Lengthy Deeds:
Fairplains
Fair Plains Cem Plat recorded on 19 Mar 1906 in Liber 17, page 15, 16"William K Munson, president and Sumner S Bacon of the Fair Plains Cemetery Association –acquired from different dates ranging from March 29, 1851 to March 26, 1906 — to be dedicated for cemetery purposes." This plat shows School Grounds Dist 7 at the NW corner of Knapp and Warren Green (Fuller?) and shows a water tower father north on Warren Green.
Commencing in center of highway known as Knapp Ave and 165 feet west of stone at center of s/s of Sec 8, north 265 feet to NW corner of school grounds;
thence east 165 to center of highway known as Warren Green Road
thence north long center of said highway 1486 feet
thence west 659 feet to cedar post
thence south 165 feet to iron stake in center of Knapp Ave
thence east along center of Knapp Ave 497 feet to place of beginning
also a part of NE ¼ of NW ¼ of Sec 7"
Fulton Street
Grantee/Grantor File: Liber D Pg 84, July 9, 1838, James Ballad and wife to Trustees Village Grand Rapids
6 acres out of SW corner of NW 1/4 (Cemetery) being 40 rods N and S by 24 rods E and W. Sec 29, T7N, R11W
I am quoting from Chapman. But there are two errors. One is he confused a statement about the Village of Kent Cemetery with the Village of Grand Rapids Cemetery, later called Fulton Street Cemetery, as noted below. Also the legal description is a little off, either in the original deed or in his transcription as noted below. .
From Chapman's History of Kent County 1881
"Fulton Street Cemetery — An indenture made July 9, 1838, between James Ballard and Emeline Ballard and the President and Trustees of the village of Grand Rapids, provided that the following described property should become property of the village in consideration of the payment of $300: A part of the northwest quarter or section 29, town 7 north, of range 11 west, beginning at the southwest corner of said quarter section, and running north on the line between sections 29 and 30, 40 rods (660 ft) from the place of beginning, then east at right angles with this line 40 (sic) rods , west 24 rods (396 ft), to the place of beginning, making in all six acres of land, the same to be used and reserved expressly as a cemetery for the village of Grand Rapids, and one-third of which cemetery is to be devoted to the exclusive use of the people called Roman Catholics, and the said cemetery is to be fenced immediately, and forever kept in repair at the sole expense of the village.
This deed was executed before C. I. Walker, Notary Public, July 9, 1838, in the presence of Stephen Hinsdill and W. B. Starky, and a record of the same made by Register Luther Beebe, Aug. 1. 1838. This property was conveyed by deed of warranty, dated March 23, 1836 from Geo. M. Mills to Chester Walbridge, and he in turn made a conveyance to James Ballard, Feb. 2, 1838. On June 16, of that year, Geo. M. Mills sold his interest in the equal one-half part of the northwest quarter of section 29, to Ballard"
(It goes on to say:) In a report made to John T. Holmes, Solicitor for the city, in August 1852, he states, "That the city's title to the cemetery (Village of Kent Cemetery) is sound, that the ground was used as a burial ground from about the time of the making of the 'Kent Plat;' and although some of the bodies were removed, there yet remain many of the early interments." (But this last sentence is in error. It refers to the Village of Kent cemetery NOT Fulton)
Also the legal is a little off. It should be north 40 rods (660 ft). thence east 24 rods (396 feet), thence south 660 feet, thence west 396 feet. As the measurements for the SE Addition are also 40 rods N/S sections 14,15,16 are comparable to sections 1,2,3,4,5,6 this would indicate those six sections were part of the original six acres. However, since sections 5 and 6 are not numbered in sequence, I am assuming sections 1,2,3,4 were developed first and 5 and 6 later. Yet sections 5 and 6 represent one-third. Was this the Catholic section? 660 ft x 396 = 261,360 sq ft divided by 43,560 ft = 5.99 acres. Since St. Andrews Catholic Cemetery was created shortly after Fulton, perhaps the Catholic section was never really used as such so 5 and 6 laid dormant for awhile
From a transcription in the City Engineer's office:
9 July 1838 - "James Ballard and wife to the Trustees of the Village of Grand Rapids. Recorded 1 August 1838 Liber D Page 84. Consideration, $300. Six acres out of the SW corner of the NW 1/4 of Sec 29 - 7 -11, being 40 rods (660 feet) N and S by 24 rods ( 396 feet) E and W.
1862 - "Plat of blocks 7,8,9 of the Fulton Street Cemetery adjoining the City of Grand Rapids --- Common Council of said City adopting the addition passed Sept 15, 1862. Thos D Gilbert, F B Gilbert
1864 - "A plat of blocks 10,11,12,13 of the so-called Fulton Street Cemetery of the City of Grand Rapids in the County of Kent and State of Michigan, being a strip of land 33 feet wide off the west side of the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Sec 29 T7N R11 W ---lying between Fulton and Fountain streets in said City, also that part of the SE 1/4 of the NE ¼ of Section 30 --; commencing at the quarter post on the east line of said Section 30, thence north to Fountain Street, thence west to a street recently deeded to the City of Grand Rapids by Thos D and Francis B Gilbert, thence South to Fulton Street, thence east to the east line of said Sec 30 – Thos D Gilbert and Francis B Gilbert"
1869 - "The following tract of land is hereby dedicated as an Addition to the Fulton Street Cemetery to be known as Blocks number 14, 15, 16 under an arrangement made with the Cemetery Association, to wit: Beginning on the South boundary of the NW ¼ Sec 29 T7N R11 W, six chains from the W ¼ post of the same, thence North forty rods; thence East eight rods; thence South forty rods; thence West eight rods to the place of beginning. Except what is used for Fulton Street Thomas D Gilbert"
1896 - Fulton Street Cemetery Association to the City of Grand Rapids. In consideration of the City, at a regular session of the Common Council held Monday, July 20, 1896, giving permission to the said Association to extend a retaining wall on the n. (north) side of Fulton Street Cemetery 4 feet out on fountain Street, under certain conditions, as shown by the repot of the Committee on Streets, a copy of which said report is hereto attached and marked "A". Therefore, the Association hereby waives and disclaims any right in said Fountain Street by reason of the use or occupancy thereof by said retaining wall extending into said Fountain Street a distance of four feet, and also agrees to construct said wall in a straight line form East Street to the east line of said cemetery.
Greenwood
Quit Claim Dec 6, 1915 The Trustees of Barth Culon Association to The City of Grand Rapids
L445 P500 $600 Commencing at the NW corner of Block "G", thence northerly 30 feet, thence east 198 feet, thence northerly 220 feet, thence west 198 feet, thence southerly 220 feet to he place of beginning in Greenwood Cem.
Oak Hill
Quit Claim July 9th, 1885 Liber 165 Page 367 Nelson W Northrop and Charlotte, his wife To the City of Grand Rapids. $1.00 and the covenants and agreements contained in a certain contract of even date herewith between said City and said Nelson W Northrop. All those certain lots, pieces or parcels of land: lots 2, 6, 7,8, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56 all of Block 7. Lot 6 and lots numbered from 9 to 24, also lots 32, 33, 42, 43, 44, 45, 53, 58, 65 all of Bock 6. Lots 9, 10, 11, 12 all of Block 2. Lots 34, 37, 39, 44, 45, 52, 53, 60, 61, 67, 68 all of block 8. All of said lots above described being situated in Oak Hill Cemetery, according to the plat of said Cemetery.
Quit Claim July 9th, 185 Liber 165 Page 368 $1.00 Nelson Higbee to the City of Grand Rapids
All of the following described lots situated in Oak Hill Cemetery: (many lots in blocks 1, 2,3, 7, 8, 10)
except lots 90 and 91 of Block 9 and Lot 134 of block 1.
WD April 29, 1893 L236 P294-5 $1125 Harriet A Cook to the City of Grand Rapids
Lots 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71 in block 2 of Oak Hill Cemetery
Quit Claim June 21, 1897 Mary L Waters To the City of Grand Rapids L265 P 561 $1.00
Lots 91, 92, 93, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 113, 114 of block 3 of the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Note: The 5 acres on which stands the City Hospital (excepting a 14 foot alley along the north side) was added to Oakhill Cemetery by resolution of the Common Council, January 2nd, 1900. For description see "Pest House Grounds"
Quit Claim Oct 28th, 1901 L299 P547 $1.00 Eliza E Giddings: Wallace Giddings and Loie A, his wife and Charlotte E Works to the City of Grand Rapids. All of the north half of lot 191, block 10, Oak Hill Cemetery.
Quit Claim August 1, 1908 L390 P181 James M Barnett and Lucy F, his wife To the City of GR
Lot 80 of block E in the Oak Hill Cem
Quit Claim Dec 24, 1908 $50.00 L390 P184 Abbie R Burnham To the City of Grand Rapids
N1/2 of the S ½ of lot 86, Block ` Oakhill Cemetery
Quit Claim May 10, 1907 $1 Harriet Richards to the City of GR
N1/2 of lot 149 in Block 10 of Oakhill Cem
From the Proceedings of the Common Council, Jan 2, 1900, p 690, 6460::
"Resolved - that the five acres of land (more or less) owned by the city and
adjoining Oakhill Cemetery on the north be forever dedicated for use as a
public cemetery excepting - alley --and excepting also therefrom the east three
hundred thirty feet thereof now used and occupied by the city for hospital
purposes ---" This area was used mostly for burials of victims of the WWI
flu epidemic while the western portion was sold to Temple Emanuel.
From the Proceedings of the Common Council, April 30, 1900, pg 962, 7476:
reference is made to a "contagious disease hospital"
which "has been in use for 13 years". I think this was the forerunner of
Sunshine Tuberculosis Sanitarium as I remember the old quarantine houses, Tudor
style, on the grounds. These bldgs are now gone and Sunshine has been
renamed Kent Community, now used, I think, as a charity nursing home for the
dying. .
Valley City
Quit Claim Nov 15, 1901 L 299 P546 $50.00 Jessie Ball to the City of Grand Rapids
Lot 75 Block G Valley City Cemetery excepting nine feet running north and south on the west side of said lot.
Quit Claim Aug 26, 1910 L383 P589 $1.00 Wilder D Stevens, widower To the City of Grand Rapids
Lot 101 Block A - Valley City
Quit Claim July 27, 1910 $100.00 L 390 P180 Hans J Pett To the City of GR
N 1/2 of lot 8 Block G – Valley City
Quit Claim Nov 25, 1908 $200 L390 P182 Elizabeth S Voigt and Frank A Voigt as executors of the Estate of Carl G A Voigt, deceased and also Mrs. Elizabeth S Voigt in her own right to the City of GR.
Lot 89 block A –Valley City Cemetery. (This is THE Voigt family of today's Voigt Museum, and the Voigt Flour Mill and Herpolsheimer's & Voigt Department Store which still existed when I was a child. (BVM)
Woodlawn East
WD August 28, 1920 L 508 P331 J Boyd Pantlind and Jessie A, his wife of Grand Rapids to City of GR
$25,000 See Also Section 8 Woodlawn West
1. Part of the W ½ of the W1/2 of the NW ¼
and N ½ of the NW ¼ of the SW ¼ lying south of the Pere Marquette RR R.O.W.
(north part of main Protestant Cem)
2. and the North ten rods of the S ½ of the NW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Sec 9 T6N, R11W containing 22.39 acres more or less. (This would adjoin Brown's parcel).
3. That part of the SE ¼ NE ¼ of Sec 8 T6N R11W lying South of the Pere Marquette Railroad r.o.w. containing 11 and 47/100 acres. (woodland north of and including extended Alger street).
They sold their interests both as a married couple as an individuals. They reserved their crops.
WD Feb 28, 1921 L510 P417 $7723.70
Alvah and Ella M Brown, his wife, To City of Grand Rapids
All that part of the E ½ of the SW ¼ of Section 9 T6N, R11W lying South of the Pere Marquette Railroad Company
Exceptions: reserve the buildings and windmill and a driveway access to their property north of the RR.
See also L464 P424-425 for a discharge of mortgage of this property by the Utilization Company To Grand Rapids Savings Bank on Oct 30, 1911 recorded 1921 that specifies "For Cemetery purposes". (This may be the vacant land recently expanded into by cemetery circa 2005. )
WD April 11, 1921 L511 P584 $10,000
Frank M and Annie Soper, husband and wife of Paris Township to City of GR
That part of the S1/2 of the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 8 T6N R11 W, lying East of the center line of the highway running across said Northeast quarter of the SE ¼ excepting ten rods in width from the North side, all containing ten acres of land, be the same more or less
ALSO S ½ of the NW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 9 T6N R11W except ten rods in width, from the North side thereof, hereby conveying 15 Acres of land, be the same more or less (south developed part of Woodlawn East)
WD April 18, 1921 L511 P583 $23,300
Leon T and Cora L Closterhouse, husband and wife of Paris Township to City of Grand Rapids
(Excerpt) Part of the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 8 lying East of the public highway (Kalamazoo Road so-called) T6N R11 W
AND SW ¼ of the SW ¼ Sec 9 T6 N R11W containing 50 acres more or less. (Indian Trails Golf Course)
excepting rights of Grand Rapids Muskegon Power company.
WD Sept 8, 1920 Liber 507 P424 $2250
Between Mary and Joseph Stephenson, husband and wife
and Chas F Ellinger and Dora E, his wife
and Anna Tazelaar, all of Grand Rapids to the City of GR
Commencing on the line between Sections 8 and 9 of T6N, R11W, 352 feet South of the NE corner of the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ of said Section 8
thence West 1127 feet to the center of the highway
thence South 25 degrees thirty minutes East along the center of said highway 540 feet
thence East 892 feet to said section line
thence North 489 feet to the place of beginning. 11.25 Acres
WD Sep 8, 1920 L508 P273 $3500
Between Chas F Ellinger and Dora E, his wife and Anna Tazelaar of Grand Rapids To City of GR
Commencing on the line between Sec 8 and 9 T6N R11W352 feet south of the NE corner of the NE 1/4 of the SE ¼ of said section 8
thence West 1127 feet to the center of the highway
thence south 25 degrees 30 minutes, East along the center line of said highway 540 feet
thence East 892 feet to said Section line
thence North 489 feet to the place of beginning. 11 ¼ acres
Woodlawn West
WD August 28, 1920 L 508 P331 J Boyd Pantlind and Jessie A, his wife of Grand Rapids to City of GR
$25,000 for all parcels See Also Section 9 Woodlawn East:
1. W1/2 of the SE /14 (The northern portion would be the Cem and the southern portion the park.)
and that part of the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 8 T6N R11W lying West of Kalamazoo Ave containing 89.06 acres more or less. (This would be the bulk of the Catholic part of Woodlawn West)
2. N ten acres of the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Sec 8, T6N R11 W West of Kalamazoo containing 9.72 acres (This would adjoin Soper's East of Kalamazoo) reserved ½ acre
WD April 12, 1921 L511 P585 $10,000 (Excerpt)
Aura A and William L Clark, Jr husband and wife
Philip J, Emelie M Peters husband and wife; To City of Grand Rapids
Part of the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ Sec 8 T6N, R11W, laying West of the center line of the highway, 20 acres
(This is roughly the "vacant land" now used by an apartment complex and Walgreen's 2005)
Except: (Oak Grove Cem) Commencing at the SW corner of the SE ¼ of the SE ¼
thence North on the 1/8th line 45 - 5/7 (754.29 feet) rods
thence East 35 rods (577.5 feet)
thence South 45-5/7 rods (754.29 feet)
thence West 35 rods (577.5 feet)to the place of beginning.
WD Sept 11, 1920 L508 P272 $2700
Between Ira E Middleton and Bessie, husband and wife of Walker Township To City of GR
That part of the SE ¼ of Sec 8, T6N, R11W, described as follows;
Commencing at the SW corner of the E ½ of the SE 1/43
thence North 45 5/7 (754.29 ft) rods to the North line of the cemetery lying East of said premises;
thence East 10 (165 ft) rods to West line of said Cemetery
thence South 45 5/7 (754.26 ft) rods to the center of the highway
thence West 10 (165 ft) rods to beginning (This land basically lies West of Oak Grove.)
Deed of Administrator Sept 7, 1920 L500 P56 $2000
Between Ellen M McCready, guardian of the estate of Dorothy E McCready and Dorrance E McCready, minors AND Ira E Middleton and Bessie, husband and wife of Paris Township
Commencing at the SW corner of the E /12 of the SE ¼ of Sec 8, T6N, R11W
thence North 45 5/7 rods to the North line extended of the cemetery lying on the East side of said premises,
thence East on said North line extended of said Cemetery ten rods to the West line of said Cemetery
thence South on the West line of said cemetery 45 5/7 rods to the center of the highway running along the South side of said premises, thence West along the enter of said highway ten rods, more or less, to place of beginning, and containing 2.8 Acres of land, be the same more or less