Life lessons learned from walking among the dead

Keep your husband out of the kitchen.

Always reserve Sundays for praising God.

And whatever you do, don't tell a woman you'll marry her unless you mean it.

These words of wisdom were offered to 476 visitors Sunday by some the most famous residents at Bluff City Cemetery during the 20th annual Historic Elgin Cemetery Walk.

Each year, while a local historian discusses the cemetery's features and monuments, actors and well-known Elgin residents dress as some of the cemetery's inhabitants to tell their stories.

This year, locals represented seven cemetery occupants.

For example, local author, historian and former Mayor E.C. "Mike" Alft played George D. Sherman, a man who fought in the Civil War, founded the precursor to Sherman Hospital and, at the age of 76, was sued by his 46-year-old gal pal for alienation of affections, when he told the woman that he wouldn't marry her.

Though a jury filled with his friends acquitted him of the charge, Sherman learned a valuable lesson.

"To the young men out there, don't ask anyone to marry you unless you mean it," Alft said.

The advice on keeping your husband out of the kitchen came from Elizabeth Cunningham DuFree, who died a mysterious death in 1903.

What she didn't know at the time was that her husband's three ex-wife's had also died suddenly, said Bonnie Conte, who played DuFree.

Her husband William was arrested and later released after doctors later determined that DuFree died of pneumonia and a swollen liver, Conte said.

Still, DuFree questioned whether she really died of natural causes or if her husband poisoned her, Conte said.

"My husband remarried," Conte said. "I wonder whatever happened to Annabella."

The final pearl of wisdom about taking time out for God came from the Rev. Herman F. Fruechtenicht.

He was born in Germany, became a U.S. citizen, studied theology and was later installed as the pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he served for 33 years.

Michael Delehoy, as Fruechtenicht, urged attendees to have faith in Jesus to achieve eternal life.

"I charge you now to go in peace and serve the Lord," Delehoy said.

The following residents also were represented on Sunday's walk:

• Elmer Gylleck, a magician, photographer and architect who designed Huff Elementary School and Larsen Middle School, among other buildings.

• Violet Hagelow Fehrman, who was so close to her twin sister Rose Hagelow that the pair both married men named Albert, honeymooned together in St. Louis and dressed alike, even into adulthood. Her husband Albert Fehrman was an Elgin alderman and mayor for 23 years.

• Anna Lynch, a miniature and portrait painter who studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and exhibited her paintings all around the world.

• James A. Palmer, a Civil War veteran who operated Elgin's first funeral home and started the town's Memorial Day parade. He died on Memorial Day in 1915.

All funds raised from Sunday's event go toward the Elgin Area Historical Society and Museum's operating budget, said Margaret Rowe, one of the event's co-chairs.