Virden Township, Macoupin County IL
Virden Township
Macoupin County, Illinois
T12N R6W
The population for all of Virden Township in 1870 was included with
Girard Township and the total for both was 3,075.
Early Family Names In Virden
Township Taken From the 1875 Atlas
(Use Find under pulldown menu Edit to find a surname)
The towns in Virden Township are:
Virden
(Monroe) RFD Virden IT. Place Names by
James Adams.
Place Names by James Adams. PO est. 12/10/1852; active; RFD
serves Monroe. Inc-c 2/16/1865. C&NW/CB&Q/GM&O/IT. Pop. (1960)
3,309.
Virden's population was 3,899 in 1980 and, in 1990, Virden's population
was 3,635.
Old Graves Unearthed contributed by Mary Ann Kaylor
- excerpted from an IL State Journal Article
The Grand Prairie of
the West Public Library District
Virden
City Map and Yellow Pages
COIN SEARCH ENDS WITH DISCOVERY
OF EARLY SETTLERS' GRAVES IN VIRDEN
Excerpted from the Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois
Issue: October 13, 1971, (Story and photos by Henry Willhite)
Contributed by Mary Ann Kaylor
While searching for coins, Carl HANNON and Bob PRATT found gravestones
on the Carl HANNON property.
"Nine stones in all were uncovered. Large concrete slabs held two
stones each about 20 inches wide and 40 inches tall, which were bolted
to the slab with an iron strap.
The inscription on one slab reads: SAMUEL C. REYNOLDS, died Nov.14, 1857 at the age of 23 years, 10 months and 25 days.
Another bears the name ALEXANDER HORD who died Nov. 13, 1856 at the age of 36 years and 16 days.
An epitaph on one slab reads: "For now that we see through glass, darkly but then face to face: now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I'm known now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity these three; but the greatest of these are Charity."
Another inscription reads: OSCAR and ORVIL S. STONE, twins, died, OSCAR M. on Aug. 9, 1856, and ORVIL S. six days later, Aug. 15, 1856.
One stone is inscribed H.G. and A.S. WESTON, died Sept. 3, 1858, age 8 years, 1 month, 19 days.
One stone was that of an 8 month old child, GEORGE F. VIRDEN, died July 5, 1855. The History of Virden, written by HENRIETTA VIRDEN, tells of an ALEXANDER HORD who built the first home here which he and his family occupied. MR. HORD was a clerk of the First Baptist Church here.
After many inquiries concerning the tombstones and their location, LYNN BERRY, local funeral director, came upon the information that many years ago a Baptist Church stood near the spot where the stones were unearthed."
Why the stones have remained hidden this many years remains a mystery. A few years ago a call to LYNN BERRY led him and me to a field southwest of here where still another burial plot had been found. A flat stone revealed the names of CHARITY and CHARLES STEWART, Revolutionary War soldier and his wife. CHARLES STEWART was born in 1738 and died at the age of 73 years in 1833. (?1760?-mak)
Perhaps more of the past history of Virden and its early settlers remains but a few feet underground. We can only remember that many covered wagons passed this way in the quest of a homesite. Hardships were plenty, and many burials must have taken along the roadsides, in church cemeteries, and those that may have been near a school house where public meetings were held in lieu of a church building.
(Submitted by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor----I searched Virden, Girard
& misc. cemetery readings and could only find ALEXANDER HORD and CHARLES
& CHARITY STEWART as listed in any of the books. ALEXANDER HORD is
listed as buried in Virden Cemetery. CHARLES & CHARITY STEWART are
listed in N. Otter Twp. cemetery readings as buried in STEWART/CRUMP CEMETERY,
Sec. 20. Perhaps this will help someone find their long lost family!)
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