Evergreen Cemetery

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Directions:  Take Laketon Ave. West to Pine St. North.
The cemetery is bordered by Pine St., Wood St., Irwin Ave., and Grand Ave.
City of Muskegon, Michigan

 

Evergreen Cemetery Map

 

Evergreen Cemetery is a large and very old cemetery in Muskegon.  We have divided the burial records for you so that they will load faster, but there are so many names you may still experience slow loading times.  Please be patient.   Choose the letter of the surname you are looking for from the list below. 

The City of Muskegon serves as caretaker for four cemeteries in the city, Evergreen, Lakeside, Oakwood, and Restlawn. The phone number is 231-724-6783. 

Bonus Photos!!! In February of 2007 we were graciously given a cd with photos of every headstone in Evergreen Cemetery. Find them on www.findagrave.com.

The description is Range-Block-Lot.

History

Muskegon began its official existence as a village in July, 1861 and in 1862 purchased 10 acres south of Irwin Avenue which at that time was a desolate piece of country covered with oak grubs, weeds, and stumps.

The first cemetery for white settlers had been on Muskegon Avenue between First and Second Streets and was surrounded by homes.  In spite of opinions of early settlers, the community had passed beyond Webster Avenue and the New Cemetery, as Evergreen was called, was considered so far out that it would always be beyond future limits.

In 1864, the land was platted as cemetery lots and sold at private sales for $5 a lot.  As time passed, prices were as high as $300 a lot.  The first lot was sold in 1864 and a Ladies Cemetery Association was formed to look after maintenance.  The organization was started through efforts of Mrs. Dennis Smith and Mrs. B. F. Piper who were next door neighbors at Webster Avenue and Second Street.

The first burial in Evergreen was of Phillip Sickles, father of Mrs. Thomas J. Waters, who was active in marine circles.  At that burial the spot was said to be the most desolate that could be found.  The ten-acre tract was surrounded by a rough board fence which was the first improvement.  People attending the funeral came in lumber wagons with boards across for seats, and the casket was carried on a one-horse lumber wagon.

The first funeral when carriages were used was that of Mrs. H. J. Pemberton in 1866.  The Ladies Cemetery Association in its second year had old stumps and dead bushes taken out and put boxes of plants in front.  Gates were place in the fence.  In the center of the plat was a small house and a pump from which water was carried in pails to the plants and shrubs.

A circular drive had been made in the early years, but as more lots were needed the drive was made into lots which were sold at auction.  Mrs. Dennis Smith, whose untiring work had done so much for the cemetery was given first choice.  There was no sexton for the cemetery in the early years and the association took care of all details.

In 1884 two private mausoleums were in Evergreen placed by C. H. Hackley and John W. Moon.  The big mausoleum at the south end was built by Strom Construction Company as a private enterprise.  It had difficulties in the 1929 financial crisis and in 1930 the city bought it and added 225 burial crypts.

Major Chauncey Davis, the first mayor of the city, died in February, 1888 and was placed in the Hackley vault until a new one was built for Mr. Davis.  In August, 1909, the city received $1,000 from C. C. Billinghurst for care of the Davis vault and in 1906 he had made arrangements with the Hackley estate for care of the Hackley vault.          

At the entrance to Evergreen Cemetery is the burial spot of Jonathan Walker, the Man with a Branded Hand.  When burial took place in 1878, the body was in a lot at the west side of the cemetery, being moved later.  (Ed. Note:  Johathan Walker was buried beside his wife in Norton Township Cemetery and was moved to Evergreen later that year.)

(“Know Muskegon” by C. H. Yates, Muskegon Chronicle, May 25, 1957)

For photos see www.findagrave.com.

 

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