By 1882, the area around the City of Ionia, MI had been settled for almost 50 years, though the city had only been incorporated for 9. The cemetery that had been established within the city limits was almost full and someplace else had to be found for the dearly departed. Unfortunately, the City Council couldn't decide on anywhere within the city limits to put such a place, so the whole project was tabled until a land owner offered 100 acres outside of the city for a cemetery - and he would own and run it. The City would be off the hook. And that was how William Dallas Place became the owner of Highland Park Cemetery. It overlooks Prairie Creek and the Grand River and initially was named River View Cemetery. It only kept that name for one year before it received its present name in 1883. 

The sale of lots started in 1883, and in 1890, plans for the Gothic gates and other structures in the cemetery were filed and building commenced. Mr. Place died in 1910, and left the cemetery in poor financial straits. It was then purchased by Hoag & VanSickle, the owners of a water company, and associations were formed for the running of the cemetery itself and the Mausoleum, which had a separate deed of ownership. This took some time, and it was not until 1926 that the property was being run entirely by the associations. The Mausoleum, with 193 crypts, was under the control of the Highland Park Mausoleum Association, and the cemetery proper had the Highland Park Cemetery Association.

Both Associations controlled the property, but apparently not well, until 1976. At that time, the State of Michigan ordered the Township of Ionia to assume control of the cemetery due to the lack of maintenance and amount of vandalism. Quite simply, the Associations did not have the funds to take care of the place. 

The cemetery now has about 98 acres, 30 of which were originally platted. Of these, about 17 are actually used. This still is a huge cemetery, with the Mausoleum and over 5,000 burials. The view overlooking the creek and the river is breath taking.