Mount Zion Methodist Cemetery
Calvin Township, Cass County
Section 23

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Listing updated on June 30, 2015
Mount Zion Methodist Cemetery is located on Mount Zion and Kessington Street intersection, Calvin township. Legal description - Located Northeast corner of Southeast corner of the swoutheast section of 24.As quoted: 1940's DAR listing - Many if not indeed most of the burials are those of [black] people. Many of the families of this race settled in Calvin township following the Civil War. The first listing shown is the oldest listing done by the DAR and researchers in the 1940's. Some stones have weathered and/or no longer exist. Therefore I felt it was vital to place this additional record on line.
Also search the Cass County Michigan Gen Web Archives

See the Michigan Tomsbstone project for more history on those listed below. 

Name DOB or AGE DOD Notes
Akens, Alexander 11/04/1832 02/14/1919 per death cert.
Akens, Fanny (Harris) 07/04/1841 01/24/1916 w/o Alexander
Akens, James F 03/18/1858 05/19/1908 s/o Alexander
Akens, John W Dob 1855 12/16/1887 s/o Alexander
Allen, Benjamin F 09/18/1854 07/05/1910 dates from family history
Allen, Bennett Dob 1836 11/30/1923 DOD not on stone – dob Apr. 13, 1836
Allen, Charles E 16 yrs 6 mos 17 d 03/25/1877 Actual death on Mar. 25, 1877 -On stone with Henry and an individual marker with his Initals of C. E. A.
Allen, Clarence F 1867 1889 On stone with Henry and an individual marker with his Initals of C. F. A.
Allen, Elma (Wade) 1842 1896 w/o Bennett
Allen, Hannah (Stewart) 05/08/1859 01/14/1908
Allen, Henry C 1863 1890 On stone with Charles and Clarence + Ind. Marker with H. C. A. All 3 are sons of Bennett Allen
Allen, Ida Belle (Evans) Dob 1885 03/09/1971 w/o William Herbert Allen
Allen, Joseph 1803 1891 -
Allen, Martha E (Wade) 18 yrs 7 mo 8 ds 09/21/1875 wf B F
Allen, Rebecca (Tabourn) 1805 05/31/1884 w/o Joseph
Allen, Tarlton 71 yrs 02/09/1882 -
Allen, Temperance E (Artis) 50 yrs 1 mo 21 d's 02/09/1905 wf B F
Allen, William 11/24/1832 Dod 1925 See Sanders' p hotos collection – charter member of Mt. Zion Church
Allen, William Herbert Dob 1881 Dod 1951
Allen, Winey 37 years 02/08/1871 w/o Wm- also spelled as Winna
Anderson, Andrew J Abt 1835 7 Apr 1897  Marker shows A. J. Anderson Co G 8th Mich
Anderson, E (Ezekial) 63y 03/22/1851 -
Anderson, Frances (Allen) 05/01/1831 06/29/1917 stone shows dob as 1829 – wed 3 time. 1st Davis D. Day 2nd John Anderson 3rd Sterling Haithcox
Anderson, Jeff B abt 1851 11/29/1913 s/o John H. Anderson
Anderson, Jefferson B. Abt 1818 08/28/1889 Co 1 102nd USCT
Anderson, Jethro 47 Y's. 4M's. 2 D's 04/20/1897 s/o John & Frances Anderson
Anderson, John H 39y 1867 US Colored Volunteers
Artis, Alice M 12 y 1882 name incorrectly transcribed on stone as Artic-d/o George & America
Artis, George W 62 y 1877 M 1. Susan Allen M 2. America Jane Hill
Artis, Susannah 47y 1867 wf Geo
Barnes, Harriet E 1844 1927
Barnes, Joseph M Dob 1872 Dod 1949
Barnes, Letha A 1856 1909 w/o P.A. Barnes
Barnes, P A 1847 no date Peter A. Barnes – may have died in Canada
Bennett, Charles Edward 04/08/1871 02/09/1941
Bird, Grace Wade 18yrs 1m 13D 01/07/1892 -
Boon, Nathaniel Dob 1821 12/30/1872 -
Broaidy, Mary M 1881 1935 -
Brown, John F. 15 yrs 04/16/1901 per death cert.
Brown, Naomi 1900 1922 -
Brown, Rachel 39 yrs 01/20/1851 w/o Alex Brown
Brown, Susan I Stewart Dob 1861 06/21/1904 -
Brown, Willis 70y 1878 -
Bruer, Alice Anderson Dob 1882 Dod 1944
Buckingham, Josie Dob 1862 Dod 1955
Buckingham, Wm H 1862 1939 -
Bullhand, Lew 18 yrs 1869 from old DAR reading
Bullhand, Mary A ag 2 yrs n/a from old DAR reading
Burnett, Franklin 1827 Aft. 1890 Franklin Burnett Born Mar. 27, 1827 Died: No Date Member of Co. B 102 Reg. Mich Vol & Post 157 Cassopolis Joined M.E. Church 1837 died after 1890
Burnett, Rachel E. 18 y 01/29/1855 w/o Franklin
Burnett, Thomas baby 10/27/1854 s/o Franklin & Rebecca
Byrd, Elisha 01/30/1871 01/20/1938
Byrd, Emmer J 1852 1926 -
Byrd, Guilda Bell 06/14/1917 05/18/1920 d/o Guy Byrd
Byrd, Prudence Griffin 07/28/1869 06/19/1952 w/o Elisha per MI deaths & Burials
Campbell, Ada Aunt Dob 1871 Dod 1959
Cannady, Caroline 76 y 1900 w/o Henry H. Cannady
Cannady, Edgar 13 y 1887 -
Cannady, Henry H 62 y 1882 -
Cannady, Minnie P 1869 1888 d/o H. H. & C
Chandler, Charlotte 1837 1898 onstone with Harden & Solomon Harris
Clagett, Henry 48y 1909 -
Cousins, Luella (Akens) Dob 1883 Dod 1958
Davis, Martha - - wf Wm Davis from old recs
Dungey, Albert W 1874 1895 -
Dungey, Lela Dob 1896 Dod 1963 d/o Robert & Lydia Dungey
Dungey, Lydia Alice Allen 11/27/1878 01/02/1926 -
Dungey, Robert Abt 1865 03/15/1937 per death cert.
Dungey, William B. Sr. 12/22/1927 05/07/1980 -
Elliott, George E 87 yrs 12 d 03/23/1872 Owned land that church and cemetery were located on.
Evans, Mary E. Dob 1869 Dod 1932
Evins, Sarah Abt 1821 02/20/1889 w/o Morris
Franklin, Eliza Jane Beatty 03/15/1891 05/23/1955 MI Deaths & Burials
Franklin, Henry Dob 1908 Dod 1938
Franklin, William Dob 1875 Dod 1964
Gracie, Gladys Gertrude (Franklin) Jones 12/05/1912 12/27/2006 d. Kokomo, IN per obit other info-wed & divorced Raymond Peter Jones. Then remarried a Gracie
Grady, James 1839 1925 -
Grady, L <Leroy> 39Y's 10M 3D 08/18/1877 Newer reading with photo shows
Grady, Martha A 49 yrs 10 mos 3 da 08/18/1877 do Jeremiah & Sophia Bunn
wo Leason Grady - wed 16 Apr 1882
Grady, Melvin 03/03/1866 12/04/1954 MI Deaths & Burials
Grady, Meter 10 M 20 d 08/30/1877 d/o L & M Grady
Grady, Rachel 52 yr 04/09/1875 wf Wm
Grady, Rachel Dob 1873 Dod 1944
Grady, Robert 07/05/1845 02/01/1918 per death cert. - s/o Leason
Grady, Sarah 1844 1927 -
Grady, Sarah 63 yr 07/21/1870 w/o L. Grady
Grady, Wm 52 yrs. 04/09/1875
Grady, Wm 1816 1889 -
Griffen, Annliza L. (Day) 1846 06/28/1935 -
Griffen, Calvin G 05/16/1836 07/25/1909 h/o Annlize Day Griffen
Griffen, Elizabeth his wf 06/20/1835 04/09/1913 w/o Garrison Griffen
Griffen, G (Garrison) abt 1831 06/02/1889 US 17 SCT widow filed for his pension in abt 1889
Griffen, Harden 37y. 10m. 2d 01/18/1902
Haithcox, Little Berry Abt 1825 03/19/1904 s/o Mills & Sarah
Haithcox, Ruberta (Tabron) 03/20/1837 11/12/1916 death cert. -widow of Berry
Harris, Angeline (Wade) 08/23/1846 01/16/1908 w/o Jacob
Harris, Clayborn 05/19/1817 01/06/1889
Harris, Elizabeth 33 y 1876 1st w/o John A. Harris
Harris, Harden 1794 1870 Marker found in woods.
Harris, Irena Goss 09/14/1827 09/15/1898 Irena Goss Harris Born Sept. 14, 1827. Died Sept. 15, 1898
Harris, Jacob 09/01/1836 12/21/1915 per death cert.
Harris, Jacob 09/19/1858 03/04/1887 -
Harris, John A 1831 1909 Civil War Veteran
Harris, Malissa (Haithcock) 1865 blank 2nd w/o John A. Harris
Harris, Solomon 1849 1867 -
Harris, William Wilson 1855 12/02/1907 s/o Clayborn Harris
Hawley, Benjamin 83y 1896 -
Hawley, Martha 77y 1893 -
Henderson, A T 1848 1906 -
Henderson, Father - - -
Henderson, Martha 43y 1865 wf Wm
Henderson, Maud 1879 1938 -
Henderson, Mother - - -
Higgins, Harley 1875 1895
Ivens, Sarah C 68y 1888 -
Jackson, Charles W 1865 1894 -
Jackson, Earl W 1897 1917 -
Jefferies, Bradford 39y 1893 -
Jenkins, Littlebery 47y 07/22/1860 -
Jenkins, Mary A 15 yrs, 6 mos and 20 days 06/25/1875 -
Jenkins, Sarah Eveline 03/15/1824 09/13/1907 from Sanders work
Sarah E. Jenkins Born North Hampton North Carolina . Inscription: Asleep in Jesus
Jones, Alen F. 03/24/1916 12/07/1979
Jones, Anita Louise 03/21/1960 12/21/1998
Jones, Eva Dob 1921 05/10/2008
Jones, Gladys Gracie 12/05/1912 none shown Mother of 5 children -see surname Gracie above
Jones, Joseph J. Jr. “Jimmy” 03/03/1964 11/18/2002 “Beloved Son”
Jones, Martha Mae 01/23/1995 01/30/1995
Lawson, Ethel Jeffries Dob 1883 Dod 1909 w/o J. Arthur Lawson
Lawson, J. Arthur Dob 1882 Dod 1972
Madry, E L – Elwood 1849 After 1933 -only date showing - after 1930 living with son =Elwood was informant on 1933 sons death certificate
Madry, Pennsylvania (Griffin) 10/26/1845 11/29/1924 shows as Vanie on old recs. W/o Elwood L. Madry
Madry, Solomon Blanche 11/18/1884 06/29/1933 s/o Elwood & Pennsylvania -killed by lightening strike -per DC
Mitchell, Allen 11m 1854 s/o J. A & L. E.
Mitchell, Andrew 15 y 1864 -
Mitchell, Elihu 9 y 1865 -
Mitchell, Horace 03/27/1891 06/23/1892 son C & V Mitchell
Mitchell, James 75 y 1892 -
Mitchell, James A Born May 22. 1819 Died Mar. 9. 1892
Mitchell, James F 22Y's 7M's 16 D's 1883 son JK & L J
Mitchell, Louisa 10 y 1875 -
Mitchell, Louisa 07/23/1830 09/03/1895 w/o James A. Mitchell
Mitchell, Rebecca 29 y 1889 -
Mitchell, Roxanna (Allen) 1891 1919 -
Mitchell, Wesley 29 y 1889 -
Mullins, Donna A. 06/29/1933 09/22/1997
Powell, Dorothy Dob 1906 Dod 1942
Powell, Ella 1870 1937 -
Powell, Everett O. 03/24/1894 Dod 1962
Sampson, Wilda (Lawson) Dob 1902 Dod 1990
Scott, Ann Eliza - 1866 dau W & T
Stewart, America Jane (Hill) 39y 1881 w/o Isaac He's buried near 1st wf at Chain Lake Cemetery
Stewart, Delana 11/01/1868 05/10/1903
Stewart, Hannah 1859 1903 -
Stewart, Phatina 54 y 1882 -
Stewart, Whitten B 1850 1907 -
Taylor, Manuel M. 10/07/1942 10/27/1942
Taylor, Richard Dob 1941 Dod 1996
Unknown – illegible 2yrs 9 m 5 d illegible
Unknown, Eliza J. n/a n/a
Unknown, Lucinda

on west side of marker – Eliza J. on East side probably the Outland family
Valentine, Mary A 1863 1900 -
Vandyke, Celia 63 yrs 1896 wife of Lewis
VanDyke, Stanton 20 yrs 1889 Stanton Van Dyke Died May 14, 1899 Aged 20 Y's 11 M's & 28 D's
Vaughn, Elmertie 06/25/1906 03/12/1910 d/o Byron & Etta per death cert.
Vaughn, Harland 1887 1910 Sanders' listing shows this as a Vaughn
Vaughn, Helena Dob 1865 Dod 1944 w/o Uriah
Vaughn, James H. 05/06/1887 06/19/1908 per death cert.
Vaughn, Sadie abt 1884 09/11/1906 "         "
Vaughn, Uriah Dob 1855 Dod 1944
Wade, Benjamin F. 24Ys 2mo 9Ds 12/08/1875
Wade, Elbert 34 Yrs. 10 Mos. 5 Ds. 04/12/1875 wf Albert Wade
Wade, Elizabeth (Roberts)
Dod 1875 w/o Elbert
Wade, Elizabeth (Tabourne ) 33y 1856 -
Wade, Hardy 47y 1860 -
Wade, Homer - - -
Wade, Miranda (Cousins) 1851 blank w/o Zachariah
Wade, Zacariah 1849 1895 -
Walden, Lucinda 1862 1918 -
Ward, Allen Dob 1892 Dod 1973
Ward, Elma R. Dob 1898 Dod 1961 w/o Allen
Ware, David 1800 1835 Correction should read 1885
See Sander's photos below
Ware, Elijah F 24y 1875 -
Ware, Emily 1812 1868 wf D Ware
Warren, Harold J 1909 1915 -
Watts, Dorothy Powell 1906 1942 -
Wilkins, Elijah Dob 1860 Dod 1945
Wright, Annice Jeffries Dob 1881 Dod 1937

A few Headstone Reading with Photos - Marshall Sanders done in 2005 and 2006. Please go to Cass County Tombstone Project for more.
http://www.usgwtombstones.org/michigan/cass.htm

Mt Zion Church was organized in 1849 by Matthew T. Newsom.   Meetings were first held in private homes. In 1850, 1.5 acres of land was purchased by Hardy Wade. A 12'X16'log
church was erected on part of the land and the remainder was used for the cemetery.

In 1854 a larger building was constructed which measured  30' X 40'. The trustees were Richard Woods, Benjamine
Hawley, Lemuel Archer, Lawson Howell, William Scott and  Joseph Allen.

The two churches were built by a group of African American pioneers, some of who migrated from Northampton, County  NC, to Logan County OH and finally
to Cass County, MI and  settled in Porter Township and Calvin Township.

The charter members of the church include Joseph and Rececca Allen, William and Winne Anderson Allen, Fannie Allen, Bennett Allen, John H. Anderson and Rachel Allen.

In 1882 the congregation numbered 200 and the church  property including a parsonage in Calvin Center, MI was  valued at $3000.

Mt Zion was referred to as the mother church of the county. Churches in Volinia, Calvin Center, Cassopolis and Dowagiac were organized later.

Mt Zion Church now lies vacant, abandoned and surrounded  by trees.

The cemetery has no sign to mark its presence or  entrance. The cemetery is maintained by Calvin Township.

The conditon of the markers range from very good to broken and unreadable. A number of markers are missing and
several markers were found face down buried at the edge of  the woods. The surrounding woodland has engulfed a number of upright markers.

Donated obituaries:
Allen, Joseph - Joseph Allen of West Porter, is buried in Mt.Zion Cemetery. He was born in Northhampton Co. N.C. 28 Jan. 1803. The son of Emery Arthur Allen and Esther Williams. He was 88years,5months,22days. He was married to Rebecca Tabourn, and they moved to Michigan from Ohio in June 1848. Where they purchased 100 acres of land at $5.00 per acre. Joseph and Rebecca had a total of 15 children. He was a good husband, kind father and respected by all who knew him. Funeral services were officiated by Rev. E.E.Gregory, Mt.Zion AME Church. He was a trustee of Mt.Zion AME Church. (1854) - File contributed for use in USGenWeb by: Maurice W. Sanders mauricews@att.net

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