In force, Feb. 12, 1839.
AN ACT making an appropriation to enclose the graves of deceased State officers,
in the town of Vandalia.
1Preamble.
Whereas it has pleased Divine Providence to call from existence certain individuals, whilst
absent from their families and homes, in the discharge of their official duties as
members of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois: Therefore,
Authority of R. Blackwell.
Deceased members.
Tomb stones.
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Robert Blackwell be, and he is hereby, authorized to enclose with a good substantial paling fence,
and to paint the same, the graves of William McHenry, Benjamin A. Clark, John Thompson, J. B. E. Canal, and Alexander F. Grant, in the town of Vandalia; and to procure and have placed at the head and foot of each of the graves above
mentioned, tomb stones; and to have engraved, on the stone placed at the head, the name of
the person at whose grave it stands, with the description of the office the same may
have held, as Senator, Representative, or Judge, as the case may have been, the date
of the death, and age.2
Account to be kept and presented to Aud.
Proviso.
Sec. 2. The said Robert Blackwell shall keep an account of the cost of the fencing and stones described in the first
section of this act, and present the same to the Auditor of Public Accounts, who is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the treasurer, in favor of said
Robert Blackwell, for the amount of said account: Provided, Said account shall not exceed the sum of two hundred dollars.3
Approved, February 12, 1839.
1Abner Greer introduced SB 75 to the Senate on January 14, 1839, and the Senate referred it to a select committee. The committee
reported back on January 17 and recommended several amendments, to which the Senate
concurred. The Senate passed the bill on January 21. The House of Representatives passed the bill on February 9. The Council of Revision approved the bill on February 12 and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess., 257, 307, 370, 386; Illinois Senate Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess., 162, 182, 198, 307, 313, 323.
2The graves, fencing, and markers were located in the Old State Cemetery in Vandalia,
Illinois. In 1874, the markers and the remains were removed to the South Hill Cemetery,
also in Vandalia. In 1974, the Vandalia Historical Society placed a historical marker
near the original graves.
Historical Marker, Old State Cemetery, Vandalia, IL (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=5764969&PIpi=55162766).
Printed Document, 1 page(s), Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Eleventh General Assembly (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1839), 88, GA Session: 11-1,