Selected officials of Kent County

(not intended to be complete)

John Paul (County Treasurer) Leonard D. Verdier (County Clerk) John S. McDonald (Prosecuting Attorney, 1907-08) Roy M. Watkins (Register of Probate, 1907-11) William B. Brown (Prosecuting Attorney, 1911) Cornelius Hoffius (Prosecuting Attorney, 1916-24) Earl W. Munshaw (Prosecuting Attorney, 1925-28) Bartel J. Jonkman (Prosecuting Attorney, 1929-36) Fred N. Searl (Prosecuting Attorney)

Cemeteries and Memorial Sites of Politicians in Kent County

• Ada Ada Cemetery
• Gaines Unknown location
• Grand Rapids Unknown location
• Grand Rapids Fulton Street Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford Museum
• Grand Rapids Graceland Mausoleum
• Grand Rapids Greenwood Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Mt. Calvary Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Oak Hill Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Restlawn Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Resurrection Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Valley City Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Washington Park Cemetery
• Grand Rapids Woodlawn Cemetery
• Lowell Oakwood Cemetery

Politicians buried here:

• Rix Robinson (1789-1875) — also known as "Wabesha" — of Michigan. Born in 1789. Circuit judge in Michigan, 1844; member of Michigan state senate, 1846-49 (5th District 1846, 7th District 1847-49); Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1848; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention, 1850. Indian trader in the 1820s and 1830s; became a close associate of the Ottawa Indian tribe, and a negotiator on its behalf; he married two Ottawa women, and was also known by an Ottawa name, "Wabesha". Died, of "dropsy" (probably congestive heart failure), Ada, Kent County, Mich., January 13, 1875. Interment at Ada Cemetery.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Horace Thomas Barnaby (1823-1917) — also known as Horace T. Barnaby — of Gratiot County, Mich. Born in Angelica, Allegany County, N.Y., April 26, 1823. Married 1844 to Lydia Ann Wilson; married to Sophia Jane Abbey; father of Horace Thomas Barnaby, Jr.. Republican. Gratiot County Clerk, 1861-62; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Gratiot County, 1869-72; bishop. Methodist. Died in Gaines Township, Kent County, Mich., February 27, 1917. Interment somewhere.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Robert B. Loomis (1832-1907) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Newcastle, Lincoln County, Maine, September 25, 1832. Republican. Insurance business; member of Michigan state senate 16th District, 1897-1902; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1904. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., January 16, 1907. Interment somewhere.
  
  

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Politicians buried here:

• John Wayne Champlin (1831-1901) — also known as John W. Champlin — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Kingston, Ulster County, N.Y., February 17, 1831. Candidate for circuit judge in Michigan, 1863; mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1867-68; defeated (Democratic), 1868; justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1884-91; chief justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1890-91; National Democratic candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1896. Member, Freemasons. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., July 24, 1901. Interment at Fulton Street Cemetery.
  
  
• Francis William Kellogg (1810-1879) — also known as Francis W. Kellogg — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Worthington, Hampshire County, Mass., May 30, 1810. Republican. Member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 2nd District, 1857-58; U.S. Representative from Michigan, 1859-65 (3rd District 1859-63, 4th District 1863-65); U.S. Representative from Alabama 1st District, 1868-69. Died in Alliance, Stark County, Ohio, January 13, 1879. Interment at Fulton Street Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Wilder De Ayr Foster (1819-1873) — also known as Wilder D. Foster — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Orange County, N.Y., January 8, 1819. Mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1854-55, 1865-67; member of Michigan state senate 24th District, 1855-56; U.S. Representative from Michigan, 1871-73 (4th District 1871-73, 5th District 1873); died in office 1873. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., September 20, 1873. Interment at Fulton Street Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Charles Carter Comstock (1818-1900) — also known as Charles C. Comstock — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Sullivan, Cheshire County, N.H., March 5, 1818. Father-in-law of Huntley Russell. Democrat. Mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1863-65; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1870; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1885-87; defeated, 1873. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., February 20, 1900. Interment at Fulton Street Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. (1913-2006) — also known as Gerald R. Ford; Jerry Ford; Leslie Lynch King, Jr.; "Passkey" — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; Rancho Mirage, Riverside County, Calif. Born in Omaha, Douglas County, Neb., July 14, 1913. Son of Leslie Lynch King, Sr. (1884-1941); step-son of Gerald Rudolph Ford, Sr. (1890-1962); married, October 15, 1948, to Elizabeth Ann Bloomer "Betty" Warren; half-brother of Thomas G. Ford, Sr.. Republican. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1948, 1960, 1964; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1949-73; resigned 1973; Vice President of the United States, 1973-74; President of the United States, 1974-77; defeated, 1976. Episcopalian. Member, Scottish Rite Masons; Humane Society; American Legion; Amvets; Forty and Eight; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Freemasons; Shriners; Elks; Jaycees; Delta Kappa Epsilon; Phi Delta Phi. Shot at in two separate incidents in San Francisco in September 1975. On September 5, Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme, follower of murderous cult leader Charles Manson, got close to the President with a loaded pistol, and squeezed the trigger at close range; the gun misfired. On September 22, Sara Jane Moore fired a shot at him, but a bystander deflected her aim. Both women were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Received the Medal of Freedom in 1999. Died in Rancho Mirage, Riverside County, Calif., December 26, 2006. Interment at Gerald R. Ford Museum.
  • Cross-reference: Richard M. Nixon; L. William Seidman
  • See also: congressional biography; Wikipedia article; NNDB dossier; Internet Movie Database profile.
  • Books by Gerald R. Ford: A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford (1983)
  • Books about Gerald R. Ford: John Robert Greene, The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford; Edward L. Schapsmeier, Gerald R. Ford's Date With Destiny: A Political Biography; James Cannon, Time and Chance : Gerald Ford's Appointment With History; Douglas Brinkley, Gerald R. Ford
  
  

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Politicians buried here:

• Frederick Henry Mueller (1893-1976) — also known as Frederick H. Mueller — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; Sarasota, Sarasota County, Fla. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., November 22, 1893. Republican. Member of Michigan state board of agriculture, 1945-57; appointed 1945; defeated, 1957; U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1959-61; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1960. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Rotary. Died August 31, 1976. Cremated; ashes interred at Graceland Mausoleum.
  
  
• Cornelius Hoffius (1881-1943) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; East Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Goes, Netherlands, August 5, 1881. Son of Martin Hoffius and Maria (De Grew) Hoffius; married, August 26, 1908, to Rose Kass; father of R. Stuart Hoffius. Republican. Lawyer; Kent County Prosecuting Attorney, 1916-24; circuit judge in Michigan 17th Circuit, 1938-43; died in office 1943. Member, American Bar Association. Died October 26, 1943. Entombed at Graceland Mausoleum.
  
  

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Politicians buried here:

• Charles Eugene Belknap (1846-1929) — also known as Charles E. Belknap — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Massena, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., October 17, 1846. Republican. Major in the Union Army during the Civil War; mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1884-85; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1889-91, 1891-93; defeated, 1892. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., January 16, 1929. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• James C. Quinlan (1879-1948) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., December 8, 1879. Republican. Member of Michigan state senate 17th District, 1925-28, 1947-48; defeated in primary, 1928; died in office 1948; candidate in primary for Governor of Michigan, 1932; member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1939; candidate in primary for Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1942. Catholic. Member, Eagles; Elks; Knights of Columbus; Lions; Moose. Died January 10, 1948. Interment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
  
  

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Politicians buried here:

• Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg (1884-1951) — also known as Arthur H. Vandenberg — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., March 22, 1884. Son of Aaron Vandenberg and Alpha (Hendrick) Vandenberg; married to Hazel H. Whitaker. Republican. Newspaper editor and publisher; member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1912-18; U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1928-51; appointed 1928; died in office 1951; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1940. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Elks; Woodmen. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., April 18, 1951. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Carl Edgar Mapes (1874-1939) — also known as Carl E. Mapes — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Eaton County, Mich., December 26, 1874. Married, August 14, 1907, to Julia Pike. Republican. Lawyer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1905-06; member of Michigan state senate 16th District, 1909-12; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1913-39; died in office 1939. Congregationalist. Member, Freemasons; Odd Fellows; Woodmen. Died in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La., December 12, 1939. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• John Patton, Jr. (1850-1907) — of Michigan. Born in Curwensville, Clearfield County, Pa., October 30, 1850. Son of John Patton; brother of Charles Emory Patton. Republican. U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1894-95. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., May 24, 1907. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  • See also Patton family of Pennsylvania
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Melbourne Haddock Ford (1849-1891) — also known as Melbourne H. Ford — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Salem, Washtenaw County, Mich., June 30, 1849. Democrat. Lawyer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1885-86; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1887-89, 1891; defeated, 1888; died in office 1891. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., April 20, 1891. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Edwin Forrest Sweet (1847-1935) — also known as Edwin F. Sweet — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Dansville, Livingston County, N.Y., November 21, 1847. Democrat. Mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1904-06; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1911-13; defeated, 1908, 1912; Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1913-21; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1916. Died in Ojai, Ventura County, Calif., April 2, 1935. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  • Cross-reference: Robert H. Clancy
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• George Wilson Welsh (1883-1974) — also known as George W. Welsh — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; Ada, Kent County, Mich. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 27, 1883. Son of Joseph Welsh and Elizabeth (Wilson) Welsh; married, October 4, 1906, to Shirlie Louise Smith. Republican. Printing business; publisher of a The Fruit Belt (farm magazine); member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1917-24; Speaker of the Michigan State House of Representatives, 1923-24; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1924; Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1925-26; defeated in primary, 1926, 1952; candidate in primary for Governor of Michigan, 1928, 1932; mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1938-49; candidate in primary for delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 17th Senatorial District, 1961. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Elks. Died in Ada, Kent County, Mich., June 29, 1974. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• Gilman Chase Godwin (1840-1891) — also known as G. Chase Godwin — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Wyoming Township (now Wyoming), Kent County, Mich., April 18, 1840. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, 1886-90. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., February 26, 1891. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• Julius Houseman (1832-1891) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Germany, December 8, 1832. Democrat. Member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1871-72; mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1872-73, 1874-75; candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1876; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1883-85. Jewish. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., February 8, 1891. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Sybrant Wesselius (c.1859-1926) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Lawyer; member of Michigan state senate 20th District, 1889; Independent candidate for mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1908; candidate in Republican primary for Governor of Michigan, 1916. Presbyterian. Member, Elks; Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., May 9, 1926. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• Horace Thomas Barnaby, Jr. (1870-1952) — also known as Horace T. Barnaby — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in North Star Township, Gratiot County, Mich., October 24, 1870. Son of Horace Thomas Barnaby and Sophia Jane (Abbey) Barnaby; married, April 5, 1893, to Mary E. Ryno (died 1921); married, March 27, 1927, to Maude C. Jones. Republican. Lawyer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 2nd District, 1901-04; candidate for probate judge in Michigan, 1904; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention 17th District, 1907-08; member of Michigan state senate 17th District, 1909-12; candidate in primary for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1938, 1940. Methodist. Member, Knights of Pythias; Optimist Club. Died May 20, 1952. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• John M. Dunham (1888-1973) — of East Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Cadillac, Wexford County, Mich., July 16, 1888. Nephew of Major L. Dunham; son of Harrison M. Dunham and Kittie (Parks) Dunham; married 1917 to Frances Adeline Rogers. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to Michigan convention to ratify 21st amendment from Kent County 2nd District, 1933; candidate for justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1941. Member, Scottish Rite Masons; American Bar Association; Freemasons; Shriners; Elks. Died in Kent Community Hospital, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., January 23, 1973. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• William De Boer (1871-1951) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Michigan, October 5, 1871. Republican. Machinist; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1915-16, 1925-28; defeated, 1912, 1916, 1930, 1932; candidate in primary for Michigan state senate 16th District, 1928. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., May 12, 1951. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• William Dunham (1824-1905) — of Manistee, Manistee County, Mich.; Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Grand Isle, Grand Isle County, Vt., March 6, 1824. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1876; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1876. Member, Freemasons. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., June 30, 1905. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  
• James Foote Barnett (1869-1947) — also known as James F. Barnett — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., 1869. Son of James Melanchton Barnett and Lucy (Foote) Barnett. Delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention 16th District, 1907-08. Died July 27, 1947. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Deufay Bartlett Hovey, Sr. (1865-1949) — also known as Deufay B. Hovey, Sr.; D. B. Hovey — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Vassar, Tuscola County, Mich., June 5, 1865. Linotype operator; Socialist candidate for justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1910; Socialist candidate for Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1911; candidate for Michigan state senate 16th District, 1932 (Socialist), 1936 (Farmer-Labor). Died September 5, 1949. Interment at Restlawn Cemetery.
  
  
• William H. Kooistra (1936-2004) — also known as Bill Kooistra; "Mr. Democrat" — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; East Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born May 20, 1936. Married to Carol Landheer. Democrat. Psychologist; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1992; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1996, 2000 (alternate). Died, of Lou Gehrig's disease, November 30, 2004. Interment at Restlawn Cemetery.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Edward B. Kirkwood (1880-1957) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in 1880. Member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1931-34; defeated, 1918 (Democratic), 1920 (Democratic), 1934 (Republican), 1936 (Republican primary), 1940 (Republican primary). Died June 14, 1957. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery.
  
  
• Mary E. Doran (c.1873-1955) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Muskegon, Muskegon County, Mich. Married 1898 to James A. Doran. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1936. Female. Catholic. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., July 13, 1955. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Moses V. Aldrich (1829-1879) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Macedon, Wayne County, N.Y., September 13, 1829. Republican. Mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1868-71. Died December 8, 1879. Interment at Valley City Cemetery.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Ate Dykstra (1865-1953) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Netherlands, December 1, 1865. Married to Anna Feenstra (died 1938). Republican. Grocer; dry goods merchant; political editor of a weekly newspaper; candidate for mayor of Grand Rapids, Mich., 1910; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1923-34, 1939-42, 1945-46; defeated, 1934, 1936. Dutch ancestry. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., September 18, 1953. Interment at Washington Park Cemetery.
  
  

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Politicians buried here:

• William Alden Smith (1859-1932) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Dowagiac, Cass County, Mich., May 12, 1859. Republican. Lawyer; member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1888-92; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1895-1907; U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1907-19; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1916. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., October 11, 1932. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Bartel John Jonkman (1884-1955) — also known as Bartel J. Jonkman — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., April 28, 1884. Son of John B. Jonkman and Sarah (Holwerda) Jonkman; married, September 28, 1904, to Anna Vanden Bosch. Republican. Lawyer; Kent County Prosecuting Attorney, 1929-36; U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1940-49; defeated in primary, 1948. Christian Reformed. Member, Lions; Delta Sigma Rho. Died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., June 13, 1955. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography.
  
  
• Paul Brentwood Henry (1942-1993) — also known as Paul B. Henry — of Rockford, Kent County, Mich. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., July 9, 1942. Republican. Served in the Peace Corps; member of Michigan state board of education, 1975-78; appointed 1975; resigned 1978; member of Michigan state house of representatives 91st District, 1979-82; member of Michigan state senate 32nd District, 1983-85; resigned 1985; U.S. Representative from Michigan, 1985-93 (5th District 1985-93, 3rd District 1993); died in office 1993. Christian Reformed. Died July 31, 1993. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.
  • See also: congressional biography; votes in Congress from the Washington Post.
  
  
• Willis B. Perkins (d. 1937) — of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich. Republican. Circuit judge in Michigan 17th Circuit, 1900-37; died in office 1937. Died August 31, 1937. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.
  
  
• Harold Hinsdill Smedley (1893-1980) — also known as Harold H. Smedley; Dike Smedley — of Michigan. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., September 29, 1893. Son of Charles Osmer Smedley (1856-1926) and Lillian M. (Hinsdill) Smedley. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War I; lawyer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1925-26; defeated in primary, 1926. Four time national flyrod accuracy champion; considered to be one of the best flyrod fishermen in the country. Died in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Fla., November, 1980. Cremated; ashes interred at Woodlawn Cemetery.
  
  

Politicians buried here:

• Augustus W. Weekes (1850-1916) — of Lowell, Kent County, Mich. Born in Keene, Ionia County, Mich., May 27, 1850. Republican. Member of Michigan state house of representatives from Kent County 2nd District, 1893-96; member of Michigan state senate 17th District, 1901-04. Died August 7, 1916. Interment at Oakwood Cemetery.
  
  

"Enjoy the hospitable entertainment of a political graveyard." Henry L. Clinton, Apollo Hall, New York City, February 3, 1872