MERRISS CEMETERY
Scott County, Illinois

   

   



New Photos - taken April 21, 2007
   

   

Stan & Jeanie Lowe along with Brianna Boggs & Emily Abbott found Merriss Cemetery on 23 Aug 2003 and took pictures of some of the stones and the inside of the cemetery. They found it to be overgrown (an understatement judging by the above photos) and situated in a dense woods. The bugs and spiders were active so they didn't stay long enough to record all the stones that they were able to see.

The stones were scattered over a large portion of the wooded area and since the woods are dense, many of the stones are covered with moss and mold. A gentleman who lives in the house near the cemetery told them that someone let cattle pasture in that area at one time which may explain why so many of the stones are down and/or broken. He also said that the 1,600 foot TV tower which once stood in the field is no longer there. Apparently it came down during an ice storm years ago. You can see where the tower was once located and the cemetery is behind that location, in the woods approximately 30 or 40 feet.

Earl & I visited this cemetery on April 21, 2007 to see how many stones we could locate and photograph. The results of our trip are listed below. The stones were indeed scattered over quite a large area although they tended to be grouped by surname. Almost every stone which was down had to be dug up after locating it by probing or by a small corner which was visible. The grass and weeds have already started to grow so there may well be other stones (not located on this trip) which are also buried with no visible sign of their location. The Rodgers stone is a new entry, not previously located or included on the listing I used to compile the original online.

Driving Directions: This cemetery is located north of Bluffs. Turn at the corner of Fairview Road at Rte 100 (630E) outside of Bluffs and at the sign on Rte. 100 which directs you to Fairview Cemetery. Turn on to Fairview Road and follow it up a hill past Fairview Cemetery (sits on the left side of the road about 0.6 miles from the turn). Continue on past Fairview Cemetery for another 0.5m and you will see a pasture with a woods located on the right side of the road. Merriss Cemetery is located in those woods which sit approximately 0.1 mile off the road.

If a name appears in red, click on the name to bring up a photo of that individual's tombstone.