Cass County MI Archives Photo Place.....Mt. Zion Cemetery, Calvin Twp., Cass Co. MI April 21, 2006
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marshall H. Sanders, Jr. sanmarjr@sbcglobal.net May 13, 2006, 6:16 pm

Source:             Marshall H. Sanders, Jr    3/3
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/cass/photos/mtzionce636nph.jpg
Image file size: 394.3 Kb

Mt. Zion Cemetery is located in rural Cass County, Calvin Township at the 
intersection of Mt. Zion and Kessington Rds.

Lat: N41 50.499
Lon: W85 53.850

The cemetery has no physical sign to mark its presence or the entrance.  
However, the cemetery is well maintained by Calvin Township. The condition of 
the markers range from very good to broken and illegible.  A number of markers 
are missing and several markers were found face down and buried at the edge of 
the woods.  The surrounding woodland and other vegetation has engulfed a 
number of markers.

The Mt. Zion Cemetery is adjacent to the Mt. Zion AME Church.  The original 
Mt. Zion AME Church was built in 1849.  The structure was made of logs and 
measured 12' x 16'.  In 1854 a larger building was constructed which measured 
30' x 40'.  

The two churches were built by a group of African American pioneers, many of 
whom migrated from Northampton, Co. NC, to Logan Co., OH and finally to Cass 
Co., MI and settled in Porter Township and Calvin Township. 

The early trustees of the church were Richard Woods, Benjamin Hawley, Lemuel 
Archer, Lawson Howell, William Scott and Joseph Allen.

The charter members of Mt. Zion included Joseph and Rebecca Allen, William and 
Winnie Anderson Allen, Fannie Allen, Bennett Allen, John H. Anderson and 
Rachel Allen.

In 1882, the congregation numbered 200 and the church property including a 
parsonage in Calvin Center, MI was valued at $3000.

Mt. Zion Church now lies vacant, abandoned and surrounded by numerous tall 
trees.  



Additional Comments:
Source: Allen History Manuscript by Rosanna nee Allen Wilson, and Maurice W. 
Sanders author of Descendants of Allen-Sanders, 1985.
Sanders Transcription Team
Transcribers: Rose C. Thompson, Maurice W. Sanders, Sharon A. Simeon and 
Marshall H. Sanders, Jr. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/cass/photos/mtzionce636nph.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 2.6 Kb