Jurisdiction: Berrien Springs Village Section 24
Established: 1837
Status: Active. BCGS Cemetery Records updated July 31, 2007.
Location: Dead End of Rose Hill Road
Cemetery Governing Body: Berrien Springs Village
Rose Hill Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Oronoko Township. It was laid out in 1837 and sits on top of a bluff that overlooks the St. Joseph River/Lake Chapin. As with many of the other cemeteries, the date that the cemetery was laid out, and the death date of those interred don’t match. Looking at the headstone on Block 1 Lot 1 is an example: Levi Brown, a Revolutionary War soldier, died in 1836 at the age of 73 years 4 months 9 days. When entering the cemetery it is the first headstone located on the left hand side of the road.
From “The History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan” by D. W. Ensign:
“Oronoko contains four cemeteries, of which the chief one is Rose Hill, at Berrien Springs. This grave-yard is likewise the oldest one in the township, having been laid out in 1837. It contains now three and one-third acres, is handsomely located upon a commanding elevation in full view of the St. Joseph River, and is embellished with several fine monuments, including a memorial shaft to the citizens of Oronoko who fell in the war of the Rebellion. The other township cemeteries are Salem Cemetery, at Salem Church, Maple Grove, in school district No. 4, and Oak Grove, one mile west of Maple Grove.”
The soldier’s monument in Rose Hill Cemetery is a plain marble column, which was procured by private subscriptions, and set up as a memorial in 1874. Upon one side of the column is the following:
“In memory and to the honor of the soliders of Oronoko Township who died in the service of their country in the Rebellion of 1861. “The died that the nation might live.” – Lincoln
Upon a second appear the names:
“Lieut. Ed. Hurson, E. H. Bartholomew, Jas. Beall, W. Brayman, Levi P. Brown, Wm. Calhoun, N. Cleaveland, E. N. Cleaveland, C. H. Davidson, W. H. Dennison, Comfort Estes, Amos Groff.”
“Thus sleep the brave who sink to rest, With all their country’s honors blest.”
Upon a third side:
“Martin Gubby, Hart Granger, Joseph Gubby, Aaron Hiser, Joel Kerr, Rodney Knight, Isaac Lamb, Wm. W. Leader, J. H. Matthews, N. Morlan, Nathan Place, Isaac Quirk.”
“Sleep deep! Sleep in peace! Sleep in memory ever! Wrapt each soul in the deeds of its deathless endeavor.”
On the fourth side are the names:
“M. Pangborn, G. R. Rogers, J. Shunkwilder, J. R. Simons, Stephen Simons, Alonzo Sischo, Thomas Streets, H. F. Summers, John Treadwell, Levi Trimm, Miles Woods, Joseph Vetter.”
“Forget not the dead who fought for us.”
From “Historical Sketches of Berrien County Volume 3” by Robert C. Myers:
“Emmanuel Missionary College, which later became Andrews University, experienced the disappearance of an 18-year old student during the spring of 1905. Olive R. Templeton arrived at the college in 1904 from Sawyer, Wisconsin and friends noticed that she was extremely homesick and would often cry herself to sleep at night. Friends last saw Olive on February 2, 1905 and a search turned up nothing. On the afternoon of August 9, 1905, the riverboat crew of the “May Graham” discovered a half-submerged body wedged in a tree limb. After a brief investigation, authorities concluded that Olive R. Templeton threw herself from the bluff and drowned in the river. A simple stone in Rose Hill Cemetery stands as a silent memorial to the homesick student, Olive Templeton.”
“Early settler of Berrien County was George Kimmel, Jr. He was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania on December 1, 1816. George immigrated to Berrien Springs with his father in 1831. George Jr. served in the Civil War with the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, fighting at the Battle of Shiloh. Major George Kimmel had survived one of the worst battles in the Civil War but he fell victim to a friend’s rifle. While hunting with a friend, Robert Gephart on October 18, 1875, Kimmel pulled the rifle out from under his buggy seat but the trigger caught on the seat brace and the rifle discharged, killing him almost instantly. Major George Kimmel Jr. now rests in Rose Hill Cemetery.”
From “Historical Sketches of Berrien County Volume 4” by Robert C. Myers:
“John Tate, Berrien County Treasurer, died under mysterious circumstances on January 9, 1879. John Tate was found lying dead on the floor of a revolver bullet shot through his heart. A coroner’s jury found that he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his pistol but the night before his death, John sat up late with the county books. The accounts showed that he owed $3,280, an enormous amount for the time and it was unknown if this was related to his death. He took the secret of the missing funds to his grave and in later years, his eldest daughter Rachel repaid the money that was missing, clearing his name. John Tate lies buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.”
Written By David Barricklow & Chriss Lyon
