Berrien County Poor Farm Cemetery, Berrien County, Michigan

Berrien County Poor Farm Cemetery
AKA - County Infirmary Cemetery
Berrien Township
section 16/17
Located in Berrien Springs in Berrien Township.

Overview

John Mills

Photos by: Teresa O'Riley

In 1847 the County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to purchase land in Berrien Township for the establishment of a poor farm. They purchased this property from Richard McOmber who had settled in this area in about 1835. It was located on Northwest corner of section 16 and the Northeast section 17 and at that time had only 160 acres with buildings and land were purchased. After sale of the property he moved to Buchanan, in the same county. Additional acreage about 32 acres, was added later. The original house built in 1847 was about 18 X 26 feet. John Tate had the contract for taking care of the home and inmates from May 28, 1847 to Apr 1, 1848 for $295.00. Records for this cemetery seem to be missing. The county does not have them nor does the Hospital that owns the grounds. Berrien Township provided me with what information they have but it is sketchy also.

SMALL PARTIAL LISTING BELOW

Name	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Notes/Comments
Atkins, John	73 years of age born Scotland	Dec 8. 1913	Cert. of Death
Boyce, Sill	about 71 years of age	Oct 25, 1913	Cert. of Death
Connover, Joe	27 Mar 1843	03 Jan 1936	Berrien Township information
Dawson, Charles	abt 67 yrs	09 Sep 1925	Cert. Of Death
Essig, William	74 years of age	31 Mar 1936	Berrien Township information
Fisher, John	07 Apr 1870	11 Feb 1936	Berrien Township information
Fitz, Collins	20 Jan 1863	20 Jun 1936	Berrien Township information
Gill, Joseph	12 Sep 1861	21 Jul 1936	Berrien Township information
Goodwin, Roy	10 Apr 1880	04 Apr 1934	Berrien Township information
Harrison, Frank	16 May 1856	07 Oct 1934	Berrien Township information
Higbee, Ellen	Sep 8, 1835	Dec 6, 1910	Cert. of Death states County Farm
Houghton, Allen	01 Oct 1853	04 Apr 1935	Berrien Township information
Keen, Milton	53 years of age	Jan 28, 1918	Cert. of Death
Keller, William	abt 1821	Apr 5, 1913	age on Cert. of Death is 91 yrs
Kilik, John	20 Jul 1885	25 Oct 1935	Berrien Township information
Kinney, John	29 Aug 1885	22 Jul 1936	Berrien Township information
Kornow, Carl	02 Aug 1864	21 Jul 1936	Berrien Township information
Love, Walterton	04 Nov 1864	26 Jul 1934	Berrien Township information
Martin, Joe	34 years of age	22 Jan 1934	Berrien Township information
Mass, Emma	31 Dec 1864	31 May 1937	Berrien Township information
Mills, John W	1847	1932
Murphy, Mary	about 91 years of age	Mar 17, 1913	Cert. of Death
Newsom, John	12 Jul 1853	18 Jul 1935	Berrien Township information
Parker, John	1875	17 Nov 1936	Berrien Township information
Prescott, William H	73 years of age	Aug 1, 1917	Cert. of Death born New York State
Reams, Edward	21 Jun 1883	14 Feb 1935	Berrien Township information
Ringer, John	06 Jan 1872	09 Nov 1934	Berrien Township information
Rittenhous, Eliza	born about 1825 - Ohio	Jan 10, 1913	Cert. of Death
Russell, Charles	87 years of age	Jul 21, 1930	obit
Shaffer, Nellie	65 years of age	05 Apr 1934	Berrien Township information
Smith, Inez Mrs	about 71 years of age	Feb 11, 1918	Cert. of Death
Strickler, Chub		12 Feb 1937	Berrien Township information
Sullivan, Jasper	57 years of age	12 Apr 1935	Berrien Township information
Unknown	about 21 years of age	26 Aug 1929	Berrien Township information
Vanderpool, James Ward	09 Dec 1852	21 Oct 1928	Berrien Springs Era 01 Nov. 1928 "The body of J. W. Vanderpool ... was buried at the county infirmary Monday Afternoon.
Walters, Tom	15 May 1835	01 Jul 1935	Berrien Township information
Ward, Louise (Mosley)	85 years of age	17 Nov 1936	Berrien Township information
Wesner, Ben	80 years of age	29 Mar 1937	Berrien Township information
Wilke, Fred		19 Jul 1935	Berrien Township information
Willis, Charles	age 50 yrs	Jul 22, 1929	black night watchman at County Infirmary died of injuries from a car crash near Michigan City, IN on May 27th, 1929
Willson, Charles	abt 70 yrs	Feb 5, 1918	Cert. of Death
Winchell, Clinton	68 years of age	15 Jan 1934	Berrien Township information
Woods, Elizabeth	84 years of age	29 Jan 1937	Berrien Township information
Wray, Spirel per DC Wray, Sparrell per other gov. recs.	born May 1826 Virginia per 1900 Census	Nov 2, 1907	1880 & 1900 Fed Census, lived Chikaming Twp, Berrien. from family files - sonof Preston Wray and brotherof Garland Wray of Tippecanoe, IN. All born VA.