History of the Restoration Movement


William H. Davenport

1823-1863

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Church Leader And Assisted The Founding of Eureka College, Illinois

Directions to the Davenport Plot

The Davenports played a significant roll in the founding and leadership of Eureka College, William H. Davenport's father William Davenport (1797-1869) was a gospel preacher and was widely known for his leadership in the church. He died and was buried in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Other of his children, including William H., John J. and Joseph C. are buried in the Olio Township Cemetery, also known as Eureka Cemetery in Eureka, Illinois. The city is located just east of Peoria on Hwy. 24. In the town center turn right on Hwy. 117. and go past Eureka College, and you will see the cemetery on the left. This cemetery was at one time the old Eureka Christian Church Cemetery. The building has long been gone. Enter into the main entrance of the cemetery and take the second drive to the left. Go midway in the section. Stop the car. Go into the section to the left. During an outbreak of Cholera in 1852, a number of people in Eureka died as a result. John J. and Joseph C. succumbed to the disease as well as their brother-in-law, Ben Major (also buried in the cemetery).

GPS Location
40.71145,-89.272
Grave Facing West
Location in Cemetery: Div A Section C Lot 28


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William H. Davenport
April 25, 1883
Feb. 7, 1926


John J. Davenport
Nov. 11, 1820
May 30, 1852
GPS Location
40°42.703' x 89° 16.322'
Location in Cemetery: Div A Section C Lot 32 Grave 1


William H. Davenport
June 7, 1823
Jan. 17, 1863


Joseph C.
Davenport
Nov. 10, 1828
May 29, 1852
GPS Location
40°42.704' x 89° 16.316'
Location in Cemetery: Div A Section C Lot 7 Grave 12

Special Thanks

In June, 2009 Tom L. Childers, C. Wayne Kilpatrick and Scott Harp traveled about 3000 miles in one week through parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. During this time we found the graves of 75 church leaders in the Restoration Movement. Chronicling these leaders into websites has been time consuming. Many thanks to Tom and Wayne in helping to take photos, share the driving, and putting up with your web master's slave-driving effort to see as many as we did in the time we had. Their photos as well as some of mine are seen on this site. When we arrived at Olio Twp Cemetery, it was late in the evening, and a summer storm was on its way. I had called Rosemary Hartter, the manager of the cemetery, weeks in advance to gather information. When we arrived on Saturday evening, I called her and she was most gracious to come to the cemetery after hours to assist us in finding all the graves. She and the staff at the cemetery have been most gracious to help, and for this we say a special thanks to them.

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