North of Genoa in Woodville Township, a cemetery became the center of Platte County’s West Hill area after land for it was first purchased in 1876 from Will Irwin. The first grave was opened in 1878 for Joshua Middleton, who died in a prairie fire, and his grave was marked by four pine trees. Nearby stood several important community sites. North of the cemetery was the West Hill post office, established in 1875 and discontinued in 1900, named by postmaster Hiram Eley for West Hill, England, where residents gathered for mail and community affairs. One mile south and one-fourth mile east of the cemetery stood the former West Hill Methodist Church, organized in 1877 by the Reverend James Linn. The West Hill Baptist Church, organized in the early 1900s, was formerly one mile directly west of the cemetery. Three-fourths mile beyond the Baptist church was the District 68 schoolhouse. One mile east of the cemetery, the West Chicago General Store, built in the 1900’s, once served as the community’s chief grocery supplier.