New life for old gravestones

By Jody McVeigh | on August 09, 2023

Photos courtesy of Katie DoelleJim Verney, whose idea it was to replace and relocate the original gravestones of his ancestors, stands by as Joseph Smith works on the gravesite.

When Jim Verney was 5 years old, he and his family used to play a game while vacationing in New England. They’d visit old cemeteries, split up and try to find the oldest gravestone.

“There was always ice cream after,” Verney said, “but whoever found the oldest gravestone got two scoops instead of one scoop.”

Though many decades have passed in the interim, Verney plainly admits a seed was planted. And were his family still playing the game, Verney would be a two-scoop winner twice over following visits to St. Paul Cemetery in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Only recently did the Grosse Pointe native learn his true family name: Vernier. The discovery has led the South Carolinian on a new quest, also involving a cemetery’s oldest gravestones.

Origins

Among ribbon farmers in the earliest days of Grosse Pointe are a bevy of names familiar to today’s residents: Rivard, Renaud, Cadieux, Trombley, Poupard, Vernier.

Jean “John” Baptiste Vernier and Catharine Vernier played a pivotal role in the history of the Vernier family, not only establishing a life for themselves in Grosse Pointe, but also laying a foundation for the family to become important community members for centuries to come.

“I was born in Grosse Pointe Farms on Sept. 18, 1952,” Verney said. “My great-grandfather was also born here in 1859. I grew up all my life, until I was 67 — I’m 70 now — thinking my last name was Verney. My parents never dissuaded me from that false belief. … I did not know I was a Vernier.”

The original headstone of John Baptiste Vernier, who died in 1834.

A few years ago, Verney, who spent his childhood in Livonia and left Michigan for the University of Kentucky in 1971, contemplated earning a master’s degree and doctorate in history as he approached retirement, “but then the genealogy bug got me,” he said.

He joined the Bay County Genealogical Society in Bay City, where his grandfather grew up. He started to learn bits and pieces about his grandfather and great-grandfather.

“My great-grandfather was Charles Francis Vernier Sr., and my grandfather was Charles Francis Vernier Jr., but in 1889 or 1890, my great-grandfather changed his name in Bay City,” he said, speculating that the name change occurred for business reasons.

Despite being a well-respected name in Grosse Pointe, around 1890, “There was bias against the French outside of Grosse Pointe,” Verney said, attributing his findings to “The First Guide to the State of Michigan.” Verney, however, is an English name and “more acceptable,” he added.

Through the Bay County Genealogical Society and the Rev. Christian Dennison’s “Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region,” Verney learned of several Verniers who were born in Grosse Pointe.

The original headstone of Catharine Vernier, who died in 1831.

Hoping to learn even more, Verney connected with Katie Doelle, a local historian and Grosse Pointe Historical Society member. He asked if she’d be interested in researching the family.

“I jumped at the chance, of course,” Doelle said. “I’ve been researching now over a year and a half. … We met last year and walked the cemetery together and tried to piece it all together.”

During Verney’s visits to the Pointes — he tries to visit Michigan three or four times a year — he learned that 37 Verniers are buried in St. Paul Cemetery. Among them are John Baptiste Vernier, who died in 1834, and his wife, Catharine Vernier, who died in 1831.

At that time, there was no dedicated cemetery in Grosse Pointe, so it is assumed the couple was buried on their own farm. In the late 1840s, when the first St. Paul Catholic Church was built at 157 Lakeshore in Grosse Pointe Farms, it is believed the Verniers were moved from the farm to church grounds, only to be relocated again in 1868, when the church purchased the land at Moross and Country Club Lane.

Since his discovery, Verney has joined the Grosse Pointe Historical Society and been in contact with its president, Leslie Wagner, Ph.D.

“As far as we know,” he said, “these are two of the oldest surviving gravestones in Grosse Pointe.”

Out with the old

While happy for the discovery, Verney found his ancestors’ gravestones in poor condition, so decided to commission new ones.

“Once I did an independent walk, I called St. Paul on the Lake and talked to (Funeral and Columbarium Coordinator) Theresa Sommer,” he said. “I introduced myself and said I’d like to know what I can do to take care of the relatives’ gravestones, which are among the oldest in the cemetery. She said, ‘I’ve got good news and bad news.’”

Verney learned that while Joseph Smith, St. Paul on the Lake sexton, cares for the cemetery grounds, gravestones must be kept up by family.

“There are 37 Verniers here, the last one buried in 1953,” Verney said. “Nobody’s stepped forward to do anything with the gravestones of the family. I live in South Carolina. Four years ago, I didn’t even know I was a Vernier, but I asked her, ‘Can I do a replacement project for the gravestones?’”

She said yes.

“It’s very exciting,” Sommer said. “We’re blessed to be part of it. It’s amazing to see, even after death, there’s still the love and support of their descendants. It’s amazing that he lives so far away, but made such a deep connection to St. Paul Cemetery.”

The original John Baptiste stone came out in one piece, but Catharine’s was broken into two sections, Doelle noted.

While digging out the old stones, more discoveries were made. A broken bottle was pulled from the ground, later discovered to be Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, first marketed in the U.S. in 1845.

Additionally, a total of seven stones were pulled from the site.

“One for John Baptiste and two for Catharine, but they pulled out seven pieces from the hole. There were four other slabs in the ground.”

Verney plans to clean them up and hopefully identify who they belong to.

Joseph Smith, St. Paul Cemetery sexton, leads the installation of Catharine Vernier’s new slate headstone.

As for his other ancestors, “There are 37 family members here who all have a story,” he said. “I’d like to clean up some of the other stones. There’s dirt, grime, grease, lichen on them. The granite ones (from 1901 and 1905) are holding up good, but I’m going to find a way after this to stay involved and help the cemetery.”

John Baptiste and Catharine Vernier’s old gravestones, he added, are being donated to the Grosse Pointe Historical Society.

“They are going to move over to the Provencal-Weir House and will be placed in the garden behind it,” Verney said.

Wagner said she’s looking forward to seeing the stones set in a garden designed by Candy Sweeney, landscape architect and avid supporter of the Provencal-Weir House.

“Candy Sweeney donated her design,” Wagner said. “Through her leadership she has given us a comprehensive plan for the Provencal-Weir House garden and Shirley Hartert has researched plantings from that time period.

“We are happy to have a small memorial garden,” she added. “We’re all excited about history. Jim Verney’s story is so cool. He’s included me on the whole journey.”

Wagner said she hopes to have the gravestones installed and the garden finalized in September.

In with the new

Verney commissioned stonecutter David Gillespie of Pumpkintown Primitives for the job of creating new gravestones for John Baptiste and Catharine Vernier.

He assisted in their creation by making rubbings of the original stones using Aqaba paper and wax. Once the rubbings were complete, he rolled them up and drove them to Pumpkintown, S.C., where his stonecutter works.

“My stonecutter, David Gillespie, did this by hand,” Verney said of the new slate gravestones, which were installed Monday, July 24, at St. Paul Cemetery. “He had never done letters this wide. It takes a special skillset. I got to take the mallet … but he didn’t let me do much.”

Gillespie carves each stone with attention to detail the same way they’ve been carved for thousands of years: with a chisel and mallet.

Each Vernier gravestone weighs 400 pounds. Verney trucked them up from South Carolina in April, but the weather halted the project until last month.

Verney, a member of the Association for Gravestone Studies in Massachusetts, said he’s enjoyed the project and is happy knowing he’s contributing to something important.

The side-by-side gravestones are set in cement at St. Paul Cemetery.

“What’s cool is it’s a gift to the current citizens of Grosse Pointe, but more importantly to the future citizens of Grosse Pointe,” he said. “With the new gravestones in slate, they will last 300 to 400 years. Because these are two of the oldest, I want visitors to the cemetery and residents of Grosse Pointe to enjoy them for many years.

“… Cemeteries are not for the dead, they’re for the living too,” he added. “This is our history here, our culture here, our Catholic faith here. We’d like them to come and walk and learn.”

Though 37 of his ancestors are buried in St. Paul Cemetery, Verney and his wife don’t plan to become Nos. 38 and 39. They have a plot at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Salisbury, N.C.

Since he began this journey three years ago, Verney has asked himself if he’d known growing up he was a Vernier, would his life have changed?

“I don’t know,” he said. “At that time, the Verniers were old news. I certainly didn’t see any money from it. But I don’t think it would have changed me. Am I proud? I’m so excited I’m here and able to contribute to history and the family lore.”

More to come

Those interested in learning more about this project, as well as the history of St. Paul Cemetery, are invited to a lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Grosse Pointe Historical Society History Center, 375 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Farms, during which Verney and Doelle will present their research. For more information, call (313) 884-7010.