Valmeyer in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery

Photographed by Thomas Smith, January 9, 2026

1. Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery Marker

Inscription.

Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery. . , The magnificent view and love of history bring many people to this cemetery. , Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery consists of 4 1/2 acres. The cemetery is locally known as Miles Cemetery. Stephen W. Miles designed and built the 56-vault family mausoleum which was completed in 1859. , As a public burial ground, there was no central organization to keep record of burials or assign burial locations. People were free to select their own plot. Many graves are marked with ordinary stones, some have initials carved in their stone. Through time, many grave markers have disappeared. Ground-penetrating radar has identified several unmarked graves. , As of 2022, it is the resting place of several war veterans: , 11 Civil War, 3 Blackhawk War, 1 Indian War, 2 Revolutionary War, 2 War of 18 12, 2 Mexican War, 2 World War II and 1 served in peacetime. Some veterans served in multiple wars. , The earliest known burial was in 1797. James Garretson was born in 1746 and died in 1797. He was a Revolutionary War patriot and soldier of Colonel Clark's Illinois expedition. His military tombstone is on the pathway close to the mausoleum. , Stephen W. Miles was born 11-30-1795 in Cazenovia, New York, and died 12-31-1859. He received a liberal education and was an accomplished performer on the violin. His elegant and intellectual background helped him excel financially. In 1819 he moved to the settlement below this bluff called Eagle Cliff-named after eagles that roosted in treetops. He married Lucretia Shook soon after his arrival. Mr. Miles bought large tracts of land in this area from the government land office in Kaskaskia. Additional land was purchased from the claims of pioneers who came to the area and improved the land. Some of those individuals were in the military, and after they staked their claims, stories are told that they mysteriously disappeared. , After obtaining more than a thousand acres of land around Eagle Cliff, it was noted that Stephen W. Miles would stand on the edge of this cliff and say -- "For miles and miles, it's all Miles"

The magnificent view and love of history bring many people to this cemetery.

Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery consists of 4 1/2 acres. The cemetery is locally known as Miles Cemetery. Stephen W. Miles designed and built the 56-vault family mausoleum which was completed in 1859.

As a public burial ground, there was no central organization to keep record of burials or assign burial locations. People were free to select their own plot. Many graves are marked with ordinary stones, some have initials carved in their stone. Through time, many grave markers have disappeared. Ground-penetrating radar has identified several unmarked graves.

As of 2022, it is the resting place of several war veterans:
11 Civil War, 3 Blackhawk War, 1 Indian War, 2 Revolutionary War, 2 War of 1812, 2 Mexican War, 2 World War II and 1 served in peacetime. Some veterans served in multiple wars.

The earliest known burial was in 1797. James Garretson was born in 1746 and died in 1797. He was a Revolutionary War patriot and soldier of Colonel Clark's Illinois expedition. His military tombstone is on the pathway close to the mausoleum.

Stephen W. Miles was born 11-30-1795 in Cazenovia, New York, and died 12-31-1859. He received a liberal education and was an accomplished performer on the violin. His elegant

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and intellectual background helped him excel financially. In 1819 he moved to the settlement below this bluff called Eagle Cliff-named after eagles that roosted in treetops. He married Lucretia Shook soon after his arrival. Mr. Miles bought large tracts of land in this area from the government land office in Kaskaskia. Additional land was purchased from the claims of pioneers who came to the area and improved the land. Some of those individuals were in the military, and after they staked their claims, stories are told that they mysteriously disappeared.

After obtaining more than a thousand acres of land around Eagle Cliff, it was noted that Stephen W. Miles would stand on the edge of this cliff and say -- "For miles and miles, it's all Miles"

Erected by Milke Cemetery Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 38° 21.8′ N, 90° 15.656′ W. Marker is in Valmeyer, Illinois, in Monroe County. It can be reached from Local Road D 0 miles south of Local Road HH, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7747 D Road, Valmeyer IL 62295, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery

Photographed by Thomas Smith, January 9, 2026

2. Eagle Cliff - Miles Cemetery Marker

(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bond (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fountain, Illinois (approx. 1.6 miles away); In Loving Memory of Alois Luhr (approx. 3.3 miles away); In Memory of Myron A. Roever (approx. 3.3 miles away); Smokehouse (approx. 3.3 miles away); Laurie A. Brown (approx. 3.8 miles away); 1993 Valmeyer Flood Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valmeyer.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Eagle Cliff / Miles Cemetery (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 67 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.