The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 18

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I > Part 18

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1817, the first day of May and the fifth of the same month, we, undersigned priest rector of St. Anne's, have made disinter- ment of a certain quantity of bones from the middle of the main street, where were formerly the old burying grounds and old Church of St. Anne. We buried these remains, with all the re- quired ceremonies, in a square grave, in the middle of the new burying ground ; this in presence of the undersigned, Etienne Dubois, and a great number of people.

(Signed) ETIENNE DUBOIS, GABRIEL RICHARD.

It was as a quid pro quo for these grounds that St. Anne's Church received the large tract on Larned Street, east of Bates Street.

An old memorial, dated April 22, 1807, addressed to the Governor and Judges, says:

About the year 1796 or '97 it was deemed expedient for the benefit and health of the inhabitants of the ancient town of De- troit (considering the great length of time that the small space of ground adjacent to the church has been used as a public place of interment) that a new burial-ground should be allotted to our con- gregation on the then public commons. Accordingly the ground which we now hold was picketed in, with the approbation of the corporation of Detroit, and the consent of Colonel Hamtramck, the military commandant of this place, under whose jurisdiction the commons was then in some measure considered.

The statements of the memorial are confirmed by a letter from Peter Audrain to Governor St. Clair, dated November 1, 1798, on file at Columbus, Ohio. It says :

I think it my duty to inform your Excellency that the com- mandant of this post has granted an acre of ground on the com- mons joining the town, to be used as a burying ground by the Roman Catholics. This grant answers a very good purpose, as the old burying ground joining their church and within the pickets is so full that it is a real public nuisance, and has been presented as such by several grand juries.

The grounds on Larned Street, thus obtained, con- tinued to be used up to 1827, when the city gave the Catholics the use of one half of the then new City Cemetery on the Beaubien Farm.

Mount Elliott Cemetery.

This is located on the Leib Farm, and is bounded by Waterloo Street on the north, Macomb Street on the south, Mount Elliott Avenue on the east, and Elmwood Cemetery on the west. In 1882 it con- tained sixty-five acres. The first purchase of eleven acres was made on August 31, 1841. The cemetery is named after Robert T. Elliott, one of the original projectors and purchasers. His own interment, the first in the grounds, took place on September 12, 1841. From that day to January, 1884, the aggregate of inter- ments reached about 25,- 765, not including the re- mains of 1,490 graves removed from the old City Cemetery on the Beaubien Farm in the fall of 1869.

The ground is laid out into about 6,000 lots, of which upwards of 4,000 have been sold at prices ranging from $25 to $300. Single graves are sold at a fixed price and the poor are buried free. The cost of the several purchases of land up to 1884 amounted to $45,190, and nearly an

ENTRANCE TO MT. ELLIOTT CEMETERY.

CEMETERIES.

equal amount has been expended for improve- ments. The cemetery was opened in September, 1841, and was consecrated the same year by Bishop Lefevere. A second lot of ground was consecrated

PLAT OF

UT. MARYE

CROSS PLACE

AVENUE

MOUNT

ELLIOTT

CEMETERY 1.

MAP OF MT. ELLIOTT CEMETERY.

by the same prelate on December 7, 1865, and a later purchase by Bishop Borgess on October 16, 1881.

A stone gateway was completed in September, 1882, at a cost of $6,000. The cemetery was originally under the direct care of the bishop of the diocese. On November 5, 1865, it was incorporated, and placed in the care of twelve trustees, two each being elected from the parishes of SS. Peter and Paul, St. Anne's, St. Mary's, Holy Trinity, St. Joseph's, and St. Patrick's. Since October 1, 1884, the ceme- tery has been managed by nine trustees, represent- ing the different nationalities of the several Roman Catholic parishes of Detroit. The Board of Trus- tees in 1887 was as follows: Richard R. Elliott, Henry D. Barnard, Alexander E. Viger, Joseph B. Moore, Francis Petz, Joseph Schulte, Jeremiah Cal- non, John Monaghan, A. Petz, John Heffron, C. J. O'Flynn.

When the ground was first opened it was placed in charge of P. Burns, who in 1872 was succeeded by John Reid. One of the chief points of interest is the grave and tombstone of Colonel John Francis Hamtramck, the first American commandant at Detroit. He was originally buried in the graveyard of St. Anne's, but in July, 1866, under the super- intendence of R. R. Elliott, the remains were removed, placed in an oaken casket, and deposited in Mount Elliott. The grave is located at the intersection of Shawe and Resurrection Avenues. The inscription on the stone is as follows :

Sacred to the Memory of John Francis Hamtramck, Esq., Colonel of the Ist United States Regiment of Infantry and Commandant of Detroit and its Dependencies. He departed this life on the 11th of April, 1803, Aged 45 years, 7 months & 28 days. True Patriotism, And a zealous attachment to National liberty, Joined to a laudable ambition led him into Military service at an early period of his life. He was a soldier even before he was a man. He was an active participator in all the Dangers, Difficulties and honors of the Revolutionary War; And his heroism and uniform good conduct procured him the attention and personal thanks of the immortal Washington. The United States in him have lost A valuable officer and a good citizen, And Society an Useful and Pleasant Member; to his family the loss is incalculable, and his friends will never forget the Memory of Hamtramck. This humble monument is placed over his Remains by the officers who had the Honor to serve under his command- A small but grateful tribute to his merit and his worth.

CEMETERIES.

Protestant Cemeteries.

The earliest record concerning a Protestant ceme- tery is contained in the proceedings of the Board of Trustees for October 3, 1803. It says, "It is well known that the Protestant burying ground is in very bad order, and Charles Curry is requested to open a subscription for that object.'

The ground referred to covered a portion of what is now Woodward Avenue, between Larned and Congress Streets, and was probably a part of the same grounds shown in the maps of 1749 and 1796. In 1818 it was known as the English burying ground, and meetings of citizens were held on July 18 and 25, to consider the necessity of enclosing the grounds; and on being petitioned to do so, the trustees resolved to enclose them, by tax if neces- sary. On July 26, 1819, a portion of this burying ground was granted by the Governor and Judges to the First Protestant Society. It was used for burials up to June, 1827, and then the city passed an ordi- nance forbidding its further use for such purposes. The remains of persons buried in the grounds were removed at various times as necessity demanded. A notice from the trustees, requesting the removal of the remains by friends, was published as late as February 5, 1851.

City Cemeteries.

The establishment of the first City Cemetery grew out of a meeting of citizens held on December 16, 1826, when a committee was appointed to report upon a site for burial purposes outside of the city. The Common Council then took action, and a com- mittee was appointed to procure suitable grounds. On March 22, 1827, they reported that they had purchased of Antoine Beaubien two and one half acres for a burial ground, for which they paid $500. At the same meeting the mayor submitted a resolution for the payment of the $500 which had been borrowed from the Bank of Michigan. The purchase was fully consummated on June 1, 1827, and on June 19 the council appointed a committee, consisting of Recorder E. P. Hastings and Alder- man P. J. Desnoyers, to divide the grounds into two equal parts, and these parts were thereafter desig- nated respectively as the Catholic and the Protestant Cemetery. The lots had been laid out previous to this division, and when the dividing fence was erect- ed it ran directly across many of the lots. This fact, however, proved of great practical convenience, for many families, who had both Protestant and Catholic relatives, bought these lots lying along the line of the fence, and buried their Catholic friends on one side and their Protestant relatives on the other; thus the sanctity of the ground was preserved, while in the same lot, and yet in two different cemeteries,

those of opposite faiths reposed in peace. On Sun- days this place was a favorite resort. Being within easy walking distance, scores and hundreds of chil- dren and grown people, on pleasant Sabbaths, wan- dered about the grounds, reading and comparing the tombstone inscriptions. The first lots in the Protestant portion of the cemetery were sold at auction on March 26, 1828, and the money received was used for improvements. The grounds lay be- tween Gratiot and Clinton Streets, and extended a little east of St. Antoine Street, bounded on the west by what is now known as Paton Street. This last street was then called Cemetery Lane, and extended from the Gratiot Road to Jefferson Avenue. In 1836 a gate was erected at the entrance on Jefferson Avenue, midway between Beaubien and St. Antoine Streets. The lane was laid out in 1827, partially enclosed in 1836, and fully enclosed in 1843. In June, 1845, a petition was circulated to have it opened, but it was decided that the city had no rights therein. After 1855 no interments were allowed to be made in the cemetery, and in Feb- ruary, 1859, Mullett Street was opened through the grounds. A large portion is now designated as Clinton Park.

The second City Cemetery dates from May 31, 1834. The mayor on that day bought at auction, for $2,010, fifty-five acres of the Guoin Farm, just north of the Gratiot Road, and now bounded on the west by Russell Street. The tract was deemed too large for a cemetery, and thirty-five acres were di- vided into lots and sold. A plan of the grounds was adopted on September 30, 1835, and the price of lots was fixed at $10 for full, and $5 for half lots. Originally the city sexton had charge of the grounds and sold the lots. From 1841 to 1863 sales were made by the city clerk, and after 1863 the comp- troller was charged with the care of the plan and the sale of lots. On April 20, 1869, it was ordered that no more bodies be buried in the grounds, and on May 14, 1879, an order of the Circuit Court was issued vacating the cemetery. This gave the city full con- trol over it for other purposes, and since then the work of removing the graves has gone rapidly for- ward. One thousand four hundred and ninety-three bodies were removed in 1880, at a cost of $2,019, and buried at Grosse Point, a portion of the hospital grounds having been set apart for the purpose; in 1881 one thousand six hundred and sixty-eight additional bodies were removed, and during 1882 the work was completed by the removal of the remains of one thousand three hundred and fifty-seven bodies. The House of Correction and one of the Hay and Wood Markets occupy a portion of the ground ; and, as opportunity offers, the city is per- fecting its title to the entire cemetery by buying up the rights of lot-owners.

CEMETERIES.

Elmwood Cemetery.

This beautiful cemetery lies in the eastern part of the city. The ground is of a light, porous nature, and from its natural conformation admirably adapted for the purpose. Parent's Creek, or Bloody Run, winds gracefully through the grounds and adds much to the attraction of the place. The money to purchase the first forty-one acres was obtained by

ENTRANCE TO ELMWOOD CEMETERY.

subscription. The land cost $1,858, and was con- tracted for in the spring of 1846. On October 8, fol- lowing, the cemetery was opened, and the next day, at an auction sale, the subscribers had their choice of the lots. Those of the subscribers who did not want lots, had their subscriptions refunded. The as- sociation was incorporated by special Act on March 5, 1849, and under the Act all moneys received from sale of lots, over and above the cost of the grounds, must be devoted to their improvement. The deed for the first purchase was dated July 10, 1850. The date and cost of subsequent purchases are as fol- lows: August 26, 1851, 11.89 acres, $1,200; De- cember 6, 1851, Lots 21 and 22 of Hunt Farm, $600; January 24, 1852, 2.22 acres, $200; Septem- ber 12, 1864, five acres of D. C. Whitwood, $3,500 ; May 12, 1871, 11 1/3 acres, $16,000. By the opening of German Street three and one third acres were left outside the enclosure, leaving seventy-eight acres in the grounds. In 1852 a tasteful and substantial monument was erected on the grounds designated as the Strangers' Lot.

The Chapel was built in 1855, and cost $4,000. It is a Norman Gothic structure of quarried lime- stone, about thirty-four feet long by twenty wide.

The stone gateway, fronting Elmwood Avenue, at the head of Croghan Street, was completed in 1870, and cost $6,000. The size of lots varies from 15 x 20 to 20x 30; the prices in 1850 were from $15 to

$100 each. On January 1, 1884, there were about 3,500 lot-owners, and 55 lots were still unsold. The total number of interments at that date was 21,421.

The first trustees were A. D. Fraser, president ; John Owen, treasurer; Henry Ledyard, secretary ; C. C. Trowbridge, Israel Coe, and J. S. Jenness. On August 9, 1854, C. I. Walker took the place of Israel Coe, removed to New York. On July 16, 1861, D. B. Duffield was elected in place of H. Ledyard, and C. I. Walker became secre- tary. On June 14, 1862, Caleb Van Husan became a trustee in place of J. S. Jenness, removed from the city. On April 4, 1868, Mr. Walker resigned, and William A. Butler was then elected a trustee and D. B. Duffield chosen secretary. On January 22, 1878, R. P. Toms succeeded A. D. Fraser as a trustee, and in 1883, after the death of C. C. Trowbridge, his place was filled by the ap- pointment of A. H. Dey. On September 5, 1884, Wm. A. Moore and J. Huff Jones were elected trustees in place of Caleb Van Husan and Robert P. Toms, deceased. From the time the cemetery was opened until May 2, 1870, at which date the office was discon- tinued, Robert Bell acted as collector and agent of the trustees.

The superintendents have been as follows : Wm. Hudson to April, 1855 ; Thomas Matthews to April, 1856; and D Gladewitz to August 5, 1868; William R. Hamilton was appointed September 3, 1 868, and his successor, George H. Harris, on March I, 1875. Mr. Harris resigned February 9, 1876, and on April 12, 1876, A. W. Blain was appointed.

Woodmere Cemetery.

This cemetery lies in the town of Springwells, four and one half miles from the City Hall, and occupies part of the Ship Yard Tract. It is bounded west

ENTRANCE TO WOODMERE CEMETERY.

by Bâby Creek, a wide bayou, which extends within the grounds ; on the south the grounds are bounded by Fort Street, and on the east by the Dix Cross

CEMETERIES .- BURIALS AND SEXTONS.

Road. Woodmere Station, on the L. S. and C. S. Railroads, is located within easy walking distance of the entrance. It is a coincidence worthy of passing notice that a locality known as World's End, on the river Rouge, is quite near the grounds. The name of the cemetery is a compound of "wood " and "mere," and is suggestive of its woods and waters. The grounds embrace two hundred and two acres, are exempt from taxation, well adapted for burial purposes, and capable of being made very attractive.

The association was organized July 8, 1867, and reorganized February 19, 1869, and in the fall of this last year the first interments were made. On April 6, 1868, the board authorized the construction of the entrance, and in 1869 it was built. On May 10, 1869, the following persons were chosen directors : John J. Bagley, E. W. Hudson, C. I. Walker, M. S. Smith, M. W. Field, Bela Hubbard, D. M. Richard- son. G. W. Lloyd, Daniel Scotten, E. A. Elliott, William Phelps, Amos C. Hubbard, and George Kirby. At a subsequent meeting the following offi- cers were elected : John J. Bagley, president ; E. W. Hudson, vice-president; C. I. Walker, secretary; M. S. Smith, treasurer; Moses W. Field and Bela Hubbard, Executive Committee.

The officers in 1883 were R. W. Gillett, president; E. Y. Swift, vice-president; M. S. Smith, treasurer ; C. I. Walker, secretary ; with the following persons as additional directors : G. W. Latimer, E. Y. Swift, M. W. Field, Philo Parsons, B. Hubbard, J. Greusel, S. J. Murphy, R. W. Allen, and George Kirby.

The cemetery was formally dedicated July 14, 1869, when an address was delivered by C. I. Walker. The number of lot-owners up to 1884 was 1,487, and there were about 17,000 lots still for sale. The number of interments, exclusive of the 2,000 removed from the old City Cemetery, was 6,541. In Novem- ber, 1868, the city contracted for about five acres, at ten cents a square foot, to be used for the burial of the city poor. The ordinary price for lots is from twenty-five to fifty cents a square foot.

The general rules of the cemetery are as follows : All erections known as head and foot boards are prohibited. All family burial lots and all single graves are sodded and kept in good order by the corporation without charge. Hedges, wooden trel- lises, and posts and chains are not allowed for the purpose of enclosure.

No corpse is allowed to remain in the public vault over one week, unless permission is obtained in writing from the president or secretary. F. W. Hig- gins is superintendent ; office at the cemetery.

Jewish Cemeteries.

The Reform Congregation Beth El Temple, on Washington Avenue, opened a cemetery adjoining Elmwood about 1850. It was formally recognized

as a cemetery by the council on July 16, 1861, but no regular record of interments was kept till about 1870. It is now used only by those who own lots there ; no new lots are sold. On April 5, 1873, the congregation contracted with the officers of Wood- mere for the sole control of about three acres in Section F north.

In 1864 the congregation of Shaary Zedec pur- chased one and one half acres for cemetery purposes near the D. & M. R. R. Junction, for $450. In 1882 half an acre was used by the congregation of Beth Israel, one fourth of an acre by the Detroit Lodge Kesher Shel Basal, and three fourths of an acre by the original purchasers.

Lutheran Cemetery.

This cemetery, containing ten acres, is located about three miles from the City Hall, on the left- hand side of the Gratiot Road, on the Meldrum Farm. It was purchased January 11, 1868, at a cost of $2,600. It is controlled by the congregation of the Trinity Lutheran Church on the corner of Gratiot Avenue and Prospect Street. The price of lots is $30. The officers in 1883 were, H. A. Chris- tiansen, secretary, and C. H. Beyer, treasurer, with Christian Schroeder as superintendent.

BURIALS AND SEXTONS.

The use of hearses in Detroit dates from about 1830. Prior to their introduction, coffins were car- ried to the grave upon biers or bars, borne sometimes upon the shoulders, and often carried by hand. At the funeral of a person of wealth, the bearers were provided with long white linen scarfs. These scarfs were tied with linen cambric, which, according to custom, was used for the bosoms of the shirts which the bearers were expected to have made from the scarfs.

Formerly there was great carelessness in the keeping of the records by cemetery officials and sextons. At the present time permits for burials must be obtained from the health officer, and are issued only upon evidence within his knowledge as such officer, or upon the certificate of a reputable physician, or a coroner.

A city sexton was appointed as early as 1827, but the office was not definitely created until March 17, 1829. It was the duty of the sexton to superintend interments in the Protestant ground, and he was paid by the amounts received for his services, which were prescribed by ordinance. It was possibly at this time that

The doctor told the sexton, And the sexton tolled the bell,

as an ordinance allowed the latter fifty cents for "tolling." On September 18, 1829, the council was petitioned to prevent the further tolling of the bell,

BURIALS AND SEXTONS .- COUNTY CORONERS.

and this part of his duties ceased for a time. In 1841 it was made his duty to report the names of all persons dying in the city, with the cause of death, and the name of the attending physician. More recently it was his duty to file the physician's certificate with the city clerk. He was also charged with the care of the grounds of the City Cemetery. He was appointed by the council on nomination of the mayor. From 1863 he had a salary of $200 per year in addition to the amounts allowed to be charged for the burial of paupers.

By ordinance of 1870 the amount allowed was $8 if buried in Elmwood or Mt. Elliott, and $9 if buried in Woodmere. On an order from the Director of the Poor, it was the duty of the sexton to give any person, dying without means, or the body of any pauper or criminal, a burial. By a charter amend- ment in 1879 the office terminated with that year, and the duties were transferred to the Commission- ers of the Poor. The following persons served as city sextons :

1827, E. W. Barnes; 1828-1833, Israel Noble; 1833-1835, George Combs; 1835-1841, I. Noble; 1841-1844, C. H. Eckliff; 1844-1847, R. C. Scadin ; 1847-1850, James Sutherland; 1850-1852, E. Myers; 1852-1857, F. Deinecke; 1857-1859, P. Clessen ; 1859-1861, A. T. Ray; 1861, Joseph Parkinson; 1862-1864, V. Geist; 1864, Neil Flattery; 1865-1868, Thomas Roche; 1868-1871, V. Geist; 1871-1874, George Heron; 1874-1876, R. Bronson; 1876-1878, James Hickey; 1878, V. Geist.

COUNTY CORONERS.

The office of coroner is as old as the Northwest Territory. Under Michigan Territory, by Act of September 13, 1805, the territorial marshal was con- stituted coroner. Act of November 3, 1815, pro- vided that coroners should be appointed by the governor. Act of April 21, 1825, provided for their election on the second Tuesday of October for terms of three years. Under Constitution of 1835

the term of office was two years. By law of 1836 two were to be elected instead of one as before, The Constitution of 1850 made no provision for the office, and none were elected between 1851 and 1857. The Revised Statutes of 1857 revived the office.

In any case where death is sudden, and not to be accounted for on natural grounds, the coroner may hold an inquest. The fees are paid by the county auditors and are as follows: For viewing a body, $3; for each mile traveled in going to the place, ten cents; for each subpoena served on witnesses called to aid in determining cause of death, twenty-five cents; for administering oath to witnesses, ten cents. Jurymen serving on coroner's inquests are paid $2 per day. Six persons constitute a jury.

The names of the coroners, with their terms of service, are as follows :

1796, Herman Eberts; 1799 and 1801, John Dode- mead; 1803, Joseph Harrison; 1804, Joseph Wilkin- son; November 21, 1815 to 1836, Benjamin Wood- worth; 1836, B. Woodworth, A. S. Schoolcraft ; 1837-1840, D. Petty, A. Y. Murray; 1840, A. Y. Murray, David French; 1841 and 1842, James Hanmer, James Gunning; 1843, James Beaubien, John Simons; 1844, W. W. Howland, J. B. Sprague ; 1845 and 1846, Paschal Mason, Alexander Lead- beter; 1847-1850, John H. Hill, H. R. Nowland; 1850, C. W. Jackson, Alanson Parsons; 1851 and 1852, D. D. Hustis; E. Lewis; 1857, George Moran, Daniel Murray; 1858-1861, C. W. Tuttle, A. W. Sprague; 1861-1863, E. Lauderdale, C. H. Bar- rett; 1863-1865, J. W. Daly, Reuben Huston; 1865-1867, Timothy McCarthy, J. W. Daly; 1867- 1869, P. B. Austin, J. W. Daly; 1869-1873, John Gnau, James Cahill; 1873, A. F. Jennings, J. S. Griffin; 1874, N. B. Rowley, J. S. Griffin; 1875 and 1876, N. B. Rowley, James Cahill; 1877, Peter Oaks, John Wilson; 1878 and 1879, Peter Oaks, Adam Schulte; 1880, A. Schulte; 1881, A. E. Carrier, J. D. Richards; 1882, W. Y. Clark, A. E. Carrier; 1883- 1885, M. Denne, J. Locke; 1885, J. Locke, R. M. Keefe ; 1886- , R. R. Lansing, R. M. Keefe.

CHAPTER XII.

HEALTH OFFICERS .- DRAINS AND SEWERS. - SCAVENGERS.

HEALTH OFFICERS.

THE first mention made of a Board of Health is found in the Council Proceedings of 1831. The board was composed of Drs. J. L. Whiting and R. S. Rice ; in 1832 Drs. Henry and Chapin were ad- ded; and on account of the prevalence of cholera, the aldermen also, occasionally, resolved themselves into a Board of Health. In 1837 fear of small-pox again led the council to institute a Health Board. Several physicians were appointed to vaccinate the poor, and on April 12 they were requested to organ- ize for that purpose. In 1849 the fear of cholera led to the appointment of a Board of Health, con- sisting of Drs. L. H. Cobb, R. S. Rice, and Z. Pitcher. A board was also provided for by ordi- nances of 1861 and 1870. It consisted of the senior alderman of each ward and four physicians, ap- pointed by the council, two of whom were required to be city physicians. The president of the Board of Police Commissioners, by virtue of his office, was a member of the board. Five members consti- tuted a quorum; the city clerk kept the records. No regular meetings were held, but members were called together whenever it was deemed desirable. They were paid $1.50 for each session attended. The board had power to do all things needful for the health of the city, but matters involving special expenditures required the approval of the council.

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The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 18

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096