Posey Chapel Cemetery
Additional Information

Galena township
1000N between 300E and 400E
La Porte County, Indiana

This cemetery still needs to be read. But thanks to our on line viewers, we do have some obituaries and other information to share with everyone.

Donated Obituaries & Burial Cards

Gridley - Mrs. Ann Gridley, This obituary is from the Niles Daily Star dated 10-3-1952 page 2.
86 THREE OAKS- Mrs. Ann Gridley, 86, a resident of this area for many years died at 2:20 a.m. Today at the home of a daughter near Sister Lakes following an illness of a week. Funeral services will be held in the H. B. Connally Funeral Home here at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Lawrence Johnson, pastor of the local Congregational Church, will officiate and burial will be in Posey Chapel Cemetery south of here. Survivors include: a daughter, Mrs. Harold Hand, at whose home she died; two sons, Claude of South Bend, and Harvey of Galesburg, 11 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren. Mrs. Gridley was born in Dowagiac on Jan. 10, 1866, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac West. On Dec.25, 1884 she married James L. Gridley who died on July 23, 1939. She had resided at Sister Lakes since her husband's death. Her father Isaac West had two wives Elizabeth and Phoebe. Elizabeth is Ann's mother. Contributed by: Stacey Young

Gridley, James This obituary was published 7-24-1939 on page 2 of the Niles Daily Star.
James Gridley, father of Harvey Gridley, Niles, died Sunday morning at 6 o'clock in Berrien county hospital where he was taken for treatment Saturday afternoon. In December Mr. Gridley and Mrs. Gridley celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Other survivors include two sons and a daughter, Ralph, Three Oaks, Claude, Union Pier, and Mrs. Harold Hard, Benton Harbor; three brothers and a sister, Brayton and Emory, Three Oaks, Elmer, Knox, Ind. and Mrs. Wesley Wimmel, Three Oaks. Mr. Gridley was born Nov. 17, 1860 in New York state.
   James Gridley Dies Services are set for Wednesday at 3 o'clock in Connelly chapel. The Rev. J. P. Henry will officiate and Odd Fellows will serve as pallbearers. Burial will be in Cozy Chapel cemetery, south of Three Oaks. This obituary was published 7-24-1939 on page two of the Niles Daily Star. Contributed by: Stacey Young
---- GRIDLEY, James L. - Michigan City News Dispatch, July 24, 1939: July 23, Sunday morning at 6, James L. Gridley, Three Oaks, retired farmer who spent nearly his whole life in this vicinity, died in the Berrien County hospital in Berrien Center, Mich., where he had been taken Saturday night. He had been ill six months. Mr. Gridley was born in New York state Nov. 17, 1860, and was married Dec. 25, 1894, to Miss Anna West, who survives with their four children, Ralph of Three Oaks, Claude of Lakeside, Harvey of Niles and Mrs. Retta Hard of Benton Harbor. Also surviving are two brothers, Brayton and Emery Gridley of Three Oaks and a sister, Mrs. Wesley Winnill of Three Oaks. Funeral services will be held at 3 Wednesday afternoon at the Connelly funeral chapel, with Rev. T.J. Henry of the Congregational church officiating. Burial will be at the Posey Chapel cemetery south of Three Oaks. Members of the Oddfellows lodge, of which he was a member, will hold services at the grave. Friends may view the body at the Connelly funeral home until the time of the funeral.

Morrow, Charles - Herald Chronicle Thursday Apr 14 1881 - (State Line) -
Mr. Charles Morrow, an old settler of Galena township, died on Tuesday of last week. He had been failing for two or three years with consumption. His funeral was held on the Saturday following at the Posey chapel, Rev. Middleton, of Rolling Prairie, officiating. Mr. Morrow came to this township in the year 1836, and has lived here ever since, and with industry and economy he made a good property, raising a large family, all of whom he gave a farm of not less than 80 acres each. His widow survives him. (New Carlisle) - The funeral of Charles Morrow, an old resident of Galena twp. took place at Posey Chapel last Saturday. Rev. H.M. Middleton conducting the services. Mr. Morrow has been in feeble health for many years.

SEARING - One of the burials is David Searing who "Came to Three Oaks, MI from NJ; wf was Ella from Indiana." Lewis Orlin and Emily (Warner) Weed had several children, including a daughter Harriet Ellen (or "Ella"). Based on census records and information from Bill Collins, she was born about 1845.
The Dibean Michigan Marriage Index has the following entry: SEARING, DAVID SANFORD SEARING, WEED, HARRIET ELLEN WEED, BERRIEN,--,,01 JAN 1867,--,CTY REC# 0003,--
David and Ella Searing appear on the 1870 census in Three Oaks, Michigan. He was a grocer. They had no children. He was age 28 (born abt 1842, NJ) and she age 25 (born abt. 1845 IN).
His 1871 death is listed on the Michigan Genealogical Death Indexing System.
She apparently remarried. The Dibean Michigan Marriage Index has the following entry: SEARING, ELLA - SEARING, MARTIN, ABRAHAM F MARTIN, BERRIEN,--,,25 DEC 1878,--,CTY REC# 0888,--
Abram and Ella Martin appear on the 1880 census in Three Oaks, Michigan. He was a grocer (too!).
They had no children. He was age 30 (born abt. 1850 MI) and she age 35 (born abt. 1845 IN). The genealogical questionnaire completed by Chas. H. Weed about 1899 for Edward F. Weed, Rowayton, Connecticut, identifies that he had one living sister, Emily Reed, and "four dead" sisters. (The Reed family lived in Iowa.)

Another of the Posey burials is Ella Martin (Jan 28, 1845 - Feb 23, 1895), "wife of Abram F." Another Posey burial is Abram Martin, died Nov. 5, 1860, at age age 60 yrs 2 mo 18 da. This information doesn't fit with the aforementioned info, so maybe it's Abram/Abraham F's grandfather. As I recall, my Lucy Warner (MN) family history notes mentioned an Ella Weed with husbands David Seesing [sic] and Abe Martin. Those notes are buried under too many piles of other stuff at the moment! - Information donated by: Pam Kotval at pakotval@msn.com

Smith, Asalie Caroline Warner   The Acorn, Three Oaks, Michigan; October 16, 1924:
   "FOLLOWS HUSBAND IN DEATH.
   Mrs. Wm. Smith, Pioneer of This Section, Passes Away Just Seven Weeks After Husband's Death --
  Asalie Caroline Warner was born October 1st, 1849, on what was known as the Godfrey Farm in New Buffalo Township, Berrien County, Michigan, the daughter of David and Almira Weed Warner. In 1855 her parents moved to Galena Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, where, except for a year at Charlotte, Michigan, attending school, she spent the remainder of her life.
   "She taught several terms at different schools in Galena and adjoining townships during her early womanhood. "She was united in marriage to William W. Smith at Three Oaks, Michigan, March 29th, 1879, who, just seven weeks ago, preceded her to the great Beyond. "She passed away at the family home Friday morning, October 10th, 1924, at the age of 75 years, and 9 days.
  "She leaves surviving her, her children, Conger R. of Kansas City, Missouri; Miss Independence of the home; and Stanley W. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and her grandson, Conger William Smith. "She was a faithful wife, a kind and loving mother, and a friendly and sympathetic neighbor, who will long be remembered in the community where she spent practically her entire life.
  "She was a member of the Pastime Club of the Bunker Hill District, and the Posey Chapel Ladies' Aid Society.   "The funeral was held at the Posey Chapel Church, Sunday afternoon, October 12th, the Rev. Thomas Rice of the Three Oaks, Michigan, M. E. [Ed. note: Methodist Episcopal] Church officiating. Miss Marjorie Johnson accompanied by Miss Doris Renbarger, appropriately rendered 'The City Four Square' and 'Jesus Lover of My Soul.' The remains were laid to rest beside her husband in the Posey Chapel Cemetery. "The pall-bearers, neighbors and friends, were Alva Ellenwine, George Klute, Earl W. Mayes, Lyle H. Vosburgh, Benson Williams and John W. Williams."
Contributed by: Pamela A. Kotval at pakotval@tds.net

Smith, William Watson   The Acorn, Three Oaks, Michigan; September 11, 1924:
   "THE PASSING OF PIONEER WILLIAM "BILLY" SMITH.
  Well Known and Respected Citizen of the Vicinity. One of the Early Settlers of This Region.
  Came Here in 1866. -- William Watson SMith was born in Milton Township, Cass County, Michigan, November 18th, 1840.
  "His early life was spent near Niles, Michigan, moving with his parents to the present family home in 1866 where he has since lived. he was married to Asalie CAroline Warner, March 29th, 1879 at Three Oaks, Michigan, who with his children, Conger R. of Kansas City, Missouri, Miss Independence of the home and Stanley R. of Three Oaks, Michigan; his sisters Mrs. George Barnes and Mrs. Henry Webster of Iowa, a brother Nathanael W. of Oklahoma and grandson Conger William Smith survive.
  "He passed away at his home in Galena Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, August 22nd, 1924 at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 4 days.
  "On September 9th, 1861 at Niles, Michigan, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company "E", 2nd Michigan Infantry, and served with distinction in the same company during the Civil War and mustered out at De Laney House, D. C., July 28th, 1865. He participated in the major engagements of Second Bull run, Shantilly, Fredricksberg, Vicksburg, Knoxville, the Battle of the Wilderness and Petersburg. During the siege of Petersburg during the summer of 1864, he was severly wounded, recovering however and returning to Petersburgh before the city fell and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was a lifelong member of the Charles Woodruff Post No. 85, G. A. R. at Three Oaks, Michigan.
   "The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, August 24th at the Posey Chapel Church, Rev. Albert Dawe of the Congregational Church of Three Oaks, Michigan, officiating. The Misses Grace Clark and Opal Hutchinson appropriately rendered 'lead Kindly Light' and 'Beautiful Isle of Somewhere'. A military escort composed of William Claypool, Sylvester Copeland, William Shreeve, George L. Stevens and Theron P. Starr, all the surviving members of the Charles Woodruff Post, and Lawrence Schrader, Mellon Kramer, Carroll Grover, Herbert Flick, Homer Hageman and Arie Van Genderen, accompanied the remains. The pall-bearers were neighbors and friends who were raised in the immediate vicinity. Alva Ellenwine, George Klute, Earl W. Mayes, Lyle H. Vosburgh, Benson Williams, and John W. Williams.
  "The remains were laid to rest in the Posey Chapel Cemetery." "Mr. Smith, more familiarly known as "Billy" Smith, will long be be remembered for his interpretive readings at Old Settlers meetings and other social gatherings in this vicinity."
Contributed by: Pamela A. Kotval at pakotval@tds.net

Warner, Almira Weed   "Almira was named daughter and heir in her father's probate record
   (Lewis Weed, probate file 82, final roll 8, LaPorte County Court Clerk, LaPorte, Indiana). Davis gives her name as 'Elmira' with the additional comment 'settled in LaPorte Co. 1836' (Emma Lillian [Perry] Davis [Mrs. Guy E.], 'Descendants of Lewis and Esther Weed,' Michigan City, Indian, published by the author, limited edition, 1973.)" Age at death per the Posey Chapel burial cards is 77 years, 22 days.
Contributed by: Pamela A. Kotval at pakotval@tds.net

Warner, David (son of Aaron and Harriet Gridley Warner)
  From the "Michigan City News" newspaper; February 17, 1892; page 6:
  "DEATH OF DAVID WARNER: Mrs. John Ayers received a card last evening informing her of the death of her uncle, David Warner. He died at his home in Galena township where he has lived for over 40 years. He was about 76 years of age and leaves a wife and three daughters, Mrs. Willam Smith, Mrs. Hiram Bement and Miss Emma, all of Galena township." His age at death according to the Posey Chapel burial cards is 77 years, 8 months, 29 days.
Contributed by: Pamela A. Kotval at pakotval@tds.net

Posey Cemetery burial listing

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