Campground Church and Cemetery Site is a historic church and cemetery complex located at 50 Tunnel Lane near Anna , Illinois . The site began as a religious campground and local cemetery for the area 's Presbyterian congregation ; a church was added to the site in 1906 . In 1838-39 , when the Trail of Tears passed through Illinois , Cherokee who were removed from their homeland used the site as a campground . The campground included two springs , which were used as a source of fresh water for the Cherokee and their animals , and a gristmill run by local landowner George Hileman . In addition , several Cherokee children are buried in unmarked graves in the cemetery ; the Trail of Tears was deadly for many of those who were forced to travel it , and children were among the most common victims . It is suspected that Hileman allowed the Cherokee to bury their dead in the local cemetery out of sympathy , as his own sons had died recently , though he may have also done so out of a sense of obligation toward fellow Christians
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Campground Church and Cemetery Site