Aaron Webster Cemetery

This cemetery is named for pioneer settler Aaron Webster, who was the first permanent resident of the village of Auburn in Pontiac Township. According to the 1877 History of Oakland County, Michigan, the property for this cemetery was given by Webster in 1822 or 1823. This history states the following about the creation of the cemetery:

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The first place of sepulture was upon ground given by Aaron Webster, about 1822-23, and consisting of about one acre. It was surveyed and platted by Judah C. Marsh, an early settler, whose daughter was the first person interred in the ground. The first interments of adults were Aaron Webster and his wife and their son-in-law, named Crippen.

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Of Webster and his settlement of the village of Auburn, the History of Freemasonry in Oakland County, Michigan says this:

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[Aaron Webster] was born in East Hartford N. Y., August 17, 1775. Moved to Aurolius, N. Y,, near Albany, He was married to Sarah Norton, daughter of Solomon Norton, Poultney, Vt., Jan, 3, 1797.

They came to Michigan and settled in Troy township, Oakland county on section 6 in 1820, Ho lived here two years and then removed to the village of Auburn, which had been named for the village of Auburn, N.Y., and became the first property owner in Auburn. The nearest mills at that time were at Pontiac. Thither Webster proceeded to procure lumber for building purposes, but he thought the price asked by Colonel Mack, (ten dollars per thousand) too high; and concluded ho would build a saw-rill and cut his own lumber. He had noticed the water power at the point where Auburn Heights now stands, and visited Thornton ( a squatter) at his cabin and told him he was going to purchase a large amount of land in that vicinity and improve the water-power. He finally told Thornton he had better get himself some land, and offered him one hundred dollars for his 'betterment ' and claim, which was accepted, and Thornton settled near Romeo, Macomb county, Webster immediately disposed of his property in Troy township. About two hundred and seventy acres wore sold to Elizur Goodrich, from Fleming, Cayuga county, N.Y., who had come in the spring of 1822 looking for an eligible place to settle.

Webster was a wealthy man, and entered three hundred and twenty acres of government land, including that upon which Thornton had squatted and the water power. He at once proceeded to build a dam and mill race, and erected a saw-mill. William Morris, one of the charter members of Oakland Lodge No. 343, and the first sheriff of Oakland county, dug the race for him.

The saw-mill was completed, and the timber prepared for the erection of the grist mill, when on August 17, 1823, Webster and his wife both died of typhoid fever. William A. Burt and his brother-in-law, John Allen, built the saw mill. These two with Ebenezer Smith's son Aaron completed the grist-mill in 1824.

The first burial ground in Auburn was given by Aaron Webster and consisted of one acre. The first interment of adults here was that of Aaron Webster and his wife and their son-in-law named Crippen. Aaron Webster was a direct descendent of Gov. John Webster. From East Hartford, Conn., where he was born he moved to Sacketts Harbor, N.Y. , where he served in the War of 1812.

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Durant, Samuel W. History of Oakland County, Michigan. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts, 1877, p.122.

Fey, Charles. History of Freemasonry In Oakland County, Michigan. [Royal Oak, Mich.]: Royal Oak Lodge No. 464, 1945, pp.242-243.