Friends of Wimmer Cemetery Association, Inc.

Friends of Wimmer Cemetery Association, Inc. Over many decades the cemetery was under the care of several different groups and eventually an association was founded for the purpose of maintenance.

Wimmer Cemetery is located Southeast of Auburn, Sangamon County, Illinois in the SW corner of the SW 1/4 of section 12, Township 13, Range 6 W. 3rd PM at the intersection of Dixon Road and Dickey-john Road, just south of Illinois Route 104. After the deaths of this group of caretakers, the cemetery's existence was continued with the help of Desire and 'lynn Pignon who lived just north of the cemet

ery for many years. In 1999 a new group of volunteers was formed and through their efforts the association was revitalized.

Blast from the past Dedication of Martin Baker Harris's stone
01/22/2026

Blast from the past Dedication of Martin Baker Harris's stone

Memories of Wimmer's past
06/20/2025

Memories of Wimmer's past

1900s Gray family at Wimmer Cemetery
06/20/2025

1900s Gray family at Wimmer Cemetery

The Wimmer meeting for this Saturday June 21 has been postponed to:Wednesday, June 25 at 7:00 PM in Auburn's Union Park ...
06/20/2025

The Wimmer meeting for this Saturday June 21 has been postponed to:

Wednesday, June 25 at 7:00 PM in Auburn's Union Park under the pavilion. It should be a short meeting of no more than one hour.

06/17/2025

Quarterly meeting this coming Saturday June 21 at Nick's Restaurant 10:30

06/15/2025
06/15/2025
They may be silent but they existed. Please keep their memory alive by volunteering to help the association grow. Conta...
06/15/2025

They may be silent but they existed. Please keep their memory alive by volunteering to help the association grow. Contact us by messenger if you would like to help.

Honoring the fathers in Wimmer today.
06/15/2025

Honoring the fathers in Wimmer today.

T I M E L Y T I P S Telephone directories can provide a genealogist with a great deal of information. Modern phone b...
06/07/2025

T I M E L Y
T I P S


Telephone directories can provide a genealogist with a great deal of information. Modern phone books contain information such as telephone numbers, addresses and advertisements. Have you ever thought of using one to locate a long lost relative? You will be amazed at what you can find just by looking at your local library’s collection. The following is a listing of possible information which can be found in old directories.

Advertisements for local and regional businesses

Biographies of businessmen

Cemetery locations

Date of death if the person died within the time period just before the book was published

Detailed histories of some businesses

Histories of the area

Information on the size of the household

Maps of the area

Names and addresses of people who lived in the area for which the book was printed

Occupation of the head of the household

Photographs or drawings of significant buildings in the area

Some directories list the name of the wife and children

Statistics about the area

Train schedules

The next time you are at your local library, take a moment or two to look into this source. You might just find that missing piece of the puzzle you had in mind.

Address

SW 1/4 Of Section 12, Township 13, Range 6 W 3rd PM
Auburn, IL
62615

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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Wimmer Cemetery’s Recent History

The Wimmer Cemetery, once known as the Wimmer Burying Ground, got its name from the people who purchased the land from James Patton. Starting in 1825, it was used as a burial place for their deceased family members.

Long neglected due to lack of funding and attention, the once crumbling lot of tombstones has been transformed into a beautifully landscaped location. Now, descendants can come pay their respects each Memorial Day without having to wade through weeds and risk meeting snakes in the overgrowth. This small rural cemetery holds the remains of many former residents of Auburn Township.

The Wimmer Cemetery Association, Inc. was founded in 1999 by Mary Ann and Alex Decatore along with a small group of dedicated volunteers. The group gathered together on July 4 of that year and several consecutive weekends to clean away the unwanted plants and debris that made visiting difficult. Metal bars were the only thing holding many tombstones aloft, while others had either fallen over or been destroyed by vandals. Yucca plants and other non-native plants were removed because they endangered the balance of the stones. The Arnold Monument Company sent equipment and workers who helped reset and caulk some of the larger grave markers. Within a year the cemetery was once again a place where descendants, neighbors, and friends of the association could gather to pay respects to those who had been laid to rest there.

The organization began fundraising as soon as it incorporated. A variety of activities have been hosted including flower sales, ham and bean suppers, and trivia nights. Light Up the Cemetery nights began in 2012, as a way to fulfill the mission statement and to promote historical research. This event happens annually during the twilight hours of five to nine on the last Saturday of September. Actors portraying residents of the cemetery tell their stories to groups of visitors. This has been a popular event drawing people from out of state as well as several high school history groups. The first few years we had an annual cookout on Halloween weekend with ghost stories and treats as a celebratio