Sucker State Preservation Foundation

Veterans Day 2025 — Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL

Despite the cold, our dedicated volunteers braved the November weather to clean more than twenty military headstones across Block 1 of Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. Among them were veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War II — each one a reminder of the sacrifices made in service to our nation.

During the day, our team also identified several headstones that will be excellent candidates for resetting when we resume restoration work in the spring of 2026.

Pictured here is the headstone of Private James P. Sarver, Company B, 20th Illinois Infantry. You can learn more about his service here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62160825/james-paul-sarver

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who joined us in honoring our veterans through preservation. Your dedication helps ensure their memory endures for generations to come.

Tucked away in the archives of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is an amazing piece of history. The original quartermaster ledger showing what supplies Captain Abraham Lincoln received during the Black Hawk War of 1832. Courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Restoration in Progress
Private John W. Tracy – 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment, American Civil War

Our team is currently working on the careful restoration of Private Tracy’s headstone. One of the most important steps is the painstaking removal of older construction adhesive from a previous repair. This process must be completed entirely by hand—without power tools or harsh chemicals—to ensure the historic marble is not damaged.

Removing all previously applied materials is essential for achieving a stable, long-lasting restoration. Each step we take is guided by respect for the soldier’s memory and a commitment to preserving this piece of Civil War history for future generations.

Update on the Restoration of Private John W. Tracy’s Headstone (33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment - American Civil War)

During excavation, Private John W. Tracy’s headstone was successfully recovered, revealing the full extent of structural damage. The original limestone base was uncovered but determined to be too fractured to allow for reuse.

To ensure stability and long-term preservation, we will fabricate a new slotted concrete base. Importantly, the headstone will not be set directly into wet concrete; instead, once the base has fully cured, the headstone will be secured using traditional lime mortar. This approach both honors historic methods and provides lasting support for the monument.

We look forward to continuing this careful preservation effort to ensure Private Tracy’s headstone stands with dignity for generations to come.

Work in Progress: Honoring Pvt. Nathan T. Snowden – Buffalo Soldier

The restoration of this government-issued headstone represents an important step in preserving the legacy of Private Nathan (Nathaniel) T. Snowden, a veteran of the Indian Wars and a member of the distinguished 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment—the Buffalo Soldiers.

Born circa 1854 in Annapolis, Maryland, Snowden enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 25, 1875, at the age of 22. Prior to his service, he was employed as a laborer. He entered Company A, 9th Cavalry, under a five-year enlistment and went on to serve at Fort Stanton and Fort Bayard, New Mexico. During this period, he undertook detached duty in the Apache Wars of the Southwest. His honorable service concluded with his discharge on March 20, 1880, with a character rating of “Good.”

Following his military career, Snowden established roots in Illinois. Records from the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company document that he opened a bank account in 1873, reflecting his presence within the African American community during the Reconstruction era. He later married Victoria Houston in Sangamon County on August 30, 1883. By the 1890s, Snowden was listed in the Springfield City Directory as a plasterer. Census records of the time categorized him as “mulatto,” an example of the racial classifications that shaped the period.

In the early 20th century, Snowden relocated to Chicago, Illinois. He began receiving an invalid pension in 1907 in recognition of the lasting effects of his military service. He passed away on May 26, 1924, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago at the age of 65, the cause of death recorded as chronic nephritis. Snowden was interred at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield—Block 24, Range 16, Grave 10, Section 3. In 1925, community member Simeon B. Osby petitioned for his military headstone, ensuring Snowden’s service would not be forgotten.

Discovered broken and facedown in September 2025, Snowden’s headstone is now undergoing careful repair. This restoration effort is not merely about preserving a stone; it is about restoring dignity and reaffirming the story of a Buffalo Soldier whose life bridged Reconstruction and westward expansion.

On Labor Day 2025, the Sucker State Preservation Foundation (SSPF) was honored to continue its mission of preserving the legacy of America’s veterans. Our volunteers cleaned 32 headstones in Block 24 of Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.

This work included the headstones of veterans from the 8th Illinois who served in the Spanish–American War, members of the famed 370th Infantry Regiment (93rd Infantry Division) of World War I, as well as Civil War veterans, including those of the 27th and 29th United States Colored Infantry.

We are proud to help ensure these heroes’ service and sacrifice are remembered with dignity.

Photograph courtesy of Roy Mayfield.

Restoring the Legacy of Pvt. John Thomas McElfresh, Co. A, 73rd Illinois Infantry – “The Preacher’s Regiment”

Earlier this year, our team successfully cleaned and reset the government-issued headstone of Private John Thomas McElfresh at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Block 11, Lot 167. Although the marker shows signs of typical mineral staining from age and weather, it now stands once again as a proud tribute to a man who served with honor in the American Civil War.

A Carpenter, a Soldier, a Public Servant

Born July 20, 1818 in Montgomery County, Maryland, John McElfresh had built a life as a skilled carpenter before the war. Records show him boarding at the Maxcy House in Springfield and working for wagonmaker J.D. Stratton as early as 1850.

At age 44 (though he claimed to be 42), McElfresh enlisted on August 21, 1862, at Camp Butler in Company A of the 73rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, famously nicknamed the “Persimmon Regiment” and “Preacher’s Regiment” due to its high number of ministers among the ranks. Standing 5’5½”, with auburn hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion, McElfresh was mustered into federal service from Mechanicsburg, Illinois.

Less than a year later, he received a disability discharge on September 2, 1863, in Louisville, Kentucky. Despite his brief time in uniform, his service earned him an invalid pension in 1879 (Certificate #218,508) and inclusion in post-war veteran activities, including a regimental reunion in Springfield in 1890.

In 1871, McElfresh was appointed Postmaster of Illiopolis, Illinois, further contributing to his community after the war. Census records trace his life through various towns in Sangamon County, where he continued working as a carpenter and raising a family with his wife, Angeline McDaniel, whom he married on February 11, 1862. Together, they raised several children—Charly, Annie, Willie, and Ella—across residences in Springfield, Illiopolis, and Gardner, Illinois.

Though the Illinois Civil War Muster Rolls list his age as 42 at enlistment, birth records confirm he was 44. Whether he deliberately underreported his age to avoid the age-45 enlistment cutoff remains an open question—a reminder of the personal choices made by older enlistees eager to serve.

Private McElfresh passed away on July 8, 1897, at the age of 78. His obituary noted that his funeral was held at the First Methodist Episcopal Church, officiated by Rev. F.A. Havighorst. He was laid to rest with honor in Oak Ridge Cemetery, where his restored headstone now helps tell his story once more.

Why this matters: Restoring headstones is not only about cleaning marble—it’s about reclaiming the stories etched into them. Every detail, from census listings to pension certificates, helps us piece together the life of a man who served, labored, and lived through one of America’s defining centuries.

Thank you to our team of volunteers and researchers who help us preserve these vital pieces of our shared heritage.

This May, our team had the honor of cleaning and repairing the military headstone of Private George R. Bancroft, a Civil War veteran whose story reflects both the valor and hardship endured by Union soldiers.

George R. Bancroft was born in Illinois in April 1843. He enlisted from Springfield and was mustered into service on January 31, 1864, joining Company G of the 10th Illinois Cavalry Regiment. He had previously been listed as eligible for conscription in August 1863, classified as Class 1 for military duty. His service concluded under difficult circumstances—records indicate that he deserted on July 7, 1865.

By the 1880 Federal Census, George was documented as suffering from scurvy and listed as disabled, perhaps linked to his time in service. He applied for and was granted a military invalid pension in 1881 (Certificate No. 294,183). According to his obituary, George was an invalid for the last thirty years of his life. He passed away on February 8, 1913, at the age of 60, and was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, where his headstone has long marked his final resting place.

Our recent restoration uncovered George's original headstone base, buried approximately 11 inches below grade, and allowed us to reset his marker properly. His stone bore signs of “mower rash,” a common condition caused by years of wear from maintenance equipment. Thanks to careful conservation work, his monument now stands upright once more—a small but meaningful act to ensure his service and life are remembered with dignity.

We are proud to have helped preserve the memory of Private Bancroft, a fellow Illinoisan and Civil War veteran, and we invite others to reflect on the enduring legacy of those who served. 🇺🇸

Our next endeavor!

Private John W. Tracy
Born: June 4, 1837 – Baltimore, Maryland
Died: March 4, 1864 – Mason County, Illinois
Burial: Tracy Cemetery, Salt Creek Township, Mason County, IL

John W. Tracy was a Union soldier and machinist who answered the call to serve during the American Civil War. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he moved with his family to Illinois and enlisted on August 21, 1861, in Springfield. He mustered into federal service on September 2, 1861, at Camp Butler as a Private in Company K of the 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment.

John stood 5'8" with blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. He served with distinction in multiple campaigns, including the Siege of Vicksburg, but contracted dysentery during the war. While on furlough in early 1864, he returned home via Beardstown, Illinois, knowing the end was near. Family tradition recalls how, weak and weary, he walked to a hill at the center of the family's 160-acre farm to choose his final resting place—a spot now marked by his headstone in Tracy Cemetery.

He passed away shortly after, with military records listing his death on March 10, 1864, though his gravestone shows March 4. He was never married and was the beloved son of John Peter Tracy (1809–1890) and Mary Webb Tracy (1812-1887).

Inscription:

"JOHN W. SON OF J.P. & M. TRACY DIED Mar 4 1864 AGED 26 Yrs. 9 Mos. of disease contracted at the siege of Vicksburg"