Oakwood (Holton) Cemetery
6350 Marvin Rd.
Holton, MIchigan 49425Sec. 27, T12N, R15W
History
The Township of Holton was a gift of the government to the Ottawa Indians as partial payment for the lands originally owned in the Grand River Valley. A considerable number of these tribes came and remained for different periods of time. Most of these Indians moved to the Cob-moo-so Reservations in Ottawa County, while some were given lands around Fremont Lake in Newaygo County.
Gradually, white men came to the territory, selected the best sites, and settled down. Most of the settlers had gone to Ionia and had filed preemption claims or bought the land outright. When these proceedings arrived in Washington, they were declared null and void. In the meantime, a man named John Robinson laid claim to the land by virtue of his ¼ Indian blood. The settlers were opposed to this as they had already paid for the land. He sold it to Ransom E. Wood of Grand Rapids, who promptly returned the land to him when he heard of the opposition. Mr. Robinson then sold it to Blodgett & Byrne who settled the problem by paying for improvements, etc. They built a large saw mill and also built the first store in the village with their goods being hauled from Muskegon.
Church services were maintained by this community in the homes of members until 1881. The first minister was Reverend J. E. Bergh, who would walk from Muskegon to perform the duties to this small Norwegian and Danish settlement just east of Holton. (See Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery)
Another small settlement was made in the north end of the township by Norman Cunningham and Rufus Skeels. The township was then a part of White River Township. They had to go to Wheat (Sprague in Whitehall Township) to vote. Skeels cut a road to Muskegon 22 miles away.
Other settlers in the 1860’s were Burtie McDonald, George W. Moshier, John H Inglehart, L.N. Darling, and Moses H. Snyder. The latter two were victims of the early land deals. Darling paid twice for his land, while Snyder lost the $100 he had paid on his and moved across the county line into Newaygo County.
Oliver Lewis gave the first land for the Holton Cemetery. The Lewis’ owed the Bernier Store, and after selling it to Bernier, bought the Goodhue farm.
(Excerpts from the History of Holton Township by Joyce Bunnell)
For photos of headstones go to www.findagrave.com.
Updated 2006.