A walking tour through the Historic Acre of Rochester's Mount Avon Cemetery reveals the gravesites of four Revolutionary War patriots.

In 1826, Mount Avon became the first officially platted cemetery in Oakland County. The "Old Ground" or "Historic Acre" contains head-stones dating from 1817, the year the earliest settlers arrived in the area. The older sections are laid out as an "afternoon cemetery," meaning that the headstones face west toward the afternoon sun. Some members of the Graham family, Rochester's founders, are buried in Mount Avon, including James Graham (1818-1839), thought to be the first white child born in the county. Although originally buried in a family cemetery on their farm on Crooks Road, the remains of some of the Grahams were re-interred at Mount Avon in 1926 when the family cemetery was vacated. The cemetery is also the final resting place of four Revolutionary War soldiers: George Horton, Cyrus Chipman, Nathanial Baldwin, and Benjamin Loomis. In 1911 a statue of "Billy Yank" was erected in memory of Oakland County's Civil War veterans by the Women's Relief Corps No. 227 (William E. Everett Post). The organization offered the monument to the Avon Township Board of Trustees in 1910, and the board accepted the gift in its meeting of July 23, 1910. The cemetery's acreage was expanded four times through additions made in 1853, 1875, 1904, and 1930. Today, it covers a total of 22 acres and is bounded by First Street on the south, Wilcox Street on the east, Taylor Street on the west, and Third Street on the east. The Rochester Era described the condition of the cemetery as follows in 1877:[begin quote]Our Cemetery is a lovely spot just now, and we are glad to notice that many are beautifying their lots there and making the last resting place of their loved ones attractive instead of repulsive. Every lot having been sold in the old grounds many have taken up lots in the new part, which, by the way, will, when properly arranged and set out with trees, make our Cemetery one of the finest in the State. One thing we wish to all special attention to, and that is the necessity for a well upon the grounds. One was dug in the old Cemetery some years ago, but it is now dry and has been for along time, owing, it is said, tot he fact that the grounds have been traversed by five or six underground drains seven and a half feet deep. Before these drains were dug the sexton found it almost impossible to dig a grave without having it fill, or partially so, with water. The drains while they obviated this difficulty are said to have been the direct cause of the well drying up. Now we think a well might be sunk on the new portion, although quite likely it would require a greater depth than that of the old one, still we deem it a necessity for the benefit of those who have lots there to keep in order.. . .Many new tombstones and monuments of chaste and beautiful designs have recently been placed in the Cemetery, which add greatly to the attractiveness of the spot. If each lot owner will beautify his or her lot and take some pains in keeping everything about them neat and clean, a more lovely or charming retreat for the living to steal away to for meditation—not for mirth or idle gossip—count not be found.[end quote] In 1909, a local bond issue was passed to build a receiving vault in the cemetery. Local citizens campaigned for a receiving vault because Michigan's cold winters meant that burials could not take place during the months when the ground was frozen. This necessitated that remains be stored until the ground thawed, and because Mount Avon had no facilities, remains of Rochester area residents who died during the winter were usually sent to one of the Pontiac cemeteries until burial was possible. The new receiving vault in Mount Avon Cemetery had space to store ten caskets over the winter months. In 1925, the Flowers Mausoleum Company of Toledo, Ohio, took subscriptions for a community mausoleum. in which ten crypts were reserved as receiving vaults. The former receiving vault was repurposed for use as an equipment shed. After the years took their toll on the small building, it was restored by the City of Rochester in 2013. The mausoleum was also restored by the the City of Rochester in 2013. Mount Avon Cemetery was listed on the Michigan Register of Historic Sites in 1979. A Michigan Historical Marker stands just inside the Wilcox gate to the cemetery.

Mount Avon Cemetery is significant as the first cemetery platted in Oakland County, Michigan. It is the burial place of many pioneer settlers of Oakland County, with graves dating as far back as 1817. The cemetery is the final resting place of four known Revolutionary War soldiers. It also contains a statue, locally known as "Billy Yank," that was dedicated in 1911 to honor Union soldiers who served in the Civil War. The cemetery has expanded from its original one-acre parcel to 22 acres in size. It is still an active cemetery today and is operated by the City of Rochester, Michigan.

Mount Avon Cemetery

George Horton was born in the Philipstown area of Dutchess County, New York [now a part of Putnam County] on March 23, 1761. When he was nineteen years old and living in Lower Smithfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, he served with the Pennsylvania militia in the American War for Independence. He was part of Captain Henry Shoemaker's company, 5th battalion, Northampton County militia. He served from May 1780 until September 1783. During this time, the militia was engaged in a number of skirmishes with Native Americans in the area. In 1782, Horton's name appears on the muster roll of the 5th Company of the 5th Battalion of the Northampton County, Pennsylvania Militia under the command of Henry Shoemaker. His rank is listed at Private 2nd Class. According to his pension papers, Horton was assigned garrison duty and was chiefly occupied with making repairs to the forts along the Delaware River. Following his military service, Horton moved to Ontario, where he lived from 1809 until March 1825, when he arrived in Detroit and thereafter settled south of the village of Rochester. In 1831, he was granted an annual pension of $80 for his military service during the Revolutionary War. His last pension payment was made in March 1835.

This location is the burial place of Private George Horton, a Revolutionary War patriot who died in Rochester in 1835. Horton served with a line of Pennsylvania militia from 1780 to 1783. He moved from his Northampton County, Pennsylvania home to Canada in 1809, and migrated to Michigan in March 1825. His gravestone was dedicated by the Sons of the American Revolution in 2012.

George Horton headstone, Mount Avon Cemetery

George Horton gravesite, Mount Avon Cemetery

According to his Revolutionary War pension application, Benjamin Loomis enlisted in the 5th regiment of the Connecticut line in 1781. His account of service states that he was posted in Morristown, New Jersey, and in Smith's Clove, New York, before being discharged from service on December 23, 1781. His pension application was rejected in 1833 because he was not able to provide sufficient documentary information to prove his service. He died in Oakland County in 1835. Loomis's gravesite in Mount Avon Cemetery was re-dedicated by the Sons of the American Revolution in 2012. He is buried with the family of his daughter, Sabrina Loomis Underwood and her husband, Asa Underwood.

This is the burial location of Benjamin Grant Loomis, a Revolutionary War soldier who died in Rochester, Michigan. Private Loomis served in Lt. Col. Isaac Sherman's 5th Connecticut Regiment in 1781. His pension record also indicates an additional term of service. Loomis moved to Ontario in 1798 and later settled in Rochester, Michigan, were he died in 1835.

Benjamin Loomis gravestone, Mount Avon Cemetery, 2020

Benjamin Grant Loomis gravesite, Mount Avon Cemetery

Cyrus Chipman was born in Salisbury, Connecticut in 1761. He began his medical practice in Pawlet, Vermont, where his brother, Lemuel, also a physician, lived at the time. During his residence in Vermont, Chipman served with a unit of Vermont militia during the Revolutionary War. He later relocated to Pittstown (now known as Richmond), Ontario County, New York, and came to Oakland County, Michigan in 1821. The Chipmans lived in Avon Township, south of the village of Rochester. Dr. Chipman served as postmaster for Rochester and the post office was located in his home. Dr. Chipman married Anna Fitch in 1787 and they had fourteen children.

This location is the burial place of Dr. Cyrus Chipman, an allopathic physician and Revolutionary War patriot who died in 1840. Chipman served in Lee's Regiment of Vermont militia in 1781. Following his military service he moved to Ontario County, New York. He came to Michigan in 1821 aboard the steamer Walk-in-the Water and settled near Rochester. 

Cyrus Chipman gravesite, Mount Avon Cemetery

Nathaniel Baldwin was born at Goshen, Connecticut on July 21, 1761 and died in Oakland County, Michigan on August 30, 1840.The 1912 History of Oakland County said this about Baldwin:"While still a lad he enlisted in the sixth regiment of Connecticut under Colonel Parsons. This regiment was organized at the first call for troops and recruited from New London, Hartford, and Middlesex counties. He remained on duty at New London until July 17, 1775, when they were ordered to the Boston camps, where they remained until discharged, December 10, 1775." "After the war, Mr. Baldwin married Susanna Sherman, the niece of Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence." Baldwin's grave was marked by the General Richardson Chapter, National Daughters of the American Revolution, in 1909.

This location is the burial place of Private Nathaniel Baldwin, a Revolutionary War patriot who died in Rochester in 1840. Baldwin served with a line of Connecticut militia in 1775.  Following his military service he moved from Goshen, Connecticut to Ontario County, New York. He came to Michigan in 1824 and settled near Rochester.  Baldwin's burial place was identified and marked by the National Daughters of the American Revolution in 1909.

Nathaniel Baldwin gravestone, Mount Avon Cemetery, 2020

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Rochester, Michigan's Revolutionary War Patriots

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