Birmingham in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Greenwood Cemetery
Side 1
The oldest section of Greenwood Cemetery comprises land purchased from the federal government by Dr. Ziba Swan of Albany, New York, in 1821. The first interments on the one-half-acre parcel set aside by Swan for a cemetery occurred in 1825 when Polly Utter and her daughter Cynthia were murdered. Twenty-one years later twenty-one local citizens including Dr. Ebenezer Raynale, a member of Michigan's first senate, purchased the cemetery property and an additional one and one-half acres from Swan. Martha Baldwin, founder of the Ladies' Library Association, organized local women into a group that in 1885 incorporated as the Greenwood Cemetery Association. Between 1846 and 1904 the cemetery was enlarged three times, increasing in size to eight acres. In 1946 the city of Birmingham took over operation of the cemetery.
Side 2
Created in 1825 on the property of Dr. Ziba Swan, Greenwood Cemetery contains the remains of some of Oakland County’s earliest pioneers and most prominent citizens. The oldest graves, those of Polly and Cynthia Utter, date from 1825. Dr. Swan was interred in 1847. Birmingham's only Revolutionary War veteran, John Daniels, was buried here in 1832. Additional interments include: Michigan State Senator Ebenezer Raynale (1881); Martha Baldwin, for whom the Birmingham library is named (1913); Birmingham Eccentric publishers George Mitchell (1929) and Almeron Whitehead (1926); U.S. Congressman Roland Trowbridge (1881); George Gough Booth (1949) and Ellen Scripps Booth (1948), who established the Cranbrook Educational Community; and Pewabic Pottery founder Mary Chase Stratton (1961) and her husband William Buck Stratton (1938).
Erected 1994 by Bureau of Michigan History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1832.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1821.
Location. 42° 33.196′ N, 83° 13.458′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is on Oak Street west of Hazelwood Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birmingham MI 48009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. City of Birmingham (approx. 0.3 miles away); Birmingham Mill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Allen House (approx. half a mile away); Hill Building Bell (approx. half a mile away); John West Hunter Park (approx. half a mile away); The John W. Hunter House (approx. half a mile away); Hunter House (approx. half a mile away); Baldwin Park (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
Also see . . .
1. Greenwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Michigan). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 12, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Greenwood Cemetery Self-Guided Tour. Birmingham MI PDF (Submitted on June 9, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Rowland E. Trowbridge. Wikipedia article (Submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
4. George Gough Booth. Wikipedia article (Submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
5. Ellen Scripps Booth. Wikipedia article (Submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
6. Cranbrook Schools. Wikipedia article that includes a brief history of the "educational community". (Submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
7. Mary Chase Perry Stratton. Wikipedia article (Submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
8. Pewabic Pottery. Wikipedia article (Submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.