Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Posted by: 
Jagman714
N 42° 20.721 W 083° 01.095
17T E 333756 N 4690093
Elmwood Cemetery is located at 1200 Elmwood Avenue Detroit, Michigan.
Waymark Code: WM1D5M
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 04/09/2007
Views: 72
Elmwood Cemetery began its history in the spring of 1846 when some of Detroit’s leading citizens conceived the idea of establishing a cemetery in the suburbs of the city. For the sum of $1,850 they purchased forty-two acres from what was originally the George Hunt Farm in the township of Hamtramck and renamed the property Elmwood Cemetery. In 1849, the cemetery was incorporated as a non-profit organization and in 1883, an endowment fund was created for the perpetual care of the cemetery and individual lots. Over the years additional land was purchased from the Hunt Farm and neighboring farm of D.C. Whitwood so that today the park consists of approximately eighty-six acres.
Elmwood’s history is also represented by many distinguished citizens who are memorialized in the park including, W.A. Burt, the inventor of the Equatorial sextant and solar compass and Margaret Mather, the great Shakespearean actress of the nineteenth century. Other notables include governors, mayors, judges, ministers, lawyers, doctors, prominent businessmen and abolitionists. George DeBaptiste, Dr. Joseph Ferguson and Dr. William Lambert all represent the abolitionist movement having worked faithfully for their cause with leaders such as the well-known ex-slave and orator Frederick Douglas.
The history of Elmwood closely follows the history of Detroit and the people of Michigan. The names of those who made Detroit and Michigan what it is today can be seen among the graves and mausoleums of the cemetery. Buried on the grounds are six Michigan governors, 11 U.S. Senators, 30 Detroit Mayors, cabinet ministers, judges and ambassadors. Also buried here are prominent business leaders, inventors, explorers, artists, ministers, lawyers, doctors, abolitionists and former slaves.
The military representation in the cemetery covers every war from the Revolution to the Persian Gulf. Every military rank is represented from private to over 30 generals, including a special lot dedicated to the U.S. soldiers who fought in the Civil War
The total number of interments by late 1884 was 21,421.
55 lots were left unsold at that time.