• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Walworth names weave a family history

Photo at left: The Walworth Cemetery is maintained by both the village and township. More Mystery Place photos in the GALLERY

Share

The Walworth Cemetery is located on the east side of the village on Kenosha Street. The cemetery is filled with many large ornate tombstones.

The tombstones show the names of many prominent early settlers: Ayers, Burdick, Campbell, Clarke, Coon, Crumb, Davis, Higbee, Maxon, Butterfield and Godfrey.

A stroll near the Maxon monument found that 1854 was a sad year for the family.

Charles L., born in 1844, Dwight D., born in 1840 and Adelia M., born in 1833 all died that year. Another son, Nathan L., was born in 1831 and died in 1850.

They were children of Asa L. (1802-1882) and Julia A. (1804-1898) Maxon. Asa married Julia Ann Read July 9, 1822.

While he lived in New York, he served as a tax collector and around 1856, he moved to Walworth and bought a farm south of the village. Other Maxons in that area include Dr. Joseph Maxon (1836-1909) and Mary Maxon (1845-1871). There’s another Mary Maxon (1837-1929), wife of Frank W. (1835-1887).

These also were sons of Asa and Julia. They had two other sons that lived and farmed in the Walworth area, Edgar R. and Henry J.

It’s interesting to note that early family members spelled their name “Maxson.”

According to Beckwith’s History of Walworth County, Joshua and Mary (Crumb) Burdick brought their family to Walworth Township around 1858. However, a close look at the 1857 plat map of the township shows J. Burdick having land in what is described as the northeast corner of section 23. The 1873 plat book shows the land belonged to Mary Burdick.

In 1891, the landowner was C.C. Tuttle, the same owner as listed in 1909. By 1921, H. Tallman owned the property. The 1930 plat book shows that the land was part of Glenwood Terrace. Beckwith indicates that Joshua died in 1896. His wife, Mary, died in 1886. Their seven children included Edgar, George, Emily, Henry, Flora, Ella and Carrie.

Edgar lived in Minneapolis and Chicago before coming back home to farm in this township. He moved into the village of Walworth around 1902. His wife’s name was Emily. George was a soldier who died in the Civil War.

Emily married Edward Stocking and lived in Sharon. She died in 1908. Henry lived in Los Angles. Flora married James Jorgenson and they lived in San Francisco. Ella married George Richards and they lived in Darien. Carrie died at age 19.

The Russell Crumb family came to this area in 1872. Their farm was on the northeast side of the village. Their son, Eugene, bought and shipped cattle to Chicago for 32 years in addition to farming with his father.

He eventually took over the farm and planted 20 acres, which became part of the village.

When the cemetery first was established in 1847, the lots sold for $10. They now cost a lot more. The cemetery is a joint effort of both the village and township of Walworth.