Historical Markers and War Memorials in Ionia, Michigan
Ionia is the county seat for Ionia County
Ionia is in Ionia County
Ionia County(57) ► ADJACENT TO IONIA COUNTY Barry County(39) ► Clinton County(49) ► Eaton County(79) ► Gratiot County(16) ► Kent County(117) ► Montcalm County(22) ►
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This block was used as a stepping stone to
get into and out of carriages. The side
facing the street is inscribed with the name
John C. Welch. The block originally stood
in front of Welch's residence in the 500
block of West Main Street. One of . . . — — Map (db m216316) HM
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
Alfred Cornell, Sr., and his family came to Ionia during November,
1833. His son, Dr. Alanson Cornell, was a physician and druggist
who operated a drug store at the southwest corner of Main Street
and Cornell Alley. Dr. Cornell's home was on the . . . — — Map (db m216319) HM
On West Main Street, on the left when traveling east.
The first store opened in 1834 in a
rented portion of Samuel Dexter's barn. By
1845, the downtown included a hotel,
tavern, wagon repair shop, drug store and
the Ionia Land Office, where land purchases
were made for all areas of Michigan to . . . — — Map (db m216307) HM
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
Jonathan Hale and Son was a mill formerly
located at 227 South Steele Street. Hale
operated flour and feed mills in several
other Michigan cities, including Lyons and
Stanton, before opening the Ionia mill in
1901. By 1907, the Ionia mill had . . . — — Map (db m216310) HM
On West Main Street at North Dexter Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
This tablet is dedicated to the memory of
Samuel Dexter · Erastus Yeomans · Oliver Arnold · Joel Guild · Edward Guild · Darius Winsor · and their families
and
Dr. William B. Lincoln · Winsor Dexter · Warner Dexter · Patrick M. Fox · Abram . . . — — Map (db m215982) HM
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
- Owner of the Ypsilanti Reed
Furniture Company in Ionia, the
world's largest reed furniture factory
and one of Ionia's largest employers
- Investor in many business
ventures in Michigan and beyond
- Graduate of the University of Michigan, . . . — — Map (db m216322) HM
On Union Street at High Street, on the right on Union Street.
Governor of Michigan, 1927-1931, Fred W. Green was born in Manistee in 1872 and grew up in Cadillac. A partner in the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Co., he moved the business to Ionia in 1904. Attracted to politics, he served twelve terms as mayor of . . . — — Map (db m215975) HM
On East Main Street at Library Court, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street.
Captain Lucius Mills, a local builder, constructed this house for Frederick and Ann Hall in 1869-70. Built of variegated Ionia sandstone, the house is an outstanding example of the Italian Villa style. Frederick Hall came to Ionia County in 1837 . . . — — Map (db m215970) HM
On West Main Street at Hudson Street, on the left when traveling east on West Main Street.
In memory of Wm. H. Borden Post No. 211 Dept. of Mich. G.A.R.
In memory of Wm. H. Borden W.R.C. No. 28
Though we die
We shall live again — — Map (db m216313) WM
On East Washington Street near Library Court, on the right when traveling west.
In Merritt’s Hall on January 24, 1859, the Reverend Isaac Errett and forty-three members signed the original charter of the Ionia Church of Christ (First Christian Church). The first church of this denomination had been founded in nearby Muir in . . . — — Map (db m215974) HM
On East Main Street at Hudson Street, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street.
Completed in 1885, the Ionia County Courthouse is the largest structure ever built of Ionia sandstone. The handsome three-and-a-half story courthouse replaced an 1840s hall of justice, which had become inadequate for the county’s needs. David W. . . . — — Map (db m215952) HM
On East Main Street, on the left when traveling east.
Dedicated to the
Korean and Vietnam
veterans of Ionia
County who honorably
served and gave
their all for our
great country.
Korean Conflict 1950 - 1957
Clayton D. Adams - Ionia County •
Clifford C. Castle - Ionia County •
Robert L. . . . — — Map (db m216312) WM
On North Dexter Street, on the right when traveling north.
Ionia was established in 1833 by Samuel
Dexter. Originally, Dexter named the
settlement Washington Center. The name
was later changed to Ionia County Seat
and then shortened to Ionia. In the mid-
1800's, Dexter's home and sawmill stood
near . . . — — Map (db m216326) HM
Near West Main Street west of South Depot Street, on the right when traveling east.
- Born in Ionia County in 1840
- Authorized to raise a company of the 6th Michigan Cavalry in 1862, and quickly rose to the rank of Colonel
- Succeeded Gen. George Armstrong Custer to command his Michigan Cavalry Brigade, then served under . . . — — Map (db m216321) HM
On East Main Street near South Jackson Street, on the right when traveling east.
John C. Blanchard
John Celsus Blanchard (1822-1905) epitomizes the American “self-made man.” He left his home in Cayuga County, New York, at age fourteen, bound for the western frontier. Blanchard worked as a laborer in Detroit, Livingston . . . — — Map (db m215933) HM
Near West Main Street west of South Depot Street, on the right when traveling east.
• Julia Wheelock
(top center)
- One of the area's early school teachers
- Pioneering nurse during the Civil War
- Early advocate for nursing education
• Bertha Brock
(lower left)
- Ionia's premier historian
- Namesake of . . . — — Map (db m216323) HM
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
This artifact reflects the industrial past of
Ionia. A wide variety of industries,
including furniture manufacturing, a button
factory and industrial and automotive
suppliers, have operated in Ionia
throughout its history. — — Map (db m216325) HM
On West Main Street, on the left when traveling east.
This one horse plow represents Ionia
County's agricultural past, an important
industry throughout local history. Farming
became especially profitable after the
railroads were built through Ionia, as it gave
the farmers a quicker and more . . . — — Map (db m216306) HM
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
• Samuel & Anna Dexter
(top center)
- Leader of the Dexter Colony that first
settled the village of Ionia in 1833
- A leading businessman in Ionia
• Erastus & Phoebe Yeomans
(lower left)
- Original settlers of the village
- . . . — — Map (db m216320) HM
On West Washington Street near North Kidd Street, on the right when traveling east.
The St. John’s Episcopal parish was established on February 4, 1841. Under the leadership of the Reverend Melancthon Hoyt, the parish constructed its first church, now the parish house, that same year. Built on land donated by Ionia’s founder, . . . — — Map (db m215973) HM
On West Washington Street near North Kidd Street, on the right when traveling east.
St. Johns Parish House
-Erected in 1841-
The first church in Ionia
moved from corner to
present site in 1881
-lot presented by-
Hon. Samuel Dexter
The founder of Ionia — — Map (db m215972) HM
On West Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
This artifact recalls the importance of the
railroads to Ionia's growth. The first
railroad reached Ionia in 1857, and a
second was built in 1869. In 1871-72, the
Pere Marquette Railroad constructed a
roundhouse and shop in Ionia to . . . — — Map (db m216317) HM
On West Main Street, on the left when traveling east.
Used for sharpening knives and other edge
tools, this whetstone reflects Ionia's
historical agricultural and meat processing
industries. The trough would have been
filled with water to keep the stone wet
while in use. — — Map (db m216309) HM
