Youngs Cemetery
Youngs Cemetery, located on West Territorial Road, is one of the city’s oldest burial grounds. Originally known as Goguac Cemetery, it was established on May 23, 1854, when Joseph Young sold a parcel of land, 112 square rods, to the officers of the Goguac Cemetery Company for $10.00. This transaction marked the formal beginning of the cemetery on Young’s farm. While the official date of its establishment is May 23, 1854, the first burial occurred much earlier in 1836.
The cemetery was laid out with lots measuring 10 by 20 feet, separated by 5-foot-wide alleys, and sold for $3.00 per lot. Over time, the cemetery became known as Youngs Cemetery, reflecting its founder’s name.
in 1918, the cemetery association purchased additional land for $200.
In 1927, the cemetery association was dissolved, and ownership was transferred to the Battle Creek Township Board of Health for $1.00. Today, Youngs Cemetery is owned and maintained by the City of Battle Creek, under the stewardship of the City Clerk’s Office.
The cemetery is located just east of W.K. Kellogg Airport, in a small fenced area northeast of Memorial Park Cemetery. It contains burials dating back to the 1830s, and remains an important historical site reflecting the early settlement and development of the Battle Creek area.
Youngs Cemetery is also featured in the Michigan Tombstone Transcription Project.