The Niles Cemetery is located in Clinton County's Eagle Township. The cemetery and the road it is located on are named for the Niles family, Clinton County pioneers. I hope that you enjoy reading the interesting history tied to this well maintained cemetery as much as I did tracking it down after placing the cache.
Anthony, the Niles family patriarch, was originally from Genesee County, NY. In June of 1831 at the age of 39, Anthony and his family, along with fellow Clinton County pioneer Stephen Groger, traveled aboard the steamboat Robert Fulton (named for the man credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat) from Buffalo, NY to Detroit.
"It is said Anthony Niles never met his equal with an axe, and few men were found able to stand under a load which Stephen B. Groger could carry."
In 1834, Anthony Niles and his family made their way westward from the east side of Michigan. Upon arriving in Eagle Township's section 23 (the same section the cemetery is located) after some difficulty, goods were transferred and Anthony pitched a large tent. The following morning, when they were to continue on, the Niles family was delayed because one of their cows wandered off. During the search for the cow, Anthony gained an appreciation for the area that eventually led the Niles family to settle here rather than further westward as they had originally planned. Anthony chose the west half of the northeast quarter of section 23 for their land and planted a crop of corn and potatoes, which yielded a light harvest.
For their future cabin, Anthony's son Ezekiel chopped down the first tree reportedly felled in the township on his 19th birthday, March 1, 1834. The cabin was built in the fall of 1834 and was 28 x 30 feet in size. It stood near where they had pitched their tent upon first arriving. This cabin became the site of Eagle's first church service, of which Anthony became deacon, first social dance and its first wedding. The wedding was between William Cryderman and Anthony's daughter Alvira in 1837. That year the cabin also held a meeting that led to the building of the township's first school, which held its first session during 1837-1838. The school's first class including Anthony's daughter, Angeline Niles.
In 1841, Ezekiel Niles married Sarah Cryderman. Ezekiel and Sarah, along with their four children, Albert, Edmund, Francis and George, and other Niles family members are buried in this cemetery. Also buried here is Philo Doty, member of the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1869 to 1872.
The Niles family influence spread all the way to California. Anthony had another son that was named for him. Anthony Jr. and his own family, including his son Jay, eventually moved to California from Clinton County in 1868. Jay became a successful California businessman and founded the Niles Hotel in the city of Alturas.
The cache container is a small lock and lock that has been painted brown. It has a MiGO sticker affixed to it. It is not located near any gravesite. Only small trade items and trackables will fit within this container. Please do not stuff it overly full. Re-hide the cache where it was found using materials to camouflage it.
The SQ and Spirit Quest in the cache name signifies a project to distinguish those caches that are hidden in cemeteries or memorial gardens. Please be respectful of the area in addition to observing any posted rules and posted hours. You are only permitted to visit this cemetery from dawn to dusk unless other hours are posted.
Congratulations to jakeres29 for the FTF!
View from near cache. |