Jurisdiction: Chikaming Township Section 22 & 23
Established: 1867
Status: Active. BCGS Cemetery Records updated October 26, 2008.
Location: Three Oaks Road North of Warren Woods Road
Cemetery Governing Body: Chikaming Township
Location of Cemetery Records: Chikaming Township Hall
Size: 8 acres
Riverside Cemetery is located in sections 22 and 23 and has sometimes been referred to as Drew Cemetery. The west side of Riverside is a wonderful, older cemetery, which is surrounded on three sides by tall, stately oak trees. The outer edges of the cemetery, as well as much of the center, are covered with soft, jewel green moss due to the amount shade and the acid in the oak leaves that fall upon the grounds. Maple and pine trees can be found scattered throughout the gently sloping cemetery. The lanes are dirt and there is no water source on the west side.
There are unique headstones including a 54 inch high chair; a tree with winding ivy, fern leaves and a potted plant at the base which measures 7 feet high, and another tree with ivy, ferns, a book at the base and a hanging flower basket on an outstretched branch which is 61 inches high. Also found is a metal headstone dated at 1894. It is decorated with flowers, a wreath, and a hand with the finger pointing to Heaven and drapery. The metal of choice for headstones was usually zinc.
The west side of the cemetery has paved lanes and water is available. Headstones are varied and include a “Woodmen of the World Memorial”. Veterans are found on both the east and west side of the cemetery. The Riverside Cemetery is tidy and well kept with a combined total of approximately 8 acres. The east side is still active while the west side has some burials only if the lot has already been reserved. The earliest burial to be found today was in 1867.
The Chikaming Township Hall has master maps, which show the lot purchases for Riverside Cemetery. Kirk Schrader has been the sexton for the past 18 years and has a ledger with recorded lot purchases starting in the year 1908. The ledger for Riverside Cemetery skips from 1941 to 1947.
Who’s buried in Riverside Cemetery? One burial is that of Jerome W. Burnett who purchased the northwest quarter of section 14 in Chikaming in 1854.
Albert L. Drew and his wife Helen came to Chikaming in 1860 and purchased 480 acres in sections 25 & 26. After building a log cabin on the land, Albert moved his family into their new home on October 23, 1860. A.L. & H.L. Drew built a steam sawmill about 1862 on section 26 which ran for around eight years. Albert held office for the Township of Chikaming as a Supervisor in 1873-79 and Clerk in 1871-72. In 1861, at a cost of $700.00, a schoolhouse was built. The first teacher was Mrs. Albert. L. Drew who began her class with just five students.
James H. Spaulding held the title of Chikaming Township Treasure 1868-69.
George Garland is listed as an early settler of Chikaming. He lived to the age of 90 years 8 months 7 days, passing away on January 18, 1892. His wife Rachel died in August of the same year.
Wells Sizer was photographed as a member of the Twenty Club in 1898.
Written By Teresa O'Riley-McCrosky
