Maple Grove Cemetery: Michigan

I really meant to actually post this on the 5th, but getting out the laptop seemed too much like work on a 3 day weekend!

So, how was your 4th?

Chuck spent some time with his new girlfriend, Penelope.

Looking at this, she needs her eye sockets filled in and a tutu.

However, she didn't attend the parade in my hometown.

Dealing with Chuck & 2 grandkids is plenty!

Oakland County's Search & Rescue rig is much fancier than the one we use in Lapeer County (I've been a "professionally trained" volunteer since the team was born back in 2018)

My phone chose to focus on Chuck, but there's a 5' skeleton in the back of that Jeep.

We had a good laugh at this!

This is advertising for a landscape company - I personally would want them to show up in this!

I think the guy driving this had the most fun!

The people on this float were excited to see Chuck!

We got stickers!

And I just happen to follow @j.a.haunts on YouTube!

The parade always begins with Fire Trucks & Ambulances

and ends with Police.

The grandkids, of course, had to pose with Chuck.

Oooo, conveniently on the 5th.....

the last of my recent skeleton purchases was delivered!

The dimensions said 17" but for some reason I was thinking ~tall~ and not ~ear to tip of tail~!

But that's OK. It's still different from the rest of my doggos.

Oh - and because I'm weak.....

the At Home skeleton wheelbarrow managed to fall into my cart when I went there last.

And of course, since I've vowed to NOT go back there (after already spending an embarrassing amount of $$) - they sent me an email saying I am now a VIP and here's 15% off my entire purchase!

Sheesh.

We didn't do fireworks on the 4th because the granddaughter went home with my sister from the BBQ at Mom's house to spend the night. She was really looking forward to seeing them so we couldn't let them off without her!

Chuck was the only one safe from being eaten alive from mosquitos!

Until later.....

Just waiting on TSC to put their skeletons back online. This will be an embarrassing amount of $$ that's actually been planned for. And it probably won't even be as much as at At Home!

TSC keeps doing weird things with their website! First they had the horse & deer & raccoons & possum, etc all listed, but not yet available to buy. Then those disappeared and the ones from last year showed up - the 6' rooster & 3' rooster & hen, etc. Now ALL the plastic skeletons are gone and just the metal animals with the glow in the dark bones painted on them are listed. Neat, but not what I'm looking for.

Patience.

ooo, here's a fun (as in horrifying) memory that popped up on Facebook recently.....

Nasty, isn't it?

That's what happens when you ignore that little warning pic on the side discharge chute of the lawn mower. Don't try to unclog it while it's running!

Thankfully it only sliced my nail and fractured the tip of the bone.

And it healed up nicely - whew!!

Definitely NOT one of my brightest moments!

So last weekend's travels led me to Flint, about an hour or so northwest of me.

But first, my usual disclaimer - I just like to explore cemeteries.

I have no affiliation with said cemetery and if you're looking for someone's grave, I suggest checking out Find A Grave.

Moving on, we were meeting family for a gathering and my niece told me that she & my Mom had gotten to the area with time to spare, so they drove around this lovely cemetery and showed me some pictures. I have a couple cemeteries in Flint on my list to visit, but this was not one of them. So I'm so glad she told me about it!

After leaving the gathering, I asked if Sis1 wanted to go with me (wise choice, having someone else with me! Because, Flint.) and she happily agreed.

It's a Michigan Historical Site.

I thought this was super cool!

I love when old cemeteries are taken care of.

We left Sis1's car at the office and she hopped in with me, since it was fairly large (6090 memorials, according to Find A Grave) and very hilly. Plus it was in 2 parts, where you had to leave the cemetery and go to another entrance to get to the other part.

FAG also says there are 8 "famous" people buried here. Mostly congressmen & governors & high ranking military officers. And one guy who was the first president of the Buick Car Company!

Let's take a look around.

David McIntee

1884-1955

Son of Mary

Jacob Smith

Born in Quebec

AD 1773

The first white settler at the

Grand Traverse of Flint River Michigan

where he died AD 1825

Wish I would have got out of the car and went closer,

apparently the back of the stone says "wah-be-seens" which means "white swan" in Chippewa.

The Payne family stone

Henry Howland Crapo

born in Dartmouth, Mass

May 24, 1804

Died in Flint July 23, 1869

Governor of Michigan 1865-1869

a lot of his history here

Still had some pretty leaves!

The Northrop family plot

Sarah Axford

Daughter of SM & LJ Axford

died Nov 20, 1862

aged 3 years, 11 months

Samuel M Axford MD

died Dec 10, 1873

aged 42 years

Lydia

Seventh Daughter of

Henry H & Mary A

Crapo

Died Sept 14, 1861

Aged 18 years, 2 months

27 days

Henry Booth

Born Dec 4, 1839

Died Dec 11, 1859

A member of the

senior class in the

University & preparing

for the gospel ministry.

His life was pure and

unblameable and his

death happy and triumphant.

His dying message to his friends

"Live for Christ alone"

A token of

affection and

esteem from the

students of the

University of Mich

& friends in Flint

to the Memory of

Henry Booth Northrop

Son of

Rev H. H. Northrop

Pastor of Pres Ch

of this City.

Jennie A.

Second Daughter of

The Rev. Mr. & Mrs.

Northrop

Born

Jan 13, 1844

Died

June 28, 1859

Her last words

"I am going home to Heaven

where is joy & peace, joy & peace."

Helen was another daughter of the Rev HH & MW Northrop.

Died Feb 10, 1861

aged 10

George was their son

Died Feb 5, 1964

aged 11

The Stone family plot

The Maltby family

6.7.8 American Generations

Thy Will Be Done

The Turner family plot

Brevet Major and Captain

Irving Milo Belcher, son of

Horatio and Mary A Belcher

Born Sept 14, 1842

Enlisted July 31, 1861

Serg. Co C 16th Mich Inf

2nd Lieut Aug 30, 1862

1st Lieut Apr 17, 1863

Captain July 16, 1864

Brevetted Major for

gallantry. Gravely ill,

rode with regiment in

final review. Washington

discharged for disability

May 15, 1865. Died on

way home Aug 1, 1865.

Aged 23 years, one month.

****

Irving Belcher Bates

Born Feb 3, 1867 Son of

Wm R and Gertrude Bates

Served as 2nd Lieut Co C

35th Mich Volunteers for

duration Spanish American

War. Died Mar 9, 1938

So a brevetted major is a temporary, honorary promotion where one could use the title of major, but doesn't offer any authority, pay or privileges of that rank.

William Rufus Bates

Born in Cazenovia

Madison Co, NY

June 28, 1845

Son of Aemilius Ahira and

Marie Louise Dawson Bates

Died in San Diego, Calif

Jan 5, 1921

Buried in Flint, Mich

****

Gertrude Amelia Bates

wife of William R Bates

Born in Richford, NY

Dec 10, 1843

Daughter of Horatio and

Mary Amada Belcher

Died in Flint, Mich

Aug 10, 1925

Major Horatio Belcher

Born at Berkshire, NY

Dec 16, 1816-1819

Son of Joseph Belcher and

Wealthy Whiting Belcher

Enlisted Co G 8th Mich Inf

1 Lieut Aug 12, 1861

Wounded James Island SC

June 16, 1862

Made Captain Sept 1, 1862

Cited for gallantry by

Gen JD Cox Sept 14, 1862

Made major June 3, 1863

Wounded at Cold Harbor VA

June 7, 1864

Re-enlisted July 18, 1864

Fell thrice wounded and

died on field Aug 19, 1864

in command 8th Mich Inf

Battle of Weldon Railroad

before Petersburg VA

The 28th engagement of

the regiment in all

of which he participated.

Mary Amada Belcher

Wife of Horatio Belcher

Daughter of Spencer and

Electa Dunham Hungerford

Born Feb 26, 1821 at

Caroline Center NY

Died at Flint Mich

Mar 27, 1894

****

Eugene Belcher

Son of Horatio and

Mary Amanda Belcher

Born Jan 28, 1846

in Owego NY

Died there Oct 15, 1847

After the family settled

in Flint, Eugene's body

was brought to Flint and

interred in family plot.

William A Morrison

Born in Limerick Maine

June 29, 1815

Drowned in Wild Fowl Bay

Oct 14, 1872

read more here

****
Chloe Morrison

Born

May 24, 1816

Died Oct 6, 1901

can't make out what the line are under each of their died dates.

the Hart family plot

not sure how this is balanced on that big rock!

Isabella Hubbard

Died Aug 16, 1856

aged 1 year

I'm sure those are supposed to be lambs, but they kind of look like ferrets!

The Moon family plot

an aluminum tag in an oak tree

309

"Resurgcam" - Latin for "I shall rise again"

In memory of

our darling child

Jessie Newton

Died Jan 9 AD 1873

aged 11 years, 4 months, 16 days

for of such is the kingdom of Heaven

The Bishop family plot

Little fairy village in the roots of this tree.

Edward H Thomson

born June 15, 1810 in England

died Feb 2, 1886

Lawyer, senator, colonel, mayor

The Parsell family plot

Each individual headstone looks like a tree stump with a small stone log laying across the top with their name, except for I believe Adelbert's, whose stump looked to be cut off at a 45 degree angle.

Henry 1812-1894

Mary 1812-1893

Adelbert 1842-1887

Loretta 1839-1860

Isabell 1844-1868

Nelly 1858-1862

Clarence 1847-1909