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History of Moline City Cemeteries:

The Moline Cemetery Association was incorporated by the State of Illinois February 17, 1851 and was governed by a Board of Trustees. Joseph Pershing served as the first Sexton and continued in that capacity until 1872. The original five acres “ Moline Cemetery ,” often referred to as the “ 4th Avenue Cemetery,” was acquired from Samuel and Mary Bell on November 1, 1851 , and today is located between 4th and 5th Avenues at approximately 33rd Street .

There was a quarry bordering the 4th Avenue Cemetery on the East, near Chub Creek, which later closed and filled in Chub Creek. Even today, it can still be seen as to where it flowed through the park. The lagoon bordering the 4th Avenue Cemetery on the West dates back to the pioneer farms in this area. This lagoon was fed by a creek from another spring fed pond in the southern part of the “new” cemetery on top of the hill. The first Cemetery Sextons and their families lived and farmed this area as part of their compensation.

The white house on the west side of Riverside Park , 2712 6th Avenue , is the third dwelling used by Cemetery Sextons and their families. The house prior to this one was built in 1884 and sat on the opposite corner, across the street to the north. The current house was purchased and relocated to its present location in 1958. It served as the Sextons residence and Cemetery office until 1983, when the Sexton and Cemetery office moved to Moline Memorial Park . The Riverside Park house is now occupied by the Director of Moline Park & Recreation. As of August 3, 1998 , the Cemetery Sexton no longer lives on Cemetery property.

Very few interment records exist prior to 1873. What remains are lot owner records and the dates the lots were purchased. In 1975, the Blackhawk Genealogical Society compiled a listing of all the names and dates that could still be read on the remaining markers. They counted approximately 1,174 names. Many markers were unreadable such as limestone. Many graves were never marked. This is often the case with children and “public ground” burials. Some markers predate 1851. These people were possibly relocated here from two earlier Moline cemeteries.

In 1873, the City of Moline , with John Deere as mayor, took more control over the cemetery, replacing the Board of Trustees with a Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor and the City Council. Riverside Cemetery began to expand to the south, acquiring large tracts of land from several different owners. All of what is now Riverside Park was once cemetery property. The main entrance was located on 6th Avenue by the Sextons residence. Stone pillars once stood

there with Riverside Cemetery engraved on them.

Considerable controversy ensued over the years regarding the proper use of the cemetery property between the old 4th Avenue cemetery and the newer hillside cemetery; the area known today as Riverside Park . After years of debate over who should control this area, and whether or not it was sacrilegious to allow recreational activities on cemetery property, the Cemetery Board began selling property to the Park Committee around 1909, and used the proceeds of the sale towards maintaining Riverside Cemetery .

The addition of a Chapel Mausoleum was considered desirable by the Cemetery Board in 1911 and plans for its construction were formulated. A Greek Revival style mausoleum was completed in 1916, built of #1 Peerless Buff stone, enhanced with numerous stained glass windows. It contains 800 single crypts and 48 companion niches, all of which have been sold.

Riverside and Moline Memorial Park Cemeteries have been administered by the Moline Park and Recreation Department since 1978.

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