---
title: The Covenanter Church of Southfield and Its Early History
canonical: "https://southfieldreformed.com/who-we-are/our-history/thompson/"
description: "Mary E. Thompson’s 1915 account of the founding and early history of Southfield Reformed Presbyterian Church, published in the Birmingham Eccentric."
---

Related by Miss Mary E. Thompson. Copied from the Birmingham Eccentric of Birmingham,
Michigan, published February 1915. (This 1915 newspaper article is in the public
domain.)

### The Covenanter Church of Southfield, Michigan

About equidistant from the two avenues, Woodward and Grand River, running northwest from
Detroit, almost at the intersection of the Eleven Mile and Evergreen roads, standing
beyond the brow of a hill with level farms stretching away beyond, is a large,
unadorned, white church with green shutters and two giant spruce tree spires. To the
north of the church is the little old fashioned graveyard. God's half acre. To many this
historic church and grounds brings to mind pioneer life, childhood, parents and friends
gone before, tender ties of affection, hopes and aspirations of the past, formation of
moral habits, salvation, etc. No one who has ever lingered about the spot in the days of
his youth will ever quite forget it. It is the Reformed Presbyterian Church of
Southfield, or Covenanter church as it is commonly called, because it embraces in its
teaching the principles of the second reformation or covenant of Scotland. It is derived
from and is a true representative of the Church of Scotland in her purest days. The
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Southfield township is one of two original churches in
America, and first of its kind in the State. The Covenanter church has been called the
strictest and one of the most historic in America.

It is not the present purpose to state its distinctive principles, of which it has many,
suffice it to say that the form of worship is kept as simple and direct as possible, and
the supremacy of God and Christ, the King, is acknowledged supreme both in heaven and
earth. The church has had a powerful influence in the development of Southfield and the
adjoining towns. It has been sort of a parent church, and many are the people, now
widely scattered, who "said their psalms" and "answered their questions" in the old
Covenanter Sabbath school. Those of us who did are proud of the fact and often feel like
saying:

The fond, vivid, recollections of the good old people gone before must ever be the most
precious and lasting pictures on memory's Wall.

### History of the Church

Before Michigan was a state, before the time of regular roads, before the virgin forest
had felt the bite of the woodman's axe, before the name of Birmingham was heard and the
place itself little more than two or three road houses on the crest of the hill went by
the name of Hamilton's or Willer's, before all these, in the fall of 1831, David
Stewart, a man past sixty-five years of age and a Covenanter, came to Michigan from
White Lake, Orange County, N.Y. and settled on land now opposite Caleb Jackson's in
Southfield, a few miles southwest of Birmingham.

Soon after his arrival, he found that one of his neighbors, Wm. Connery, living on and
clearing the land of James Beattie, later known as the Neil farm, was of Covenanter
origin, David Stewart also took up a farm opposite to and surrounding the present
Covenanter church for his son-in-law, John Parks, who came from New York City with his
family and that of David Stewart in May 1832. Through the influence of David Stewart
other Covenanters and relatives from Orange county, N.Y. and the East settled round
about, notably the McClellands, Browns, McKinneys, Lowes, McClungs, Harmons, also some
"New Lights" as the Erwins, etc. As the new settlers came in they were made welcome not
only in the houses of David Stewart and John Parks, but in the next oldest settlers'
houses as well. The government land was $1.25 per acre for your pick, some people
choosing "the openings," where no heavy timber had to be cleared off, in preference to
the heavily timbered land farther north. The swamps around Detroit were passed over as
being undesirable and left to French settlement mostly. Detroit itself was only a little
larger than Birmingham at the present time.

In 1834 there were a sufficient number of Covenanters in Southfield to organize a
church. Previous to this, the people had been gathered together in prayer of "Society"
by David Stewart. In fact for nine years after this the "Society" was the binding
influence, as no minister was ordained until 1843. On a yellow slip of paper in one of
David Stewart's books, published in 1790, and in his own hand is written this "Society"
topic, James 4:14. For what is your life? How ought we to improve life so as to be ready
for death? As the writer sat the other day in the very room in David Stewart's house in
which this topic was discussed some eighty years ago, it was easy to imagine the whole
scene. The rugged pioneers in the early style of dress, the earnest reading of Scripture
by Mary B. Stewart, or "Aunt Mary" chosen because as her father said, "You have a brave,
coarse voice," the singing of a psalm led by Matthew Ervin, a senior of all, the fervent
prayer, and then the pleasant exchange of goodbyes for another week.

### A Sermon of 1836

Some Covenanters lived at "The Flint," Wm. Marshall, Woodburns, and others, and some in
West Bloomfield, Samuel Blackwood, etc. During the summer months when a supply minister
rode the circuit from Ohio to "The Flint," and landed at David Stewart's Saturday, David
Stewart would shoulder his gun and follow the trail to John Parks' to tell them that the
minister had come and there would be preaching in his barn on Sabbath. Then back he
would go to tell his neighbors, all of them, for church was a social center indeed. John
Parks would in turn walk down to the openings to invite the people there. The people
came from far and near behind their ox teams and over stumpy trails to hear a real
sermon and greet their friends. At other times the meetings would be held in the Mason
James barn (the W. L. Rundell farm at the present time), the Anthony McClung barn or in
a vacant log house of John Parks just north of the present church. Through the eyes of
one who was present we see again the old barn meetings, see the ladies decked in city
finery seated on rough slab benches set on the barn floor, see the boys and men dressed
in homespun reclining on the hay mow; see the minister, John Wallace, behind Aunt Mary's
candle stand, upon which this is written, and hear him deliver a rousing Covenanter
sermon on July 11, 1836 from Psalm 119:106 (noted in a David Stewart book). We see John
McClelland slowly rise in front to "line the psalm," hear the many voices fill the barn
loft, feel the solemn hush fall over all as the benediction is pronounced. When the last
words are said we watch the unselfish, saintly crowd file out and homeward go
strengthened to face the hard toil of another week. But we must leave them, no matter
how much we may love to linger over the memories of the old folks of early Michigan
days.

### Covenanter Ministers

Some time after 1834, John Parks gave one acre of land for a church site. A small church
was erected amid the stumps and woody background but it is hardly likely that the donor
ever entered it as his death occurred in January 1838.

For nine years after a church was organized in 1834, the congregation was without a
pastor. In 1843, Rev. Jas. Neil was installed and preached in the little church
until 1851. The next minister was Rev. J. S. T. Milligan whose ministering added so
greatly to the membership that a new church was built on the old site about 1862. The
little old church was moved to the Neil east eighty where it stood many a day. Rev. Mr.
Milligan, in 1871, went to Dennison, Kansas and started a church, many from Southfield
going with him. He was succeeded by Rev. Jas. R. Hill who remained four years. Following
this, Rev. Joseph McCracken was pastor from 1878 to 1903. Rev. H. G. Patterson succeeded
and remained some five years. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Robb, who resides in
Birmingham.

### The Covenanter Churchyard

When John Parks, donor of the church site, died suddenly January 24, 1838, aged 36 years
24 days, he was buried in the cemetery at the Presbyterian church of Southfield, as
there was none at the Reformed Presbyterian church at that time. His family years later
had too much respect for the husband and father to attempt removal consequently by his
side are laid his wife, Margaret Stewart Parks, 1800- August 20, 1880, and his
daughters, Mary Ruth Parks, 1935- September 11, 1872, and Sarah Jane Parks, aged 34
years, 11 months. A short time after his death, his wife added another half acre just
north of the church site for a cemetery. Twenty-one years later, Sarah Jane Parks, the
youngest daughter, gave the whole amount out of her portion of her father's estate.
After her death, the property not being deeded, went to Margaret Parks, the mother,
whose death in 1880 left the oldest daughter, Margaret Ann Parks Thompson, to give the
acre and a half site out of her share. Some dozen or more years ago the Reformed
Presbyterian church asked for a deed and it was gladly given.

### The Past

The first cemetery plat was inclined to be wet, as the surrounding ground was level and
the soil mostly clay. Many Covenanter families had started lots in the older cemeteries
where the soil was sandy. David Stewart, father of the Covenanter church of Michigan,
loved his church too well to wish to be buried in any other place than beside it,
consequently when he died February 24, 1852 his body was sorrowfully laid away in the
rough stumpy ground. A little later a large, strong iron fence was placed around his lot
which still stands as good as ever. Years ago the church tiled the cemetery – Wm. Young
also laid a private drain – so that now the ground is as dry as that of any other and
the top soil much adapted to the growth of plants.

The church people of olden times took pride in caring for the cemetery for they were
interested in the people buried there and had known them every one. Many a Sabbath
morning has the writer, when a child, walked hand in hand with the best of mothers
through the old churchyard with its bright flowers flaunting their perfume and bloom to
the breeze, with its quaint tombstones and grassy mounds; many a time peeped through the
old fashioned lot fences and listened to the life stories, the heroisms of those
sleeping below. The flowers, the stories, the friendly morning greetings of others,
these all made the place seem God's Album in which each sleeper had written his best
thoughts and laid down to pleasant dreams.

### The Present

But times have changed. The old people are gone. Many of the present church members have
no interest in the little cemetery. The very few who have can't be expected to care for
all the churchyard. Some of the thoughtful ones have wanted something done for the
cemetery in the way of improvements, better care and permanency, for years back. It is a
historic spot the most fitting burial place for those buried there. The churchyard
cemetery is an old, old idea found in all old cemeteries and early settled parts of the
United States. Removal of the dead buried years ago in the old way is a farce. The
better and more Christian-like way is to help make the little old cemeteries permanent,
better cared for and beautiful. The famous men and women of history are nearly all
buried in them. The First Lady of the Land of our own country was recently laid away in
a little town cemetery in Georgia beside her mother and within sight of her childhood
home.

Last October a few interested persons presented the matter to the church organization,
and as a result the presiding officer appointed a committee of two, Edward McKinney and
Mary E. Thompson, to discover some plan of bettering conditions. After due consideration
of circumstances and conditions existing and investigations of the laws, the committee
reported to an official meeting of the Reformed Presbyterian church that township
ownership seemed to be the best solution. It was voted to retain the acting committee
and power given to the chairman to appoint three more. These three are Milligan Henning,
James Cannon, Jr. and Renwick McKinney. The committee was empowered to deal with the
township board in the way of finding out the requirements and putting the cemetery into
such shape as to meet these requirements, also given power to raise a trust fund for the
care and up-keep of the cemetery if the cemetery would be accepted by the town under no
other condition.

Three members of the committee went before the township board meet[ing] of Southfield
and presented the matter of having the cemetery taken over by the town. The clerk of the
board stated the following [_______] and requirements;

A few families worked faithfully last fall to grade the ground, drawing in much dirt to
fill in the ugly ditch that has yawned for years between the cemetery and the church.
The markers have nearly all been reset an[d] all the old tough, sour, weedy sod, with
all its roots and sprouts, have been removed. In the spring a little working up of the
soil and seeding have to be done. The level landscape effect will allow of lawn mowing,
and artistic shrubs will be set. Then a good fence will be put up so that the town will
be at no expense for many years to come.

The last requirement is the one that the committee is working on now. At a committee
meeting recently it was decided to raise the fund by subscription, each member being
assigned certain lots upon which they wish to raise as much as possible, the whole lump
sum going for the care of the entire cemetery which consists of one-half acre. If a
sufficient sum can be raised we have a right to expect as good care of the lots as would
be taken in the other township cemeteries, providing an extra fee were given each year
and as good as would be given in any corporation cemetery. A township owned, endowed
cemetery seems to me to embody all the safety of a town and the care of a corporation
cemetery. Some lots have no one to provide for them. Our fathers and mothers and others
did their very best to us and for the township and state. Will we do less for them? When
our loved ones are gone we can do no more for them except care for their resting places.
Perhaps the angels in heaven and the spirits of the dead know when we smooth the mother
earth over the graves or perchance drop a tear or flower in remembrance and are
rejoiced. At least the fact remains that such acts influence the living and make the
presence of those gone before seem nearer. Someone has said that a stranger can judge
the moral standards of a community by looking at the cemeteries.

If anyone is interested in or has been interested in the Covenanter church or cemetery
and wishes to contribute, the members of this committee will be only too glad to accept
what you have left after paying your taxes and feeding the Belgians; in fact will give
you some little time in which to accumulate more. The trust fund will be left so that
later bequests may be added thereto. The interest only will be used. The rate will be
four per cent most likely. It takes $1.00 to care for a lot alone. Besides a fence is
needed.

The ground has been platted and each lot will have numbered corner posts of cement sunk
to grass level. This plat will be kept in the office of the township clerk together with
the names of the lot holders. If anyone wishes to secure a lot or put up a memorial for
a Covenanter father or mother in what is to be the finest little cemetery in the town,
kindly make your wishes known to some member of the committee.

The following is the Michigan law providing for the care of the trust fund; PUBLIC ACT
OF MICHIGAN – SESSION OF 1909 (No. 95). Approved May 18, 1909. Did not copy.

STEWART, DAVID, died February 24, 1852, age 84, Ann, wife of David Stewart , died
November 24, 1865 aged 106 years, 4 months. John Porter, son of David Stewart, died
December 19, 1880, aged 82 years. Mary B., daughter of David Stewart, died June 11,
1887, aged 90 years. Mary, daughter of Andrew and Betsy Taylor and grand-daughter of
David Stewart, died September 28, 1853, aged 20 years. Margaret, daughter of Andrew and
Betsy Taylor and granddaughter of David Stewart, died October 5, 1863 aged 17.

HEMPHILL, THOMAS. Nancy, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hemphill, born November 18, 1845,
died March 23, 1854. Aged 13 years.

McCURDY, ANDREW. Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth McCurdy, died May 12,
1859, aged 13 years.

GREER, SAMUEL, Agnes J., wife of Samuel Greer, died August 13, 1860, aged 20 years, 5
months, 5 days.

GREER, Wm. J. Elizabeth, wife of Wm. J. Greer, died July 12, 1873, aged 50 years.

MARSHALL, ALEXANDER, died October 8, 1860, aged 45 years. Mrs. Alexander Marshall,
buried just north of husband.

CAMERON, SAMUEL, Agnes, wife of Samuel Cameron, died March 20 1861, aged 43 years.

BELL, SAM'L, Born November 13, 1819, died February 24, 1904. Mary, wife of Samuel Bell
and daughter of Wm. And Isabella Marshall, died September 7, 1861, aged 25 years.

TORRENS, JOSEPH, died February 20, 1864, aged 36 years. Elizabeth, wife of Joseph
Torrens, died June 6, 1878, aged 36 years. Annie, daughter of James McKinney, died May
6, 1869, aged 16 years.

EDGAR, JOSEPH. Joseph, son of Joseph and Agnes Edgar, died September 20, 1865, aged 6
years.

McDONALD, Wm. William Wallace, son of Wm. McDonald, born March 26, 1854, died March
23, 1866.

MORROW, JAMES. Jr. Achibald, son of James Morrow, was born December 12, 1867, died March
11, 1868. On the same lot are buried Robert John, son of Robert, son of Robert Douglas,
born January 31, 1875, died March 15, 1879; Another son, Samuel, A. was born March 16,
1880, died July 27, 1880.

NEIL, ALEXANDER. Young child.

YOUNG, HUGH. "Our Willie." No date now.

McLAUGHLIN, ROBERT. Born July 10, 1801, died February 28, 1881. Ruth, wife of Robert
McLaughlin, born June 20, 1809, died July 2, 1885. James McLaughlin, son of Robert
McLaughlin, died July 18, 1869, aged 41 years. Jane, wife of James McLaughlin, died
November 16, 1866, aged 41 years. James Jr., son of James McLaughlin, died Sept. 18,
1872, aged 18 years.

STEWART, JOHN LUTHER, son of John Stewart, born February 22, 1848, and died September
30, 1868. Ella, born Aug. 6, 1857, died Aug. 20, 1884. Lot east of the McCurdy's.

MARSHALL, Wm. died in Southfield January 17 1872, aged 70 years. Isabella, wife of Wm.
Marshall, born 1802, died about 1881. Buried to north of her husband.

HANNA, DAVID. Agnes M., daughter, died February 22, 1881, aged 1 year. James A. died
August 17, 1872, aged 5 months. Also infant sister. Robbie and Freddie, twins, died
March 14, 1882, aged 3 months, December 14, 1881, aged 15 days.

CONNERY, WILLIAM. Margaret, wife of Wm. Connery, died March 6, 1872.

DERMOND, GEO. C. born in Vermont, June 27, 1810, died June 29, 1873.

McKINNEY, JAS., born August 1, 1806, died April 13, 1891. Martha, wife of Jas. McKinney,
born May 18, 1808, died February 4, 1879.

HENNING, Wm., born January 24, 1828, died February 24, 1904. Eliza, wife of Wm. Henning,
born August 16, 1817, died August 2, 1883. Anna M. wife of John Wallace and daughter of
Wm. and Eliza Henning, born August 11, 1851, died August 1, 1882.

THOMPSON, Wm. JAMES, born April 24, 1823, died February 24, 1886. Margaret Ann, wife of
Wm. James Thompson and daughter of John and Margaret Parks, born, July 4, 1828, died
March 13, 1914.

McCOY, FRED, born July 22, 1889, died October 30, 1889.

YOUNG, Wm. S., was born April 14, 1837, died September 1898. Ann J., wife of Wm. J.
Young and daughter of Dr. Jas. Rodgers, born April 26, 1840, died April 4, 1891.

McDONALD, CLARENCE, Day old son.

McKINNEY, JAS. A., born May 17 1837, died April 20, 1893. James Roy, eldest child of S.
Edward McKinney, born April 24, 1901, died June 18, 1902.

CANNON, A.M. Alexander Woodburn Cannon, son of A.M. Cannon, born July 24, 1874, died
June 23, 1895.

GROW, Mary Ellen, born May 1, 1866, died August 3, 1899.

### Interments

The following is a chronological record of the lots and a complete list of interments,
including a few sketches of the early pioneers.

STEWART, DAVID. Born at Ballylane, Ireland, 1768; died at Southfield, Mich. February
24, 1852. aged 84. In Ireland he married Ann, daughter of John and Margaret Porter. He
came to White Lake, Orange County, N. Y. in 1800, settling near the farm of John Porter,
who had come to America some years before. For 31 years David Stewart tilled the
somewhat barren, stony soil of Orange county and raised his family of seven children,
Mary B., John Porter, Margaret (Mrs. John Parks), David, Jr., Betsy (Mrs. Andrew Taylor)
and Ruth (Mrs. A. Bell).

In the fall of 1831, when the tide of immigration was moving toward the Michigan
territory, David Stewart resolved to go to the new country. His friends said, "You are
too old a man." Despite his almost sixty-five years, he came and picked out a farm for
himself, now opposite Caleb Jackson's in Southfield, together with other holdings. He
also chose a farm for his son-in-law, John Parks, farther south. In the spring, Mr. and
Mrs. John Parks, their almost four year old daughter Margaret Ann, Mrs. David Stewart,
and Miss Mary Robb (Mrs. Cornelius Brooks), niece of David Stewart, came from New York
City and Orange County.

David Stewart, always a devoted Covenanter and a man of clear insight and business tact,
gathered the early settlers together in religious meetings held in log barns and houses.
In 1834 the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Southfield was organized with David Stewart
as one of the elders. (In the churchyard lies buried five of the persons who were
present: David and Ann Stewart, Mary B. Stewart, Mrs. William Connery and Margaret Ann
Parks Thompson.) After some hard struggles a small church was erected on the acre of
land donated by John Parks. It contained no seats for some length of time. David
Stewart, an old man over seventy, had to walk from home to home in the woods with a
subscription begging for money to seat the church. In a recent conversation with Mrs.
Rachel McClelland, she told the writer what David Stewart said to the head of the family
in her hearing when the opportunity to help was not eagerly seized upon. The tall spare
man with snow white hair meaningfully and regretfully waved his hand toward the walls of
the room in which he was seated and said; "People who live in their fine, comfortable
ceiled houses will let the house of the Lord go without seats." Has the species died
out? Indifference to public good must have pained the heart of the old man many times.
He contributed often beyond his means and endured endless personal sacrifices.

It is said that his Irish homespun wedding coat of 1795, with its brass buttons, long
swallow tails and high Revolutionary style of collar, was worn for over fifty years as a
"church coat" in order that he might provide for others and the public good. His
sacrifices were not in vain, for he lived to see the church grow and flourish. He was
not only interested in religion, but education as well, and donated a site for a
schoolhouse on the southeast corner of his farm. Here stood the low plank schoolhouse
for many years. If anyone said a disparaging word concerning Michigan in those early
days, David Stewart's reply always was, "Give it time."

February 24, 1852, David Stewart fell asleep to dream of his beautiful Michigan to be,
and to realize his highest ideals in the heavenly country beyond. Beside the church
amidst the stumps and trees they buried him, the first grave there. At his head a big
broad slab they set, around his body a heavy iron fence was placed. On the slab deeply
chiseled are these significant quotations:

Sixty years have flown. The Michigan wilderness has blossomed into a beautiful country –
the prophesy of David Stewart come true. Sleep on, oh grand old man of invincible
courage, of high ideals, of fertile mind, of kindly heart and gentle! Well have you
taught your lesson to the earth children plodding below.

Ann, daughter of John and Margaret Porter, was born in 1758 at Ballylane, Ireland, and
died November 24, 1865, aged 106 years, 4 months. Her parents died in Orange County,
N.Y., John Porter, November 1826, and Margaret Porter, December, 1829. After their
deaths she came to Michigan with the family of John Parks in 1832 to join her husband,
David Stewart. To Ann Stewart, David Stewart owed much of his success in life. She not
only brought up her own large family of seven, but raised her husband's niece and a
granddaughter as well. Many a logging frock she supplied to the visiting ministers,
stopping over from one week to another, when they could not be restrained from helping
to log. After a very long life she died and is buried just south of David Stewart.

John Porter Stewart, son of David and Ann Stewart, was born at Ballylane, Ireland, 1799,
and came to Orange County, New York, with his parents in 1800. He did not come to
Southfield, Mich. from New York City until some years after his father. He was a
bachelor and from the time of his arrival always lived at home and worked his father's
farm, buying one of his own immediately west on the northeast corner of the Twelve Mile
and Evergreen Road. After his father's death in 1852, he worked hard to keep up a home
for his aged mother. From her death in 1865 until his death December 10, 1880, with the
exception of a few weeks, he lived alone in the old home and endured many privations,
being an old man of eighty-two at the time of his death.

John P. Stewart, or "Uncle John" as he was known by all, was a man of quiet,
intellectual tastes and a natural born collector of books. Some of his books, as well as
those of his father's and mother's, go back before the time of the American Revolution.
The Stewart Collection, together with the early Baptist library, kept at the home of the
late George Jackson just over the way, was a reading center for the town in early days.

### "AUNT MARY"

Mary B. Stewart, eldest daughter of David and Ann Stewart, died June 11, 1887, aged 90
years. She was born in Ballylane, Ireland, 1796, and came to America in 1800. She grew
up to be her father's right hand man and remained with her parents until the end. In
1833, she came to Southfield, a year later than the rest of the family as she wished to
remain to settle up her business as a weaver. During all her long life in Michigan she
wove cloth, blankets, carpets, etc. and a master weaver she was. John Bodine, late
tailor of Birmingham, said that he never put scissors in finer cloth than what she wove
and her niece, Margaret Ann Parks-Thompson spun. "Aunt Mary" as everyone called her,
could chop down a tree as well as any man of those times; in fact, could plow and help
her father in every way.

On long winter evenings she loved to go "paring bees" or visit the homes of her
relatives. With her pipe in her mouth she would sit by the firelight's glow and fashion,
with the chips from the morning firewood, a little basket for her niece or whittle out
from a stick a quaint little flour scoop, perhaps. How the children liked her and
watched for her coming.

Thirty years ago the writer, when nearing the Covenanter Church on Sabbath morn, always
looked for the "skeleton" and old white horse at the end of the shed. It was always
there and the owner, Aunt Mary, was ever in her place at the eastern window in the end
of the front amen seat next to the pulpit. As a little child I thought she constituted
as permanent a part of the church as the pulpit itself. There she sat during all the
scripture measure service – a morning sermon, lunch time, Sabbath School, afternoon
sermon, 11:00 AM to 2:30 or 3:00 PM – in her dress of black, shawl and hood of same,
fine boots and heavy cane, over each eye a little ball of hair, and a face with ninety
years of care. But one day the old white horse didn't come through the flats and up over
the brow of the hill, turn into the churchyard and stop at the post at the end of the
shed. No Aunt Mary looked out of the eastern window through the old iron fence at the
resting places of her father, mother, and brother. She had joined them and taken her
heavenly seat at the eastern window of heaven where she joyously welcomes her nieces and
nephews today.

Aunt Mary was nature's noblewoman and belonged to the royal house of Stewart (David).
She was one of the bravest, cleverest, best big-hearted woman that ever lived. She gave
away more than enough to care for a half dozen little cemeteries. Perhaps some
despicable small souls took advantage of her trustfulness and generosity at times, but
Aunt Mary will be remembered long after such specimens of mankind and their memories
have faded from the earth. The average age of the four Stewarts was ninety years, six
months. They all worked hard; were temperate in all things, read by candle light (only
two wore glasses), and never went South.

Did not copy poem "Old Aunt Mary" by James Whitcomb Riley. (M.E.T.) [Added by James
Faris, 2009]

OLD AUNT MARY'S

Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine, In those old days of the lost sunshine Of youth–when
the Saturday's chores were through, And the "Sunday's wood" in the kitchen, too, And we
went visiting, "me and you," Out to Old Aunt Mary's?

It all comes back so clear to-day! Though I am as bald as you are gray– Out by the
barn-lot, and down the lane, We patter along in the dust again, As light as the tips of
the drops of the rain, Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

We cross the pasture, and through the wood Where the old gray snag of the poplar stood,
Where the hammering "red-heads" hopped awry, And the buzzard "raised" in the "clearing"
sky And lolled and circled, as we went by Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And then in the dust of the road again; And the teams we met, and the countrymen; And
the long highway, with sunshine spread As thick as butter on country bread, Our cares
behind, and our hearts ahead Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Why, I see her now in the open door, Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o'er
The clapboard roof!–And her face–ah, me! Wasn't it good for a boy to see– And wasn't it
good for a boy to be Out to Old Aunt Mary's?

And O my brother, so far away, This is to tell you she waits to-day To welcome us:–Aunt
Mary fell Asleep this morning, whispering, "Tell The boys to come!" And all is well Out
to Old Aunt Mary's.

On the south end of the David Stewart lot are buried his two fine young granddaughters,
daughters of Andrew and Betsy Taylor. Mary Taylor died September 28, 1863, aged 20
years. Margaret died October 5, 1863, aged 17.

HEMPHILL, THOMAS. Nancy, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hemphill, was born November 18,
1845, and died March 23, 1854. A brother John still survives. This little girl's grave
was the second in the cemetery.

McCURDY, ANDREW. Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth McCurdy, died May 12,
1859, aged 13 years. As far as is known this is the third interment. Her fond parents
planted many flowers upon this grave of their daughter, flowers from about their home in
Southfieldburg where they kept their store. Some time later Mr. McCurdy sold out his
business and both returned to their old home in Ireland. Each season since these
guardian flowers have grown and blossomed and shed their perfume on the summer breeze,
reminding the passerby of immortality and finer things.

GREER, SAMUEL, Agnes J., wife of Samuel Greer, died August 13, 1860, aged 20 years, 5
months and 5 days. Agnes J. was a daughter of George and Mary Slater of Bloomfield
township. She was married in 1857 and left behind one child, the late Mrs. Jennie
Williams. Mrs. Greer was a sister of Thomas Slater, a former Southfield Covenanter now
residing in Ludington, Michigan.

GREER, Wm. J., Elizabeth, second wife of Wm. J. Greer, was born in West Morland County,
Penn., in 1823. She was the daughter of James and Mary Johnson, sister of the late John
Johnson, of Birmingham, and the late J. M. Johnson, a former Covenanter minister. Mrs.
Greer was married January 1861, and died July 12, 1873, aged 50 years. She was a woman
of many fine traits and character, a faithful Covenanter and a careful, loving mother to
the little step-daughter, now Mrs. Mary J. Shanklin, entrusted to her care. She loved
her Bible and her church and expressed a wish that she might lie in death where she
loved to go in life.

MARSHALL, ALEXANDER, a brother of Wm. Marshall, was born in Scotland about 1826. He
traveled much and while in Australia married a French woman. When he came to Southfield
and to his brother's in 1859 with his wife he had only one little boy, Robert, who still
survives. Within a year Mr. Marshall took sick and died October 8, 1860. After her
husband's death, Mrs. Alexander Marshall lived at Royal Oak with her son. Some years
after her son's marriage to Mary Ann McKinney, daughter of Alexander McKinney, Mrs.
Marshall died and lies buried beside her husband, to the north.

CAMERON, SAMUEL, Agnes, wife of Samuel Cameron, died March 20 1861 aged 43 years, 7
months. Mrs. Cameron was a sister of Robert James, William, Alexander, Mary and Margaret
McKinney. She was born in Ireland. Her husband and herself were members of the
Covenanter church in Philadelphia and after his death she came to Michigan with her
three children, Mary, John, and Agnes (now deceased).

BELL, SAMUEL, Born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, November 13, 1819. Came to America
with his sister and her husband, Wm. Henning, in 1849. Until 1852, Mr. Bell and Mr.
Henning worked together as weavers in the carpet mills of Philadelphia. Coming to
Michigan he married Mary only child of Wm. And Isabella Marshall. His wife's early death
left one infant son, William. In 1870, Mr. Bell married Mary Hanna. Mr. Bell's death
occurred February 24, 1904, and he was buried in the shadow of the church he loved so
well and served so faithfully. For many years Mr. Bell was elder and Sabbath school
superintendent. His pleasant manner and consideration of others won for him admiration
and friends.

Mary, wife of Samuel Bell, and only child of Wm. And Isabella Marshall, died September
7, 1861, aged 25. An only son, William still survives. Mary Marshall Bell was a fine
young woman and many friend still remember her. She was the pride of her parents.

TORRENS, JOSEPH, son of Francis and Mary Torrens, was born in the township of Rahn,
County Donegal, Ireland, April 4, 1828, and died in Southfield, Michigan, February
20, 1864. His parents were life-long members of the Covenanter church of Gortlee,
Ireland. He came to America when he was about sixteen years of age with his older
brother David and his sister's family, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Keyes, later of Detroit.

As a young man, Joseph Torrens had strong religious and intellectual tendencies and
began to prepare himself in the theological school to be a Covenanter minister. Some
time later he realized that his health would not allow him to follow an indoor life,
consequently, he gave up studying. Next, he served seven years as an apprentice,
learning carpentering and contracting in Detroit. He often attended church in Southfield
and there met his future wife, Miss Elizabeth McKinney, daughter of Jas. McKinney,
in 1861.

When the bids for the building of the second Covenanter church building were received in
1861, Joseph Torrens was found to be the lowest. So low that he himself said: "I know
that I will not make anything, but I want to leave something for people to look at and
think of me sometimes when I am gone." No tithing here, but all. No hope of great reward
kept Joseph Torrens at his work, yet how carefully he planned and put together each part
as eternity drew near. The heavy work and anxiety hastened his disease. At last it was
finished and he rested in his little cabin in the church yard. Soon his health gave way
and he was unable to even sit up. James McKinney came, loaded the cabin, and with Mrs.
Torrens walking behind driving the cow, Joseph Torrens took his last look at his great
gift to his fellows and to his God. For a hero, one need look no farther. When you see
the church, think of the builder buried beside it.

Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Torrens, and daughter of James and Martha McKinney, died June
6, 1878, aged 36 years, one month, twelve days. She lived twelve years after the death
of her husband, at her father's home, and visited his friends in New York City. Her life
was beautiful indeed.

Annie McKinney, daughter of James and Martha McKinney, died May 6, 1860, aged 16 years,
two months. She is buried in the Joseph Torrens lot next to her mother beyond.

EDGAR, Joseph. Joseph, son of Joseph and Agnes, died September 20, 1865, aged 6 years, 8
months.

McDONALD, Wm. William Wallace McDonald was born March 26, 1854, and died March 23, 1866.
He was the son of Wm. McDonald, a former elder of the Southfield Reformed Presbyterian
Church.

MORROW, JAS. Jr. Achibald, son of Jas. Morrow, Sr. was born Dec. 12, 1867, and died
March 11, 1868. On this lot are buried the sons of Robert Douglas, a brother-in-law.

DOUGLAS, ROBERT. Robert John, son of Robert and Elizabeth Douglas, was born January 31,
1875, died March 15, 1879. Another son, Samuel, A. was born March 16, 1880, died July
27, 1880.

NEIL, ALEXANDER. Young child of Alexander Neil, one of the early interments. The father
was the brother of the first Reformed Presbyterian minister of Southfield.

YOUNG, HUGH. "Our Willie," son of H. and C.J. Young. This is one of the early graves and
the tiny stone with little lamb looking meekly forth now bears no date.

McLAUGHLIN, ROBERT. Born in County Donegal, Ireland, July 10, 1801 died February
25, 1881. Mr. McLaughlin lived sometime in New York before coming to Michigan. He was a
brother-in-law of John Parks and purchased the Mason I. James farm just opposite, now
owned by W. L. Rundel. Here he lived until he retired to Birmingham some forty year ago.
He died February 25, 1881, and lies buried in the little old churchyard within sight of
his old time farm.

Ruth, wife of Robert McLaughlin was born in Coleraine, Ireland, June 20, 1803. She came
to America with her mother and three brothers, John, Daniel, and Robert Parks. The last
years of her life she lived with her daughter, Mrs. John Johnson. She was a Covenanter
from away back and brought up her family in the Covenanter church of Southfield. On July
2, 1885, she passed from earth.

James McLaughlin, son of Robert died July 18, 1869, aged 41 years, 10 months, 18 days.
He was raised on his father's farm in Southfield and was a member of the Reformed
Presbyterian church. When quite young he married Jane Rogers and to them were born five
children, James, Jr. Robert, Joseph, Susan and Elizabeth. Joseph of Seattle, Wash., and
Elizabeth of Detroit still survive. Previous to his death, Mr. McLaughlin was one of
Birmingham's leading business men.

Jane, wife of James McLaughlin, died November 16, 1866, aged 41 years, 7 months, 4 days.

James Jr., son of James and Jane McLaughlin, died September 18, 1872, aged 18 years, 7
months, 25 days.

STEWART, JOHN. Luther, son of John Stewart, was born February 22, 1848, and died
September 30, 1869.

Ella, daughter of John Stewart, was born August 6, 1857, and died August 20, 1884. The
lot is just of the McCurdy one.

GAILEY, ANDREW. Died March 12, 1871, aged 66 years. Mr. Gailey was a Covenanter and
owned a farm nearby. His only child, Dr. John Gailey, is a prominent Detroit physician.
Mrs. Andrew Gailey was a sister of Mrs. John Stewart.

MARSHALL, Wm. Born in Scotland; died in Southfield January 17 1872, aged 80 years. Mr.
Marshall resided in Lapeer, near "The Flint," when he first came to Michigan from
Rochester, N.Y. Later he owned the farm now belonging to the Samuel Bell estate. Wm.
Marshall was a rugged man and many a day he "masoned" with Hugh Purdy and Alexander
McKinney. Many buildings still rest on their foundations build strong as Gibraltar. He
was a fine man.

Mrs. William Marshall lies buried beside her husband, to the north. Isabella Barclay was
born in Scotland in 1802 and died about 1881. One of the most vivid pictures of early
childhood for the writer is that of Mrs. Marshall sitting in church with little Wylie
Bell by her side. Sitting there with her dress of black and cap of the same, her gentle,
aged face and quaint, friendly ways quite won the heart of the childish observer. She
was a kind, good woman.

HANNA, DAVID. Agnes M. , daughter of David A. Hanna, died February 22, 1881, aged 1
year, 4 months, 11 days. James A., died August 17, 1872, aged 5 months, 22 days. (Also
an infant sister) Robbie and Freddie, twins, died March 14, 1882, aged 3 months, 15
days; December 14, 1881, aged 15 days. Overshadowing this lot and protecting it as it
were from the north wind's wintry blasts, are two of the original spruce trees planted
many years ago by Robert Hanna, senior of all, and father of David Hanna.

CONNERY, WILLIAM. Margaret, wife of Wm. Connery, died March 6, 1872, aged 82 years, 4
months, 17 days. Mrs. Connery came to Michigan with her husband and family about 1830,
being engaged by John Beattie, a resident of Orange County, New York, to clear up his
government land – later the Neil eighties. She must have attended the first meetings of
the Covenanters in the summer of 1832, held in the barn of Mason I. James. Mrs. Connery
was one of the original members of the Southfield Covenanter church and was with it in
its time of need. She was a hard worker, as were all the women of those days. A large
family of children were to care for and support. Many a time her children and herself
walked behind an ox team load of cranberries, picked in the Royal Oak marsh, clear to
Detroit over the old Pontiac trail. This was the only outing and many were the purchases
made. After her death the family moved west.

DERMOND, GEORGE C. Mr. Dermond was born in Vermont, June 27, 1810. He came eastward to
Allegheny and there became acquainted with his future wife, Jane Johnson, sister of the
late John Johnson, of Birmingham. On December 2, 1851, she died and was buried in
Pennsylvania. She left three children, Maggie, who later died in Pennsylvania, the late
Samuel of Detroit and the late James of Southfield. Mr. Dermond was a Covenanter and
died at the home of his son, Samuel, in Detroit, June 29, 1873.

McKINNEY, JAMES. Born in Coleraine, Ireland, August 1, 1806, died April 13, 1891. Mr.
McKinney came to Michigan while it was still a territory and took up a farm in "the
openings" in Southfield. He was one of the very early time Covenanters, attended the
barn meetings and saw the first minister installed. Many a Sabbath morning was his ox
team seen coming from the south with himself trudging along at the side. Mr. McKinney,
was a man of sterling worth and filled well his place in life.

Martha, wife of James McKinney, born in Coleraine, Ireland, May 18, 1808, and died in
Southfield February 4, 1879. She came to Michigan with her husband and little boy
Robert. She was the mother of six children: Robert, Elizabeth (Mrs. Joseph Torrens),
Sarah (Mrs. Alexander Purdy), Anna, Lucy (Mrs. John Greer), and Alexander.

HENNING, WILLIAM. Born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, January 24, 1828. He came to the
United States with his wife and brother-in-law, Samuel Bell, in 1849 and worked in the
Philadelphia carpet mills until he moved to Michigan in 1852. Mr. Henning was for many
years a deacon, and during the erection of the present building, aided largely in the
hauling of the material from Detroit. He was a man of distinctive individuality and of
sterling worth. On who eagerly watched the welfare of the church and the little cemetery
as well, where later he was buried. His death took place February 24, 1904.

Eliza, wife of Wm. Henning and daughter of John and Ann Bell, was born in Newry, County
Down, Ireland, August 16, 1817. She came to America with her husband in 1849 and to
Michigan in 1852. Her family consisted of a daughter Anna and son Milligan. On August 2,
1888, her spirit passed into the great beyond. Mrs. Henning was one of those
gentle-spirited, sweet faced women whose personality makes the world a better place in
which to live.

Anna M. daughter of Wm. and Eliza Henning, was born in Philadelphia, August 11, 1851.
She married John Wallace July 1879, and died August 1, 1882, leaving an infant daughter
Mary (now Mrs. Malcolm McDonald) to the care of her mother and brother.

THOMPSON, WILLIAM JAMES. Born April 24, 1823, at Lisnalea, County Armagh, Ireland. When
a young man he came to America with an older sister. Some years later they both visited
their former home in Ireland. On New Year morning, 1861, in the little old church, by
Rev. J.S.T. Milligan, he was united in marriage to Margaret Ann, eldest daughter of Mrs.
Margaret Parks. A reception at the home of the bride's mother, across the road,
followed. This wedding is still remembered as quite an event for those days. In 1885 he
again visited his old home in Ireland, and died suddenly of apoplexy February 24, 1886,
shortly after his return. James Thomson was of Covenanter origin and a member of the
Southfield church. When a young man he wrote, in a moment of reflection, on the fly leaf
of his copy of Robert Burns: "Wm. Jas. Thompson is a decent man." Such a judgment with
all that it implies is the highest tribute one can pay to himself or another.

Margaret Ann, eldest daughter of John and Margaret Parks, was born in New York City,
July 4, 1828. When almost four years old she came to Michigan in May, 1832, with her
parents. When she was a ten, her father's death brought much sadness and added duties.
She was ever solicitous for the comfort and care of others. Many times she would work
all day and spin until long after midnight, or sit up with a sick neighbor until
morning. She was present at the Covenanter church organization in 1834 and watched its
progress for over eighty years. To her the little cemetery was indeed precious, for she
was present at every funeral from the beginning to end, her beloved grandfather's, David
Stewart, being the first and her own the last. She lived the last forty years or more
next to the church and within sight of her home in 1832. She knew and loved nature in
all its various forms and possessed and unusually alert, retentive mind and artistic
temperament. On the evening of Friday, March 13, 1914, her beautiful spirit went home.

McCOY, FRED. Born July 22, 1889, died October 30, 1889. This child was a son of a
Covenanter family who happened to be in Detroit when death visited their family.

YOUNG, Wm. S., was born April 14, 1837, in Ayrshire, Scotland within two miles of London
Castle. He came to this country in 1855 and resided in Southfield, Michigan, most of the
time. He was an efficient elder, class leader, and head psalmodist for many years
previous to his death on September 10, 1898 (1893).

Ann J. Rodgers was born in Commerce Township, April 26, 1840, and was the eldest
daughter of Dr. James Rodgers. She was married to Wm. S. Young in 1862 and passed away
from earth April 4, 1891, aged 51 years.

McDONALD, CLARENCE. Day old son of Clarence McDonald, born October 19, 1892. Lot just
east of Wm. McDonald's.

McKINNEY, JAS. A., was born in Philadelphia, May 17 1837. Came to Redford, Michigan,
when but a little boy some three years of age. He was a devoted member of the Reformed
Presbyterian congregation until his heavenly Father called him home April 20, 1893,
being as we would say in the very prime of life, only fifty-six. Mr. McKinney was an
able deacon and Sabbath school teacher for many years and was ever in his place.

On the same lot is buried James Roy, eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. S. Edward McKinney and
grandson of Jas. A. McKinney. He was born at Dover, Otsego county, Michigan, April
24, 1901. His earthly life was destined to be short. After an illness of only eleven
days, he died at Birmingham, Michigan June 18, 1902, aged 13 months, 24 days.

CANNON, A.M. Alexander Woodburn Cannon, son of A.M. and Elizabeth Cannon, was born at
Holton, Kansas, July 24, 1874, and died at his parent's home in Southfield, June
23, 1895. The early close of this exemplary young man's life brought much sadness to his
family and friends.

GROW, Mary Ellen, third daughter of James A. McKinney, was born May 1, 1866. She was
married to Mr. Herbert Grow, of Vernon, Michigan, July 1890, and died August 3, 1899,
aged 33 years. Three little boys and a husband were left behind to mourn her loss.

### About Mary E. Thompson

Mary E. Thompson (1871–1967) lived her entire life on her family's farm on Evergreen
Road, taught in Southfield's schools, and later sold much of her land to the City of
Southfield, leaving a substantial bequest to the city in her will. A biographical note
added to this article, drawn from the Royal Oak Tribune (1967 and 1971), describes her
as a "well traveled and knowledgeable person" whose "agile mind and keen perception"
were matched by a simple, frugal way of life.