Denise Lake Compiler & Photographer

Welcome to the Graveyard Burials with photographs and family data, often obituaries. This blog is dedicated to the families of everyone buried in this cemetery. But most of all to Denise for helping them come alive again!!!

CIRCLE HILL GRAVEYARD BURIALS
Photographs taken by Denise Lake
The compiling Denise has done of all the family group sheets for each person buried in Circle Hill is way beyond free genealogy. She is now one of the 'obsessed-crazed' upshots doing the work and loving it. Some of this data is at Find-A-Grave but all the work she has done will be here. All future genealogists researching the families of the burials within Circle Hill will be very thankful for Denise and aljavascript:void(0)l her work. My role in all this is to simply place the data and photographs online for the world to use. I have resized and altered the light/dark feature in hopes you can read the stone as well as possible. Thanks Denise!

Spencer A. Chaney,

Spencer A. Chaney was born 15 July 1898 in Williamsburg, Grand Traverse the son of Samuel G. and Sylvia A. Brenneman. Spencer died 3 Mar 1956 in Grand Traverse County.

DEATH TAKES S. A. CHANEY
Spencer A. Chaney, 57, of Traverse City died at his home Saturday afternoon of a self-inflicted gun wound, according to police.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday from Martinson funeral home. The Rev. Clark G. Adams will officate. Interment will be in the family lot at Circle Hill cemetery, Williamsburg.

Mr. Chaney was born July 15, 1898, near Williamsburg, where he resided until 1945.

On May 10 of that year, he married Katherine Zick. Together they made their home in Traverse City. Mr. Chaney was a veteran of World War II. He is survived by his widow; a stepson, Bill Zick of Traverse City; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Robert Greilick of Traverse City; two brother, Ted of Williamsburg, and Colin of Ypsilanti; four sisters, Mrs. Ward Ruttan of Alden, Mrs. George Raft and Mrs. Guy Weimer, both of Traverse City, and Miss Laurabelle Chaney of Grand Rapids; and five grandchildren.

Clyde Sanford Orcutt

Clyde Sanford Orcutt son of Burdette Walter Orcutt and Olive M. (Unknown). He was born 14 Jul 1918 and died 14 June 1919 in Grand Traverse County.

Ralph George Orcutt / Fern Marie Aldrich

Ralph George Orcutt born 24 Oct 1912 to Freeman E. and Emma Johnston White. In 1920 he was living in Lansing with his parents on North Magnolia Avenue on 16 January according to the census of that year.

Ralph married 1 Jul 1939 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan to Fern Marie Aldrich. He was a US Army World War 2 Veteran. He died 24 Oct 1987 Traverse City and is buried in Circle Hill Cemetery Lot 084.

Ralph's Military Stone

Burdette "Bert" / Olive Orcutt

Olive (Maiden) Orcutt born abt 1882 in New York. I don't have a marriage date or place at this time. She was married abt 1902 to Burdette Walter Orcutt as her first son was born 1903. In 1910 they were living in Birdsall, Allegany, New York by 1920 they were residing in Whitewater Twp, Grand Traverse and in 1930 Ocqueac, Presque Ile, Michgan. Olive died 27 April 1963 but there is not a record in Grand Traverse County. I also didn't find her in the Social Security Index. Burdette, "Bert" died in Millersburg, Michigan so perhaps that is where her death record would be found as well.

"Bert" is on the headstone with Olive but it is dark and not showing well. Here is a snip of that photo:
"Bert" was born 28 Sep 1881. His obit has this to say:

KIN OF LOCAL RESIDENTS DIES
Bert Orcutt, 79, of Millersburg, Michigan, died Tuesday afternoon at Little Traverse Hospital, Petoskey, after a long illness.

Surviving are his widow, Olive; four sons, Darwin of Ellsworth, and Lyle, Alton and Lynn, all of Millersburg; two sisters, Miss Bertha E. Orcutt and Mrs. Mamie Bradley, both of Traverse City; and two brothers, Carl of Williamsburg and Delbert of Edwardsburg.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at the Carr Funeral Home at Onaway, and burial will be at Circle Hill Cemetery.

Note: Millersburg is in Presque Ile County

Jane Marie Orcutt

Jane Marie Orcutt was born 23 Apr 1951 and died 7 Mar 2001 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Her mother's maiden name is Aldrich. This data is from the Minnesota Death Index 1908-2001 She is buried in Circle Hill Cemetery, Williamsburg.

Freeman E. Orcutt / Emma Johnston White

Freeman E. Orcutt, 81, of 426 W. Tenth street, died at his home Monday evening after a three month illness. Mr. Orcutt was born December 23, 1878 in Allegheny county, N.Y. and moved in 190 to Williamsburg where on May 10, 1910 he was married to Emma White. She died in 1928.

He was a carpenter and builder in the Traverse City area for many years, and followed the same trades in Lansing for 20 years. He returned to Traverse City in 1930 and was employed by Brown Lumber & Supply Co. until retiring in 1948.
Mr. Orcutt is survived by one son, Ralph G. of Evanston, Ill; three grandchildren; two sisters, Miss Bertha Orcutt and Mrs. Mamie Bradley, both of Traverse City; three brothers, Bert of Millersburg, Carl of Williamsburg, and L. A. of Edwardsburg;
and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A fourth brother, Ray, died in 1954.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Martinson funeral home, Rev. J. C. Hecocks officiating, with burial in Williamsburg Circle Hill cemetery.


Emma Johnston White was born 24 May 1880 in Williamsburg. Emma died 18 Apr 1928 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan. Burial is in Circle Hill Cemetery, Williamsburg.

Although it is not very readable the 2nd photograph is of the top of Emma's headstone and says Emma.