1861 the ancient mound and graves were subjected to the plowshare and soon disappeared.

The first cemetery in Grand Rapids (for white people) was on lands near what is now the southwest corner of Cherry street and Madison avenue, on Jefferson Morrison's lot. Several burials were made there, among them that of the first wife of Jonathan F. Chubb. Afterward the site of the present Fulton street cemetery was selected, and the remains removed to that location. Robert M. Barr and an Irishman named James Archibald assisted at the removal.

A man named Digby Baker, popularly known as "Big Baker, of powerful build, a giant almost, while at work for Alvin Wansey, splitting rails, was suddenly taken sick and died. He was buried in that first cemetery a short time before the removal was determined upon. When his grave was opened, "Jim" Archibald remarked that they would "have a lift for a stame injin," and getting down at the end of the coffin postured himself for a tremendous effort, when lo! it came up like a feather, with such ease as to nearly throw "Jim" against the opposite bank. The coffin was opened and found to contain-nothing! There were but two or three physicians in town at that time, and the general opinion was that one of them had an unusually large skeleton somewhere in his outfit.

Zenas Winsor's first wife, Darius Winsor's mother, and Doctor Platt's daughter were among the number interred there.

Fulton Street Cemetery.-An indenture made July 9, 1838, between James Ballard and Emeline Ballard and the President and Trustees of the village of Grand Rapids, provided that the following described property should become the property of the village in consideration of the payment of $300: A part of the northwest quarter of section 29, town 7 north, of range 11 west, beginning at the southwest corner of said quarter section, and running north on the line between sections 29 and 30, 40 rods from the place of beginning, then east at right angles with this line 40 rods, west 24 rods, to the place of beginning, making in all six acres of land, the same to be used and reserved expressly as a cemetery for the village of Grand Rapids, and one-third of which cemetery is to be devoted to the exclusive use of the people called Roman Catholics, and the said cemetery is to be fenced immediately, and forever kept in repair at the sole expense of the village. This deed was executed before C. I. Walker, Notary Public, July 9, 1838, in the presence of Stephen Hinsdill and W. B. Starky, and a record of the same made by Register Luther Beebe, Aug. 1, 1838. This property was conveyed by deed of warranty, dated March 23, 1836, from Geo. M. Mills to Chester Walbridge, and he in turn made a conveyance to James Ballard, Feb. 2, 1838. On June 16, of that year, Geo. M. Mills sold his interest in the equal one-half part of the northwest quarter of section 29, to Ballard. In a report made by John T. Holmes, Solicitor for the city, in August,

1852, he states, "That the city's title to the cemetery is sound, that the ground was used as a burial ground from about the time of the making of the 'Kent Plat;' and although some of the bodies were removed, there yet remain many of the early interments."

Additions have been made to the original plat, and improvement after improvement effected. Among the additions are blocks 7, 8 and 9, platted for Thomas D. and F. B. Gilbert, in September, 1862, west of the old burial ground, and blocks 10, 11, 12 and 13, of the same cemetery, July, 1863.

The Catholic Cemetery, on Madison avenue, near the southern limits of the city, is another large burial ground. A monument is erected there to the Rev. Andreas Vizoiski, bearing Latin, French, German and English inscriptions. This cemetery, like the others, is well located. The first Catholic cemetery on the east side, was within the gore formed by Cherry street and Lake

avenue.

The Valley City Cemetery grounds were purchased by the city of Grand Rapids of G. B. Rathbun and Emily Rathbun, in February, 1859. The cemetery was dedicated to the purpose of a city burial ground, Dec. 17, 1860, by Mayor Martin L. Sweet, Clerk E. M. Doubleday and Comptroller Nelson Robinson. The cemetery contains 40 acres The first interment was made in 1859, but the grounds have been in city charge for 12 or 15 years. Only half of the grounds have been platted, and improvements are now being pushed rapidly forward. R. C. Luce is Cemetery Commissioner. No soldiers are buried here. Oak, Central, Crescent and Cedar avenues are the principal drives. A drive called the "Tour" will encircle the cemetery when completed.

Among the finest monuments are those inscribed with the names of Richardson, Carpenter, Phelps, Nason, Kendall, Mangold and Smalley. The brick vault, near the Richardson monument, is the property of Melville, of California. The city vault is capable of holding 24 caskets. It is located near the northwest corner and surrounded by many very fine burying sites.

Greenwood Cemetery, a tract of 20 acres, was deeded to the city of Grand Rapids Feb. 8, 1859, by Daniel and Sophronia Bush, of Allegan county. It was dedicated as a city cemetery by Mayor Sweet, Clerk E. M. Doubleday and Comptroller Robinson, Dec. 17, 1860. It is located in Walker township, northwest of the city limits. Only a portion of it is under improvement. What is now devoted to cemetery purposes is laid out tastefully, and well cared for. A small, neat vault, located in the hollow near the center, is the property of the Stephenson family. Numerous monuments of granite and marble adorn many of the lots. The drives are 24 feet wide, bordered by strips of lawn eight feet in width. The "tour" is 1,575 feet long on each side, aggregating 6,300 round. Three miles of beautiful driveways will form one of the features of this burial place when completed. Fred Spath, a victim of the Alpena

disaster, lies in this cemetery; above his remains is a neat monu

ment.

Oak Hill Cemetery.-This new burial ground comprises 40 acres of land near the southeastern limits of the city. The survey was made by Wright L. Coffinberry, from plans by his assistant, A. C. McKenzie. The plat shows 1,350 lots, averaging 16x32 feet. The central avenue is 40 feet wide, the circular driveways 24 feet in width, and the road round the entire property 20 feet wide. It is estimated that each lot will give space to 16 graves, giving an aggregate capacity for the interment of 21,600 persons. Extensive improvements are contemplated.

The Hebrew or Jewish Cemetery is located in the southern portion of Oak Hill. It is surrounded with a neat picket fence.

THE KENT SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE,

noticed on page 464, holds its meetings twice every month, when papers are read, scientific matters discussed, and demonstrations of a scientific character made. The institute issues the following publications: "List of the Collections of A. O. Currier;" "List of Plants of Kent County, with notes;" "Geology of Kent County;" "Shell-bearing Mollusca of Michigan;" while ready for publication is "Archæology of Michigan." Publications of the society are exchanged with all such works of each scientific society in the United States and Europe. The field work in summer has been the exploration of Indian mounds, three of which are on the west side of the city, near the "old warehouse," 14 mounds three miles below city, on Grand river, and a number in Cascade and Plainfield townships. The researches of the institute have proven of great value to science, and given the institute an honored name in scientific circles.

The present membership is 50. The officers are: Dr. J. C. Parker, President; Prof. Mitchell, Secretary. Among the prominent members are: John Ball, A. O. Currier (deceased), W. H. De Camp, J. C. Parker, A. J. Daniels, Prof. Mitchell, E. A. Stone, E. S. Holmes, S. L. Fuller and Wright L. Coffinberry.

The collection at the disposal of the institute is large and valuable. The society itself is the senior of such organizations in this State. In 1881 the institute organized two auxiliary sections-the Microscopical and Ichthyological.

UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.

This association may be said to have been organized in 1847. At that early period in the history of Grand Rapids, a number of ladies banded themselves together for the purpose of relieving the unfortunate and educating the children of the poor. Notwithstanding the difficulties which oppose such enterprises, the members of the first benevolent society of Grand Rapids made the