonville Daily Journal of Thursday, March 30, 1916: "W.B. Liter passed away Wednesday morning at 2:15 o'clock at the home of his brother, G. T. Liter, of Literberry. He had been in failing health for several months. A turn for the worse came a week ago and he was taken from his residence northeast of Literberry to his brother's home. Mr. Liter was born Oct. 25, 1851. A second brother, Abe Liter, resides in Virginia (Cass County) and a sister, Mrs. Frances Pierson, lives in Springfield. Funeral services will be held Friday forenoon at 9 o'clock at Literberry Christian Church. The Rev. C.G. Cantrell will be in charge and burial will be made in Liter cemetery.")

LOWDEN, James B. 1868 - 1951

Ida M. 1871 - 1936

MASSIE, Charles L. Died 20 Jan 1890 34 Yr 1 Mo 23 Da

MYERS, Elizabeth Aged 4 Yr

Margaret 1832 - 1912

William Thomas 30 Apr 1850 - 7 May 1936

PATTIE, David Edward 4 Mary 1938 - 12 Dec 1998

PIERCE, Charles 1841 - 1889

Sarah F. 1845 - 1931

Charles Thomas 1881 - 1933

REINBACH, Joseph Louis 1869 - 1942

Margaret Pierce 1872 - 1943

RICHARDSON, Adelia (Hixon) 1884 - 1927

George 1863 - 1931

Rosalie 5 May 1921 - 20 Nov 1921
(This child's death certificate is listed under the name of Nana Rosilla Richardson. It shows that she was a white female, born 4 May 1921, a daughter of George W. Richardson and Delia Hixon Richardson, both natives of Illinois.)

Ruth 9 July 1922 - 23 Mar 1924
(Ruth Maxine Richardson's death certificate shows that her father was George W. Richardson, a native of Sangamon County, Illinois. Ruth Maxine's mother was listed as Delia Hixon Richardson, a native of Tennessee.)

SMITH, Peter S. 23 Sep 1869 - 29 July 1914 Son of John Smith Born in Sweden

STEVENSON, Charles E. 25 Dec 1870 - 25 Dec 1919

Lewis H. 1838 - (8 Sept) 1910

Sarah C. 1848 - 1935

Hannah Rebecca Died 6 Aug 1850 23 Yr 3 Mo 4 Da Wife of Augustus Stevenson

VAUGHN, Mary J. Died 1 Mar 1872 32 Yr 5 Mo 4 Da Wife of J.W. Vaughn

WRIGHT, J. T. 22 Feb 1827 -

Mary Ellen 7 Dec 1833 - 27 Feb 1904 His Wife
(The death certificate of Mary Ellen Wright gives her age as 70 yr 2 mo 29 da. She was born in Clairmon Co., Ohio.)

YORK, Samuel Edward "Sammy" 22 Feb 1988 - 25 May 1991

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