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Murders At Bachelors Grove

Over the decades many disturbing things have happened at Bachelor's Grove. This brief article appeared on Septemeber 6, 1966 in the Chicago Tribune.


A Mushroom Hunter Finds Woman's Body


The body of a woman was found by a mushroom hunter yesterday about 450 feet east of 145th street and Ridgeland avenue in Bachelor grove, west of Midlothian in Bremen township.

It was the third body of Negro women found in Cook county forest preserves this summer. The body, naked except for a green bracelet on the left wrist and a yellow metal shamrock on a chain around the neck, was tentatively identified from papers in a nearby purse as that of Audry Ellis, 19, of 2271 Carver st., Gary, Ind. Gary police said Miss Ellis had been reported missing in mid-June.

Detective William Mitchell of Homewood sheriff's police said the body was discovered by Richard Kropack, 34, of 5754 Midlothian turnpike, Bremen township, who was hunting mushrooms at the time. In July, a woman's body was found in forest preserves near Lyons and another in the Calumet Woods forest preserve.

Bachelors Grove Cemetery Video

Got a video of Bachelors Grove Cemetery worthy of a mention? Let us know about it!

A bit About The History Of The Grove

Copyright,Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

Bachelors Grove Cemetery is a small cemetery in Midlothian Illinois. Being from Chicago, this is one of my favorite haunts. Bachelors Grove was the first haunted location that I have visited and it was the last one I visited before I left. If you are not a believer in the paranormal, pay a visit to Bachelor’s Grove. I can almost guarantee that by the time you leave, you will no longer be a skeptic.

Please do not use any of these photos without permission as they are protected under Copyright. Thank you for your cooperation.

Not much is left of Bachelors Grove, accept for about nineteen grave markers.


Bachelors Grove is a place of overwhelming sadness and neglect.
The path to Bachelors Grove Cemetery was a two car road that lead directly past Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery. I have a bit of a funny story about driving past Bachelors Grove Cemetery. It made no difference if I was visiting the cemetery or just driving past, but every time I was on this stretch of the Midlothian turnpike, the song by ACDC, Highway to hell always played on the radio. So as I talk about Bachelors Grove, I have that song stuck in my head. It was just the oddest thing, but very appropriate.



This is how the path looked like during my last visit in October 2007. The once paved road is cracked and overgrown with plants and weeds. It is barely wide enough for one person to walk. This is me just before maneuvering past a fallen tree that was blocking the path.



Bachelors Grove Cemetery is currently owned by Cook County and each time I have gone out there, the condition of this historic cemetery has deteriorated. I took this photo in 2002 just outside the cemetery gate.



I took this photo in 2007 from the same spot as the previous photo. You cannot even see the fence through all of the overgrown weeds. In fact, the town of Midlothian has attempted to conceal the exact location and existence of this cemetery.




Bachelors Grove has seen more than its share of neglect and desecration and regardless of any attempts to conceal it or pretend it never existed, the ghostly tales of this one acre cemetery endure.

This once two lane street has been closed to traffic for decades. During my last visit in 2007, the sign itself had been stolen. This street was once the main street thru this area before the construction of the Midlothian turnpike. It is also an historic Indian trail. In fact, I came across some evidence that Bachelors Grove Cemetery was used as an Indian Burial ground long before modern burials took place here.

Bachelors Grove Cemetery is located just off Rubio Woods. The Rubio Woods Sign is just across the street from the path that leads into the cemetery. By discussing Bachelors Grove this evening, I am not encouraging anyone to go out there. In fact I hope that this information and my photographs will be enough to satisfy people’s curiosities about this cemetery so that they don’t go out there.



With all the desecration it is not surprising that the soul’s of those buried here cannot rest.It is this unrest that has earned Bachelors Grove Cemetery the title of one of the most haunted places in the world.

This is the Fulton Tomb. It is the largest monument in the cemetery and although there was fresh graffiti on it during my last visit, it is the only monument that has not been move, pushed over or broken.




There are many ghostly legends told about this cemetery including the sightings of apparitions, unexplained lights, mists, disembodies voices, glowing balls of light. Along the path leading up to the cemetery, there have also been many sightings of a phantom farmhouse which despite being viewed by independent witnesses, is always described the same way. The ghostly abode is always described as a white farm house from the Victorian era, having porch pillars, a swing and a light in the window. But as any of the witnesses approached it always disappears.

The Satanic rituals, suicides and murders have all added to the legends and the over 100 accounts of strange activity in this area.

The haunted history of Bachelors Grove begins in November 1843 with its first documented burial of Elizabeth Scott. Bachelors Grove, formerly known as Everdon’s, was a popular cemetery until the mid 1960’s. Bachelor's Grove was also named Smith Cemetery in some historical documents.

The last known funeral service took place here in 1965 and the last internment were the ashes of Robert Shields in 1989. This was the current state of the Shields plot during my last visit.


The cemetery was renamed Bachelors Grove in the mid-1800’s. Although the origins of the name are uncertain, there are two popular theories. The first one tells us that this area was inhabited by unmarried men-German immigrants who found employment building the Illinois-Michigan Canal. Hence, this area became known as Bachelors Grove.

Another theory alleges that Bachelors Grove was named after the Batchelder family who settled in this area in 1845. Although there are no historical records supporting this theory, old cemetery records do spell Bachelors with a T, which is the German spelling and accepted by most historians as the official or authentic spelling of Bachelors Grove.

On the opposite side of the cemetery, is a small lagoon. Here you can see the metal guardrail across the lagoon that boarders the Midlothian turnpike. There are many ghosts said to haunt this lagoon as well.


The most famous tales about this lagoon which are far from being urban legend, involve gangsters. Al Capone, one of the most famous of them all, owned a house a few blocks from Bachelors Grove and this lagoon was a popular spot where he would dispose of his victims. The souls of those he murdered still linger here.



Another apparition that has been reported near this lagoon is that of a farmer and his plow horse. Back in the 1870’s a farmer was pulled into this pond by his horse. The horse drowned under the weight of the plow, pulling the farmer in with it. More than a century later, forest rangers have spotted the phantom farmer being pulled to his death. What lies beneath the murky water are not only bodies but over the years many missing tombstones have been found there too.


Even police officers that frequently patrol the area have documented their personal encounters with apparitions, ghostly lights and phantom cars and car accidents along the turnpike.

Bachelors Grove Cemetery has been a thorn in the side of Cook County since the 1960’s when the cemetery became a hangout. I have spoken with some older residents who described Bachelors Grove as a place where people would come to picnic and swim in the lagoon. It was once a very grand cemetery.

That is at least until the vandals and grave robbers discovered it. Let me show you some examples of the desecration. This is the grave of William Hamilton as it looked at my last visit.


And this is how the grave of William Hamilton appeared after a robbery attempt in 1997.



Here are the graves of Robert and Laura McGhee as I found them during my visit last year.


And here are the McGhee graves after they were desecrated in 1973. Some say in addition to the grafitti, this was some type of satanic ritual where the ground was burnt. Satanic rituals are pretty common here and grizzly remains have been left behind.




Time certainly has not been kind to Bachelors Grove. Vandals have left few graves untouched and most of the tombstones have disappeared. It’s a rare occasion if you come out here and you don’t feel like you are treking thru a jungle rather than paying homage to pioneer graves.



The cemetery is always littered with trash as well. There are many people who care so much about this cemetery and preserving its history. There are groups who want to volunteer their time to come out here and pick up the trash and cut the grass in Bachelors Grove which is currently owned by Cook County.



Despite the fact that there is no shortage of volunteers, the county stands in the way of the cleanup and actually sells permits to volunteers on Sundays to provide a much needed cleanup. Kind of ironic that the county sells permits to clean a property they seem not to care about. On the internet, as some of you may have read the cemetery is in the hands of the Land Management office of Cook county and I have been in touch with some officials from the Forest Preserve district to try to persuade them to sell the land to me.




One of the most frequent sightings reported in this cemetery are of phantom monks. They are said to be the guardians of the grove. One thing is for certain, when you are in the cemetery, despite the fact that it lies in a secluded wooded area, you always get the feeling that you are never alone.


On my first visit to Bachelors Grove, I captured photographic evidence that I really wasn’t alone. As I walked down the path toward the cemetery, there was no one else on the path. In this photo, you can see what looks like someone wearing a brown or black monks robe.




A few moments later, I took this photograph, which showed nothing. The shadowy figure was underneath the branch that curves above the path.





A settlement known as Goeselville was located near Bachelors Grove Cemetery. Strangely enough this lost settlement still appears on modern maps. Christian Goesel settled along 147th and Oak Park Avenue (then Bachelor's Grove Road) in 1861 in a community named Goeselville. In its heyday there were about 30 residents in this area with a few general stores that supplied goods to area farmers.




Another famous ghost of this cemetery is known as the Madonna of Bachelors Grove. Mrs.Rogers is thought to be this famous ghost also known as the white lady. She supposedly wanders the cemetery with a baby and legend says she died in childbirth. The only Mrs. Rogers that I have a record of is Luella Fulton Rogers. She was the wife of Daniel W. Rogers. Luella died at age 65. It is extremely unlikely that a 65 year old woman was pregnant.



Let’s hope that the vandalism at Bachelors Grove Cemetery will stop and those buried here may finally rest in peace.

I hope you enjoy visiting this new website, where I will be posting news, historical information, photographs and updates on my negotiations to purchase the cemetery for restoration.

Burial List of Bachelors Grove

I have spent the last few years gathering information of those buried in Bachelors Grove Cemetery. This is still a work in progress. This is a list of original burials which does include (and notes) those who have been removed and re-buried in other cemeteries. If you know of anyone buried in the Grove who is not on this list,please let me know. Be sure to re-visit this blog often, as I am always adding and changing data as it becomes available.

Burials at Bachelor Grove cemetery

1. Edna Wright Hardy Sanderson
Born Nov 20, 1829 died Aug 30 1907
(buried in lot19)
wife of Henry Hardy and William Sanderson. Mother of 15 children
including Albert and Upton “Harry” Hardy who are buried in First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Alsip

2. Helena Josephine Hardy nee Carlson
born May 25 1870
died March 3, 1914

wife of Upton "Harry” Hardy
She was buried in Bachelor’s Grove on March 6, 1914 and reinterred in the First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in 1955, laid to rest beside her husband and her brother In law Albert Hardy.

3. Richard Edmund Moss
buried in lot 43
Husband of Maria H. Farquharson father of Laura M McGhee

4. Laura (Moss) McGheeborn January 8, 1887 died Nov. 17, 1965
buried in bachelor grove nov. 20, 1965
Daughter of Richard Edmund Moss and Maria H. Farquarson
Wife of Robert McGhee

5. Robert McGheeBorn Sept. 10, 1876 died July 31 1939
Buried in Bachelor Grove Aug 2, 1939.
Husband of Laura McGhee nee Moss

6. Emanuel Schroeder
(lot 64)
husband of Ellen Julia Noble. Father of twin daughters Anna and Mary Schroeder

7. Anna Schroeder
born Sept 24 1885 died January 28 1890
Daughter of Emanuel and Julia Noble Schroeder. Sister of Mary Schroeder

8. William B. Nobles
died 1838 age 36

9. Mary Schroeder born Sept 24, 1885 died Feb. 8, 1890
Daughter of Emanuel and Julia Noble Schroeder. Sister of Anna Schroeder.

10. Emma Schmidtborn 1885 died Dec 8, 1965 buried in Bachelor grove dec 14 1964

10. Margaret L. Minard nee Gilson(lot 17)
Wife of Francis .Vanhorn Minard. Mother of Nellie L. Minard
Born july 4, 1839 died june 8, 1877 age 37
Mrs. Minard was removed from Bachelor grove and reinterred in Mt. Greenwood cemetery 1852

11. Nellie L. Minard(lot 17)
Daughter of of Francis Vanhorn Minard and Margaret L. Minard
Born dec 21, 1864 Died oct 10, 1886
Nellie was removed from Bachelor Grove and reinterred in Mt. Greenwood cemetery 1852

12. George Turley (lot 17)
described as a “Negro” fiddler. Mr. Turley was employed by Mr. Francis Vanhorn Minard. He is buried in lot 17 after Mrs. Minard and daughter Nellie were moved in Mt. Greenwood Cemetery in Blue Island.

13. Caroline Hageman
died 1867 age 52
wife of John Hageman. Mother of Louis and Charles Hageman.

14. Charles Hageman
died 1925

15. Louis Hagemanborn jan 25, 1848 died feb 14,1929
buried on Feb 18, 1929
son of John and Caroline Hageman. father of Ward Hageman

16. Anna Shieldsborn march 14, 1871 died march 24 1952
daughter of William H. Shields

17. Robert E. Shields
born Dec 12, 1917 died oct. 10, 1989
son of charles b and Elizabeth shields
(body was cremated)

18. Elizabeth M Shields nee Martin
born april 8, 1881 died may 17, 1959
wife of charles B. Shields

19. Charles B Shields
born june 20, 1868 died nov. 26, 1955
son of William H. and Sarah M. Shields. Husband of Elizabeth M. Shields

20. Thomas W. Shields
born sept. 3, 1863 died Dec. 11, 1946
son of William H. Shields

21. Frank Shieldsborn Aug. 27, 1873 died nov. 30, 1938
son of William H. and Sarah M. Shields

22. Sarah M. Shields nee Mossborn Dec 10, 1841 died Dec 22, 1924
daughter of Thomas Moss wife of William H. Shields

23. William H. Shieldsborn 1839 died 1922
husband of Sarah M. Shields. Father of Charles B, Thomas W, Frank, and James Shields

24. James H. Shieldsborn april 18 1865 died june 1, 1918

25. John Hamiltonlot 16
born july 27, 1842c died nov. 28, 1925
buried on Dec. 2, 1925

26. Lorena Ramsdell nee Sweetalso spelled as Lurera Ransdell
died 1873 age 72
Wife of Henry W. Mother of Hannah S. Ramsdell who married
William Moak Sr.

27.Alma G. Hamilton nee Lucaslot 16
born june 9, 1857 died june 7, 1954
daughter of George Lucas. Wife of John (William) Hamilton

28. Dr. Chester Morris
lot 16
husband of Emily Clara Hamilton (John Hamilton)

29. Carl August Panknin Husband of Olive Moak Panknin

30. Joseph Niklas (also spelled as Nickalas)lot 22
born 1871 died 1921

31. Jennie Niklaslot 22
born 1871 died 1921

32. Whittemore Hulett
lot 23
died 1862

33. David Hulettlot 23
died 1862

34. Roberta Hulett

35. Ida E. Hulett
lot 23

36. Jacob Decklot 22
born 1840 died 1915

37. Frundlelot 7

38. Mary D. Decklot 22
born 1841 died 1921

39. Bernard F. Deckborn 1876 died 1949

40. William Rickdied 1926
husband of Mary

41. Mary Rickwife of William
died 1899


42. Warren Mark Ichabod

43. Dw Rogers

44. Infant Luella

45. Charles Mayfinglot 26
born May 8,1890 died dec21 1938
buried on Dec 24,1938
Mr. Mayfing was reinterred at First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Alsip lot 19 block 49

46. Clara Mayfing nee Fultondied Nov 9, 1973


47. Isabelle Mosswife of T. W. Moss
died 1848

48. William. Frank Mendenhall
lot 61
born 1889 died 1933

49. James ? lot 60
James is buried in a plot owned by the Nobles
Family. There are both Nobles and Hamilton buried here.
However, James’ surname is not known.

54. Fullerton

55.Phebe Newman nee Smithlot 45
died 1864
Wife of George Newman. Mother of John H. Newman

56. Flassig (mother and father)

57. Rick flassig

58. Mary Flassig

59. Allia Foskett

60. Araine Foskett

61. Charles Bengerlot55
born may 23, 1863 died nov. 29, 1933
buried in dec 3, 1933

62. Priscilla Bengerlot 55

63. Walter Patrick born feb. 7, 1820 died march 18, 1887 age 67
husband of Hannah A. Cowen Patrick

64. Ann Patrickdied 1855
wife of Alexander Patrick. Mother of Walter Patrick


65. August Ashenbach lot 6
co.H, 24th Illinois infantry

66. G. Warren

67 Neumann68 E. Schneider

69. J. Hopkins 70.. Ao Tippett

71. F. Gray72. r. Kreuger

73.Mary D. Deck

74. Daniel David Duncanborn oct 9, 1787 died may 25, 1845

66. William B. Noblesborn 1802 died 1838 (allegedly the oldest burial)

75. Minna Hageman born dec.24 1847 died nov. 10 1894

76. james W. Mckee

77. Hamilton Fulton
died 1876 age 54
husband of Mary Fulton. Father of Joseph fulton

78.Mary Fulton (wife of Hamilton)
died 1896
wife of Hamilton. Mother of Joseph Fulton

79. Joseph Fultonson of Hamilton and Mary Fulton
died oct 15, 1852b age 80
father of Hamilton and John Sr.

80. John Fultonbrother of Hamilton Fulton. Husband of Jane fulton
died 1883 age 70.Father of Samuel Fulton

81. Jane Fulton
died 1897 age 82

82. Samuel Fultondied 1916
son of John and Jane fulton. Husband of ? McMurray Fulton


83. Robert McMurray
husband of Jane McMurray. Father in law of Samuel Fulton
56. Jane McMurray
wife of Robert McMurray

84. Martha Weberdied 1856
wife of Leopold Weber. Mother of Catherine

85. Catherine Weberdied 1856
daughter of Leopold and Martha weber.

86 Rippet

87. Elizabeth Scottdied 1843
wife of LM Scott

88. Dr. James W. McKee
lot 43
born oct 8, 1845 died july 21,1911

89. Delaney Ann McKee nee Hulettlot 43
sept. 18, 1854 died april 16, 1920
wife of Doctor James W. McKee


91. Alphonso Carley died 1861 age 39
Husband of Elizabeth Weber (daughter of Leopold Weber) Remarried to Rosa C. Carley?

92. Rosa G. Kallmandied 1861

93. Robert Antonlot 41
died 1861
Father of Mary Eliza Aston (who later married John Rippet)

94. Elizabeth McCunedied 1872

95. Fred Bormanndied 1886
killed by Illinois central train

96. Louis Buch lot 5
born 1837 died 1883

97. Joanna Buch lot 5

98. Emmeline Dykeman
died aug. 5 1860 age 4months

99. Nels Hermansendied 1869

100. Albion Smithdied 1856

101. Frundlelot 53

102 George Tileylot 46
born july 14, 1874 died 1892
son of C and M Tiley

103. Libby May Humphrey
(baby) died 1865
11 month
daughter of Ja Humphrey

104. Stokes

105. Margaret Roberson nee Hamiltonlot 16
Daughter of William Hamilton Sr.

106. J.P. Robersonlot 16

107. Mary Briggs nee HamiltonDaughter of William Briggs Sr. Wife of Wesley Briggs

108. Emma Fulton lot 15
died sept 10, 1867 age 16 days
daughter of John Fulton Jr and Hulda Fulton

109. Johnnie B. Fulton
lot 15
born Dec. 4, 1882 died Feb. 28, 1891

110. Frank J. Fultonlot 15
born Sept 21, 1874 died may 22, 1906
son of John Fulton Jr. and Hulda Fulton

111. Hulda Turney (Asa)lot 15
born 1849 died 1919
Stone reads “Mother” Wife of John Fulton Jr. Mother of Emma, Johnnie B, Frank J and Luella Fulton

112. John Fulton Jr.born 1838 died 1922
stone reads “father.”

113. Daniel W. Rogerslot 15
born 1867 died 1923
husband of Luella Fulton

114. Luella Rogers nee Fultonborn 1879 died 1944 age 65
daughter of John Fulton Jr and Hulda Fulton . Wife of Daniel W. Rogers

115. Marcia May Fulton
stone reads “infant daughter”
born 1914 died 1914
daughter of Bertrand H. Fulton and Katherine Vogt

116. Schmidt

117. Margaret Aschenbach nee Kirkalso spelled Ashendash
lot 6
born 1843 died aug. 30, 1923
buried sept. 1, 1923

118. Alvah Crandalllot 59
born july 20, 1804 died july 20, 1843
age 39
Brother of Herman, David, Mark, Martha (who married
Stephen Jones) Elizabeth (who married Otis Wattles),
Ruey (married David Wadhams) and Ethan
Many members of the Crandall family now buried in Mt. Greenwood
Cemetery , Chicago.

119. Mark Ichabod Warren lot 36
born 1853 died 1904

120. Amezetta Curtis Warren
born 1862 died 1901

121. Ezra Warrendied 1883 age 76
Husband of Susan Warren

122. Susan Warrendied 1880 age 68
wife of Ezra Warren

123. Stephen WarrenCompany B, 1st Illinois Light artillery Civil War

124. Richard Warrendied 1875


124. Rosa C. Kollmanlot 38
died 1866
Wife of Alphonse Carley. Remarried George Kollman

125. Martha Weberlot 38
died 1856
Wife of Leopold Weber

126. Catherine Weberdied 1856
daughter of Martha Weber

127. Maria H. Moss nee Farquharson born 1854 died 1918
Wife of Richard E. Moss

128. Hannah A. Patrick nee Cowandied aug. 1, 1871
wife of Walter Patrick


130. Naomi Elizabeth Patrick nee Philipsborn feb 21, 1839 died jan 1, 1880

131.Clara B. Patrickborn sept 28, 1855 died jan 7, 1862
daughter of Walter and Hannah Patrick.

132. Lillie E. Patrickborn nov. 20, `1859 died may 20, 1862
daughter of Walter and Hannah Patrick

133. Margaret Tiley nee Storeylot 46
Wife of George Tiley Sr. Mother of George Tiley Jr.

134 George Tiley Sr.died july 1913 in Warren Minnesota and buried beside his wife and son.

135. Henry H. Coollot 56
died april 25 1881 age 3 months, 27 days
removed from bachelor grove and reinterred in Mt.
Greenwood Cemetery on sept. 9, 1887
Section 23, lot 328


136. J. Caroline Carrie Coollot 56
born march 5, 1858 died march 7, 1862
removed from bachelor grove and reinterred in Mt.
Greenwood Cemetery on sept. 9, 1887
Section 23, lot 328

137. Jane Cool nee Noblesborn june 29, 1829 died May 18, 1874
removed from bachelor grove and reinterred in Mt.
Greenwood Cemetery on sept. 9, 1887
Section 23, lot 328

138. Lois Cool nee Maxonborn march 14, 1792 died june 16, 1875
removed from bachelor grove and reinterred in Mt.
Greenwood Cemetery on sept. 9, 1887
Section 23, lot 328

139. Chauncey Wheelerlot 57
born Jan. 1852 died Jan. 1929
Husband of Ella Fulton

140. Ella Fultonlot 57
born April 1856 died May 1928
Daughter of John Fulton Sr. Wife of Chauncey Wheeler

141. Robert Fultonlot 57
born March 8, 1856 died Sept. 26, 1885 age 31
son of John Sr. He was hit by a Rock Island Train near what is now Tinley Park.

142. Thomas W. Mosslot 58
born feb 11, 1811 died march 11, 1885

143. Isabella Moss nee Crumlichdied march 27, 1848 age 29
1st wife of Thomas W. Moss

144. Emanuel Schroederborn jan 24, 1850 died march 12 1928

145. David Daniel Duncan
born: Oct. 9, 1787
died: May 25, 1845

146. Delilah Allen Fish nee Swaner
Born: Apr. 28, 1846
Died/; May 1, 1922

Daughter of Andrew Allen and Lydia Jane Swaner
Wife of William R. Fish

147. Sophie Post

148.John LawBirth: Unknown
death: Aug. 17, 1938

marker inscription-Age 81 Yr

149. Theodore Post
born: 1861 in Germany
died: Nov. 8, 1924

Welcome!

Welcome to my new website dedicated to the historic (and haunted!) Bachelors Grove Cemetery in Midlothian Illinois.