In 1828 Walnut, Illinois had but two residents and it remained that way for about a decade. By 1845 six families were living in Walnut. Richard Brewer, an early settler and town founder, owned a considerable amount of property west of Main Street. He had moved to the area around 1843 and after Brewer platted the village he named it Brewerville. When a post office was established the village was renamed to Walnut after a walnut grove in the area. On October 26, 1876 the village was incorporated. As more settler's came and the town began to grow it became apparent a cemetery was needed so Brewer donated some of his land where the Walnut Cemetery is located.

The cemetery is divided by County Road 1300E or Cemetery Road. Ross Street in Walnut merges with Cemetery Road and ends at a connection to IL-92. The cemetery is laid out in 15 Sections or Blocks A through O. Section's A through F are located on the south side or "old section" as it is called by locals. These sections are where the oldest burials are located, some recorded as early as the 1840's. Section O, a recently added new section, is just west of the old section. Sections G through N are on the other side of the Cemetery Road or north side. Drives leading into the sections are biblically named. Moses, Noah and Solomon are in the old section. John, Luke, Mark, and Matthew are in the newly added addition and St. Peter, Luther, Joseph, Madonna and Savior are on the north side.

Several veterans are buried at the cemetery from the War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and II. Civil War vets have a 2 foot high white round top monument stone next to their headstones. An article from June 1, 1900 from the Bureau County Tribune about Decoration Day stated there were 30 soldiers buried at Walnut Cemetery who took part in the War of 1812, the rebellion in the sixties and Cuban wars. Metal veteran markers are also displayed on all veterans at the cemetery, along with markers for members of the National Women's Relief Corps (WRC). Freemasons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), Modern Woodmen of America (MWA), Police and Firefighters are also recognized with metal markers.

In the spring of 1924 several remains from nearby Roggy Cemetery were brought to Walnut Cemetery for reburial. Roggy Cemetery for decades was uncared-for until a restoration project was done in 1998. At that time more families were contacted to see if they would like their ancestors moved to Walnut Cemetery. You may find some of these burials today listed for both Roggy and Walnut Cemetery.

On the south side of the cemetery is a utility building. On the building are windowed displayed plat map spreadsheets. The maps indicate the name, grave number and lot number, in that order, of the burials in the cemetery. If further assistance is needed, you can call the Village of Walnut office at 815-379-2351.