Widow of Prominent Abolitionist in Taylor Cemetery

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Mrs. Cyrus P. (Sarah) Grosvenor-------------Sarah's Grave at Taylor Cem.

One of the earlier stones in the Taylor Cemetery, (Blue Star Highway south of Hunt Tree) is for "Sarah wife of Cyrus P. Grosvenor""President of N.Y. Central College". Sarah died August 18, 1856. Behind this simple stone is the story of a of the prominent abolitionist leader who was a compatriot of William Lloyd Garrison. Albion Historian Frank Passic writes:

"Rev. Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor was a major leader of the anti-Slavery Baptists in the pre-Civil War 19th century. He was an officer of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and the American Anti-Slavery Society. He was part of Boston's first anti-slavery meeting in 1828. He was one of the founders of the New York Central College in McGrawville, Cortland County, New York. Cyrus served as the first college president of this institution in 1849-50, and was on its faculty for several years afterwards. It was the first college in the nation founded specifically to educate both black and white students, both men and women. Cyrus was an 1818 graduate of Dartmouth College, and also attended Princeton Theological Seminary 1821-22, and later received an LLD degree in 1867."

In 1852, their daughter Sarah married the Rev. Austin Harmon, a Baptist minister. Rev. Grosvenor retired from the faculty of the college in 1853. The Rev. Austin served as a Baptist missionary in Western Allegan County from 1854 until his death in 1865. The Grosevnors followed their daughter to Allegan County, and Mrs. Grosvenor passed away in 1856. At some point after her death, the Reverend moved on to Albion, Michigan, and died there in 1879. He is buried in the Albion Riverside cemetery.

Sarah Austin married Charles Fiegert in 1872 and died Jan. 23, 1921. She is buried by Rev. Harmon in the Taylor Cemetery. Four children of the Harmons lived to adulthood, including a daughter Emma who married Christopher Ensfield. Some of Emma's descendants still live in this area.

Rev. Cyrus P. Grosvenor (1792-1879)

-contributed by Chris Yoder

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