Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 55th Ave. between 10 & 11 Mile Rds., Wheatland Township, Mecosta County, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 10441044 |
| Added to NRHP | December 16, 2014 |
The Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery is a special burial ground located in Wheatland Township, Mecosta County, Michigan. You can find it on 55th Avenue, between 10 and 11 Mile Roads. This cemetery is important because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site in the United States.
Contents
History of the Cemetery
Early Settlers and the Homestead Act
In the early 1860s, many African Americans started moving to Michigan. They came from places like Ohio and Ontario, Canada. They were looking for new opportunities. These settlers were especially interested in Isabella, Mecosta, and Montcalm Counties.
They were drawn by the promise of cheap land. This land was available through the Homestead Act of 1860. This law allowed people to claim government land if they lived on it and farmed it for a certain number of years. It was a big chance for families to own their own property.
How the Cemetery Started
The Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery began informally in 1864. This was when Ann Marie (Calliman) Guy was buried there. She had moved to the area in 1861 with her husband, James Guy.
Even though there wasn't an official decision to make it a cemetery at first, many people were buried here. Over 50 burials took place in the 1800s alone.
Ownership and Growth
In 1867, Daniel and Mille Cummins Porter bought a large farm. This 120-acre farm included the land where the cemetery was located. The Porters had also arrived in Mecosta County in 1861.
Later, they passed the land down to their foster son, Aaron Morgan. In 1896, Aaron and his wife, Joanna Morgan, officially gave a half-acre of land to the West Wheatland Union Cemetery Association. This made the cemetery official.
The cemetery continued to grow over the years. In 1954, Hubert J. and Bernadette Lehnert owned the Morgan Farm. They added another two acres to the cemetery. By 2013, the cemetery had about 400 burial sites. Around 225 of these were in the older part. The cemetery is still used today.
What the Cemetery Looks Like
The Morgan West Wheatland Cemetery is a rectangular piece of land. It is about 2.5 acres in size. The front part of the cemetery, facing 55th Avenue, is open. The graves are mostly located in the back part of the property.
A small dirt lane leads from the front to the back where the graves are. There are more than 380 marked graves here. There are also about 25 graves that do not have markers. The cemetery is well-kept and looks very neat.
Types of Monuments
The grave markers, also called monuments, show many different styles. These styles were common in the Midwest region. They are made from various materials. You can see monuments made of marble, sandstone, limestone, and granite. Some are even made from fieldstone or concrete.
The monuments come in different shapes too. Some are tall, flat headstones. Others are pedestals with urns on top. You might also see slant-face markers or flat-top markers. There are also special government-issued monuments for military veterans.
Some of the older markers have Christian symbols. These symbols include weeping willows, flowers, doves, and clasped hands. These symbols often represent sorrow, peace, or eternal life.
