Lombard in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Babcock's Grove Cemetery

Established 1851

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 12, 2025

1. Babcock's Grove Cemetery Marker

Inscription.

Babcock's Grove Cemetery. Established 1851. The Lombard Cemetery began as a private farm burial plot for the Rueben Mink family, a local farmer in Babcock's Grove. It was a high piece of land and a small portion of his farm where his family members could be buried. The first burial took place on July 11, 1851, but the stone no longer exists. Then, as neighbors asked if they could bury loved ones there, Mink responded by donating the land in 1862, establishing the Babcock's Grove Cemetery Association. After 1869, when Babcock's Grove became Lombard, it became the Lombard Cemetery Association. , , Over the years, many of Lombard's most notable residents, including Sheldon and Harriet Peck, William Hammerschmidt, Christia Reade and Charles Assman have been buried here. It features many historic stones with images and symbols that were common during the mid-1800s. The Cemetery is also the resting place of 35 Veterans from the War of 18 12, the Civil War, world war one and world war two. , , The Cemetery Restoration Commettee was formed in 2008, when the property was deemed abandoned by the Village of Lombard. This committee included the Lombard Historical Commission and the Lombard Historical Society at the helm. The committee included members of the Park District, Village of Lombard, Garden Club, and interested residents. The cemetery was designated a Local Landmark by the Village of Lombard in 2011. , , In 2013, a partnership of the Lombard Historical Society, the VFW Lilac Post 5815, Boy Scout Troop 40, and School District 44 was formed to work together to recognize the veterans buried in the Lombard Cemetery. All of these veterans were eligible for free headstones from the Department of Veterans Affairs. New headstones were applied for, ordered, and installed for these veterans. ,
Today, burials still occur, although there are no more plots for sale. The cemetery is open to the public from dawn until dusk everyday of the year. For more information regarding the cemetery please contact the Lombard Historical Society.

The Lombard Cemetery began as a private farm burial plot for the Rueben Mink family, a local farmer in Babcock's Grove. It was a high piece of land and a small portion of his farm where his family members could be buried. The first burial took place on July 11, 1851, but the stone no longer exists. Then, as neighbors asked if they could bury loved ones there, Mink responded by donating the land in 1862, establishing the Babcock's Grove Cemetery Association. After 1869, when Babcock's Grove became Lombard, it became the Lombard Cemetery Association.

Over the years, many of Lombard's most notable residents, including Sheldon and Harriet Peck, William Hammerschmidt, Christia Reade and Charles Assman have been buried here. It features many historic stones with images and symbols that were common during the mid-1800s. The Cemetery is also the resting place of 35 Veterans from the War of 1812, the Civil War, WWI and WWII.

The Cemetery Restoration Commettee was formed in 2008, when the property was deemed abandoned by the Village of Lombard. This committee included the Lombard Historical Commission and the Lombard Historical Society at the helm. The committee included members of the Park District, Village of Lombard, Garden Club, and interested residents. The cemetery was designated a Local Landmark by the Village of Lombard in 2011.

In 2013, a partnership of the Lombard Historical Society, the VFW Lilac Post 5815, Boy Scout Troop 40, and School District 44 was formed to work together to recognize the veterans buried in the Lombard Cemetery. All of these veterans were eligible for free headstones from the Department of Veterans Affairs. New headstones were applied for, ordered, and installed for these veterans.

Today, burials still occur, although there are no more plots for sale. The cemetery is open to the public from dawn until dusk everyday of the year. For more information regarding the cemetery please contact the Lombard Historical Society.

Topics.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Military • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 11, 1851.

Location. 41° 52.69′ N, 88° 1.147′ W. Marker is in Lombard, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Park Road on Washington Boulevard. The marker is affixed to the fence near the west entrance into Lombard Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lombard IL 60148, 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 territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Reuben Mink (a few steps from this marker); Veterans of Lombard Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Watts Up with the Illinois Prairie Path?

Babcock's Grove Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 12, 2025

2. Babcock's Grove Cemetery

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Gearing Bicycle Ads Towards Women (approx. 0.3 miles away); Original Dairy Queen Sign (approx. 0.4 miles away); Votes For Women (approx. 0.4 miles away); Babcock's Grove House (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lombard.

More about this marker. The cemetery is officially known as Lombard Cemetery, indicated by signs on the fence around the land as well as the metal gate on the Main Street side.

A couple of other markers are inside the cemetery. One lists the military veterans buried here, and the other honors the Mink family for donating the land for the cemetery.

Regarding Babcock's Grove Cemetery. Babcock's Grove was the original name for this settlement, which is about 20 miles due west of downtown Chicago. The first burial at this site, selected because it is on higher, drier ground, was in 1851. The land was officially incorporated into a cemetery in 1871.

Also see . . .
1. History of the Lombard Cemetery. From the Lombard Historical Society

Excerpt: "The Lombard Cemetery (formerly Babcock’s Grove Cemetery) began as a community burial plot in 1851
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 12, 2025

3. Lombard Cemetery entrance gate on Main Street
The marker to the right of the entrance denotes the cemetery as a local landmark site.
for Babcock’s Grove. The owner of the land, Reuben Mink, officially donated the property to the community, establishing the Babcock’s Grove Cemetery Association. After 1869, when Babcock’s Grove became Lombard, it became the Lombard Cemetery Association."

(Submitted on November 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Lombard Cemetery (Facebook). A 2025 Facebook post by the Lombard Historical Society looks at the history of the Lombard Cemetery, originally known as Babcock's Grove Cemetery. It includes an aerial photo of the site from 1926. (Submitted on November 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Inside Lombard Cemetery, facing west image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 12, 2025

4. Inside Lombard Cemetery, facing west

Inside Lombard Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 12, 2025

5. Inside Lombard Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.