Camfield Family Plot - Noble, Michigan

In Libbie's letter that I shared yesterday, she said that her son, Russell, was buried "on the same lot with Grandfather leaving space between for Grandmother."

In a letter dated 29 Dec 1899, Sarah Ann (Grandmother) describes the headstone that she purchased for Mike (Grandather), "O forgot in my other letter to tell you there that I got anice little monument put up at Fathers Grave before I came away so now when you see it is dark marble with white letters x think of it you can think it is marked with his name in large white letters and the date of his birth and death on it." In a future letter, Libbie will talk of purchasing a similar stone for Russell.

I visited Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Noble, Michigan in April 2008 and the type and arrangement of the stones does not agree with what was written. Here is a view of the Camfield plot in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Noble, MI.

 L-R. Michael Camfield, Sarah Ann Camfield, Elizabeth Warner Camfield Somerlott/Russell Camfield, W. Mabel Camfield, Cecil Camfield.

The space between Mike and Sarah Ann's stones is certainly large enough for another grave and there is certainly a large space between Sarah Ann's marker and Libbie's. So where is Russell buried? At some later time a monument was put up for Libbie and Russell.

 MOTHER

ELIZABETH C WARNER

CAMFIELD SOMERLOT

1879  -  1963

SON

RUSSELL A

CAMFIELD

1910  -  1911

And then there is the mystery of the dark marble headstones. Was the planned headstone actually purchased? Mike and Sarah have matching stone but they certainly do not appear to be marble and the lettering is not white. Were the stones replaced or was Sarah perhaps confused as to the type of stone and perhaps the white lettering  has worn away?

MICHAEL CAMFIELD

1819-1899

SARAH A CAMFIELD

1817-1912

At the far end of the plot are Libbie's son and daughter-in-law.

 W. MABEL

CAMFIELD

1906--1969

CECIL R.

CAMFIELD

APR 27 1912

APR 7 1997

Just in front of the Camfield plot is the Warner plot.