Pleasanton Cemetery Fund
Designated
The Pleasanton Township Cemetery Fund provides support to preserve and enhance this historic resting place and its grounds. The Fund was established by Gene and John W. Martin who reside in Frankenmuth.
The Pleasanton Township Cemetery is a place rich in history, with each marker holding the life story of the person resting below. Like so many other cemeteries throughout the county, Pleasanton Township Cemetery has markers for several exceptional people.
It began long ago with the settlement of Pleasanton Township. Rev. George B. Pierse filed the first homestead claim on September 17, 1863. His claim of 160 acres would later become sites for the M.E. Church, Grange Hall, and the Pleasanton Township Cemetery.
Some of those laid to rest in Pleasanton Township Cemetery include Civil War Veterans who were landholders in Pleasanton Township at the time of the 1870 Federal Census. In 1965, the Daughters of the American Revolution initiated a project to register all Civil War graves in Michigan. Unfortunately, Manistee County lacked volunteers and did not participate. In 1985, Mr. & Mrs. Herman Stevier of Muskegon and Gene and John W. Martin visited the 26 cemeteries in Manistee County to register the graves having State markers or other monuments of Civil War Veterans. Thanks to their hard work, we can recognize those who fought so courageously.
Other notable people laid to rest include members of the Humphrey Family, a pioneer family in the community. Four of the five children of Helena & Ellsworth Humphrey are buried together at the Pleasanton Township Cemetery. This remarkable family included; Mary, a teacher of 44 years; William, a State of Michigan forest fire Officer of 30 years; Rufus, a doctor and professor of biology and zoology at universities such as Cornell and Indiana University; and Tryphena who earned her M.D. at the University of Michigan and is internationally known for her research on the comparative anatomy of the nervous system and co-authored a textbook on the subject. She received many honors for her work. Although this family accomplished much, their markers are very modest.
This Fund ensures that this final resting place is preserved and enhanced for years to come.
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