Surrerar Cemetery

Surrerar Cemetery, tucked away on a dusty seasonal road that follows the power line in eastern Newaygo County, is one of the oldest and most mysterious burial grounds in the region. Lonely, sandy, and often forgotten, this cemetery predates the earliest white settlers and is believed to have first been used by Native Americans.

The site lay near the crossing of major Native American trails leading toward the Mackinaw area and was close to a narrow stretch of the river that made for easy passage. While it may never have been the site of a village, it was an important gathering place and a rich hunting ground. Burial mounds were once found here, some uniquely arranged with bodies buried vertically, feet down and head up—an uncommon practice in Michigan.

Later, pioneers also used the cemetery. Several families are believed to be buried here, including the English, Overly, Saunders, and a Mr. Boyd. Some remains were later moved to Oak Grove Cemetery in Croton when the area was abandoned. Roughly eight names are known, though the full list of burials is uncertain, and the land shows many indentations suggesting additional graves. Local lore also holds that Ransom Surrarer, who first purchased the land, is buried here.

By the 1880s, records show Phillip Dickinson and his wife Sophonia Tibbits owning 160 acres on the edge of the prairie, later selling land for what became the Dickinson School. Like many families in the area, settlers eventually moved on to more fertile farmland as the logging industry waned.

For years, Surrerar suffered from neglect and even vandalism. Neither Newaygo County government offices nor Brooks Township retain records of the cemetery, and its spelling has shifted over time—appearing as Serrarrer, Surarrer, and other variations.

Thankfully, preservation efforts have been made by dedicated local historians and descendants of early settlers. Among them was the late Terry Wantz, who spent years maintaining the site—cutting grass, putting up fencing to keep vehicles out, building a sign, and even placing benches as a gesture of respect to his ancestors, the Dickinsons. Wantz also used dowsing rods, or “witching sticks,” to help identify grave locations, many of which were later confirmed by sonar and x-ray.

Andy Whitlock, creator of The October Project website, along with co-blogger Sandy and other local cemetery enthusiasts, has also contributed significant research. Their work revealed that the cemetery was larger than once thought, with evidence of an old homestead nearby—including a lilac tree planted long ago by a hopeful settler.

Though remote and quiet, Surrerar Cemetery stands as a reminder of the layers of history in Newaygo County—from ancient Native American traditions to the pioneers who followed. Thanks to ongoing preservation, its story endures.