Solving an 1886–1887 Genealogical Mystery with Weather, Newspapers, and Cemetery Records
One of the most frustrating problems in genealogy is when official records and newspapers disagree. That is exactly what happened with John Powell of Pontiac, Michigan — and it took three independent record systems and 19th-century weather data to resolve it.
At first glance, the sources contradict each other:
- Oakland County’s death register records John Powell’s death as 31 December 1886.
- Two notices in The Pontiac Bill Poster in early 1887 state that he “died last Saturday” and later say he “died Feb. 1887.”
- His burial, according to Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, occurred on Saturday, 29 January 1887.
Which date is correct?
The Official Record: December 31, 1886
The Oakland County “Return of Deaths” ledger lists:
John Powell, Pontiac — Dec. 31, 1886 — widower, aged 88 years, 4 months, 4 days, born New York.
This is not an estimate or a heading. The date Dec. 31, 1886 is written directly on John Powell’s line in the register.
More importantly, Oakland County holds no death certificate for him in 1887, meaning the county had already legally recorded his death in 1886. That establishes 31 December 1886 as his legal date of death.
Additionally, no probate record has been found for John Powell. Probate records can sometimes give the date of death.
What the Newspaper Really Reported
The Pontiac Bill Poster of Wednesday, February 2, 1887 states:
“John Powell, of Auburn, died last Saturday; aged 88 years, and funeral services were held Sunday at Amy Church. The remains were brought to Pontiac for burial.”
“Last Saturday” relative to Feb. 2, 1887 equals Saturday, January 29, 1887 — which is exactly the day Oak Hill Cemetery recorded his burial.
The newspaper was therefore describing the burial week, not the legal date of death. Oh, and if you are wondering about Amy Church – apparently Amy is what the locals called Auburn Hills/Auburn Heights at the time. This was most likely a Methodist Church, although so far, I have not been able to confirm this.
Why Burial Was Delayed: The Ground Was Frozen Solid
Weather records now make the situation unmistakably clear.
Using official U.S. Signal Service observations from Windsor, Ontario (the nearest long-running station to Detroit and Pontiac), we can see when winter locked the ground.
From mid-December 1886, southeast Michigan entered a sustained hard freeze:
| Date | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 14 | 32°F | 24°F |
| Dec 15 | 25°F | 6°F |
| Dec 16 | 14°F | 7°F |
| Dec 17 | 27°F | −2°F |
| Dec 25 | 20°F | 1°F |
| Dec 28 | 13°F | −5°F |
| Dec 31 | 23°F | 10°F |
From December 14 onward, nighttime temperatures stayed below freezing for more than two weeks. This means:
- The soil would have been frozen by Christmas
- Snow fell on frozen ground on Dec. 24 (6 inches) and Dec. 31 (4 inches)
- The ground never thawed between mid-December and mid-January
On the day John Powell died — December 31, 1886 — conditions were brutal:
- High 23°F
- Low 10°F
- 4 inches of fresh snow
Burial at that time would have required digging through frozen soil beneath heavy snow — something cemeteries avoided whenever possible.
When Burial Became Possible
A major thaw finally arrived in late January 1887:
| Date | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 20 | 45°F | 27°F |
| Jan 22 | 51°F | 26°F |
| Jan 24 | 56°F | 26°F |
| Jan 28 | 42°F | 31°F |
| Jan 29 | 42°F | 25°F |
This was a ten-day thaw, long enough to soften frozen soil and allow graves to be opened. Oak Hill Cemetery buried John Powell on Saturday, January 29, 1887 — the first realistic opportunity.
Two days later winter returned with six inches of new snow on January 31.
The timing could not be clearer.
Putting It All Together
| Event | Date | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Death | Dec 31, 1886 | Oakland County death register |
| Heavy snow & frozen ground | Dec 31, 1886 | 23°F / 10°F, 4″ snow |
| Sustained thaw begins | Jan 20, 1887 | Weather records |
| Burial | Sat Jan 29, 1887 | Oak Hill Cemetery |
| Funeral | Sun Jan 30, 1887 | Pontiac Bill Poster |
| Obituary printed | Feb 2, 1887 | Pontiac Bill Poster |
The Correct Conclusion
John Powell died in Pontiac on 31 December 1886. He was buried on 29 January 1887 after winter conditions delayed burial for nearly a month.
The newspaper was reporting the burial and funeral, not the legal date of death — which is why the dates appeared to conflict.
In the end, vital records, cemetery logs, newspapers, and even the weather all tell the same story.
Sources
- Sources
1. Oakland County, Michigan — Death Register (1886)
Oakland County Clerk, Return of Deaths, entry for John Powell, Pontiac, dated 31 December 1886; widower, age 88, born New York.
(Original handwritten county register; no 1887 death certificate exists for John Powell.)
2. Oak Hill Cemetery, Pontiac, Michigan — Interment Register
Oak Hill Cemetery sexton’s record for John Powell, showing burial on 29 January 1887.
(Information confirmed directly with cemetery staff via phone call 15 January 2026 by the author.)
3. The Pontiac Bill Poster (Pontiac, Michigan), 2 February 1887
Obituary notice for John Powell, stating he “died last Saturday” and that “funeral services were held Sunday at Amy Church; the remains were brought to Pontiac for burial.”
(“Last Saturday” relative to 2 Feb 1887 = 29 Jan 1887.)
4. The Pontiac Bill Poster, 2 March 1887
Biographical notice of John Powell, stating he “died Feb. 1887 aged 87.”
(This later notice is a typo reflecting the burial/funeral month, not the legal death date.)
5. U.S. Signal Service Weather Records — Windsor Riverside, Ontario (near Detroit & Pontiac)
National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA), Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN-Daily):
December 1886 daily observations, including 31 Dec 1886: high 23°F, low 10°F, 4 inches of snow, documenting frozen ground and active snowfall
January 1887 daily observations, including Jan 29, 1887: high 42°F, low 25°F, no snow, documenting the thaw window that allowed burial and Jan 31, 1887: 6 inches of new snow
The Tumbleweed 