Cumberland Cemetery is said to be the home of a headless lady, spook lights, and the ghost of a little girl. The cemetery itself is rich in history. It was the site of the first farm in Evans Township, and its rolling hills were once occupied by a fort built during the Black Hawk War to protect the nearby settlers from marauding Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo Indians. The main ghost story associated with the cemetery involves a headless woman. There is no evidence to substantiate the story, but that has not stopped its proliferation. According to legend, a farmer began to suspect his wife was having an affair with one of the young men who hung around his farm looking for work. Crazed with jealousy, he cornered his wife in their barn and confronted her. Despite her pleas and denials, the farmer took his ax and chopped off her head. From then on, her ghost stalked the cemetery, searching for her missing head.
For an in-depth look at this location, check out Volume 3 Issue 8 of the Legends and Lore of Illinois, featuring the history & hauntings of Cumberland Cemetery, the adventures of The Fallen, Paranormal 101, trivia, and much more!
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