Historical Markers and War Memorials in Cass County, Michigan
Cassopolis is the county seat for Cass County
Adjacent to Cass County, Michigan
Berrien County(78) ► Kalamazoo County(99) ► St. Joseph County(55) ► Van Buren County(76) ► Elkhart County, Indiana(77) ► St. Joseph County, Indiana(81) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
(Marker 1)
Captain Kincheloe
Born July 2, 1928, was a Korean War fighter ace who flew the rocket-powered Bell X-2 to a world record altitude of 126,200 feet on September 7, 1956. He died July 26, 1958, in the service of his country . . . — — Map (db m75414) HM
Completed in 1899, this wooden frame building with limestone veneer is the third courthouse to serve Cass County. The Territorial Government of Michigan established the county in 1829 and named it after then Governor Lewis Cass. Two years later . . . — — Map (db m64729) HM
This was the third Cass County jail. It was built in 1878-1879 at a cost of $17,770.
It was described as the newest, costliest and best public building in Cass County.
It replaced the jail built in 1852. — — Map (db m212597) HM
(Panel 1)
“Who More Than Self
Their Country Loved”
1946
(Panel 2)
Korean Conflict
1950 to 1955
Name - City - DOB - DOD - Rank
Eugene Waldo - Dowagiac - . . . — — Map (db m75408) WM
In the 1830s southern runaway slaves bound for freedom in Canada came into Michigan near Cassopolis. In 1840, Cass County's Quaker community, which provided a haven for the fugitives, became an integral part of the Underground Railroad. Many free . . . — — Map (db m64712) HM
Beginning in 1829, Penn, Calvin, and Porter townships in Cass County were settled by Quakers who migrated there. Free Blacks also settled there, and both groups lived in harmony. Blacks in Cass County enjoyed many rights, such as the right to own . . . — — Map (db m79005) HM
Born New Hampshire 1782. 18 years Governor of Territory of Michigan (1813-1831). Served Nation thirty years as Senator - Minister to France - Secretary of War - Secretary of State. Visited Zion Lodge No. 1 1812 - later affiliated. Permanent Michigan . . . — — Map (db m75409) HM
Designed by Christian Haefner in the 1860s, this house belonged to George Newton, a state legislator. The cupola, projecting eaves, and symmetrically grouped windows distinguish its architecture. This building is located in the 580 acre densely . . . — — Map (db m64730) HM
"Freedom and fear are at war, the advance of human freedom.
The great achievement of our time and the great hope
of every time. Now depends on us."
President George W. Bush speech Sept. 20, 2001
Dedicated to the people of Cassopolis — — Map (db m212596) WM
1861 – 1865
The 19th Mich. Inf. Was organized at Dowagiac, 62. Henry C. Gilbert, Colonel, left camp Sept. 14, 62 with 995 men. Mustered out of service Jun. 10, 65
Total Enrollment 1206
Killed in Action 54 . . . — — Map (db m75366) WM
On this site in January 1893, the Beckwith and Lee families opened and dedicated the Beckwith Memorial Building in honor of Philo D. Beckwith (1825-1889). P.D. Beckwith moved to Dowagiac in 1854 and became one of the most important individuals to . . . — — Map (db m217930) HM
This is the third 16 ft. section from the largest Tulip tree in Michigan. When this tree was blown down in May of 1984, it was approximately 300 yrs old and over 225 ft. tall. — — Map (db m75361)
Criffield-Whiteley House
Businessman and farmer Charles M. Criffield (1867-1929) and his wife, Cora, (1865-1945) built this Queen Anne-style house in 1897. Fred Corber managed the construction. In 1920 the Criffields sold the house . . . — — Map (db m183901) HM
(South Side)
Erected by H.C. Gilbert Post No. 47 G.A.R. Comrs. Fred E. Lee, Prest. J. Edwards, 1st Vice Prest. H. Goddings, 2nd Vice Prest. H.S. McMaster, Sec. Willis M. Farr, Tres.
1861-1865
(North Side)
Cass . . . — — Map (db m202750) WM
(Southeast Panel)
"It is an investment not a loss when a man gives his life for his country."
(Northeast Panel)
City of Dowagiac
Floyd Ibbotson Avery B. Wilkinson David H. Starrett Otis Messenger Elmer . . . — — Map (db m75362) WM
Proudly we pay tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice in World War II and Korea.
World War II
Arthur F. Abendroth Charles W. Ball John C. Clancy Jr. Raymond Cowham Alvin Cox Bernhardt Dahlke Paul E. Davis . . . — — Map (db m75367) WM
Circuit-riding ministers established a Methodist class in Silver Creek Township in 1843. Five families attended the earliest meetings, held in the home of Leroy L. Curtis, the first class leader. In 1844 the Reverend David Whitlock was appointed . . . — — Map (db m64737) HM
Indian Lake Cemetery has been in use since the 1840s and contains the remains of many of the earliest settlers of Silver Creek Township. Many of the communitys first funerals were held in a log schoolhouse immediately to the south of here. In 1852 . . . — — Map (db m202752) HM
Chief Leopold Pokagon and his tribe of Potawatomi Indians built a log church here in 1838 and deeded the forty acres of land on which it stood to the Catholic Bishop of Detroit. Pokagon, who came to Silver Creek Township from his village outside of . . . — — Map (db m64735) HM
(Obverse Side)
St. Paul's Church
Under the leadership of Justus Gage (1805-1875), this structure was built as a Universalist church. Completed at a cost of $3,000, it is Dowagiac's oldest public building. At the time of completion, . . . — — Map (db m64731) HM
(Side One)
The Dowagiac River Watershed
A watershed is all of the area that drains into a common body of water.
The snow and rain that falls within the watershed boundaries, and does not evaporate, will drain into the Dowagiac . . . — — Map (db m75359)
Veterans
Memorial
In memory of past, present and future Veterans of Foreign Wars and to the citizens on the home front who sacrificed to support the spirited service men and women on foreign soil
All gave
some
-
some gave . . . — — Map (db m217931) WM
Farr Park is named for Michigan native and Civil War veteran Willis M. Farr, born August 1, 1844, who was an industrialist and a Dowagiac city alderman in the 1880's. Mr. Farr was a partner in Dowagiac Manufacturing Co., a maker of grain drills. . . . — — Map (db m202749) HM
"The Old Rugged Cross" composed by George Bennard was first sung in this church by a choir comprised of Frank Virgil Olive Marrs Clara Virgil Wm Thaldorf Florence Jones - organist Arthur Dodd - violinist
1913 — — Map (db m218112) HM
The Old Rugged Cross Church has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
1876 — — Map (db m217932) HM
This late-Victorian schoolhouse was built in 1874-75. Constructed at a cost of $3,000, it is made of locally manufactured yellow and red brick. The 1882 Cass County History described it as "the best rural schoolhouse in the State." Its two . . . — — Map (db m64644) HM
The District No. 5 bell was originally installed in 1875. The Bell was removed from the building in 1964, during remodeling, and sold to a local farmer. It was later sold to James Loop, who took it to his home in Wichita, Kansas. In 1996, the bell . . . — — Map (db m64646) HM
The first Methodist church in Milton Township was organized in 1839. The following year, this church was built and named Smith's Chapel to honor Canon Smith, who had contributed generously to the construction of the church. Smith, a native of . . . — — Map (db m64740) HM
In 1831, Luther Humphrey of the American Home Missionary Society organized the Presbyterian Church of Edwardsburg. He described the village as "a few log cabins...standing amongst the bushes and brush." Members worshipped in homes until the chapel . . . — — Map (db m122217) HM
The first white settlers located in this vicinity about 1826. The first school was held in an abandoned log cabin in the northwest part of the township in 1833. Howard Township was organized by an Act of the Territorial Legislature on March 7, 1834. . . . — — Map (db m64741) HM
In 1835, George Poe (1779-1851) emigrated from Crawford County, Ohio, and settled on land deeded to him by the U.S. government. Within two years he acquired 520 acres of land in Newberg Township. Many members of the Poe family settled in this . . . — — Map (db m64546) HM
War of 1812
John M. Bauder Samuel Bridge J. Haley Brown Edward Littell John Savage Justus Sheffield Fordice Sheldon
Black Hawk War
Joseph Bair
Civil War
Benj. F. Adams Wm. P. Akerly Hugh Anderson . . . — — Map (db m75288) WM
World War II
Harry H. Abrams Jack Abrams Jr. John R. Allyn Amy Wells Anderson ★ Richard J. Anderson Edwin Hugh Anthony George A. Arnott Floyd Artis Bert Bainbridge ★ Paul Bainbridge Duane W. Bair Lee L. . . . — — Map (db m75326) WM
(Obverse Side)
Methodist Episcopal Church
Circuit-riding Methodist ministers held religious services in Pokagon Township during the 1830s and 1840s. A class was organized in Sumnerville in 1840. In 1876 the Methodists purchased . . . — — Map (db m64747) HM
(Obverse Side)
Sumnerville Mounds
Between the first and fourth centuries A.D. Hopewell Indians built nine burial mounds near here. The six remaining earthen mounds reflect the Hopewellian culture, which flourished in the Eastern . . . — — Map (db m64742) HM
This boulder commemorates a station of The Underground Railway used from 1840 to 1850. It was the home of Stephen Bogue who aided runaway slaves on their way to freedom. — — Map (db m201671) HM
Quakers from the mid-Atlantic region settled here during the 1830's. This is the site of the meeting house, built in 1856, which replaced a log cabin dating from 1837. The congregation contained many active Abolitionists, and this area soon became . . . — — Map (db m68407) HM
In 1847, black and white residents of Vandalia and Cassopolis stood up and stopped 13 slave catchers from taking 9 kidnapped slaves back to Kentucky. They showed great courage and determination in stopping what they saw as a grave injustice. . . . — — Map (db m201653) HM
Vandalia, prior to the Civil War, was the junction of two important "lines" of the "Underground Railroad." Slaves fleeing through Indiana and Illinois came to Cass County, where Quakers and others gave them shelter. Fugitives seeking a refuge in . . . — — Map (db m201617) HM
