Great Story

The first permanent cemetery in White Pigeon was established around 1831 and is still located in the northwest part of the village. Around the same time, J.W. Coffinberry created another burial ground on land he called “Carlton”—a village that existed only in his imagination. In 1831, a carpenter named Chidester and a man named Day were buried there, along with several others who died around that time, including Colonel Selden Martin’s son-in-law.

Cemetery Information

Sexton

Vince Schroen

 

(269) 483-7043

 

sexton@whitepigeontwp.com

or contact through the Township Office

Township Cemetery is located at 200 West Vermont Ave. White Pigeon, Michigan

Information about the White Pigeon Township Cemetery can be obtained from the Sexton.

White Pigeon Township keeps all records for the township cemetery and the Catholic Cemetery through 2009.

Cemetery Rules and Regulations

Human Interest Stories

If you have a story or personal connection related to the White Pigeon Cemetery and would like to see it shared on our website, we invite you to reach out to the Office Coordinator. Your stories help preserve the rich history of our community and may provide valuable insights for future generations.

Letter from

Thomas Potts

The Township recently received a heartfelt letter from Thomas Potts, a fourth-generation White Pigeon graduate, sharing the rich history of his Redfearn ancestors buried in the local cemetery. His family’s story, dating back to the early 1800s and the Black Hawk War, adds a personal connection to the township’s historical roots.

My name is Thomas Potts, I grew up in White Pigeon and I am the 4th generation to graduate from White Pigeon High School, class of 1959. We currently have a home on Marl Lake, off on Indian Prairie Road. I read with great interest your information about the first burial. So I thought you might be interested in my Redfearn relatives since they are buried in the cemetery.

John Redfearn, my G,G,G, Grandfather, who is buried next to the Dr. Elliott plot, was born in Yorkshire, England in 1805. With his wife Jane and son Thomas he arrived in America aboard the ship Golconda on May 25, 1830. They settled in Tamaqua, Lancaster County, PA. and the mother died soon after their arrival. John left Thomas with his brother-in-law, Thomas Gray, and went by way of the ocean to the Mississippi River and then up the river to Dubuque, Iowa. There he was among the first lead miners in the region. He was driven from the mines by the Sauk Indians and enlisted in the Black Hawk War which ended in 1832.

John came to St. Joseph County following the War and with his son and Thomas Gray where they settled on Section 2, Mottville Township. John died on January 17, 1858.

Thomas Redfearn, my G,G, Grandfather, is buried on the southwest corner of the Plowman section. In 1849 he went by ox-team to the California gold rush and returned to Michigan in the spring of 1852 and purchased 175 acres in Mottville Township, in section 2 and 11. On March 28, 1854, he married Amelia Hachenberg. They had several children and a daughter, Sarah, married Alberts Potts, they are my Great Grandparents.

From the Desk of

Jean Tefft

Read a thoughtful letter from our Office Coordinator, Jean Tefft, reflecting on the rich history of the White Pigeon Cemetery. Her research uncovered some surprising details about its earliest burials and the stories quietly resting within its grounds.

One day I began to think about our cemetery and it’s history. So many people visit our township and never realize what wonderful history this area has hidden deep inside.

I started by looking on the St. Joseph County website under history. There I found information about things that started first in our area. One of those things discovered was the White Pigeon Cemetery was the first in this area dating back to 1830. That started me thinking about who the first person was to ever be buried in our cemetery. With all our modern technology we can now find the answers to so many questions at the push of a key on the computer keyboard. By using that technology I looked up the name and date of every person buried in the White Pigeon Township Cemetery.

The name documented to be the first to be buried in our cemetery was Solomon Whitney. Solomon was born April 29, 1790 and died November 26, 1813. The interesting thing behind this would be that Solomon was dead several years before the cemetery was created, per the township records.

There are others buried on Mr. Whitney’s cemetery plot, Sarah Whitney(DOD 3/16/1859), Donald Berwin Tavernier(DOD 8/23/1951), Harry V. Tavernier(DOD 8/6/1973), LuLu Rebecca Tavernier(DOD 6/15/1986), Stephen Ketchum(no date of death) and Albert S.(last name not available).

I will continue looking for information about the people buried in our cemetery so that I may keep the records of our township updated and current. Whenever new information about a family is discovered I make the additions or changes.

As I have become more involved with the workings of the township office I realize how important it is to have all documents as correct as possible.

Jean Tefft, Office Coordinator