Jonathan Elkins (1761-1852) was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire on October 23, 1761. He moved with his father to Peacham, Vermont. Elkins joined Colonel Baily's Vermont Regiment as a scout, but was soon captured by Loyalist forces that raided his father's house on March 6, 1781. Jonathan was taken to Quebec and transported as a prisoner-of-war to Ireland. From Ireland he was moved to Mill Prison near Plymouth, England on February 9, 1782. He was exchanged for one of Cornwallis' men on June 24, 1782, and returned to Peacham that summer.

Often referred to a "Colonel", a title that may have come to him after the War of 1812, Jonathan Elkins moved to Albion, New York from Vermont about 1836. In 1845, Elkins moved to Kenosha and there he died on May 16, 1852 at age 91. Elkins is buried in the Green Ridge Cemetery, City of Kenosha, Town of Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. To locate Elkins' grave, enter the cemetery from the east gate on 7th Avenue. After entering, take an immediate left turn and go to the first road on the right. Continue about a quarter mile. The grave is on the right. A six-inch concrete wall surrounds several markers. The gravesite is a very short distance from a historical marker to the only person hanged in our state.

GPS coordinates -- N42.57313°; W087.82133°

(Portions reprinted from Solders of the American Revolution Buried in Wisconsin by Robert G. Carroon, who was Curator of Research Collections for the Milwaukee Country Historical Society in 1975.)