Our New Home

What a wild and crazy last couple of years. The local history room at the library now has a "professional" person with a Masters degree in Library Science. She tries very hard to do the job but she never lived in the area and still doesn't, so helping people with local history is extremely hard for her. You can only Google so much!

We have opened a new history center in downtown Fremont, Michigan named after Terry Wantz so our official new name is Terry Wantz Historical Research Center in downtown Fremont. We are amazed how fast we are growing. So stop by if you are in the area. We are very proud of what we have achieved. It is worth the stop if for nothing else than to see the beautiful marble ice cream soda bar that was purchased at the Chicago World Fair. Our building is complete with tin ceiling tiles and two genealogist and several volunteers who love what we do and are from the area so we know the local history. Check out our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TerryWantzHistoricalResearchCenter

So we are back! Watch for further posts we are activity updating the cemetery records for Newaygo County.  

Memorial Day is soon approaching

For many years Terry Wantz would go to the county cemteries putting out flags and silk flowers on area veterans gravestones. As Memorial Day is getting closer every time I think of it I realize Terry isn't with us to do this any more.

My husband and I talked about it and we will try to do some but where to start? I am working and Terry worked hours and hours on this. I don't know how much time I will be able to spend on it.

I have tried to contact veterans groups with no luck so I guess Robin and I will be busy the next couple of weekends doing as many as we can. As long as money and time allow.

We never appreciate the little things people do quietly on their own until they are gone.

On this Memorial day I have another person to add to my list of memorials that has made a big difference.

Pioneer Memorial cemetery

In Fremont we have a one acre parcel of land named Pioneer Memorial Cemetery. Many people in town do not even realize there are people buried there. We have been told that the bodies have been moved to Maple Grove Cemetery (in town also). What most residents do not realize is there are many people still buried there. It was used 1860-1879 and was the burying ground for many of our founding Fathers and Mothers. When the families were given the option to have their family member moved many did not leaving many behind. Many families had moved on and did not respond to the inquiry.
I am in the middle of archiving photos and letters from this time and I am shocked at how many were left there with their wooden markers that have decayed with time being lost to history. Thankfully Harry Spooner documented this part of our history with photos, articles and letters from the early families. As I archive these records I am finding more and more interesting tidbits. A forgotten piece of Fremont History coming to light. With the dedication of a monument in 1960 Harry Spooner helped restore interest in a overgrown, forgotten piece of history. I hope with a little help we can once again help make people aware of it.

What Will They Think of Next?

I just saw this link on Eastman's newsletter. It may save space, but it gives a whole new meaning to being screwed.
I think it would want to have it screwed down in a ways, and not leave the top part above ground. To easy for vandals to mess with.
But on the other hand, what a surprise for them when they do mess with it!

Lest They be Forgot

A friend of ours here in the Local History Room is Terry Wantz. He is a local historian and advocate for remembering those who have gone before us.
Terry has worked hard at making sure the graves of all veterans are remembered each year. This year he went even farther.
Sandy mentioned in a previous post how Terry had nudge the city into recognizing the more expansive limits of the Old Indian Cemetery, off Maple Grove Cemetery. About the same time he also started (dare I say it?) pestering them to do something about Pioneer Cemetery. This was the original city cemetery for Fremont and when Maple Grove was opened, many bodies were moved from here. Many remain though.This past Memorial Day, he got the city to mow Pioneer Cemetery. Then, out of his own pocket, Terry made small bunches of flowers and placed one on each gave in Pioneer cemetery.
And I have to tell you, each week since, the cemetery has been mown.
Way to go, Terry. We salute you.

Indian Cemetery

I have to give the city of Fremont a pat on the back. After meeting with Terry Wantz they are putting up new fences where the actual burial spots are. They seem to be interested in getting this done properly.

I still haven't found out where some stones went that were there. But with the fencing going up I will be happy for this one victory but I will still be quietly asking question looking for answers as to what has happened to them. I know there were more I have photos of them.

The Indian Cemetery

We have a cemetery in Fremont that Terry Wantz a friend has brought to my attention. It is adjacent to the west end of Maple Grove Cemetery the city cemetery. It is an interesting place that sometimes gets forgotten and the borders seem to be getting smaller.

The city is aware of it and does a nice job maintaining it and keeping it neat but as with many cemeteries the city is growing and pinching the boarders.

The following story comes from the files of A.L. Spooner which belong to the Fremont Area District Library.

When the land around Fremont was opened up to settlement, a number of Native Americans took up farms from the government along what is now called Stewart Street and Warner Ave. One of whom was Henry Pego and another named Wab-e-cake.

One spring Wab-be-cake's wife made maple sugar, which she took to the home of Wilkes Stuart in exchange for two dozen eggs. She carried them home, boiled them and ate the whole two dozen eggs. Within three hours she had passed on in a great deal of agony.

At that time there were no cemetery for the Native Americans in Fremont and many towns people were still suspicious of them. They after all dressed different, their customs were different and they just did not understand their ways. They certainly were not going to allow them to be buried in the white cemetery. Henry Pego set aside a piece of land to be used for Native American burials and Wab-be-cakes wife was The first person to be buried there. Later other Native Peoples were interred there and the plot became filled.

When Henry Pego sold his farm he reserved the cemetery in the deed but later owners failed to do so. With no care the plot became overgrown and a eye sore. In 1932 the City of Fremont decided to clear the place but the owner at that time objected saying it was part of his farm.

Gladys Brown grand daughter of Eitene Lamarandier (Aiken) made Harry L. Spooner aware of this problem, and they with other citizens obtained quick claim deeds to the city from the heir of Henry Pego and Fremont became the owner.

As stated the plot is filled, there are Thirty seven known burials as well as many unknown. Terry Wantz has studied this to great lengths and believes there are over 600 burials. Most people are unaware of how far out the burials go and how many are partially under the drive. As time goes on and the city expands how many more burial grounds will be forgotten and encroached upon?

Known burials in the Indian Cemetery
Fremont, Michigan
by Terry E. Wantz

1. Wife of Wab-e-cake, first burial in cemetery
2. Elizabeth Lawrence, daughter of L. M. Lawrence (1887)
3. Josephine Lawrence, daughter of L. M. Lawrence (1889)
4. Mary Lawrence, wife of James Lawrence, daughter of David Kaudauquotte (1890)
5. James Lawrence
6. David Kaudauquotte
7. Andrew Kaudauquotte, son of David (1890)
8. Martha Kaudauquotte, daughter of David (1876)
9. Marion Kaudauquotte, daughter of David (1876)
10. John Kaudauquotte, son of David (1877)
11. Elizabeth Pego, wife of Henry Pego (1880)
12. Ran Pego, father of Henry Pego (1879)
13. Augustus Pego, son of Henry Pego
14. Dominck Pego, son of Henry Pego (1878)
15. Charles Carey
16. Julia Carey, daughter of Charles Carey (1878)
17. William Carey, son of Charles Carey (1881)
18. Andrew Carey, son of Charles Carey (1884)
19. Paul Carey, son of Charles Carey
20. Blind Squaw Aiken
21. Alex Aiken, brother to Tom Aiken
22. Fred Aiken, brother to Tom Aiken
23. Rose Aiken, sister to Tom Aiken
24. Mitchell Aiken
25. Louise Aiken
26. Shunne Aiken
27. Nora Aiken
28. Mrs. Steve Aiken
29. Mitchell Badeau
30. Benedict Jackson, son of Moses and Aileen Jackson (1890)
31. Andrew Jackson
32. Senone Jackson
33. ? Jackson, sister to Senone
34. William Stone
35. Mrs. William Stone
36. Cora Puckanabano
37. ? Schimmerhorn