John Toliday: Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County

John Toliday or Tolliday

1763-1849

Oak Grove Cem., Empire Twp.

Photos by Sean Flynn Find-a-grave

~Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County~

Introduction - Ebenezer Barnes - Joseph Bartholomew - Samuel Beeler - David Haggard - Frances Hodge - Moses Hougham - John Karr - William Lee - John Maxwell - Thomas McClure - William McGhee or Gee - William McCullough - John Toliday - Jacob Williamson - Gravesites Not in McLean County

According to LeBaron's 1879 history of McLean County, in March 1834 a John Toliday "applied for the priviledge of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his proof admitted as good and true" (p. 222). Duis' history of McLean County puts the date as June 1832, not March 1834.

John Toliday was born around Poughkeepsie, NY in 1763. He served in the Revolutionary War for about a year. He settled in McLean County in 1830 at the age of 67. A 1918 Pantagraph article states he settled in Mt. Hope Townshp. However, a 1976 Pantagraph article states he settled around Old Town Timber. According to the 1840 U.S. Census, a John Toliday was living in McLean County, but the oldest male in that household was between 40 and 50 years old, much to young to be a veteran of the Revolutionary War. One source states that Toliday moved around McLean County, and eventually settled around LeRoy in the 1840s.

Toliday died in 1849 at the age of 86. As late as 1976, several sources indicate with some certainty that he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, southeast of LeRoy. A 1935 Pantagraph article notes the formation of a committee to find Toliday's gravestone, suggesting that by 1935 it had disappeared. In 1980, the LeRoy community came together to clean up and restore the neglected 150 year old Oak Grove Cemetery. A ceremony was held after the cleanup honoring Toliday on June 22, 1980. It included a customed reenactment. Today, a makeshift gravestone sits, probaby marking the location of Toliday's burial.

John Toliday or Tolliday

1763-1849

Oak Grove Cem., Empire Twp.

Photos by Tony Cannon, Find-a-grave

References & Map

See the Introduction to Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County for references.

Click on the map or this link to view a map of Revolutionary War veterans buried in McLean County.