RIVERSIDE CEMETERY
LaGrange Township
Cass County Michigan

Updated starting on May 20, 2010

Old DAR reading. Note there were several errors made in this listing when it was done decades ago. But being that the good out weighs the bad and at least provides clues to that individuals did live in the area, we are presenting it on line.
History of Riverside Cemetery: See bottom of pages for sources.
Very early in the history of Dowagiac, a piece of ground near the Union High School was set apart for a burying ground. Here, the remains of Bogue Williams , the first person who died in the community was interred.

After a few months the fast growth of the village made it obvious that a larger burial ground, further removed from the nucleus of the settlement would very soon be needed.

Patrick Hamilton donated a piece of ground in the northern part of the town and on February 12, 1851 the Dowagiac Cemetery Association was formed. Before long the remains of several persons were reinterred there from the first burying ground.

The new Riverside Cemetery was laid out in 1870. The first interrment was the body of Louis Reshore, removed from the old cemetery.

Riverside Cemetery consists of a tract of land in the southeastern part of the city. It was platted and arranged by Mr. Hale of Niles, who plotted it into blocks and parks. Here is a tasteful and beautiful resting place for the departed.

Deanna West - your new Cass County Michigan Coordinator   cassmichigangen@yahoo.com.

Any time you view an older cemetery, in no matter what county through out the USA, the listing should be considered as a partial listing as many times records are either destroyed through mishap or not all burials were recorded.

Donated Notes:

Ball - From the photograph files of Davis F. "Doc" Ball
Ball, Elizabeth Sheline
Ball, Joshua Scott
Ball, Charles W. , Chester D. & Mae F.
Cooper, Charles E.
Cooper; Ruth, Melvin & Douglas
Dillman, Bessie & Walter
Dillman, Madge M & M. Fiero
Hartsell, McCarthy T. & Nillie
Hutson, Viola B. & Edmund C
Reiske, Edith J.
Reiske, Kathryn W.

Block family burials
Walter Calvin Block b. 11 Feb 1880 Dearborn Co, IN (s/o James L Block and Mary A Goodpaster) d. 17 Dec 1957 Dowagiac, Cass Co, MI
Sophia Grace (Rashinski) Block b. 30 Jul 1893 Illinois (d/o Frank Rashinski and Mary Thorne) d. 19 Dec 1977 Cassopolis, Cass Co, MI
contributed by: Joann Ramseyer joannramseyer@earthlink.net

Francis M. Bowling, 09/22/1834 - 04/26/1892 Son of James T. & Frances Bowling
George E. Bowling, 10/29/1861 - Mar 2, 1892 Son of Francis M. & Rebecca Bowling

Mary Phelps maiden name was Mary E. Barber born 27 Sep 1833.
George Washington was born 12 Jan 1827 and died 02 Nov 1889.
Dora S. Phelps maiden name was Dorthea S. Waterstradt born 05 Jul 1858 died 18 Nov 1908 dau of Julius J & Catherine Waterstradt.
Leander Clinton Phelps born 31 Dec 1859 died 07 Aug 1887; son of George Washington & Mary E. Phelps.
Evelyn Mae Phelps born 18 Mar 1916, died 14 Jul 1918 dau of Leon Leander & Ruth May Phelps
I guess, since Mary Phelps is on the same gravestone as her husband, George Washington Phelps. People assume she is buried with him. She was buried with some of her children instead in Kalamazoo.
    Children of Julius J & Catherine Waterstradt: Phelps,
Dorthea S. Waterstradt Boyce,
Mary Waterstradt Waterstradt,
Sarah S Waterstradt,
Frona Waterstradt,
George Christian Waterstradt,
Lily Waterstradt,
Carl Henry Waterstradt, Effie J.
From the files of Robert Phelps.

From the files of John C. Monk
Bowling, George E. b. 10/29/1861 Section 1, Block 13, Lot 6
Bowling, Francis M. Section 1, Block 13, Lot 6
Bowling, Rebecca Pontius b. 1834 w/o Francis Bowling Section 1, Block 13, Lot 6
Hathaway, Verna Section 1, Block 13, Lot 6
Muench, August Section 1, Block 13, Lot 6

  Dill, Charles E. - Obituary - Charles E Dill - Tuesday, June 30, 1959: Pg 2. Niles Daily Star -
Tyree McLemore Family Files.jpg WWI Veteran, born Feb. 1, 1887 in Litchfield, Ill, and died June 29, 1959 - husband of Minnie E Marshall
Dill, Minnie E. (Marshall) - Minnie E. (Marshall) -Obituary - News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI, Mon - Mar 18, 1968 pg 10 .
born ~~ Apr. 14, 1897 Lockhart Township, Pike, Indiana died ~~ Mar. 16, 1968 Dowagiac, Cass, Michigan
Chas. & Minnie Dill are located in Blk 96 Lot 53 Grave 7 & 8

Dill family stone - Blk 96 Lot 53 Grave 7 & 8 -
Contributed by: Paul E. Williams - paulewms@yahoo.com

Dominion Family Stone - Blk 96 Lot 53 Grave 1 & 2 -
Eloise Pearl (Andrews) Dominion - Grave 1
born ~~ Sept. 9, 1916 Princeton, Gibson, Indiana died ~~ Dec. 28, 2007 Mishawaka, St. Joseph, Indiana
her spouse ~~ Louis E. Dominion Grave 2
born ~~ Apr. 22, 1921 Chicago, Cook, Illinois
died ~~ Feb. 18, 1995 Englewood, Sarasota, Florida
Contributed by: Paul E. Williams - paulewms@yahoo.com

From the files of Kara Spoon -
Don J Franks b. 20 April 1925 Lawrence Co. Arkansas d. 14 Jan 1955 Cass Co. Michigan.
Parents are William "Bill" J Franks and Willie H Sammons Franks both of Lawrence Co. Arkansas.

Home