Marker for Sophia St. John's grave

Photographer

Gruver, Lowell "Bud"

Date

• ca. 1980

Summary

• Photo of an engraved rock that marks the grave of Sophia St. John, the first white settler to die in Janesville. Erected by the Janesville Chapter of the D.A.R. in 1921, the stone marks the graves of Samuel W. St. John (1795-1849); Sophia Griffin, his wife (1800-1835); and Ann Foster, his second wife (1810-1842). Sophia St. John died shortly after giving birth to the first white child born in Janesville. Her dying wish was to be buried on the top of the highest hill. Sophia, her husband, and his second wife are all buried in what is now a private yard on Beloit Avenue.