Welcome: Grand Traverse & Leelanau Counties Cemeteries

This blog is for the cemeteries of Grand Traverse & Leelanau Counties of Michigan. I am adding headstones I have and will be searching for obits, photos or data from places such as familysearch.org, grand traverse indexes, and adding just a bit of data to give the headstones a life.

If you have headstones you would like to add here please feel free to email Brenda

Credit will be given to all subscribers by adding names and email, IF you want. Thank you for your participation in this project for Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties of Michigan. Brenda

Seeking Michigan Death + online

The following message is sent to you as an officer, Webmaster or newsletter
editor of your genealogy society.

The Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan today launched Seeking
Michigan, www.seekingmichigan.org, the brand-new, one-stop shop for Michigan
historical records never before available electronically. Michigan death
records, 1897 to 1920, and Civil War service records are two highlights of the
digital collections available on this free Web site.

Below is the press release issued today by the Michigan Department of History,
Arts and Libraries.

For more information, please contact Randy Riley, special collections manager at
the Library of Michigan, (517) 373-5860.

Thank you,
Gloriane Peck
Special Collections Librarian
Library of Michigan

'Seeking Michigan' Web site employs today's technology to deliver Michigan's
history to information seekers

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries today announced the launch of the
Seeking Michigan Web site (www.seekingmichigan.org), a growing collection of
unique historical information that - through digitized source documents, maps,
films, images, oral histories and artifacts - creatively tells the stories of
Michigan's families, homes, businesses, communities and landscapes.

Seeking Michigan's first major project is the digitization of roughly 1 million
death records covering the years 1897 through 1920.  These records - never
before available electronically - are indexed for easy searching by name, death
date, location and age, and hold tremendous research opportunities for
genealogists, historians and students.

Whether they are interested in Civil War records, photographs, architecture,
music, photography or family history, Michigan enthusiasts are sure to discover
a brand new side to Michigan through this unique online resource, a
collaboration that has long been in the making between the Archives of Michigan
and the Library of Michigan. Site design and digitization of resources were
funded through various grants.

"Seeking Michigan takes great information from both of our agencies and makes it
available to everyone in a convenient and easy-to-navigate Web site," said State
Librarian Nancy R. Robertson.  "We were inspired by the state motto in designing
the site.  If you look, you will discover stories, photos and much more to
connect you to our state's pleasant peninsulas and one-of-a-kind past."

With plans in place to add much more material, Seeking Michigan currently
includes:

-More than 100,000 pages of Civil War documents;
-Approximately 10,000 photographs;
-A variety of Michigan sheet music;
-Roughly 1 million death records;
-A rich section about Michigan's 44 past governors;
-Works Progress Administration data (circa 1936-1942) about land and buildings
throughout rural Michigan; and
-Oral histories with notable Michigan residents.

According to Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center, Seeking
Michigan boldly moves the archives and library experience outside of the bricks
and mortar of the building in which the collections are housed.  By employing
the latest Web technologies and social media, the site aims for an enhanced user
experience. "We want to give visitors historical content and, whenever possible,
the context for that content," she explained.  "For K-12 educators, there's also
a 'teach' page that links up with related resources and grade-level content
expectations."

Clark noted that Seeking Michigan will open up Michigan's history to a whole new
market of information hunters.  "Seeking Michigan is definitely a big boost for
those who already have an interest in our state's history, including scholars,
authors, genealogists and publishers," she said.  "What we're very excited about
is the prospect of introducing new generations of Michigan residents to the
Michigan they thought they knew and helping them forge connections with our
state's remarkable past."

Seeking Michigan was made possible with generous funding from the Talbert and
Leota Abrams Foundation, a Lansing-based nonprofit that primarily focuses on
funding library and educational science programs.  Since the mid-1980s, the
Abrams Foundation has provided more than $2.5 million toward the development of
the Library of Michigan's and Archives of Michigan' genealogy collection,
including the digitization of the death records so crucial to family historians'
research efforts.  The National Historic Publications and Records Commission
provided additional funding. 

The Library of Michigan Foundation (www.michigan.gov/lmfoundation) and the
Michigan History Foundation (www.michigan.gov/mhfoundation) helped facilitate
the funding process for Seeking Michigan and provide donors the opportunity to
contribute to Seeking Michigan and many other initiatives.

The Archives of Michigan is part of the Michigan Historical Center.  The
Michigan Historical Center and the Library of Michigan are agencies within the
Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).  Dedicated to enriching quality
of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information,
preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity,
HAL also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan
Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.  To learn more, visit
www.michigan.gov/hal.

Down Cemetery Data

Down Cemetery
Mayfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Located: SW Corner, Section 7, T-25-N, R-11-W
From Corner M-37 & M-113, 1 mile S. on M-37 to Harrand Rd.,
2 Miles W.on Harrand Rd., N. Side; NE Corner Harrand Rd. & Co. 633
GPS Coordinates: N javascript:void(0)44°34.230', W085°41.763'

Blackman Cemetery Data

Blackman Cemetery
Bowerman Rd., Paradise Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan.
Location: Almost center of Section 20, T 25 N, R 10 W
From Cor. of Center Rd. & Blackman Rd. S. of Kingsley, .5 mile S. on Blackman
Rd., .5 mile E. on Bowerman Rd. (Seasonal), S. side
GPS Coordinates: N 44° 32.892' , W085° 32.818'
Cemetery on seasonal road, surrounded by woods. It has been recently mowed.
No houses or buildings noted within app. 3/8 mile.

Additional Comments:
Only 10 headstones remain with adequate identification. There are several with
only initials, e.g. "L.A.B."

Data from Norman W. Remington

The Beer Substitute

Daily Eagle
Traverse City
8 Sept 1905 pg 2

THE BEER SUBSTITUE

The State Fair grounds at Detroit are located within less than 1,000 yards of a cemetery, and there is an old law upon the statute books that prohibits the sale of intoxicants within that distance of the resting place of the dead. And, while there was little danger of a protest being entered by the occupants of the place to the selling of liquors in their immediate vicinity, some of the live business men of Detroit took it upon themselves to see to it that the rights of the dead men should be carefully maintained. The prospect was that the man who wanted to take a drink of beer when he visited the fair to take in its sights would be compelled to go dry. and there was a good deal of mourning over the outlook.

But it sees, that a way has been found to beat the law, and no visitor will need to go dry. Somebody has discovered that malt mean, a brewed de-coction, resembles beer so closely after it has been frozen that it is very difficult for even an expert to tell the difference in taste. The meal is practically non-alcoholic, and it is said the law cannot stop its sale. This will be sold under the name of beer across the street from the fair, and with the beers signs that will be used about the place, it is believed that the thirsty buyer will never know when he calls for beer that he is not being served with the real article that made Milwaukee famous.

If the managers of the State Fair can work with this kind of a gag successfully upon the confirmed beer-drinks they are sharper then we give them credit it for.

John & Anna Lillie Family

Thanks Holly for the photographs and family lore.

Lillie Family: Big Plot but the family scattered, only three in the family plot. John G. Lillie son of Thomas Lillie & Anna Youker; Anna Youker Lillie w of Thomas, dau of John G Youker & Catherine Burkdorff, Anna Ellen Lillie- dau of Frank & Orilla Lillie.

Anna brought her family to Grand Traverse County c 1880 , her husband Thomas has turned up "missing" by then. Anna's brothers and families were here. Eventually Anna's sons John & Frank find their way to Simcoe Co Ontario. WHY ONTARIO? John later left for Alberta Canada died there in 1918,he is buried in Oakwood here , and Frank stayed in Simcoe- when his daughter died she was buried in Oakwood in T.C.

Anna's other children that were in Grand Traverse Co with her- Esther m George Sackett moved to Battle Creek, Melissa Jane m Wm Raeburn from Simcoe Co Ont, Nelson never married lived New Orleans, Simeon moved to Montana.

I am a descendant of Melissa Jane, who raised her children in Ontario then moved to Sault Saint Marie Mi, where my father was later raised then he moved to this area where he met my mom and so began my family in Traverse City.....Full circle back to Grand Traverse. Holly~


The big stone center says just LILLIE nothing else, the 3 stones in front are each individual. Anna Ellen is near the bush. Anna Youker Lillie/ left front, her son John G. left back {as you look at it}

Harry C. Stauffer

Please enlarge image to read:

Evergreen Cemetery, M113, Kingsley,
Grand Traverse, Michigan

Catherine Youker Bradshaw / Phebe Youker

Thanks Holly Spencer!

Mount Hope Cemetery, Green Lake Twp, G.T. Co.

Catherine Youker Bradshaw-birthdate unknown, Prob Andover, Allegany, N.Y. (father Henry Andover NY 1850's) (parents Henry Youker & Priscilla Phelps- dau of Basil & Phoebe. ) Henry Fam 1860 Potter, Penn 1860 census, to G.T. by 1866. I apparently wasn't able to glean the inscription on the stone.

The Youker family is from N.Y. originally then on to Pennsylvania, Potter County. There are many Youker's still in the G.T. area. There is a Youker family reunion every year in Mayfield?, which I have not yet attended)

Phebe Youker- b 10 July 1858 d 19 Aug 1869 Inland Twp daughter of Henry Youker & Priscilla Phelps

Phebe A. , dau of H & P Youker, Killed by a falling tree, Aug 19 1869. aged 11yrs 1mo 9d

Reading from stone (creepy)!

"Oh, youth beware and do prepare to meet the monster death; For he may come, when you are young, and steal away your breath"

Wilbur, Clara & Hazel Gordon, Oakwood Cemetery

Wilbur Gordon Family
Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City, Michigan
Gordon Stones are the 3 to the right of center tree
Father: Wilbur M. Gordon
b. 1863 d. 1939
Mother: Clara M. Gordon
b. 1865 d. 1949

Daughter: Hazel R. Gordon
b. 1889 d. 1976

1900 census, SD 2 ED 261 Page 11B lines 58-62 taken on the 11th of June shows Wilbur and Clara living at 8th Street, Sioux Falls City, Ward 2, Minnehaha, South Dakota. The data gleaned from this record: Wilbur is born May 1863 in Maine, as were both parents, married to Clara born August 1865 in Pennsylvania, age 34, assumed marriage date is 1886 making them married 14 years at this time. Clara's father was born in Pennsylvania with mother born in New York. Children include Hazel age 11, Earl age 7 and Marjory age 1 with all three children being born in South Dakota. Wilbur's occupation is mail carrier.

____________________

Wilbur and Clara are living in the 1st Ward of Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan, shown in the census taken April 3rd 1930, Enumeration 28-14, SD 4 Page 2A Lines 44/45 living on Webster Street. Wilbur and his parents are from Maine with Clara and father born in Pennsylvania and mother born in New York. Neither of the are working at the age of 66 and 64 years of age living in a home they own. Wilbur was 22 years of age at marriage with Clara age 20years.

____________________

The Social Security record shows Hazel born 18 Aug 1888 and died Nov 1976 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan.

____________________

Hazel's obituary in the Traverse City Record Eagle newspaper 13 Nov 1976 page 7.

Hazel Rose Gordon, 88, of 1560 E. Front Stree, Traverse City, died at Traverse Geriatric Village Thursday evening after an extended illness.

The daughter of Wilbur and Clara (Matthews) Gordon was born 18 Aug 1888 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota and moved to Traverse City in 1900 with her parents. A 1908 graduate of Traverse City High School, she taught country school for two years, then attended Olivet College, graduating in 1914.

She taught English in Eaton Rapids, Mason, Traverse City, Royal Oak and Green Bay, Wisc., retiring in 1948 after 36 years of teaching. After retirement, she spent summers at her cottage on Long Lake and winters in Arizona until 1965 when she made her home with her sister Marjory Graham in Traverse City.

Preceding her in death was a brother, Earle. Surviving are her sister, Mrs. Hugh A. (Marjory) Graham, and many nieces and nephews.

Rev. Dr. Howard Towne will officiate at the funeral to be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Hibbard Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City.

Memorials made be directed to the Northern Michigan College or to Olivet College, envelopes are available at the funeral chapel where friends may call.

____________________

Lenah Beth Bower

Lenna Beth Bower
Evergreen Cemetery, Kingsley, Michigan

Lenna B Bower
b. 21 Aug 1930
d. 3 Mar 1934

Elijah Winchcomb and Lillian Cook
Evergreen Cemetery, Kingsley, Michigan

Elijah is the son of John Winchcomb & Elizabeth Simms. Elijah was born about 1857 in New York. Lillian was born 1870 in Ohio the daughter of Ephraim C. Cook and Mary Brighty. Elijah and Lillian married in Grand Traverse County, Michigan on 8 Sep 1890. (search.labs.familysearch.org)

Jerry D. Rouse