This website is created and copyrighted 2006 by Bev EdwardsCrystal Springs Cemetery
Located on Napier Avenue in Benton Township.
If you would like to submit additional information to the Crystal Springs Cemetery,
please E-mail me with the information. Type in the subject line,
Crystal Springs Cemetery and in the body add the information you are submitting.
Crystal Springs Cemetery – brief history.
This cemetery was found in 1893 and was chosen for for its natural beauty. It was founded by the City of Benton Harbor and purchased from Mr. Rackliffe, who was the father of Mrs. H. S.Whitney.
The original entrance was on Crystal Avenue and for many years there after, funeral processions passed through this entrance to transport their dead to their final resting place. On April 3, 1894, Charles C. Squire was laid to rest near the old entrance with his grave being marked with a simpler red granite stone. This would be considered the first and oldest burial originally buried in Crystal Springs cemetery. In later years, stones with much earlier dates would be found through out the cemetery. But as in many other city cemeteries through out the nation, the same principle applies here. That is to say they were interred having been transferred from other cemeteries that were no longer in use or fell to the side because of progress.
Within the first year of burials, there were twenty-one interments but by the early 1940's there was well over 7,500. Originally there was 30 acres but now has grown to over 110 acres.
In later years the Napier gate office was built and funeral processions enter now through the Napier Avenue entrance. As the cemetery grew, the Catholic Calvary Cemetery and the Jewish cemetery grew up on lands adjoining Crystal Springs. This made it convenient in grouping the city's cemeteries to come under care of the burials. And the old singing bell tower (Tower of Remembrance) is a wonderful landmark that adds to the beauty of this cemetery.
Herman C. Vogt, past Superintendent of the cemetery was one of the leaders responsible for the beauty of Crystal Springs Cemetery. He served there from 1921 to 1953. Born April 6, 1881 and died November 22, 1955. This is an active cemetery with a fully staffed office.
History contributed by: Deanna Branson West – past resident of Berrien County, Michigan.
| Name | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Notes/Comments |
| Bradford, Frederick L. | 1876 | 1953 | so James Bradford and Sarah E. Sloacer <sic> Submitted By Deanna West |
| Bradford, Nellie (Ludlow) | Abt 1876 Shelbyville, IN |
1937 Benton Harbor, MI |
Wife of Frederick L. Bradford Submitted By Deanna West |
| Denslow, Frank Eugene | 1878 | 1949 | Submitted By Denny Denslow |
| Denslow, Floyd Eugene | 18?? | 1932 | Died of cancer Son of Frank E and Mamie R Denslow Submitted By Denny Denslow |
| Denslow, Mamie (Mary Rose) | 1871 | September 1946 | Submitted By Denny Denslow |
| Dowdy, Emley Rachel | 23 May 1889 | 10 March 1954 | Submitted By Sally Kirby |
| Dowdy, Joseph Burt | 11 November 1882 | 28 January 1953 | Submitted By Sally Kirby |
| Dumond, Alice L. | 19 January 1901 Cheboygan, MI |
21 July 1961 White Pigeon, MI |
Submitted By Bev Edwards |
| Dumond, Joseph H. | 24 October 1887 New York, NY |
19 November 1955 Benton Harbor, MI |
Submitted By Bev Edwards |
| Dumond, Joseph H. Jr. | 22 February 1930 Benton Harbor, MI |
21 June 1967 Kalamazoo, MI |
Submitted By Bev Edwards |
| Flener, Dorothy Alice Gilbert (Nee Dumond) |
8 December 1937 Benton Harbor, MI |
25 June 1973 Ann Arbor, MI |
Submitted By Bev Edwards (No Headstone) |
| Gilbert, Alton L. | 17 May 1974 Valrico, Florida |
Kathy Warren | |
Liggett, Ada (Ward) |
15 January 1888 |
7 March 1974 |
Wife of Frank Liggett Submitted By Pat Johnson |
| Liggett, Frank | 3 July 1881 | 10 June 1969 | Son of Henry & Mary Liggett Husband of Mary Ward Submitted By Pat Johnson |
| Ludlow, Cora Belle (Vanarsdall) |
30 MAR 1855 Indiana |
10 DEC 1921 Benton Harbor, MI |
Wife of Talma Ludlow (dau. of John & Catherine (Terhune) Vanarsdall - Shelby Co., IN Submitted By Deanna West |
| Ludlow, Hester Ann (Wills) | OCT 1845 Kentucky |
1939 Benton Harbor, MI |
Wife of Lineus Submitted By Deanna West |
| Ludlow, Jason | 3 Feb 1881 Shelby Co, IN |
19 Apr 1959 Benton Harbor, MI |
Son of Lineus & Hester Submitted By Deanna West |
| Ludlow, Letracy Elizabeth | 1883 | 1967 | Wife of Lineus Submitted By Deanna West |
| Ludlow, Lineus R. | 26 JAN 1844 Marion Twp, Shelby County, IN |
15 JUL 1906 Benton Harbor, MI |
Died of Bright's disease. (Twin to Julius Ludlow who also died in Berrien county but burial local not known). Submitted By Deanna West |
| Ludlow, Talma Sudani | 18 DEC 1847 Marion Twp, Shelby County, IN |
11 JUN 1915 Benton Harbor, MI |
Died of Broken Ribs from a fall. Submitted By Deanna West |
| Ludlow, William C. | JUL 1885 Shelbyville, Shelby, IN |
29 OCT 1907 Benton Harbor, MI. |
Died o f Hemorrage - profession, actor and writer. Son of Lineus & Hester Submitted By Deanna West |
| Spooner, Katherine (Ludlow) | 2 OCT 1882 Shelbyville, Shelby Co |
22 OCT 1918 Benton Harbor, MI |
1st wf of Allen L Spooner dau. of Talma Sudani Ludlow and Cora Belle Vanarsdall Submitted By Deanna West |
| Spooner, Maude (Vaughn) | abt 1878 | 24th Dec 1925 | 2nd wf of Allen L Spooner Submitted By Deanna West |
| Wood, D.M | 1865 | 1926 | Submitted By Denny Denslow |
| Wood, Mabel M. | 1876 | 1964 | Submitted By Denny Denslow |
More Crystal Springs Cemetery Links
Crystal Springs Cemetery - Submitted by Susan Smith
Return To The Main Cemetery List
Return To The Berrien County Home Page
This page was last modified <4 July 2008 >
This website is created and copyrighted 2006 by Bev Edwards