Berkeley in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Bohlander
Historical Site 1845
Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 3, 2024
1. Bohlander Marker
Historical information gathered & monument donated by
Bohlander relatives & friends
J.W. Young, Trustee
Erected by Bohlander relatives and friends.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 41° 53.363′ N, 87° 54.75′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from the intersection of St. Charles Road and Taft Avenue. The marker is in Old Settler Cemetery, about 10 yards east of St. Charles Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5735 St Charles Road, Berkeley IL 60163, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Settlers' Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Berkeley Roll of Honor (approx. half a mile away); Berkeley Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial
this page online
More about this marker. The historical marker serves as a gravestone for Peter Bohlander and four of his kin who are also buried here: his father John, his wife Dorothea, his grandson Phillip and Phillip's wife Margaret. The gravestone notes that John, Peter and Dorothea were born in Germany, and Phillip and Margaret were born in the United States. Leaning up against the rear of this marker is what appears to be the original gravestone for John Bohlander, who lived from 1760 until 1850.
A short distance left (east) of this marker are a pair of plaques that identify all of the people believed to be buried in this graveyard. A large white cross identifying it as Old Settlers Cemetery is in the northwest corner of the cemetery.
The cemetery is apparently owned by the Village of Berkeley. Openings in the fence around the cemetery were added
Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 28, 2023
2. Old Settlers Cemetery
The Bohlander marker is on the right side of this photo. On the left are two markers that list people buried in this site.
Regarding Bohlander. The Bohlander name is attached to a few other places nearby, in particular a Bohlander Avenue here in Berkeley that is a block south of this cemetery. In the nearby suburb of Maywood is the Jacob Bohlander Home, a property on the National Register of Historic Places that was built by Peter Bohlander's grandson.
Also see . . .
1. Berkeley, IL.
From the Chicago Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Chicago: "Beginning in 1835 the area that was to become Berkeley was home to farmers, most of German and Dutch ancestry. Settling on farms that ranged from 40 to 160 acres, the Dutch tended to be truck farmers, while the Germans did general farming. This small group of farm families established a one-room school called Sunnyside in 1848. Now housed in a larger and newer building, Sunnyside Elementary School still operates today. A short distance west on St. Charles Road (which was completed in 1836), farmland was donated for what is now known as Old Settler's Cemetery."(Submitted on November 28, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Old Settlers Cemetery on Findagrave.com. (Submitted on November 28, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 3, 2024
3. Old Settlers Cemetery markers
These markers identify the people believed to be buried in this graveyard.
3. Still 'A Quiet Place with Come-Back Spirit". The Village Free Press, a local newspaper, previews the village of Berkeley's 100th birthday with a look back at a previous article from 1993 centered around Old Settlers Cemetery.
Excerpt: "No surprise, the notable Old Settlers Cemetery figures prominently in Youngs profile. Formerly known as the Bohlander Family Burial Grounds, named after one of the villages first settler families, the historic cemetery has proven pretty durable. It still stands after falling into disarray after World War II, acts of vandalism and an attempt in 1993 to reclaim the grounds 'for other uses.'"(Submitted on December 3, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 28, 2023
4. Old Settlers Cemetery cross
At the corner of St. Charles and Taft
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 3, 2024
5. The rear of the Bohlander Marker
The original gravestone for John Bohlander leans up against the newer stone honoring the family.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 965 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 28, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on December 3, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
