Heritage \ Writings \

Pine Ridge Cemetery
South east corner of Ridge & Tuscola roads, Bay City, MI.

1860 Nov. - Source: Bay County Historical Society. (Added May, 2008)

The Bay City Times and Press - November 1, 1860
---------- PINE GROVE CEMETERY. -- We notice that the carpenters are now putting a fence around the cemetery lot, one mile east of town on the Plank road. It is soon to be laid out in lots, and improved with tasteful walks, setting out of trees &e. It is of convenient distance, and will be approached at all times by a good road.

Notes:

Why the paper referred to the cemetery as "Pine Grove Grove" is unknown.

Plank road is now the Tuscola Road.

1861 May - Unauthorized burials. (Added December 2006)

Bay City Press and Times - May 9, 1861

A MISTAKE.
_____________________

About a mile from this village on the north side of the plank road there is a lot cleared off and intended for a private burying grounds. As we are informed it is exclusively private property. Strangers have no more authority to use it, than they have to appropriate the garden spot of any man in town. -- But we are told that some two or three persons unknown, under the impression perhaps that it was a public buring ground, deposited bodies within the enclosure. Before the privilege of burial is offered to the public, the grounds will necessarily have to be laid off into streets, alleys, and lots, marked, numbered and a map made of the whole. The place has already cost several hundred dollars, and as many more will have to be expended upon it before it is ready for use. It has so happened that the persons who have thus summarily appropriated the ground without leave have made interments on the exact line of the intended Streets. This will necessarily involve removal, and we wouild advise such persons to report themselves, so that the matter can be attended to satisfactorily and properly.

Note:

"Old plank road," is Tuscola Road today.

1882-82 Directory. (Added Jun. 2008)

Pine Ridge Cemetery -- East side of Tuscola Plank Road, opposite east end of Twelfth street. Hon. James Birney, proprietor. Office, Chronicle Building, Water street. George D. Seaman, sexton; resides in cemetery.

Note:

Directory also lists George D. Seaman as sexton at Green Ridge cemetery (across the road from Pine Ridge) and the Hebrew cemetery bordering Pine Ridge on the east. Mr. Seaman died at the age of 72 on March 2, 1899. He was married to Cornelia Smith of Sault Ste. Marie.

May, 1889: Solders Rest. (Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx - Jun. 2008)

Bay City Tribune - Thursday, May 2, 1889 (Page 4)

Soldiers Rest
The Last Resting Place of the Old Vets
-------

For the past two weeks Grand Army men have been busily engaged beautifying Soldiers Rest in Pine Ridge cemetery, and their labors were completed Monday night. The ground was raised to the proper grade, sixty-two loads of fertile black dirt being placed theron. Then 250 yards of sod were laid. Walks have been laid out and fixed up in the best possible manner, and Soldiers rest with the large round oval bed, which contains over 500 tulips in bloom, presents a beautiful appearance. There are eleven old soldiers buried here and each mound that covers the respective remains has been nicely sodded and a plain marble stone with the inscription of the name and rank of the deceased mark the grave.

Sexton Fisher has taken great pains with Soldiers Rest which is the source of attraction to visitors at the cemetery.

May, 1889: Soldiers Rest. (Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx - Jun. 2008)

Bay City Tribune - Tuesday, May 21, 1889 (Page 6)

Were Not Forgotten
-------

Some two years or more ago Bay County purchased a plat of ground in Pine Ridge cemetery for the burial of the soldier dead of the county. The plat was transferred to the U.S. Grant Post No. 67 G.A.R. and that body acquired by purchase a very important acquisition thereto. Improvements have been made in the ground from time to time, nine bodies have been transferred thereto and the name “Soldiers’ Rest” given it. Sunday was selected for the dedication of the ground by the formal ritual of the order and at 2 o’clock U.S. Grant post assembled at their headquarters and marched to the cemetery, preceded by the drum corps and John A. Rawlings camp S. of V. The number of veterans in line was seventy, with some twenty of the camp. Arriving at the cemetery the comrades formed a circle around the mound where it is intended a monument shall be placed in the near future. The ritual service was then read by Post Commander George Turner and the ritual prayer of dedication offered by Chaplain Glidden, the comrades responding with a hearty “amen” and saluted the dead , after which comrade Rev. W.W. Lyle made a short and appropriate address. The ranks were then broken and time given for the rest and social intercourse, after which the ranks were reformed and the post returned to headquarters.

The day was a delightful one and a large number of people, men, women and children were present to witness the dedication.

Nine soldiers have been buried in the ground and a number of the gravesites are marked with neat headstones furnished by the government. The plat is situated in the east end of the cemetery and is in fine shape. It is laid out in a circular form and is one of the handsomest pieces of ground in Pine Ridge. It will accommodate a large number of burials.

1889 Soldier burials. Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx - July 2008.
Note: Extracted portion about Pine Ridge from Memorial Day article. {View}

The Bay City Tribune -- Thursday, May 30, 1889 (Page 6)

The Soldier Dead
-------

Program to be Carried Out by The Brave
Heroes Who Are Still Among Us
-------
List of The Veterans Interred In The Various
Cemeteries About Bay City
-------

Pine Ridge Cemetery

F. J. Buckman, lieutenant . Co. F. 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry *
Edwin Campbell, sailor Mississippi river navy *
E.J. Colburn, Co. H, 12th Wisconsin Infantry *
E. F. Hart, Co. H, 1st Michigan Infantry *
Stephen H. Hagadorn, Co. K 1st Wisconsin heavy artillery
G. M. Hemingway, Co. H ,4th Michigan Infantry *
Thomas J. Kelly, Co. D. 74th New York Infantry *
Harrison Maxon, Co. D, 10th Michigan Cavalry *
James McCormick, Co. F, 23rd Michigan Infantry *
A. L. McCormick, Captain ,51st Illinois Infantry *
Moses Page, private, Co. K, 14th Maine Infantry *
D. B. Patterson, Chaplain, 78th U.S. Colored Troops *
Ransom W. Randall, private, Co. I, 14th Michigan Infantry
Levi Sheppard, private, command unknown
George P. Shawl, private, Mexican war
J. R. Thompson Sr, private, Co. C. 7th Michigan Cavalry *
W.L. Thompson, private, Co. E., 23rd Michigan Infantry *
J.R. Thompson Jr. private , Co.D, 29th Michigan Infantry *
J. Thornwaite, Lieutenant, 6th Minnesota Infantry
A. J. Walton, Berdan sharp shooters *

Soldiers Rest
Leonard Jewell, private, Co. A, 14th Michigan Infantry *
Henry Deniker, private, Co. H, 14th Ohio Infantry *
David Baker, private, Co. D, 10th Michigan Infantry *
John Kittle, private, Co. H, 5th Michigan Cavalry
John Robinson, private, Co. B, 9th Connecticut Infantry
Alexander Boyd, private, Co. A, 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Levi Prime, private, Co. D, 10th Michigan Cavalry
Louis McNeal, private, United States Navy
John H. A. Bunz, private ,Co. K, 23rd United States Infantry
Henry Thies, private, Co. G. 10th Michigan Infantry
Moses Wells, private, Co. K, 23rd Michigan Infantry
Coney Wolf, private, Co. B, 63rd Ohio infantry

1892 First Interment. (Contributed by Alan Flood - Jun. 2008)

The Sunday Times - Sunday, April 24, 1892 (Page 13)

PINE RIDGE CEMETERY
-------

How the First Internment Took Place There.
-------
Brief Historical Sketch of the Old
Burying Ground Near the
Foot of Eleventh Street.
------

Said a pioneer resident yesterday, in a conversation with The Sunday Times: "There have been almost 5,000 interments in Pine Ridge cemetery since it was then known as the Birney cemetery. The first burial took place under singular circumstances. The laying out of the cemetery grounds had not yet been completed, and one morning, when the men engaged in the work reached the place , they found that during the night someone had buried a child, digging the grave directly in the center of the main path. This child's body had been exhumed from the old burying ground which was located near what is now the corner of Eleventh and Washington streets.

The old burial place alluded to was in use from 1839 to 1859. It was a sand ridge, and was selected on account of its elevation. The first internment there was that of a man named Bennett, whose death occurred at Pine River. The next burial was that of a Mrs. Derr. These were the only deaths in the settlement for several years.

About 1859 the late Judge James Birney purchased and set apart five acres for a buring ground, in order to have a suitable place of the grave of his younger brother, George Birney, to whom he was much attached. As soon as the cemetery was ready Judge Birney gave notice that all who had relatives or friends buried in the old place could have the bodies exhumed and re-interred in the new one, and it is said that of all who availed themselves of the opportunity many did not pay a cent beyond the expense of digging the grave. The grounds were enclosed and tastefully laid out, and have been known ever since that time as Pine Ridge cemetery. This city of the dead has been gradually filling up with its silent inhabitants. There are only a few more lots to sell, and not many single graves. Within a few years the portals of Pine Ridge cemetery will no longer be passed by furneral corteges, but the spot will remain sacred to the memory of the departed so peacefully sleeping, undisturbed by the noise and strife of the busy city spread out at their feet forevermore.

1892 Memorial Day. (Contributed by Alan Flood - Jun. 2008)

The Bay City Times-Press, May 10, 1892 (Page 5)

MEMORIAL DAY.
-------

Invitations Sent to Various Organizations
to Take Part in the Exercise May 30.

Invitations have been sent to the drill corps of the Y.M.C.A., the city police and fire departments, common council, board of education, Polish military society, woman's relief corps of U.S. Grant and H.P. Merrill posts, G.A.R.: Rawlings camp, sons of veterans, Burnett post, of West Bay City; company C, third regiment, M.S.T., and the G.A.R. post at Auburn, to take part in the Memorial day parade in this city on Monday, May 30. The school children will be asked to contribute plants and flowers to decorate the soldiers' graves. The desire is to have as many potted plants as possible, in order that they may be kept green during the summer. C.D. Fisher, sexton of Pine Ridge cemetery, has been employed to take charge of the graves in "Soldiers' Rest," to sod them and help them watered during the summer season. Care will be taken of the plants furnished, and they will be kept in good condition during the entire season. The address of the day will will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Hunting, of Flint. The exercises will take place in Carroll park, unless the weather prevents. Major E. R. Nugent has been designated as officer of the day. The arrangements are under the supervision of a joint committee appointed by U.S. Grant post and H.P. Merrill post.

1893 Aug. - Soldier's Monument. (Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx. April 2008)

The Bay City Tribune - August 19, 1893 (Page 5)

The Soldier's Monument
-------

It Occupies A Conspicuous Place
In Pine Ridge Cemetery

The monument designed by the G.A. R. posts of this city to perpetuate the memory of the dead soldiers , has been placed in position in Pine Ridge cemetery. It is of Whitney granite resting on a base of the same material, and stands on a mound three feet high. On the sides of the monument are the following inscriptions:

“They saved their country
And fought for freedom.
They are quietly sleeping
Under the “Red,White and Blue”

“To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feeling
which bind together the soldiers and sailors of the rebellion.”

1900 Jul. - Sale of cemetery. (Contributed by Alan Flood. Aug. 2007)

The Bay City Sunday Times - Sunday, July 8, 1900, Page 5.

BOUGHT A CEMETERY.
---------

The Resting Place of Bay City's Pioneers, Beautiful Pine Ridge.
---------

The sale of Pine Ridge cemetery by Mrs. Sophia Birney Blackwell to George W. Ames forshadowed several days ago by this paper has been consummated. Mr. Ames last night acknowledged having made the purchase. When asked what he intended doing with the cemetery he said: "My aim is to have the property properly taken care of. Within it are contained the remains of a great majority of the pioneer residents of Bay City. I become possessor of all of the unoccupied lots. My intention is to get all other lot owners to unite with me in building the fences, laying new walks, trimming the trees and keeping this beautiful spot from going to decay."

References:

Sophia Birney is the daughter of James and Amanda (Moulton) Birney, all three are buried at Pine Ridge cemetery at the Birney family plat. Sophia was born in 1848 at New Haven, CT., and was married to William T. Blackwell at the Trinity Lutheran church in Bay City on July 28, 1892.

George W. Ames was a realtor and insurance agent with an office in the Phoenix Building. He was born Oct. 31, 1852, Albion, N.Y., and came to Bay city in 1872, at which time he worked for the Detroit & Bay City Railroad, which later was purchased by the Michigan Central Railroad Co. He entered the real estate and insurance business in 1884.

1902 Mar.: Cannon donated. (Added April 2007)

Bay City Tribune - Sunday: March 9, 1902.

NOW GUARDS THE "SOLDIERS REST"
----------

Howitzer Secured by the Late Congressman Crump.
----------
G.A.R. Posts Send Fitting Letter of Thanks.
----------

During his second term in Congress the late Hon. R. O. Crump secured from the government a cannon to be placed in "Soldiers Rest" in the Birney cemetery, but death ensued before he fully carried out his intentions. The work has now been performed and the following letter sent to the family of the Congressman:

Bay City, March 7, 1902.
Shelley C. Crump, West Bay City,

Dear Sir -- The eight inch howitzer seige gun, belonging to your father the late Congressman R. O. Crump, and presented to H. P. Merrill and U.S. Grant Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic of Bay City, has been placed on the burial lot known as "Soldiers Rest," it. Birney cemetery.

Both posts passed votes of thanks to you at their last meetings. We wish to assure you that the veterans of the civl war fully appreciate your patriotic thoughtfullness and will value this gun as a relic and reminder of the struggle for national honor and existence in which we had a part as union volunteer soliders.

GEORGE TURNER, Chairman.
M. M. ANDREWS, Secretrary.
Joint committee from the two posts.

References:

{Hon. Rosseauo Crump} was born on May 20, 1843, in Pittsford, Monroe Co., N.Y. He was mayor of West Bay City for four years, and served in the U.S. Congress for three terms. He died in 1901, and is buried at Elm Lawn cemtery in Bay City.

Capt. George Turner was born Jan. 29, 1835, Clinton Co., MI. He came to Bay City in 1881 where he served as a city engineer for 23 years supervising the a new sewerage system, building of Belinda Street and 23rd Street bridges, and construction of city hall. He was married to Julia Smith of Michigan, and in 1865, to Sophia P. Thompson of Georgia. A Civil War veteran, he was a member of U.S. Grant Post, No. 67, G.A.R.

1925 Monument. (Contributed by Alan Flood - Jun. 2008)

The Bay City Times - Friday, May 23, 1925 (Page 6)

GRAVE FUND FAILS TO GROW RAPIDLY
-------

One Donation of Cash and One of Cement Received Since Thursday.
-------

Contributions to Bay City's fund to repair the graves of Civil War veterans of the community and to provide headstones for those that have none, are coming in very slowly, only one cash amount being reported since the list was published Thursday. That one was a donation of $15 from Robert V. Mundy, former mayor and city commissioner, and an honorary member of the G.A.R.

Besides Mr. Mundy's contribution, however, a donation of ten barrels of cement by the Aetna Portland Cement Co. has been received by Guy H. Greene, chairman of the general Memorial Day Committee, and this will be used along with the sand and gravel donated by the Hersey Gravel Co. of Hersey, Mich. in repairing the Soldiers Rest monument in Pine Ridge Cemetery.

If more people would take the interest in the fund that little Dorothy Dittrick, 12 years old , 600 Fourteenth street, does, Mr. Greene pointed out, the required amount would soon be raised. This child has already turned in about $13 which she has secured is small sums by personal solicitation among her friends and neighbors.

1953 May: Cemetery Upkeep. (Added May, 2008)

The Bay City Times - May 1, 1953

Cemetery Upkeep Plan Projected

Incorporation of Pine Ridge Seen
----------

Owners of the lots in Pine Ridge cemetery seek to form a corporation to raise funds for upkeep of the 90-year-0ld burial plot at Columbus avenue and Tuscola road.

Application for permission to organize is now before the Michigan Corporation and Securities commission in Lansing.

The property owners are banding together in an effort to preserve the 1,568-lot cemetery gone into decay since death of last fall of Charles Cuthbert, cemetery owner and long-time sexton.

Harold Merritt has been named chairman of a temporary association to push the corporation proposal under advice of Attorney Carlton L. Thompson. Mrs. Ricca W. Stutting is secretary.

Seven trustees include Merritt, Mrs. Harry Hogan, Mrs. Stutting, Donald Hawkins, Mrs. Earl Johnson, Mrs. Lois Spinner and John Smith.

Meanwhile some $200 has been raised by voluntary contribution for rehabilitation by Memorial Day.

The organizational move came about when no purchasers for the cemetery property could be found. Only about 150 lots remain for sale.

1954 May: Elect Officers. (Added April, 2008)

The Bay City Times - Sunday, May 9, 1954

Cemetery Group Elects Officers

Harold N. Merritt Renamed President
----------

Harold N. Merritt has been reelected president of the Pine Ridge Cemetery association, organized last year to assure maintenance of one of the oldest cemeteries in the city.

Founded back in the late 1800s, the cemetery was falling into decay because of lack of revenue. The association was established to raise funds for its maintenance and to attempt to sell some 150 remaining grave sites.

Association funds are obtained through contributions of approximately 250 members. Last year better than $2,000 was spent on maintenance of the cemetery, located at the southeast corner of Tuscola and Ridge roads, Merritt said. Funds also pay the salary of a sexton, Arthur Howsman, who succeeds the late Charles Cuthbert, who had cared for the cemetery for many years.

Officers reelected with Merritt include Mrs. Ricca Stutting, secretary and Don Hawkins, teasurer. New director is Adam Weiler.

1957 May: Cemetery meeting. (Added May, 2008)

The Bay City Times - May 5, 1957

Cemetery Meet Set
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Pine Ridge Cemetery association will hold its annual meeting at 8 o'clock Wednesday night in the supervisors' room at the Bay county building, according to Harold N. Merritt, president.