Historical Markers and War Memorials in Cass County, Michigan
Cassopolis is the county seat for Cass County
Adjacent to Cass County, Michigan
Berrien County(80) ► Kalamazoo County(100) ► St. Joseph County(55) ► Van Buren County(76) ► Elkhart County, Indiana(82) ► St. Joseph County, Indiana(91) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
Near State Highway 60 at Decatur Road, on the right when traveling east.
(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
On North Broadway Street (State Highway 62) at East State Street (State Highway 60), on the right when traveling north on North Broadway Street.
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
On East South Street, on the right when traveling south.
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
Near State Highway 62 at Beeson Street, on the right when traveling north.
(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
On Chain Lake Street, 0.6 miles east of Carver Road, on the right when traveling east.
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
On State St. (Road M-60) at Broadway Ave. (Road M-62), on the right when traveling west on State St..
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
Near S. Broadway Street (State Highway 62) at E. South Street, on the right when traveling south.
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
On Marcellus Highway, 0.2 miles east of Decatur Rd, on the right when traveling east.
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
On South Broadway Street, on the right when traveling south.
"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
On Main Street at Indiana Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Main Street.
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 Beeson Street at South Front Street, on the right when traveling east on Beeson Street.
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
Near Marcellus Highway, 0.4 miles west of Gards Prairie Road.
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)
On Main Street (Michigan Route 62) at North Lowe Street, on the left when traveling west on Main Street.
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
On Main Street (State Highway M-62) at North Lowe Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street.
(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
On Main Street at S. Front Street, in the median on Main Street.
(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
On Main Street at Michigan Highway 62, on the left when traveling west on Main Street.
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
On Middle Crossing Road at Garrett Road, on the right when traveling west on Middle Crossing Road.
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
On School Street at Sink Road, on the right when traveling west on School Street.
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 community’s first funerals were held in a log schoolhouse immediately to the south of here. In 1852 . . . — — Map (db m202752) HM
On Leach Road, 0.2 miles north of Topash Street, on the right when traveling north.
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
On Courtland Street, 0.1 miles west of Center Street, on the right when traveling west.
(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
Near Marcellus Highway, 0.4 miles west of Gards Prairie Road.
(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)
On East Division Street (Michigan Route 62) at Colby Street, on the right when traveling east on East Division Street.
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
On Kansas Street near Vermont Street, on the right when traveling west.
"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
On Vermont Street at Kansas Street, on the right when traveling north on Vermont Street.
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
Near U.S. 12 at Kessington Road, on the right when traveling east.
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
Near U.S. 12 at Kessington Road, on the right when traveling east.
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
Near Redfield Rd, 0.4 miles west of Brush Road, on the right when traveling west.
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
On Lake Street at Church Street, on the right when traveling north on Lake Street.
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
On Barron Lake Road at Huntly Road, on the right when traveling south on Barron Lake Road.
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
On Born Street at Patterson Hill Road, on the right when traveling west on Born Street.
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
On E. Main Street at Burney Street, on the right when traveling west on E. Main Street.
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
On E. Main Street at Burney Street, on the right when traveling west on E. Main Street.
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
On Vermont Street at Kansas Street, on the left when traveling south on Vermont Street.
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 this building, which had . . . — — Map (db m64747) HM
On Pokagon Highway at Wood Road, on the right when traveling west on Pokagon Highway.
(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
On State Highway 60 at Crooked Creek Road, on the right when traveling east on State Highway 60.
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
On James Street, 0.1 miles north of Brownsville Road, on the right when traveling north.
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
On State Street (State Highway 60) at Water Street, on the right when traveling east on State Street.
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
On State Street (State Highway 60) at Water Street, on the right when traveling east on State Street.
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
