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Oak Ridge Cemetery
Before the Cemetery: The Harmon Farm
Long before Oak Ridge Cemetery was formally established, the land on Sandwich’s west side was part of the Harmon family farm. The earliest known burial on the site dates to 1836, when Fanny Harmon was laid to rest there, marking the quiet beginning of what would later become the community’s principal burial ground.
Members of the Harmon family, early settlers to the area from North Carolina, lived in Somonauk Township and maintained the land for decades. Several family members, including Amos Harmon (1785–1854) and Anthony Harmon (1814–1892), are associated with the area and are buried at Oak Ridge. What began as a private family burial ground would, over time, evolve into something much larger.
Establishment and Expansion (1879)
By the late 1870s, the need for a formal cemetery had become clear. In 1879, under the direction of J. M. Hummel, Oak Ridge Cemetery was surveyed, expanded, and organized into a structured burial ground serving the Sandwich community.
Contemporary reporting noted that the cemetery had been laid out with hundreds of lots, eventually growing to over 1,000 burial spaces. Drives measuring 16 to 20 feet in width were constructed, improving both access and the overall appearance of the grounds.
A defining feature of this period was the construction of a stone wall, rising approximately 21 feet, forming part of a combined chapel and dwelling at the front of the cemetery. Stone archways were inscribed with the words “Chapel” and “Office,” while a central arch bore the name:
Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1879
The Hummel Vault and Improvements
Among the most significant additions was the construction of J. M. Hummel’s burial vault, designed with 13 compartments and reported to have cost over $2,000, a considerable investment at the time.
These improvements marked Oak Ridge’s transition from a loosely defined burial ground into a planned and permanent institution, reflecting both civic pride and the growing needs of the community.
Removal from Freeland
By the late 19th century, burial practices in the area were changing. Records show that remains from earlier burial sites, particularly the Freeland cemetery, were relocated to Oak Ridge.
A formal petition dated 1899, submitted by J. M. Hummel, documents the re-conveyance of burial land and confirms that bodies previously interred elsewhere had been removed and reburied at Oak Ridge, consolidating burial activity into a single, maintained location.
This process helped establish Oak Ridge as the central resting place for families across the Sandwich and surrounding rural communities.
A Growing Community Cemetery
From its origins as a family burial site, Oak Ridge steadily grew into a cemetery serving the entire region. By the early 20th century, it contained thousands of interments, reflecting generations of Sandwich residents.
Features added over time, including memorials, family plots, and later the Grand Army of the Republic cannon (installed 1904), further cemented its role as both a place of remembrance and a site of local identity.
Memory, Place, and Story
Oak Ridge Cemetery is more than a burial ground, it is a record of Sandwich itself. From the first Harmon burial in 1836, through the formalization of the cemetery in 1879, to the continued use of the grounds today, it reflects the people, families, and stories that shaped the community.
Personal accounts and family histories, like those of the Harmon family, offer deeper insight into how the land was lived on, used, and remembered across generations.
Facts at a Glance
- First known burial: 1836 (Fanny Harmon)
- Original land use: Harmon family farm
- Formal establishment: 1879
- Key figure: J. M. Hummel
- Lots (late 1800s): ~1,000+
- Drive widths: 16–20 feet
- Stone wall height: ~21 feet
- Hummel vault: 13 compartments, ~$2,000 cost
- Freeland removals: Late 1800s consolidation
- G.A.R. cannon installed: 1904
- Current significance: Primary historic cemetery for Sandwich
Continue the Story
- Freeland Cemetery (lost burial ground and relocation of remains)
- The Hummel Family and Their Role in Early Sandwich
Sources
- Materials and research provided by Bud Burgin
- The Ottawa Free Trader (Ottawa, Illinois), November 22, 1879, p. 8
- DeKalb County Deed Records, Book 65, Page 67 (Sept. 5, 1879)
- DeKalb County Board of Supervisors proceedings and petitions (1879)
- Local historical documents and family accounts related to the Hummel family and Freeland settlement