John Southard was one of the early pioneers of Oakland County. He came to Oakland county in 1823, just five years after the founding of Pontiac by the Pontiac Company.
John Southard was appointed Oakland County Surveyor several times: 1837-1838, 1841-1842, and again in 1851.
John was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, and in 1853 he was elected Assitant Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
His wife was Polly. They had two sons:
John B. Southard
Joseph A. Southard
In 1981, three teens were arrested for stealing the skulls of John Southard and his wife, Polly. Following is the newspaper story:
Ellensburg Daily Record, July 3 1981
"PONTIAC, Mich (UPI) - Three teenagers were arrested for allegedly stealing two human skulls from a 19th century grave for use as "bong" pipes to smoke marijuana or hashish, police say.
...Campbell, 17, and two other teenagers were arrested Wednesday in the grave robbing and police said Campbell told them he was going to make "bongs" out of the skulls.
The skulls of Polly and John Southard were stolen Tuesday from their crypt at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, police said. The rest of their skeletons were not disturbed. Polly died in 1880 and John in 1892."
John's death date in the newspaper article is incorrect. His son, John B. Southard, died in 1892.
John Southard was appointed Oakland County Surveyor several times: 1837-1838, 1841-1842, and again in 1851.
John was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, and in 1853 he was elected Assitant Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
His wife was Polly. They had two sons:
John B. Southard
Joseph A. Southard
In 1981, three teens were arrested for stealing the skulls of John Southard and his wife, Polly. Following is the newspaper story:
Ellensburg Daily Record, July 3 1981
"PONTIAC, Mich (UPI) - Three teenagers were arrested for allegedly stealing two human skulls from a 19th century grave for use as "bong" pipes to smoke marijuana or hashish, police say.
...Campbell, 17, and two other teenagers were arrested Wednesday in the grave robbing and police said Campbell told them he was going to make "bongs" out of the skulls.
The skulls of Polly and John Southard were stolen Tuesday from their crypt at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, police said. The rest of their skeletons were not disturbed. Polly died in 1880 and John in 1892."
John's death date in the newspaper article is incorrect. His son, John B. Southard, died in 1892.
John Southard was one of the early pioneers of Oakland County. He came to Oakland county in 1823, just five years after the founding of Pontiac by the Pontiac Company.
John Southard was appointed Oakland County Surveyor several times: 1837-1838, 1841-1842, and again in 1851.
John was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, and in 1853 he was elected Assitant Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
His wife was Polly. They had two sons:
John B. Southard
Joseph A. Southard
In 1981, three teens were arrested for stealing the skulls of John Southard and his wife, Polly. Following is the newspaper story:
Ellensburg Daily Record, July 3 1981
"PONTIAC, Mich (UPI) - Three teenagers were arrested for allegedly stealing two human skulls from a 19th century grave for use as "bong" pipes to smoke marijuana or hashish, police say.
...Campbell, 17, and two other teenagers were arrested Wednesday in the grave robbing and police said Campbell told them he was going to make "bongs" out of the skulls.
The skulls of Polly and John Southard were stolen Tuesday from their crypt at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, police said. The rest of their skeletons were not disturbed. Polly died in 1880 and John in 1892."
John's death date in the newspaper article is incorrect. His son, John B. Southard, died in 1892.
John Southard was appointed Oakland County Surveyor several times: 1837-1838, 1841-1842, and again in 1851.
John was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, and in 1853 he was elected Assitant Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
His wife was Polly. They had two sons:
John B. Southard
Joseph A. Southard
In 1981, three teens were arrested for stealing the skulls of John Southard and his wife, Polly. Following is the newspaper story:
Ellensburg Daily Record, July 3 1981
"PONTIAC, Mich (UPI) - Three teenagers were arrested for allegedly stealing two human skulls from a 19th century grave for use as "bong" pipes to smoke marijuana or hashish, police say.
...Campbell, 17, and two other teenagers were arrested Wednesday in the grave robbing and police said Campbell told them he was going to make "bongs" out of the skulls.
The skulls of Polly and John Southard were stolen Tuesday from their crypt at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, police said. The rest of their skeletons were not disturbed. Polly died in 1880 and John in 1892."
John's death date in the newspaper article is incorrect. His son, John B. Southard, died in 1892.
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
