OLD TURNER CEMETERY is less than 1/2 mile south of Mason Union Cemetery. There are many graves and tombstones left in this cemetery, and the cemetery is overgrown with trees, brush, vines, and is not maintained at all. There is one tombstone visible from the road, but you have to stop to see it. We took over 100 pictures of remaining tombstones, and unfortunately, not all have readable engravings. Most of those that were buried here were disinterred, and reinterred at Mason Union Cemetery. Mason Union Cemetery was organized June 1, 1880, and during the period 1905 - 1909, Tom Flick and Henry White moved many graves from Old Turner Cemetery to Mason Union Cemetery. The Old Turner Cemetery is described on pages 101-102 of the book "Effingham County, Illinois, Past and Present." Mason Union Cemetery is also described on pages 99-100. I have entered this information because I am a descendant of William Colwell, who was first buried in Old Turner Cemetery, then moved to Mason Union Cemetery, in a family plot. In the past, I was told that the Mason Union Cemetery was not the original burial place of my ancestor, and while visiting the current caretaker of Mason Union Cemetery, I was told the location of the original burial location, just a short distance from the present location. We have attempted to photograph as many of the tombstones that can be seen above the weeds. There are many tombstones buried under debris, etc., and it will take a herculean effort and many people to go into this cemetery, with proper permissions, and clean it up in order to do an accurate census of the remaining graves. Thank you to whomever places the American Flag in this cemetery, to honor the soldiers that are still buried there. They are not forgotten.

******************UPDATE 05/15/2017*********************

When I created this page, it was for people to know that there is a cemetery that is abandoned and in need of care.

I have since discovered a listing of burials that was done in 1981. It is published by DAR, of which I am a member, and this information has been published on the free genealogy site, FamilySearch.org. It is "Cemetery Records of Effingham County Illinois", compiled by Ann Crooker St. Clair Chapter DAR. I hope this helps people and I will try to remember to mark each entry as I enter it so you can tell it is from the DAR record. One thing I have noticed is the great number of children that were left in this cemetery. According to information I have, when Mason Union Cemetery was organized, many of the Old Turner Cemetery burials were left because there was no one who signed and requested the re-burial to Mason Union. There are also service members here, and I want to Thank Them for their Service, and hopefully a family member will find them.