The Political Graveyard: Berrien County, Mich.

Politicians buried here:
	Robert S. Feldman (d. 1981) — of Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich. Democrat. Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1948-56; alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1952. Died November 7, 1981. Interment somewhere.

Morton Hill Cemetery
Territorial Avenue
Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan
Founded 1836

Politicians buried here:

Alonzo Vincent (1844-1916) — of St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich. Born January 16, 1844. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1899. Died June 20, 1916 (age 72 years, 156 days). Interment at Morton Hill Cemetery.

Relatives: Married, January 1, 1866, to Elmira Enos.

Crystal Springs Cemetery
Benton Township, Berrien County, Michigan
See also Findagrave page for this location.

Politicians buried here:

George Samuel Barnard (1876-1943) — also known as George S. Barnard — of Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Bainbridge, Berrien County, Mich., January 19, 1876. Republican. School teacher; druggist; chemist; manufacturer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County 2nd District, 1919-24; member of Michigan state senate 7th District, 1927-30; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1930, 1934. Congregationalist. French and English ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Elks. Died May 9, 1943 (age 67 years, 110 days). Interment at Crystal Springs Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Rufus P. Barnard and Mary (Metras) Barnard; married to Alma B. McClurg.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Loomis King Preston (1879-1954) — also known as Loomis K. Preston — of St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich. Born in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., July 22, 1879. Republican. Lawyer; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County 1st District, 1923-26, 1939-50; defeated, 1912, 1930, 1932, 1950; Republican candidate for Michigan state senate 7th District, 1926 (primary), 1936; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1928. Congregationalist. English and Irish ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Elks. Died, in Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., September 12, 1954 (age 75 years, 52 days). Interment at Crystal Springs Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Wallace A. Preston and Mary (King) Preston; married, September 8, 1931, to Victoria Summerville.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

James Jencks Jakway (1862-1949) — also known as James J. Jakway — of Benton Township, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich., May 20, 1862. Democrat. Fruit grower; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County 2nd District, 1913-14; defeated, 1902 (Berrien County 1st District), 1914 (Berrien County 2nd District), 1916 (Berrien County 2nd District); supervisor of Benton Township, Michigan, 1926-33; member of Michigan state board of agriculture, 1938-43; defeated, 1917. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Odd Fellows; Grange; Farm Bureau. Died in Berrien County, Mich., August 13, 1949 (age 87 years, 85 days). Interment at Crystal Springs Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of James H. Jakway and Mary (Pearl) Jakway; married, July 9, 1888, to Nettie M. Closson.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial
		Image source: News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.), April 4, 1933

George W. Bridgman — of St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich.; Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich. Republican. Circuit judge in Michigan 2nd Circuit, 1912-17. Interment at Crystal Springs Cemetery.

Samuel E. Daigneau (1852-1931) — of Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Brandon, Rutland County, Vt., May 17, 1852. Republican. Laundry business; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County 2nd District, 1915-18; defeated, 1912. French ancestry. Died in 1931 (age about 79 years). Interment at Crystal Springs Cemetery.

		Relatives: Married, December 31, 1874, to Carrie Stone.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Rose Hill Cemetery
Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:

Roscoe D. Dix (1839-1912) — of Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Jefferson County, N.Y., June 11, 1839. Republican. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War; permanently disabled by injuries suffered in the battle at Knoxville, November 24, 1863; barber; real estate business; banker; Michigan land commissioner, 1887-90; Michigan state auditor general, 1897-1900. Member, Grand Army of the Republic. Died in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Mich., September 5, 1912 (age 73 years, 86 days). Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Dexter Ozias Dix and Mary Elizabeth (Rudd) Dix; married, January 2, 1867, to Virginia M. Kephart; sixth great-grandnephew of Robert Treat; second cousin of John Alden Dix.
		Political family: Kellogg-Adams-Seymour-Chapin family of Connecticut and New York (subset of the Four Thousand Related Politicians).
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Thomas Mars (b. 1829) — of Michigan. Born in 1829. Member of Michigan state senate 13th District, 1881-82. Member, Grange. Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Graceland Cemetery
Bridgman, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:

Joseph Edward Taglia (1900-1957) — also known as Joseph E. Taglia — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., June 1, 1900. Republican. Lawyer; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1956. Catholic. Member, Knights of Columbus. Died, from a heart attack, in Bridgman, Berrien County, Mich., June 1, 1957 (age 57 years, 0 days). Interment at Graceland Cemetery.

Relatives: Son of Paul Taglia and Rose Taglia.

Oak Ridge Cemetery
Buchanan, Berrien County, Michigan
See also Findagrave page for this location.

Politicians buried here:

Don R. Pears (1899-1992) — of Buchanan, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Buchanan, Berrien County, Mich., September 18, 1899. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; school principal; real estate broker; partner, Hollywood Theater, Buchanan, Mich.; Berrien County Register of Deeds, 1927-32; Berrien County Clerk, 1941-42, 1945-48; served in the U.S. Army during World War II; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1951-62, 1965-70 (Berrien County 1st District 1951-62, 43rd District 1965-70); defeated, 1932, 1934; Speaker of the Michigan State House of Representatives, 1959-62; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1962. Protestant. Member, American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Amvets; Reserve Officers Association; Elks; Eagles; Moose; Odd Fellows. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., July 17, 1992 (age 92 years, 303 days). Interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Charles Frederick Pears and Lura Grace (Rose) Pears; married, February 18, 1931, to Gladys Seidlitz.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Coloma Cemetery
Coloma, Berrien County, Michigan
Founded 1835
See also Findagrave page for this location.

Politicians buried here:

William Hazen Ball (1858-1922) — also known as William H. Ball — of Coloma, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Boylston, Worcester County, Mass., August 24, 1858. Republican. Banker; coal and lumber business; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County 2nd District, 1909-12. Died in 1922 (age about 63 years). Interment at Coloma Cemetery.

See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Galien Cemetery
Galien, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:

George A. Blakeslee, Sr. (1826-1890) — of Birmingham, Oakland County, Mich. Born August 22, 1826. Member of Michigan state house of representatives from Oakland County 5th District, 1861-62. Died September 20, 1890 (age 64 years, 29 days). Interment at Galien Cemetery.

See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Weesaw Township Cemetery
New Troy, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:

Carl F. Gnodtke (1936-2000) — of Sawyer, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Weesaw Township, Berrien County, Mich., January 2, 1936. Republican. Farmer; Berrien County Drain Commissioner, 1977-78; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1979-96 (43rd District 1979-92, 78th District 1993-96). Lutheran. Member, Farm Bureau. Died May 29, 2000 (age 64 years, 148 days). Interment at Weesaw Township Cemetery.

Silverbrook Cemetery
Niles, Berrien County, Michigan
See also Findagrave page for this location.

Politicians buried here:

Thomas Fitzgerald (1796-1855) — of Boonville, Warrick County, Ind.; St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich.; Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Germantown, Columbia County, N.Y., April 10, 1796. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812; lawyer; member of Indiana state house of representatives, 1825-27; probate judge in Indiana, 1829; postmaster at Boonville, Ind., 1831-32; lighthouse keeper; Berrien County Clerk, 1834; member of University of Michigan board of regents, 1837; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County, 1839; candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1839; U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1848-49; Berrien County Probate Judge, 1852-55. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., March 25, 1855 (age 58 years, 349 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Edward La Rue Hamilton (1857-1923) — also known as Edward L. Hamilton — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Niles Township, Berrien County, Mich., December 9, 1857. Republican. Lawyer; U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1897-1921. Died in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., November 2, 1923 (age 65 years, 328 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Edward L. Hamilton and Margaret (Jameson) Hamilton; married to Cora V. Eddy.
		See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Find-A-Grave memorial

John Varnum (1778-1836) — of Haverhill, Essex County, Mass. Born in Dracut, Middlesex County, Mass., June 25, 1778. Member of Massachusetts state senate, 1811; U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 3rd District, 1825-31. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., July 23, 1836 (age 58 years, 28 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Nathaniel Bacon (1802-1869) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, N.Y., July 14, 1802. Republican. Lawyer; justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1855-57; circuit judge in Michigan 2nd Circuit, 1858-63, 1867-69; died in office 1869. Presbyterian. Died in Niles Township, Berrien County, Mich., September 9, 1869 (age 67 years, 57 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Relatives: Married to Caroline S. Lord.
		See also Wikipedia article — Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

William Graves (1809-1881) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in New Hampshire, 1809. Village president of Niles, Michigan, 1845; secretary of state of Michigan, 1853-54; mayor of Niles, Mich., 1875-76. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., April 21, 1881 (age about 71 years). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Relatives: Father of Frank Graves.

Gordon Elwood Bonine (1896-1976) — also known as G. Elwood Bonine — of Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich.; Vandalia, Cass County, Mich.; Delta Township, Eaton County, Mich. Born in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., December 21, 1896. Republican. Farmer; bank director; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1936 (alternate), 1952; member of Michigan state senate 7th District, 1943-52; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1952. Member, Freemasons; Scottish Rite Masons; Order of the Eastern Star; Elks; Rotary; Farm Bureau; Grange. Died in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., December 6, 1976 (age 79 years, 351 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Relatives: Son of James Gordon Bonine; married, October 6, 1923, to Ruth L. Morse.

Jacob Beeson (1807-1885) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Pennsylvania, September 7, 1807. Democrat. Merchant; village president of Niles, Michigan, 1840; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention, 1850; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1856; U.S. Collector of Customs, 1857. Died April 19, 1885 (age 77 years, 224 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Relatives: Brother of William B. Beeson; married to Elizabeth House; uncle of Lewis H. Beeson.
		Political family: Beeson family of Niles, Michigan.

Orville W. Coolidge (1839-1918) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Edwardsburg, Cass County, Mich., October 9, 1839. Lawyer; Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney, 1871-72; mayor of Niles, Mich., 1890-91; circuit judge in Michigan 2nd Circuit, 1894-1911. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., October 15, 1918 (age 79 years, 6 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Sarah (Mead) Coolidge and Henry H. Coolidge; married 1867 to Katie Pettingill.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Carmi Reddick Smith (1862-1939) — also known as Carmi R. Smith — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Girard, Branch County, Mich., May 19, 1862. Republican. Supplier of straw and pulp for paper mills; lumber business; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Berrien County 2nd District, 1898; mayor of Niles, Mich., 1903, 1912-13; resigned 1903; defeated, 1913; postmaster at Niles, Mich., 1903-11; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1924. Methodist. Member, Knights of Pythias; Freemasons; Shriners. Died in 1939 (age about 77 years). Entombed in mausoleum at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Mahlon A. Smith and Louise (Reddick) Smith; married 1890 to Mary E. Stafford.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Rufus Wharton Landon (1815-1886) — also known as Rufus W. Landon — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Conn., May 3, 1815. Democrat. Postmaster at Niles, Mich., 1839-41; real estate business; Berrien County Treasurer, 1843-52; banker; mayor of Niles, Mich., 1860-62, 1865; member of Michigan state senate 18th District, 1863-64; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1864. Episcopalian. Member, Freemasons. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., December 26, 1886 (age 71 years, 237 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Luther Landon and Martha (Hoyt) Landon; married 1843 to Margaret Gray; married 1867 to Matilda McOmber; married 1877 to Linda Eoline Vought.
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Washington Irving Babcock (1833-1908) — also known as W. Irving Babcock — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in New York, 1833. Republican. Lumber business; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1884; mayor of Niles, Mich., 1885-86; member of Michigan state senate 9th District, 1887-90. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., March 31, 1908 (age about 74 years). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

		Presumably named for: Washington Irving
		Relatives: Married 1858 to Ruth W. Hitchcock.

James Gordon Bonine (1875-1934) — also known as James G. Bonine — of Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich. Born in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., 1875. Republican. Physician; banker; member of Michigan state senate 7th District, 1931-32; defeated, 1932. Died in 1934 (age about 59 years). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Relatives: Son of Isaac A. Bonine and Alice (Wilkinson) Bonine; married to Margaret Gage; father of Gordon Elwood Bonine.

Lawson A. Duncan (1832-1900) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in 1832. Republican. Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan; member of Michigan state senate 11th District, 1883-84; postmaster at Niles, Mich., 1889-94. Died in Niles, Berrien County, Mich., August 5, 1900 (age about 68 years). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Josephus V. D. Sutphen (1802-1856) — of Monroe County, Mich. Born in Hunterdon County, N.J., July 24, 1802. Physician; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention 2nd District, 1835. Died in Clay Township, St. Joseph County, Ind., May 1, 1856 (age 53 years, 282 days). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Francis Quinn (d. 1876) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1860; postmaster at Niles, Mich., 1861-63; colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War. Died in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., March 26, 1876. Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Francis J. Plym (1869-1940) — of Niles, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Sweden, 1869. Republican. Architect; inventor; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1928 (member, Committee to Notify Presidential Nominee). Swedish ancestry. Died in 1940 (age about 71 years). Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Lakeview/City Cemetery
St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:
	Calvin Britain (1800-1862) — of Michigan. Born in New York, 1800. Founder of St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1829; member Michigan territorial council 6th District, 1832-35; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention, 1850; Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1852-53. Died in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., January 18, 1862 (age about 61 years). Interment at Lakeview/City Cemetery.

Riverview Cemetery
St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan
See also Findagrave page for this location.

Politicians buried here:

Charles O. Zollar (1914-1988) — of Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Mich.; Benton Township, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., January 6, 1914. Republican. Fruit farmer; real estate business; member of Michigan state senate 22nd District, 1965-78; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1972; supervisor of Benton Township, Michigan, 1981. Lutheran. Member, Elks; Rotary; American Legion; Moose; Fraternal Order of Police; Farm Bureau. Died in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Mich., February 24, 1988 (age 74 years, 49 days). Interment at Riverview Cemetery.

See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Karl F. Zick (1909-1971) — of Sodus, Berrien County, Mich. Born April 2, 1909. Circuit judge in Michigan 2nd Circuit, 1960-69; defeated, 1954. Died in Sodus, Berrien County, Mich., November 15, 1971 (age 62 years, 227 days). Interment at Riverview Cemetery.

See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Hickory Bluff Cemetery
4290 Cleveland Avenue
Stevensville, Berrien County, Michigan
See also Findagrave page for this location.

Politicians buried here:

Ervin R. Appelget (1914-1993) — of Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Mich. Born June 15, 1914. Democrat. Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1968 (alternate), 1972; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives, 1968 (44th District), 1974 (43rd District). Died March 19, 1993 (age 78 years, 277 days). Interment at Hickory Bluff Cemetery.

		Epitaph: "In The Presence Of The Lord, There Is Fullness Of Joy."
		See also Find-A-Grave memorial

Forest Lawn Cemetery
Three Oaks, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:

Henry Chamberlain (1824-1907) — of Three Oaks, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Pembroke, Merrimack County, N.H., March 17, 1824. Democrat. Member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1849; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1874; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1876, 1896; candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan. Member, Freemasons. Died February 9, 1907 (age 82 years, 329 days). Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

		Relatives: Son of Moses Chamberlain and Mary (Foster) Chamberlain; brother of Mellen Chamberlain and William Chamberlain; married, January 16, 1851, to Sarah J. Nash; married, November 19, 1856, to Rebecca (Vandevanter) Ames.
		Political family: Chamberlain family of Michigan.

Charles K. Warren (1871-1932) — of Three Oaks, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Three Oaks, Berrien County, Mich., July 17, 1871. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1908; candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan. Died August 10, 1932 (age 61 years, 24 days). Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Old Watervliet Cemetery
Watervliet, Berrien County, Michigan

Politicians buried here:

Leon Donald Case (b. 1877) — also known as Leon D. Case — of Watervliet, Berrien County, Mich. Born in Ellsworth, Pierce County, Wis., January 15, 1877. Democrat. Newspaper publisher; member of Michigan state senate 7th District, 1913-14, 1933-36; defeated, 1914, 1928; candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1936; secretary of state of Michigan, 1937-38; defeated, 1938. English and French ancestry. Interment at Old Watervliet Cemetery.

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

The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. Founded in 1996, it is the Internet's most comprehensive free source for American political biography, listing 320,919 politicians, living and dead.

	The coverage of this site includes (1) the President, Vice President, members of Congress, elected state and territorial officeholders in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories; and the chief elected official, typically the mayor, of qualifying municipalities; (2) candidates at election, including primaries, for any of the above; (3) all federal judges and all state appellate judges; (4) certain federal officials, including the federal cabinet, diplomatic chiefs of mission, consuls, U.S. district attorneys, collectors of customs and internal revenue, members of major federal commissions; and political appointee (pre-1969) postmasters of qualifying communities; (5) state and national political party officials, including delegates, alternate delegates, and other participants in national party nominating conventions; (6) Americans who served as "honorary" consuls for other nations before 1950. Note: municipalities or communities "qualify", for Political Graveyard purposes, if they have at least half a million person-years of history, inclusive of predecessor, successor, and merged entities.
	The listings are incomplete; development of the database is a continually ongoing project.
	Information on this page — and on all other pages of this site — is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. Users are advised to check with other sources before relying on any information here.
	The official URL for this page is: https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/BE-buried.html.
	Links to this or any other Political Graveyard page are welcome, but specific page addresses may sometimes change as the site develops.
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Site information: The Political Graveyard is created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, who is solely responsible for its structure and content. — The mailing address is The Political Graveyard, P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106. — This site is hosted by HDL. — The Political Graveyard opened on July 1, 1996; the last full revision was done on March 8, 2023.