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Mt. Zion or Block Cemetery

Greenup Township

(from the 1993 Cumberland County History Book)

The cemetery is located south of Greenup , Illinois. Take route #130 to the Hazel Dell road and turn east until you come to the church and cemetery. In 1889, Jonathan and Rachel Eveland gave ½ acre of land for a church. Trustees were William Wade, James Eveland and Joseph Eveland.

Ulysses and Mary Jane Walden bought the surrounding land from the Eveland family on January 31, 1903 . They realized the need for a cemetery and donated land behind the church for that purpose. The cemetery was platted August 25, 1905 .

George Henry Eveland passed away July 26, 1905 and was the first person buried in the new cemetery.

In 1915, Robert Glenn left the sum of one hundred dollars in his will “Said amount to be deposited at the Greenup National Bank in the name of the trustees. Said amount to be used in keeping fences and cemetery in re-pair.

Keith Walden donated more ground in 1963 enlarging the cemetery to about 2 acres. It is an attractive and well-kept cemetery.

I have been told that the name “Block” goes back to the early 1800's when a log block house was built just a little north of where the church is located now. In those days, there were no roads, only trails. The old block house has been gone and forgotten for more than a hundred years, but the name Block is still with us.

Fred Payne was superintendent of the Block Church for many years. He used his stock truck, fixed up with benches and a tarpaulin on trips to St. Louis, Chicago and the State Fair. He charged $1.00 per person.

For some pictures of Block Church children and families, go to the Photo Gallery.