RSS FEED / SITE SYNDICATION

This site uses SharedRSS

To keep informed of new content as it is added, just right-click on the XML icon below and select 'copy link' -- then insert that link into your favorite RSS Aggregator.

Burial Grounds

The Quaker Burial-ground

The Quaker burial-ground, adjoining the church, and donated by Arthur Power, as before mentioned, received as its first occupants Mrs. Selinda, wife of Nathan Power, and their only daughter, seven years of age; both of whom died of cholera on the morning of August 7, 1832, and were interred there in one grave in the afternoon of the same day. The second interment was that of Robert Power, brother of Arthur, in December, 1834. The third was that of John Whitman, who died May 18, 1836. Arthur Power was buried there August 8, 1837, and there his ashes rest to-day, with those of five sons and two daughters - Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Botsford - near him. The acre is well filled with graves now, and is still used as a place of interment, principally by the relatives and descendants of those who first projected and occupied it.

The Farmington Village-cemetery

This is an inclosure of about two acres, lying on the north side of the Howel road, half a mile northwest of the centre of Farmington village. The ground was part of the original purchase of Arthur Power, and the old grave-yard, the uncleus of the present cemetery, was first used as a place of sepulture in the year 1825, by the interment of a Mr. Green, the first male who died in Farmington. He had plied the trade of shoemaker in a little log house which stood a few rods north of the present residence of W. S. Beach, on the west side of the road, where it is now fringed by a row of young and thrifty willows. There he worked, and lived, and died; and from there they carried him to the place of his final rest.

The next person buried there was Mrs. Sybil Hopkins, wife of Horace Hopkins. The third burial was that of Constantine Wood, in October, 1826. (The stone above his grave bears the date of 1827, but this is incorrect, the date being fixed by his widow (now Mrs. Ahijah Wixom) as October, 1826.) Half a year later came that of the wife of David Smith, who died April 8, 1827. Another among the first interments there was John, son of Arthur Power, July 21, 1828. His remains were removed to the Quaker ground in 1867, by direction of his brother William. Seymour Newton was also buried here, in 1832.

Four years after the incorporation of the village of Farmington (March 25, 1871) the ground was surveyed and platted, and lots were then sold under the regulations, rules, and restrictions usual in cemeteries. It is a spot of natural beauty, and has been creditably decorated.

The Utley Burying-ground

The Utley burying-ground, situated on the south line of section 12, and half a mile west of Buckhorn Corners, is the oldest place of graves in Farmington. Its name was given partly because it was donated from the original purchase of Peleg S. Utley, and partly, and more particularly, because his mother, Mrs. Sanford M. Utley, was the first of its occupants, buried September 26, 1824. Around this lonely grave - the first ever made for a white person in Farmington - others clustered in due time, establishing it as a ground of public burial. Some years ago, it having become quite populous and its extension seeming to be necessary, the inhabitants of the village enlarged its area by the purchase of adjoining land.

The Wolcott Cemetery

The location of this cemetery is on the eastern side of the road which leads from Farmington Centre to the North Farmington post- office, and three-fourths of a mile south from the latter point. It is owned and controlled by a cemetery association, which was incorporated in March, 1837, under the leadership of Chauncey D. Wolcott, Orange Culver, and John H. Button, who held its leading offices at the time of the organization. The first interment in this ground, made after the laying out, but before the incorporation, was that of a young daughter of Austin Nichols. The second burial was that of Gardner Frink.

On account of irregularities or neglect in the keeping of the records the organization was lost, and a re-incorporation became necessary. This was accomplished in February, 1874.

By the original plat the area of the ground was a little more than half an acre, being nine rods square. This has been added to by two different purchases, so that its present dimensions are ten by twenty-two rods; area, one and three-eighths acres. This site is excellent, and the cemetery a handsome one.

Formerly, before the laying out of the cemetery, there was a cluster of graves just south of the house of C. D. Wolcott, and on the same side of the road. The first who was laid in it was Horace Cowles, a young man, son of Darius Cowles. He died of consumption about 1830. The next burial was that of John Wolcott, father of Chauncey D. Wolcott, and the next after him was Lucy Cowles, who was laid beside her brother Horace. These remains were afterwards transferred to the cemetery.

Grave-yard at the Old Baptist Church

There is an ancient burial-ground on the northwest corner of section 17, adjoining where stood the old Baptist church of 1835. It is still used as a place of burial, and the graves have become numerous. The name and date of the first interment within it cannot with certainty be given. This is really the successor of still older ground, which was situated half a mile farther south, on land of Thomas Johns, and opposite the present residence of his son, Daniel Johns. The first person buried in this old grave-yard was a son of Thomas Johns. The whole number of interments made there was probably about fifty.

Other Interment-grounds

There is, upon the farm of Ledyard Cowley, a spot of ground where several interments were made years ago. It might be called the Wixom grave-yard, as all its occupants were of that name, save one, Mrs. Conrad Hayner, whose remains, as well as those of Mary Jane Wixom, were removed and reinterred in the town cemetery. Robert Wixom, the ancestor of all the Wixoms of Farmington, was buried in this place.

In the west part of the town, a little north of the gravel road, near the old Wixom tavern, is an inclosure containing several graves of members of the Courter family; that of Harmenius Courter being the most noticeable, by reason of the more conspicuous monument which has been reared over it. This inclosure is on land owned by Francis Courter, and which was part of the original entry of Howland Mason.

The writer is under special obligations to the following persons, who have furnished valuable information: Dr. E. Woodman, W. L. Coonley, Esq., S. P. Lyon, John Collins, Mrs. Cynthia M. Collins, David Smith, E. G. Stevens, Thaddeus Andrews, C. Wixom, Myra Gage, of Novi, William L. Power, Esq., Orange Culver, Mrs. W. S. Beach, Milton G. Botsford, Thomas Pinkerton, of Novi, Deacon J. M. Adams, and Dr. Ebenezer Raynale, of Birmingham.