WPA VETERANS' CEMETERY PROJECT
The Macoupin County Archives has in its files, indexes/listings of many veterans buried in numerous Macoupin County cemeteries. WPA workers compiled the indexes during the Depression Era (about 1939 - 1940). The cemeteries below were checked for veterans and I found there was also other information that a genealogist might find useful.   I generally didn't copy the legal descriptions of the property if they were very long and drawn out. If you want that information, contact the Archives.

As in previous issues of the Macoupin County Searcher, I listed veterans' information from both typed sheets and work sheets. The work sheets are typed in bold and the typed sheets are typed in a normal font. In some cases the work sheet had additional or conflicting information from the typed sheets. The work sheets with soldier information stated to check these sources: burial plot, cemetery record, death certificate or burial permit, patriotic organization (name), official U. S. records or other. These sources would probably be good sources to check still, today, as we have no way of knowing how thorough the WPA workers were. In these records, as always, I try to keep the spellings and punctuation "as is", even if it appears incorrect.


Name of Cemetery Denby
Location South Palmyra Sec 26-11-8
Oldest Grave Sarah Denby died 2/2/1847 aged 34yrs 11 ms 10 da
Number of lots 25
Number of graves 150
Number of graves to be filled 18
Number of graves to be leveled 58
Number of Veterans graves that need stones none
Number of stones in cemetery that need resetting 29
Number of stones that need recutting 8
Rods of fence around cemetery 49
Condition of fence Poor
Rods of fence to be repaired all
Rods of fence to be replaced all

Notes:   The graveyard is in very poor condition. Weeds have grown up, stones over, graves sunken and lots of trees have fallen on the fence and broken it down. Trees have rotted in the yard and broken tombstones. There isn't any road to the yard. It is lost in a big timber & is very hard to find.

To get to the Denby Cem. go south of Hettick, 111. 1/2 mi to cross roads. Go east on gravel road about 8 mi. Then go north back in field to a farmhouse. Go east of house back in timber and bluegrass pasture 1/2 mi. NE to the cem.

Short description. Off of the SW Corner of the S.E. quarter of the South East quarter, Sec. 26-Town 11 - R 8. and -of the S.E. corner of the South West quarter of the South East quarter of Sec 26 T. 11 - R.8.

A smaller description of Cem. Off of the Mid Section of the South half of the C.E. quarter of the South East-quarter, Sec. 26 T. 11 - R. 8.
Denby Cemetery Description Given By Dr. J. P. Denby of Farmers & Merchant Bank.

Notes: Cemetery was originally school grounds - Libety school - later Denby

Brown, W. A.     M War; Pvt.    Co. C   122 Reg.; Died 1/21/1897
Brown, W. A.
Field Check:   Grave No. 1 Lot No. 17 Block No. 2; Upright marker
Information on Marker: Tombstone: W. A. Brown; Born 11/17/1828 Died 1/21/1897
Cemetery Record Data: Grave No. 1 Lot No. 17 Block No. 2
Death Certificate Data: Died 1/21/1897; Born 11/17/1828
Service Record: Rank Pvt.; War C; Co. C. 122 Reg.
Inspection of burial plot: fair
There is a definite difference here. On the typed sheet, a "M" is marked for war, which would stand for Mexican. On the work sheet for war it is listed as "C" which would stand for Civil war.

Denby, Thomas   Civil War; Pvt. 1 Mo Cav; Died 3/12/1862
Denby Thomas
Field Check:      Grave No. 4 Lot No. 8 Block No. 2; Upright marker
Information on Marker: Tombstone: Thomas Denby; 1st Mo. Cav. Born at Cormil/Comit (sp. ?) England
1839; Died at St Louis in 1862; Aged 23 yr.
Cemetery Record Data: Grave No. 4 Lot No. 8 Block No. 2
Death Certificate Data: Died 1862 at St. Louis; Born 1839 at Comil/Comit (sp. ?) England
Service Record: Mo. Cav; Sgt. Civil War; 1st Mo. Cav.
Inspection of burial plot: fair

Manuel,John D   Civil War; Sgt. 1 Mo. Cav; Died 11/30/1861
Manuel, John D.
Field Check: Grave No. 2 Lot No. 12 Block No. 2; Marker - Flat
Information on Marker: Tombstone: John D. Son of A. & F. (?) Manuel; Died 11/30/1861; Aged 20 yr. 2
ms.
Cemetery Record Data: Grave No. 2 Lot No. 12 Block No. 2
Death Certificate Data: Died 11/30/1861; Born 1841
Service Record: Cavalry; Rank Sergeant; 1st Mo. Cav. Civil War
Inspection of burial plot: Poor. Grave Sunken

Phipps, Wm. M   Civil War; Sgt.    Co. F 1 Reg. Mo. Cav; Died 9/21/1884
Phipps, Wm. M.
Field Check: Grave No. 1 Lot No. 22 Block No 1; Upright marker
Information on Marker: Tombstone: William M. Phipps; Born 3/17/1839; Died 9/21/1884
Cemetery Record Data: Grave No. 1 Lot No. 22 Block No. 1
Death Certificate Data: Died 9/21/1884; Born 3/17/1839
Service Record: Mo, Cav; Rank - Sgt. Civil War; Co. F.   1st Reg. Mo. Cav.
Inspection of burial plot: fair