Join us for our annual cemetery walk where you’ll meet fascinating historical figures from Big Woods Cemetery! Don’t miss this upcoming event.
If you have any extra info or photos to share, please get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you!
John Stolp
Featured During the 2023 Cemetery Walk! John Stolp (1799-1877) was a significant figure in the history of Aurora, Illinois. Born in 1799 in Montgomery County, New York, he was the eldest son of George Stolp and Catherine Stall. Stolp's life is notable for his contributions to the early development of Aurora and the surrounding area. [...]
Coming Soon
Check back for names that will be featured at our upcoming cemetery walk!
Catherine Wilhelmina Stolp
Featured During the 2023 Cemetery Walk! Catherine Wilhelmina Stolp (1814-1889) was a resilient woman whose life journey traversed the landscapes of both joy and sorrow, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Big Woods area in Illinois and beyond. Born in 1814 in Wayne County, New York, Catherine embarked on the adventure of [...]
Thomas Bartholomew
Featured During the 2021 Cemetery Walk! Meet Thomas Bartholomew, a remarkable individual born on January 20, 1788, in Whitehall, New York. His father, Lemma, served as an Ensign during the American Revolution, and his mother was Anna Wilson. Thomas had two brothers. Unfortunately, his father passed away when Thomas was just two years old. His [...]
Anna Crane Brown
Featured During the 2021 Cemetery Walk! Let's introduce you to Anna Brown, born on November 18, 1815, in Marion, Wayne County, New York. In keeping with tradition, she was named after her mother, Anna Gould Crane. Her father was Zebina Crane, Sr. On January 10, 1833, she married James Brown, also a native of Wayne [...]
Irvin Boyd Ferry
Featured During the 2021 Cemetery Walk! Meet Irvin Boyd Ferry, the eldest of five children born to George Ferry and Mable Boyd. He spent his childhood on the family farm located on Ferry Road, near what we now know as Route 59. The Ferry family originally hailed from New York, arriving around the same time [...]
Caroline Warne Hill
Featured During the 2021 Cemetery Walk! Allow us to introduce you to Caroline Warne Hill, who became a part of the Big Woods community at the tender age of two when she arrived with her parents, John and Sarah Warne. She was the youngest of seven siblings, comprising three brothers and four sisters. They were [...]
Israel Warner
Featured During the 2021 Cemetery Walk! Israel Warner was born on May 27, 1768 in Bennington, Vermont, to parents Seth and Esther Warner. He was named after Israel Putnam, a notable French & Indian War officer and general in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Israel's family expanded with the arrival of two more siblings. Israel's [...]