Van Akin Cemetery is now situated inside of Maple Grove Cemetery, on Ann Arbor Trail, between Middlebelt Road and Inkster Road, in Westland.
In 1864, General Lawson Van Akin built a church and small cemetery on the Northwest quarter of Section 1, on land he had purchased in 1846. This was at the time, near the old Village of Perrinsville. (Later known as Nankin) The first known burial here was David Van Akin, in 1851, the son of Sally & General Van Akin, who died at the age of 11 months.
At one time, maple trees lined the road into the cemetery, and it is suggested that this may be a reason for the cemetery name itself to have been changed to Maple Grove. The land between Ann Arbor Trail and the southern boundary of the now Maple Grove Cemetery, was sold in 1940 and re-named Memorial Park Cemetery. A fence divided the two cemeteries. There are approximately 20 gravestones in the Memorial Park section, along with several unmarked grave sites. The last known burial in this section was in 1960.
In 1990, Memorial Park Cemetery was sold, and the separation fence was removed, and all became part of Maple Grove Cemetery. (this is approximately 26 acres total, today)
If you have family buried here and would like them added, please contact us and we will be happy to add them, or make corrections.
Below are the original burials of the Van Akin Cemetery, which can be found inside of Maple Grove Cemetery approximately 400 Feet off Ann Arbor Trail, in the section named "Old Ground."
A Special Thank You to Plymouth Historical Archives, Garry, for contributing this data !

Bacer, Priscilla 1909 - 1994 | Row 7 Grave 1a
Bacer, Walter 1914 - 1984 | Row 7 Grave 1b

Badelt, Albert 1885 - 1950
Badelt, Mable 1890 - *blank*

Baehr, William born June 17, 1840 died December 30, 1912
Baehr, Adelaide C. born February 5, 1840 died *blank*
Baehr, George 1866 - 1947
Baehr, Isabelle 1868 - 1937

Bailey, Wray born December 19, 1823 died January 9, 1907
Bailey, Mary Ellen "wife of Wray" born December 17, 1839 died May 31, 1909
Bailey, Warren "son of Wray & Mary E." born October 25, 1857 died May 20, 1910

Baker, Chas. L. 1882 - 1917 | Lot 39 Row 7
Baker, Sarah "daughter of James & Ann Bridge" born June 25, 1853 died July 16, 1905 | Lot 39 Row 7
Baker, "Infant" died August 27, 1886 "aged 8 dys" | Lot 39 Row 7
Baker, Jacob died January 4, 1887 "aged 3 mths"
Jacob and "Infant" share one stone that states: "Sons of S.J. & Sarah" | Lot 39 Row 7

Bills, Hiram died April 9, 1873 "aged 18 yrs 11 mths 25 dys" | Row 4

Brazelton, Thomas H. "husband & father" born February 25, 1920 died December 3, 1987 | Row 9

Bridge, James born February 14, 1827 died November 17, 1903 | Lot 21 Row 7
Bridge, Ann L. 1835 - 1916 | Lot 21 Row 7
Bridge, Thomas W. "father" 1865 - 1943 | Lot 17 Row 6
Bridge, Mettie M. 1870 - 1924 | Lot 17 Row 6
Bridge, "Infant girls" * no other info * | Lot 17 Row 6

Brown, Elizabeth "wife of Alexander" died January 1, 1865 "aged 23 yrs 1 mth" | Lot 34 Row 3
Brown, Ida O. "mother" born October 13, 1887 died November 2, 1943 | Lot 6 Row 3

Carnotte, Joseph R. "dearest friend" born March 22, 1900 died December 20, 1986 | Row 11

Cooper, William 1st Sgt. Company L 8th Mich. Cav | Lot 20 Row 6
Cooper-Black, Maria buried February 14, 1890 | Lot 20 Row 6
Cooper-Meldrum, Louisa buried February 14, 1890 | Lot 20 Row 6

Crane, "Daughter" 1834 - 1894 (on the Thuer Stone)

Decker, Mrs. L. M. "widow of J.H. Decker" born April 13, 1833 died June 28, 1926 | Lot 12 Row 4

Dobson, Rachel 1842 - 1862 | Row 2
Dobson, Anna 1859 - 1860 | Row 2
Dobson, Emma 1861 - 1862 | Row 2
Dobson, Mary Stubbs 1813 - 1866 | Row 2

Edwards, John S. 1847 - 19 *blank*
Edwards, Etta A. 1859 - 1912

Fox, Thomas C. 1846 - 1909
Fox, Martha 1851 - 1923
Fox, Mae Belle 1880 - 1906
Fox, William T. 1878 - 1918
Fox, Robinson 1906 - 1909
Fox, Nellie Kubik 1886 - 1910
Fox, Innez M. 1910 - 199

Freuchtel, Charles A. PFC US Marine Corps World War II born March 26, 1918 died May 12, 1998 | Lot 34 Row 3
Girard, Chester L. born October 30, 1900 died March 1, 1934

Graham, Thomas 1847 - 1908
Graham, Ann "wife of Thomas" *no dates*

Hodges, Ronald C. "beloved husband & father" born June 18, 1944 died May 27, 1994 *SP5 US Army, Vietnam* | Row 4
Hodges, Ronald David "our beloved son & brother" born November 17, 1967 died December 24, 1988 | Row 4

Hurst, Mickle died August 20, 1879 "aged 50 yrs"

Ignat, Gheorghe born December 16, 1957 died December 20, 1987 "forever in my heart, Tina" | Row 9

Innis, James S. 1835 - 1917
Innis, "Mother" 1847 - 1925
Innis, Josie P. 1880 - 1953
Innis, Isaac N. 1874 - *blank*

Jeans, Sarah J. 1866 - 1930

Jorgensen, Knud 1858 - 1886 | Lot 19 Row 6
Jorgensen, "Father" 1831 - 1915 | Lot 19 Row 6
Jorgensen, "Mother" 1834 - 1916 | Lot 19 Row 6
Jorgensen, Jorgen C. "father" 1860 - 1941 | Lot 18 Row 6
Jorgensen, Eleanor J. "mother" 1856 - 1939 | Lot 18 Row 6
Jorgensen, Barbarba G. "daughter" 1887 - 1898 |Lot 18 Row 6
Jorgensen, Anna M. "daughter" 1894 - 1916 | Lot 18 Row 6

Kagler, Fred born February 6, 1874 died February 24, 1902 | Lot 5 Row 3
Kagler, Cha. born October 15, 1884 died April 23, 1905 | Lot 5 Row 3
Kagler, "mother" 1842 - 1916 | Lot 5 Row 3
Kagler "father" 1842 - 1917 | Lot 5 Row 3

Kordie, Joseph J. "father" 1870 - *blank*
Kordie, Louise E. "mother" 1880 - 1949

Kubick, Frank born March 31, 1839 died October 22, 1910 | Row 10
Kubick, Jennie "wife of Frank" born May 24, 1850 died January 14, 1914 | Row 10
Kubick, Inez M. 1910 - 1911
Kubick, Nellie 1886 - 1910
Kubick, Peter 1874 - 1945
Kubick, Cora Mae 1886 - 19 *blank*
Kubick, John "Infant son of John & Kate Kubick" | Row 10

Langston, John L. "beloved husband" 1888 - 1948 | Lot 38 Grave 5

Long, Chris "father" 1867 - 1929 | Lot 25 Row 8
Long, Eliza J. nee Bridge "mother" 1865 - 1958 | Lot 25 Row 8
Long, Maggie born November 19, 1894 died May 10, 1903 | Lot 25 Row 8

Martin, Royal B. "beloved husband" 1908 - 1930 | Lot 9 Row 4
Martin, Esther "mother" 1885 - 1925 | Lot 9 Row 4
Martin, Ernest 1904 - 1948 | Lot 9 Row 4
Martin-Lauzon "Mother" 1885 - 1925 | Lot 9 Row 4 | This is Esther Martin, from Nankin Twp Cemetery Records

Marysin, Minnie 1876 - 1942

McCombs, Marsha K "dear mother" born November 24, 1954 died March 30, 1991 Row 8

Meldrum, Peter 1808 - 1891 | Lot 35 Row 4
Meldrum, Silvia 1810 - 1888 | Lot 35 Row 4
Meldrum, Almeron "son of P. & S." died September 8, 1854 "aged 17 yrs" | Lot 35 Row 4
Meldrum, Oliver P. "son of P. & S." died November 27, 1871 "aged 19 yrs" | Lot 35 Row 4
Meldrum, Edith B. "wife of Lee J." 1882 - 1916
Meldrum, Leander John 1871 - 1942
Meldrum, Oliver "son of L.J." 1910 - 1936
Meldrum, Adison *stone is broken*

Meyer, Julius 1856 - 1935 | Row 2 Lot 2

Mull, Billy Frank "loving husband & father" born October 6, 1934 died September 23, 1990 "Forever in our hearts" | Row 8

Norton, Joseph L. died January 2, 1863 "aged 20 yrs 8 mths 25 dys" | Row 6

Oliver, died died January 2, 1909 *no given name* Information obtained by Cemetery Records, no stone | Lot owner: William Cooper | Lot 16 Row 5

Padget, Jane "or mother" 1837 - 1898 | Lot 33 Row 3
Padget, Richard "son of J. Padget" died October 11, 1862 "aged 4 yrs" *stone tipped* | Row 2

Parmalee, Bertha C. "wife of W.R." 1882 - 1913

Pettigrew, Dana C. born November 12, 1968 died August 19, 1987 | Row 8 Grave 1a
Pettigrew, James M. born August 14, 1866 - *blank* | Row 8 Grave 1b | Married January 11, 1986

Priebe, Mary M. born October 18, 1945 died September 1, 1984 "understand wife, loving mother, and good friend, we miss you" | Row 8

Proctor, Arnold 1918 - 1921
Proctor, "beloved husband of Elizabeth Proctor" John 1817 - 1897 | Lot 32 Row 3
Proctor, Elizabeth "wife of John Proctor" 1829 - 1905 | Lot 32 Row 3
Proctor, Floyd M. 1904 - 1956

Rials, Millard Warren "beloved husband - father" born October 30, 1933 died February 24, 1998 "born again, eternally with Jesus" | Row 8

Roach, Mrs. "mother of Jennie Roach-Kubik" | Row 10

Robinson, Wm. born April 26, 1852 died March 3, 1903
Robinson, Mary born July 12, 1852 died April 29, 1913
Robinson, William R. born July 12, 1832 died January 6, 1907
Robinson, Sarah H. 1830 - 1918
Robinson, Wesley B. 1860 - 1918
Robinson< Harry P. 1886 - 1949

Schultz, August 1842 - 1929
Schultz, Paulina 1842 - 1919

Shafer, Leroy W. TEC 5 US Army World War II born June 22, 1922 died October 14, 1997 | Row 9

Shaw, Kathleen 1900 - 1928
Shaw, Catherine H. 1862 - 1936
Shaw, Sarah Jean *no other info*
Shaw, "Grandma" *no other info*

Sherman, Willard "father" 1838 - 1921 *Civil War* | Lot 28 Row 8
Sherman, Anne "mother" 1847 - 1919 | Lot 28 Row 8
Sherman, Tressia M. "daughter of Willard A. & Annie" died April 16, 1886 "aged 7 mths 26 dys" | Lot 28 Row 8
Sherman, "Infant Son of Mr & Mrs Lean Sherman" born January 1903 died March 1903 | Lot 28 Row 8

Sherwood, Richard died May 4, 1875 "aged 42 yrs 2 mths 11 dys" | "Farewell till we meet again" | Row 11
Sherwood, Charlotte "wife" died August 30, 1900 "aged 63 yrs 3 mths 6 dys" | "Dearest mother, thou has left us. Here they loss we deeply feel, But tis God that hast bought us. He can all our sorrows heal." | Row 11
Sherwood, John died August 16, 1872 "aged 69 yrs"
Sherwood, Ann R. "wife" died December 12, 1885 "aged 75 yrs"
Sherwood, William died August 29, 1872 "aged 27 yrs 11 mths 27 dys"
Sherwood, William 1855 - 1937
Sherwood, Mary A. 1856 - 1923
Sherwood, Mathew died August 30, 1863 "aged 30 yrs" | Lot 30 Row 2
Sherwood, Elizabeth Bulmon "our beloved mother" 1867 - 1936 | Row 11

Shonibin, John H. TEC US Army World War II born July 13, 1920 died May 28, 1988 | Row 9

Sibins, John 1899 - 1943

Simonds, Ernestine 1887 - 1977 | Lot 1 Row 2
Simonds, Fred H. 1891 - 1963 *Masonic Emblem* | Lot 1 Row 2

Smith, Ida C. born January 29, 1880 died October 26, 1944

Starkey, E.A. 1875 - 1943
Starkey, Laura E. 1875 - *blank*

Steckle, Geo. E. born February 29, 1881 died September 6, 1881

Stewart, William died August 8, 1884 "aged 69 yrs" | Lot 31 Row 2
Stewart, Phebe "wife of Wm." died April 14, 1892 "aged 80 yrs" "You miss me when I am gone, but while I sleep within the grave Angels round my bed, you think of one you loved . You miss me when I am dead." | Lot 31 Row 2
Stewart, Charles died May 10, 1861 "aged 21 yrs" | Lot 31 Row 2

Stubbs, Mary 1813 - 1866

Tait, James born May 25, 1830 died August 25, 1916 | Lot 10 Grave 1a
Tait, Alma "wife of James" born November 27, 1854 died 1926 | Lot 10 Grave 1b
Tait, William J. "son of Jas. & Alma S." died August 20, 1883 "aged 5 yrs 3 mths" | Lot 10 Grave 4
Tait, Mary E. born January 29, 1886 died June 7, 1903 | Lot 10 Grave 2
Tait, Arthur J. 1882 - 19 *Blank*
Tait, Elizabeth 1890 - 1930
Tait, Margery E. 1915 - 1919
Tait, Roy W. "father" 1884 - 1940 | Lot 11 Grave 1
Tait, Annie "mother" 1868 - 1943 | Lot 11 Grave 2
Tait, Ruth M. "wife & mother" 1923 - 1979 | Lot 11 Grave 3

Tate, Betsey A. "wife of J." died April 29, 1874 "aged 26 yrs"

Teed, Lawrence E. born October 25, 1908 died June 23, 1988 *US Army World War II* | Row 7

Thuer, "Mother" 1800 - 1890
Thuer, Frederick 1834 - 1916

Valentine, Bruce died October 26, 1997 "aged 37" | Row 9

Van Akin, Lawson 1828 - 1869 | Lot 38 Row 5
Van Akin, Helen 1829 - *blank* | Lot 38 Row 5
Van Akin, David A. "son of Gen. L.A. & Sally" died August 28, 1851 "aged 11 mths" | Lot 38 Row 5
Van Akin, Adison "son of Gen. L.A. & Sally born September 4, 1832 died December 24, 1863 | Lot 38 Row 5
Van Akin, Mariette "daughter of Gen. L.A. & S.A." died December 28, 1863 "aged 27 yrs 2 mths 24 dys" | Row 9

Van Sickle, David born April 23, 1893 died October 26, 1955 "Pvt Batry F. 117 F.A. World War I

West, Kevin Lawrence "beloved son" born February 15, 1985 died August 3, 1986 "To know him was to love him." | Row 5

Wiens, Doris 1926 - 1928
Wiens, Leona 1918 - 1929

Williams, "Grandma" 1820 - 1912
Williams, Revilla 1887 - 1943
Williams, Chester M. 1911 - 1954

Wilson, Oscar 1839 - 1917

Winchester, John M. "beloved husband & father" 1871 - 1944 | Row 9
Winchester, Mary B. "beloved wife & Mother" 1875 - 1944 | Row 9

Witt, Myrtle B. 1887 - 1955

Wolfram, Jennie 1902 - 1924
Wolfram, William 1871 - 1951
Wolfram, Lauzon "mother" 1885 - 1925
Wolfram, Elizabeth 1873 - 1941
Wolfram, William Jr. 1914 - 1948

Wurts, Janson 1818 - 1903
Wurts, Catherine 1839 - 1921