Grand Rapids in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Howard Cemetery

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 6, 2021

1. The Howard Cemetery Marker (repainted)

Inscription. Thomas Howard, aged 66, a Revolutionary War veteran, arrived at the head of the great rapids of the Maumee from New York State in 1822. Three cabins were erected for his family and the families of his two sons Edward and Robert. The first death in this settlement was Thomas Howard in 1825; and this plot, then a wooded bluff on a sharp ravine, was chosen as a burial place. Other Howards were buried here, and in 1850, Tee-na-Beek, a family friend and one of the last of the Ottawa Indians in this area, was laid to rest in a corner of the family cemetery.

WPA workers leveled the ground and relocated many graves in 1938. The Howard Cemetery is now owned and maintained by the Village of Grand Rapids.

Erected 1980 by Grand Rapids Historical Society, The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 5-87.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.

Location. 41° 24.776′ N, 83° 51.84′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Ohio, in Wood County. It is at the intersection

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of Front Street (Ohio Route 65) and Wapakonta Street ( Route 65) on Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grand Rapids OH 43522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Black Swamp,

in the Till Plains,

and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Grand Rapids (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Grand Rapids (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Grand Rapids Flood Record (about 800 feet away); A Lasting Legacy (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Memory Of Julie Pontasch (approx. 0.2 miles away); M. J. Wright Pavillion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dominick Labino (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Rapids.

Also see . . . Official Webpage of the Village of Grand Rapids. (Submitted on December 7, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana.)

The Howard Cemetery and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Light, November 2, 2007

2. The Howard Cemetery and Marker

The Howard Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 24, 2024

3. The Howard Cemetery Marker

Gravestone of Thomas Howard has been painted. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 6, 2021

4. Gravestone of Thomas Howard has been painted.

Gravestone of Thomas Howard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Light, 1182/2007

5. Gravestone of Thomas Howard

Thomas Howard
May 25, 1825

Gravestone of William Howard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Light, November 2, 2007

6. Gravestone of William Howard

Wm. Howard
Died
June 3, 1833
Aged
50 Y, 5 M, 8 D.

Gravestones in the Howard Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Light, November 2, 2007

7. Gravestones in the Howard Cemetery

Gravestone of Tee-Na-Beek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, April 20, 2011

8. Gravestone of Tee-Na-Beek

Discussed in the text of the historical marker, this is a photo of the gravestone of Tee-Na-Beck, an Ottawa Indian and family friend, which is currently located just outside the northeast corner of the Howard Cemetery enclosure.

Gravestone of Tee-Ne-Beck image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, April 20, 2011

9. Gravestone of Tee-Ne-Beck

View of the gravestone of Tee-Ne-Beck in the right foreground and the Howard Cemetery enclosure in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,300 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 8, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 2. submitted on December 7, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 3. submitted on December 10, 2024, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on November 8, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 7, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 8, 9. submitted on April 21, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.