Draft:Redford Cemetery

Historic cemetery in Southeast Michigan, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Redford Cemetery (formerly known as Bell Branch Cemetery and Redford Pioneer Cemetery) was founded in 1831 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Michigan. This 10-acre, non-profit cemetery with 2,000 burials is located on Telegraph Road in Redford Township, Wayne County, Michigan, USA. Its oldest burials include early settlers and veterans who served in the American Revolutionary War. They are interred alongside veterans of the War of 1812, Toledo War, Mexican-American War, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. These veterans include fathers and their sons as well as nurses and immigrant soldiers from Ireland, France, Canada, and England.

  • Comment: A notable cemetery but the way this article is written sounds more like what you would find on a website of the cemetery, the use of “Our country” isn’t neutral or encyclopaedic (it would be odd if all people referred to a site as “our country” on Wikipedia, especially because millions of users worldwide use it). Also a lot of the paragraphs are unsourced and I think the list of known surnames buried at the site should be placed in an external links area as opposed to at the very start, also this is a nitpick but I believe it would be better if the infobox was higher in the text but that’s just my view on aesthetics.
    Also the “Looking ahead” section strengthens my earlier point on it sounding like what I’d find on the website itself, also finally I don’t think all the names of veterans are required, a handful, perhaps notable or high up officers or ones with Wikipedia pages or other external sources should be mentioned. Mwen Sé Kéyòl Translator-a (talk) 08:45, 2 February 2026 (UTC)


Established1831
Location
15898 Telegraph Road, Redford, Michigan
TypeNon-profit
Size10 acres (4.0 ha)
Quick facts Redford Cemetery, Details ...
Redford Cemetery
Historic arch at the main entrance of the Redford Cemetery facing telegraph Road in Redford Township, Wayne County, Michigan USA.
Details
Established1831
Location
15898 Telegraph Road, Redford, Michigan
TypeNon-profit
Size10 acres (4.0 ha)
No. of gravesApproximately 2,000
Websitehttps://redfordcemetery.org/
Find a GraveRedford Cemetery
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This cemetery is operated by the elected volunteers of the Redford Cemetery Association[1] with burial rights maintained through assessments and endowments of the descendants of the Redford pioneers and their families.

Cemetery History

Redford Township, originally named Pekin, was organized on October 29, 1829[2], and later renamed Redford Township in March 1833. In 1831, Israel Bell, a Pekin Village commissioner and early settler (buried at Redford Cemetery, 1805-1885), gave one acre of land to the village for a cemetery.[3] It was originally called Bell Branch Cemetery, referring to the settlement founded in 1818 and later also known as the Redford Pioneer Cemetery. Its name was changed to Redford Cemetery after Pekin was renamed Redford Township[4].

In 1833, the Grand River Road was opened through Redford Township and along the Western edge of the Redford Cemetery.[5] Prior to that time, there were reportedly no roads except an Native American trail known as the Shiawassee Trail running through the township to Detroit.[6]

The cemetery grew over the years. In 1840, 2 acres were deeded to the cemetery by Nathanial Armstrong which he divided from a larger plot adjacent to the cemetery which he obtained from the US Government in 1837 for $20. In 1854, 2.3 acres were deeded to the cemetery from Charles Nardin and his wife, Catherine, for $172.95. In 1883, they deeded an additional 5.8 acres for $580, expanding the cemetery to 10 acres. Soon after, in 1886, a wrought iron fence was built for the cemetery with funds contributed by Redford Township citizens[7].

In 1926, the City of Detroit annexed a portion of Redford[8] which included approximately 7 acres on the Eastern portion of the cemetery. This began along a line 200 feet east of the center of Telegraph Road (US 24) which became a paved two-lane road that year. In 1936, Telegraph Road was expanded to four lanes and in 1963 it was expanded to the 6-lane, divided highway with median crossovers that we know today[9]. As a result, the dividing line between Redford Township and Detroit is roughly 200 feet East of the middle of the center northbound lane.

In March of 1933, the Redford Cemetery Association (RCA) was incorporated as a non-profit corporation. Following petition to the Redford Township Board, in April 1933 the Township deeded to the Association the land the cemetery occupied in Redford Township. That same year, the Association successfully petitioned the City of Detroit and was granted a lease in perpetuity of the rest of the land occupied by the cemetery. The lease was issued because the Common Council of the City of Detroit did not have the power under the city’s charter to deed away cemetery property. These changes recognized the municipal borders that remain in place today from which the front of the cemetery resides in Redford Charter Township, and the remaining, rear (Eastern) portion of the cemetery resides in Detroit.

In 1994, the cemetery coordinated with local governments as they worked to improve and preserve the parameters of the adjacent Rouge River. In exchange, the historic fence was replaced, a new arch installed, cemetery roads were expanded and paved, landscaping was improved, and rear fences installed. The original, historic arch was later restored and remains on display at the Redford Township Historical Commission[3]. The new arch installed in 1994 was restored in 2024 by the students and staff of SMART within the Sheet Metal Workers Local 80 Apprenticeship Training Center in Warren Michigan.

As of 2026, there are over 2,000 people buried at Redford Historical Cemetery, of which approximately 900 are from the 19th century (born between Jan 1, 1801 to Dec 31, 1900). The Redford Cemetery will celebrate its bicentennial (200th anniversary) in 2031.

Historic Designation

Historic Marker noting Redford Cemetery as a Michigan Historic Site.

On June 13, 1986, Redford Cemetery was listed in the State Register as Michigan Historic Site number 1317[10]. On June 11, 1989, an historic marker was officially placed and dedicated at the cemetery which reads, "In 1831, Israel Bell, a Pekin Village commissioner, gave one acre of land to the village for a cemetery. Originally called Bell Branch Cemetery after the river and the settlement founded by Bell in 1818, its name was changed to Redford Cemetery after Pekin's modern name, Redford Township. Additional acreage obtained in 1840, 1854 and 1883 expanded the cemetery to ten acres, of which half is in Redford Township and half is in Detroit. A wrought iron fence was built for the cemetery in 1886 with money contributed by Redford Township citizens. Among those buried here are Israel Bell and many war veterans, including two from the Revolutionary War, and many from the War of 1812, the Civil War and World War I."

Notable Burials

Early Settlers

  • Susan D. Chaffee (1800 – Dec 1, 1832) – first recorded burial at age 32; one year after her marriage to Job Chaffee who passed 51 years later and is buried at her side.
  • Israel Bell (1805 – 1885) – Early settler, commissioner, and donor of initial Redford Cemetery land.[3]

Revolutionary War Veterans

  1. Dains, Ephraim Sr.: 7/4/1752 – 7/7/1836, Enlisted from Litchfield County Connecticut, Private within Captain Jeronemus Hoogland’s company of the Second Dragoon Regiment, Captain Samuel Blachley Webb’s Company within the Continental Army, and Colonel Elisha Sheldon’s regiment of the Cavalry, Connecticut Militia.
  2. Smead, Darius: 1766 – 1846, New Hampshire Line

War of 1812 Veterans

  1. Bigelow, Amos: 5/30/1789 – 12/24/1850, born in VT
  2. Canfield, Leman: 8/5/1795 – 9/4/1868, born in NY
  3. Colby, Merrill: 3/29/1787 – 10/22/1859, born in NH
  4. Cromer, Jacob: 1/1/1792 – 7/29/1884, born in NY
  5. Green, Benjamin: 1786 – 10/9/1853, NY Militia
  6. Green, Joseph: 1788 – 10/13/1872
  7. Logan, Thomas: 9/6/1795 – 2/26/1860, born in NJ
  8. Seger, Hiram: 9/21/1798 – 9/16/1848, Connecticut Militia, born in CT, Redford Township Supervisor 1840-1842
  9. Smead, Darius, Jr.: 4/30/1801 – 11/9/1881, son of Revolutionary War veteran listed above, born in NY, Drummer Boy
  10. Smith, Silas: 4/6/1790 – 6/16/1874, born in NY, Vermont Militia

Toledo War (Michigan Militia v Ohio Militia) Veteran

  1. Pierce, Onesimus O.: 8/16/1809 – 5/6/1876, born in NY, served as a MI state representative from 1/1/1873 until his death on 5/6/1876 and previously as the Redford Township Clerk and Supervisor. Father of school principal, publisher, lawyer, and state senator Charles Sumner Pierce.

Mexican-American War Veteran

  1. Marques D. L. Seger: 1818 – 7/23/1848, son of War of 1812 veteran Hiram Seger listed above

American Civil War Veterans

  1. Atwell, Joseph: 1819 – 8/4/1881, born in MI, 8th Michigan Cavalry Company H
  2. Brink, Peter I.: 12/20/1824 – 10/21/1874, born in NY, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  3. Brown, John: d. 4/22/1891
  4. Bucklin, Lyman D.*: 1/24/1845 – 1/27/1865, 1st Michigan Cavalry Company G
  5. Canfield, George H.*: 1843 – 2/7/1865, born in PA, 24th Michigan Infantry Co I, died in Battle of Hatchers Run
  6. Charlesworth, William: d. 12/4/1864. 24th Michigan Infantry, Company I
  7. Cole, Abraham: 8/9/1825 – 3/1/1880, born in England, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment Company M
  8. Cole, Sarah C. (Dunning) (Mrs. Amos W. Cole): 9/11/1820 – 6/6/1899, born in NY, nurse
  9. Cooley, William T.: 1842 – 1860, born in MI, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment Company M
  10. Cornwall, John F.*: 1840 - 1861
  11. Cromer, Samuel F.: 5/10/1838 – 3/8/1938, born in MI, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  12. Cross, Michael W.*: 9/14/1837 – 8/14/1863, born in MI, 19th US Regulars Company D
  13. Durham, Amory A.*: March 1846 – 2/17/1864, 7th Michigan Cavalry Company M
  14. Eliot, Orlando H.: 12/7/1838 – 10/6/1913, born in NY, 1st Michigan Infantry Company H
  15. Forster, Arthur: 1833 – 1901, son of Thomas Forster and Ann Kirkland
  16. French, Evi J.*: 1/10/1838 – 8/12/1866, born in NY, 24th Michigan Infantry Company H, wounded in action at Gettysburg, PA on July 1, 1863
  17. Franklin, William: 7/25/1838 – 1/1/1928, born in MI, 5th Michigan Cavalry Company H
  18. Geney, David George: 2/12/1842 – 10/3/1907, born in France, 7th Michigan Cavalry Company E
  19. Harris, Cross*: 10/12/1841 – 11/22/1862, born in MI, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  20. Harris, John B.*: 1838 – 11/27/1862, born in NY, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  21. Harris, Nelson P.: 1841 – 8/5/1863, born in NY, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  22. Hayt, Loren N.: d. 7/24/1896, 2nd California Infantry Company I
  23. Hendryx, Warren L.*: 11/30/1824 – 10/2/1867, US Navy
  24. Houk, Henry L.*: 1841 – 10/28/1864, Born in MI, 24th Michigan Infantry
  25. Hubert, Francis: 11/11/1831 – 4/4/1904, 8th Michigan Cavalry Company M
  26. Hutchinson, Albertis A.*: 8/16/1846 – 1/14/1864, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  27. Jackson, John J.: 9/11/1839 – 2/19/1916, 30th Michigan Infantry Company C
  28. Johnson, Alpheus*: d. 4/22/1861, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  29. Lawrence, William C.: 1/4/1813 – 1/11/1898, born in England, 5th Michigan Infantry Company C
  30. Mettetal, Emile*: 12/7/1843 – 3/6/1865, born in MI, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  31. McCoy, James H.: 7/12/1841 – 7/1/1884, born in Canada, 7th Michigan Infantry Company I
  32. Nardin, Eugene F.*: 6/9/1838 – 12/31/1864, born in MI, Sergeant 24th Michigan Infantry Company I
  33. Morris, Emory C.: 10/8/1844 – 12/23/1938, born in MI, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment Company M
  34. Ostrander, Sylvester: 1832 – 8/14/1899, born in NY, 1st Michigan Infantry Company F
  35. Polk, Robert: d. 4/21/1890, 24th Michigan Infantry Company D
  36. Prindle, William: 5/8/1843 – 11/21/1905, 4th Michigan Cavalry Company B
  37. Ezekiel H Sackett: 10/10/1836 – 7/5/1918, 1st Michigan Cavalry Company C
  38. Sackett, Martin: 5/10/1840 – 3/13/1914, 10th Michigan Cavalry
  39. Smith, Dr. Charles C.: 7/28/1828 – 4/17/1890, born in NH, 24th Michigan Infantry
  40. Stabler, Redy: 3/14/1848 – 2/20/1932, born in NY, 22nd Michigan Infantry Company C
  41. Teagan, Charles: 7/11/1844 – 2/26/1898, born in Ireland, 8th Michigan Cavalry Company G
  42. Ward, Francis R.: 9/13/1833 – 5/10/1913, born in England, 24th Michigan Infantry Company I

World War I Veterans

  1. Adcock, Frank: d. 1/17/1939
  2. Binns, Harry Jr.: 11/4/1898 – 8/5/1989, Canadian Army
  3. Binns, Harry Sr.: 4/22/1877 – 6/15/1975, Canadian Army
  4. Brocklehurst, James A.: 12/26/1892 - 10/21/1972, US Army
  5. Burniac, Jerome: 7/4/1898 – 8/2/1971
  6. Durham, Enos: 4/7/1899 – 3/22/1933, US Marines
  7. Guenther, Clarence W.*: 8/20/1896 – 6/5/1918
  8. Guenther, Edward M.: 5/31/1898 – 11/23/1929
  9. Leach, Frank A.: 11/1/1893 – 6/29/1944, US Army
  10. Mayes, Stanley W.: 1/21/1896 - 1/4/1938, Corporal Field Artillery, 85th Division
  11. Nelson, Howard H.: 10/5/1898 – 5/11/1983, US Army
  12. Prindle, Allen M.: 6/10/1895 – 12/27/1943
  13. Sutton, Mrs. Charles: Nurse
  14. Weiduwilt, Emil H.: 2/25/1892 – 4/4/1931
  15. Wright, George W.: 3/25/1893 – 6/10/1976

World War II Veterans

  1. Armstrong, Terry Allen: 5/17/1950 – 1/7/1976
  2. Banfield, Charles S.: 1/18/1923 – 8/20/1977, PFC US Army
  3. Brazner, (Bragenzer) Joseph: 1899 – 9/29/1972
  4. Burns, Nelson E.: 10/20/1924 – 11/4/1970, US Navy
  5. Chromy, Walter: 1/29/1923 – 3/28/1986, Corporal US Army
  6. Davey, Berten Edward: 6/28/1923 – 9/24/1968, PFC Army
  7. Davey, John Leo: 7/2/1924 – 11/14/1969, 44th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Technician 4th Grade
  8. Donie, Eugene Victor: 9/15/1911 – 3/22/1970, 1st Lieutenant US Navy
  9. Durham, Walter J. Jr: 3/20/1919 – 1/18/1965, US Army
  10. Finnigan, Thomas A.: 3/19/1926 – 9/28/2000, US Army
  11. Fisher, Clyde E.: 10/22/1919 – 1/7/1966, US Army Medical Department (Tec5)
  12. Fischer, Nelson Howard: 8/26/1912 – 5/20/1977, US Army
  13. Formaz, Le Roy H.: 1/27/1915 – 1/15/1976, Corporal Army Air Force
  14. Gallagher, James Andrew: 9/12/1911 – 4/14/1973, US Army Quartermaster Corps (D Day invasion, Omaha Beach)
  15. Hicks, Billy: 10/10/1920 – 2/10/1968, US Navy
  16. Hobbins, William Elmer: 2/4/1921 – 10/3/1963, US Navy Construction Battalion (Seabee)
  17. Hopp, Gerald H.: 6/29/1924 – 12/21/1973, US Army
  18. Leach, Harold F.*: 12/5/1922 – 2/16/1944, US Navy, died aboard the carrier USS Hornet (CV-8)
  19. Lyons, Ross G.: 12/7/1913 – 12/4/1966, US Army Engineer
  20. MacNeill, Daniel Keith, Sr.: 11/3/1913 – 12/4/1966, father of Vietnam vet shown below
  21. McGuigan, Donald Gerald: 11/23/1914 – 1/8/1993, 1st Sargent - US Army (Pearl Harbor attack survivor)
  22. Parks, Raymond: 8/1/1917 – 1/15/1962, US Army Air Force
  23. Prindle, Harry Lee: 1/12/1899 – 3/5/1967
  24. Prindle, Marlin Perry: 8/28/1911 – 8/17/1962
  25. Ranz, Russell D.: 9/13/1926 – 5/18/1968, US Army
  26. Stilson, Jack A.: 6/17/1917 – 6/28/1989, US Army
  27. Wendleken, William H.: 10/3/1917 – 1/3/1988, US Army

Korean War Veterans

  1. Gilbert, Albert Morcom: 1/8/1930 – 12/7/1997, Technical Sgt US Army
  2. Hopp, Frederic David: 12/19/1931 – 11/4/1980, US Marine Corps
  3. Prindle, Horace: 1/31/1931 – 8/25/2005, Sargent US Army
  4. Skrip, Nicholas: 5/24/1933 – 8/24/1991, US Coast Guard
  5. Tuttle, Thomas Joseph: 8/5/1929 – 12/21/1999, PFC US Army
  6. Waroway, Robert James: 9/28/1932 – 4/2/1992, US Army

Vietnam War Veterans

  1. MacNeill, Daniel Keith, Jr.: 1950 – 1976, Son of WWII vet shown above

* Death occurred during military service or immediately afterwards from wounds or disease.

See Also

External Links

References

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