Riverside Cementary

On Saturday, June 8th, 2013 I attended a presentation given by the Chippewa County Historical Society.  It was quite interesting.  There were two main presenters who pretended to be Pierre Barbeau and Mary Ann Anthony.  Pierre even spoke the French language during part of his presentation.  The presenters covered various gravesites and described who was buried at the site and told us a little about their lives.  Here are some of the interesting people buried at the Riverside Cementary. 

Thomas Bickerton: He died in September 1902 at the age of 58 years of age. He was crushed between two railroad cars. During this time there was a decline in child birth and epidemic deaths. Accidental deaths remained the same.

Crew of S.S. Cyprus: Launched on Spet. 17, 1907 in Lorain, OH - sank on Oct. 11, 1907. Capt. Frank Brainard Huyck, 48 years old with 28 years of experience, 8 as capt. Sank 18 miles form Deer Point and 35 miles west of Whitefish Pt. 18 Sailors went down with the ship, 4 survived when flug overboard.

Joseph McGirr: Had a restaurant business that lost money, wife died earlier, onset of depression so on July 13, 1893 he jumped into the St. Mary's River and drowned on the Canadian side leaving two orphan sons, ages 10 and 12. Left suicide note behind.

Crews of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin, and Annie M. Peterson: Steamer C.F. Curtis launched in 1874 out of Green Bay, WI. Schooner Selden E. Marvin launched in 1882 from marine City, Mi. Schooner Annie M. Peterson luanched in 1874 from Green Bay, Wi. The Steamer and Schooners had a crew of 28 - 25 men and 3 women. On Nov. 19, 1914 left from Baraga, Mi to Tonawanda, NY near Buffalo. Sank in storm - recovered bodies of 6 men and 3 women.

James Taylor: Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1831 and educated at Trinity College. Came ot America and began a 20 year career in seafaring in command of merchant vessels; retired in Flora and had five children of which three survived. He died on Easter Sunday in 1899 at the age of 68.

John Johnston: Born in Belfast, Ireland in 1762. Immigated to Canada in 1792 when he was 30 years old. He is the first permanent European settler. Married to Oshauguscodaywayqua (Susan Johnston). He was involved in fur trading in Sault Ste. Marie. Died in 1828 and his body was moved from Fort Brady to Riverside Cementary.

1st Sgt. Frederick Schmitt: Native of Germany, came to U.S.A. - joined the military, had a distinguished career in the army for 12 1/2 years. Was one of the best non-commissioned officers at Fort Brady. Early May in 1895 went on a two day binge and was repremanded and confined to quarters on a Sunday. On Monday he shot himself with a rifle; caused by excitable temper.

PVT. Edmund Myers:  Enlisted in Co. H of the 19^th U.S. Infantry at Fort Brady.  Died in Jan. of 1898 when he was only 44 years old, suffered a heart attack during a drill exercise.  Obituary misspelled heart and stated it was heat stroke that killed him in Jan.  Burial with Battalion’s 8 man firing salute. 

George Johnston:  Son of John and Susan Johnston. Died in 1861 at the age of 64.  Married to Mary Rice who died in 1858 at the age of 55.  After his death, all of his sons by second wife died in the Civil War.  Benjamin died at 21; while James died at 19; the youngest, Sam died in Gettysburg at the age of 18, his body was never recovered.

William Schoolcraft: Son of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and Jane Johnston, died at the age of 2 years of age of croupe on March 18, 1827.  Mother wrote a poem commemorating her son

Archie Trempe: He was the first Sault Ste. Marie resident to be a casualty of the Spanish-American War.  Died on September 18, 1898 from Malaria.  He was 23 years old.

Pierre Barbeau: Born in La Prairie, Lower Canada (Quebec) on June 20, 1800.  Came to Sault Ste. Marie at the age of 17 to work in the fur trade.  August of 1830 was married to Archange Lalonde of Sault Ste. Marie, three children born in Torch Lake, WI, three girls – Henrietta, Flavia, Augusta.  Returned to Sault Ste. Marie in 1834 and in 1842 had own businesses, opened trading post and fishing enterprises.  Held many public offices in the county and the state.  Died on Oct. 21, 1882 at his home from heart disease.

Bessie Hecox:  She died on Feb. 18, 1897 from brain congestion, she was 11 years old, she died a good death. She comforted her family while she was dying.

George Kemp:  Born in Sault Ste. Marie on August 2, 1847. On Jan. 1, 1875 George married Viola F. Heichhold, they had five boys; Alexander, Harry, Guy, Dayton, and Jay.  Viola was born in 1854 and died in Aug. 1924 at the age of 70. George was involved in the business of forwarding and shipping.  His coal co. prospered and became his family’s livelihood.  His house was built in 1900 and located at 112 Glenn Ae.  George Kemp passed away in 1923 at the age of 76.

Guy Carlton:  Born on Nov. 1, 1819 in Bath, Grafton County, New Hampshire.  He came to Sault Ste. Marie as surveyor in 1845, he married Frances Clark Hogue on Oct. 5, 1846, she died in 1859.  Remarried on De. 1, 1862 to Christine Kemp, had four children.  Worked most of his life as surveyor, toll collector, and engineer, community volunteer and appointments were numerous.  On May 1, 1895 collapsed and died of heart failure at a city fire. 

Effie Atwood:  Sister of George Kemp.  Married in 1895, she was 34 years of age and one of the many women who married in their 20s and 30s, few married in their teens.  Gave birth to first child shortly before her death. She died in Dec. 1898 at the age of 37.

Mary Ann Anthony:  Born in Devonshire, England, came to Sault Ste. Marie in 1887 at the age of 30.  Rejoined her husband Thomas who had come four years earlier.  Buried with her are Archie; James; Jane; and Doreta.  Husband died in 1882.  Mary Ann died April 1985 at the age of 68 of Bright’s Disease.

Jacob Vanderhook:  Born in Sault Ste. Marie in 1847; undertaker in the late 1800s.  Jacob, his wife and his daughter all died at a ripe old age.  Him and his family were all buried at Riverside Cemetary and surrounded by their former clients.  Jacob also built a furniture store in the 1890s on Ashmun St.  He died in 1934 at the age of 87.

Hursley Brothers:  Capt. Burr Hursley died in Dec. 1892 form a lengthy illness; Capt. For Hursley committed suicide April 1895 – shot himself in billiard room at Park Hotel leaving wife and child; 2^nd child predeceased Capt. For Hursley Sept. of 1893.  Capt. Jay Hursley became mayor of Sault Ste. Marie.  Capt. Jay Hursley later relocated to Alaska on Business.  Capt. Wayne Hursley was forth brother who was Captain.

Joel McMahon:  Born at Sanila County and father died when Joel was 5 years old, remained on family farm until he was 17 years old.  Left for schooling and became a lawyer, politician and chairman of the Republic County Commission.  Married in 1871 and had 12 children.  Wife and 8 children survived at time of death.  Died Nov. of 1894 at 46 years old; Rev. Easterday officiated. 

Henry Newcomb:  Disappeared on July 15, 1891 after going on an errand to Furl to sail the family boat.  Body found 9 days later in Hay Lake.  It was determined that Henry fell from the skiff he was using – drowning was a common cause for death.

Robert Bowden and the Agar Family:  Robert Bowden: Early homesteader who settled around Hay Lake.  Daughter Mabel: married Andrew Agar, also a homesteader.  In 1908, Mabel Left 2 ½ year old James in care of 5 year old sister Frances. James fell into creek and drowned.  Sister was blamed though she was only five.  Young children were often left to watch their younger siblings.  Her mother was shown holding a rifle and carrying a dead rabbit.  Mother’s sometimes had to go hunting to put food on the table.

I learned a lot about this cemetery and who was buried there during this tour and I also learned how some of the names of the streets in Sault Ste. Marie, MI got there names such as Easterday Ave. and Hursley. By the way, there are two sides to this cemetery, a Catholic side and then everybody else on the other side.  I found that interesting also. One of my dear friends died and was buried in this cemetery a few years ago.  I think on the Catholic side.  My husband and I are organ donors and plan on being cremated.  However, I have been known to visit grave sites and read the tomb stones.