GRAVE OF THE CHESTERVILLE WITCH

Chesterville can't be found on maps of Illinois anymore but it is still there. It is located west of Arcola, in the Illinois Amish country. Just outside of the village and across a one lane bridge is Chesterville Cemetery. Inside is the Witch's Grave which is said to belong to a young Chesterville woman. She was thought to be a witch and her ghost reportedly appears near the grave.

She was to be very liberal minded and challenged the Amish faith, talking against the treatment of women, because of this she was called a witch. She continually disobeyed the elders of the church, they finally banished her. Because few people ever questioned the elders decisions, it was said that she had practiced witchcraft and served the devil.

She vanished after that, and soon afterward her body was found in a field. No matter what really happened, the authorities said that she died of natural causes. Her remains where taken to a close-by funeral home where many people came to see the "witch's" body.

She was finally buried in Chesterville Cemetery and supposedly they planted a tree to keep her spirit from roaming. The tree is still there, but the people believe that if it dies or is removed that her spirit will be free to extort her revenge on them.

The witch is said to have appeared to those going by and in the cemetery, but because of the tree she is only seen in the area of her grave. As more people see her, they are starting to believe the stories about her

Run-in with the Chesterville Witch - from Ed H.