HISTORY OF OTTAWA AVENUE CEMETERY

The original association, known as the Ottawa Cemetery Association, was incorporated in 1865. This organization was succeeded by the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery Association in July 1921, which was incorporated under the Illinois Cemetery Act, with a perpetual charter. 

The original Ottawa Avenue Cemetery was opened in 1847, and was privately owned by George H. Norris. His first plot consisted of four blocks situated in the middle of his tract. Some time later he plotted the balance of his land, adding some fifteen blocks surrounding the original four blocks. After selling most of his lots, Norris, in 1871, gave the Ottawa Cemetery Association a quit-claim deed conveying to the association all his interest in and to his cemetery. This first addition is now referred to as the  "Ottawa Addition” to Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. 

Some years later Alvin Ford acquired several acres adjoining the original cemetery on  the west, and running, as did the Norris lot, from Ottawa Avenue to the Illinois River. In plotting this acreage Ford followed the Norris plan and to all physical appearances the two additions are a single whole, the dividing line being merged in the plotting of the lots. After selling most of his lots, Ford conveyed his interest to Patrick Hayes, and he then in 1874, conveyed his interest in this addition to the Ottawa Cemetery Association by quit-claim deed. This addition is now referred to as the “Ford Addition” to the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. 

In addition to the “Ottawa” and “Ford” additions there is the “St.Francis Addition” lying west of the “Ford” addition and directly west of the St. Francis addition is the “Bushnell” addition. There is, then, really four separate additions comprising the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery