Table of Contents

Introduction

A Brief History

Interesting Landmarks

Stories Section A Section B Section C Section E Section F Section G Section H Section I Blocks Old Survey St. Thomas Mausoleum “Strangers” Ground

St. Thomas Cemetery Company Today

Acknowledgements

Index

98 Introduction

A Brief History

In the early 1800s, Colonel Thomas Talbot received his initial grant of land, which is now Elgin County. He needed to attract settlers to the land.

In 1809, Mahlon Burwell surveyed the Talbot Road from Port Talbot through Southwold, Yarmouth, Malahide and Bayham townships. The road continued westward through Aldborough and Dunwich townships in 1811.

Once the road was complete there was a flood of applicants for land along the Talbot Road. Colonel Talbot persuaded the government that lots along the road should be open for settlers and that the Clergy should be located north and south of Talbot road.

Each settler was responsible for the upkeep of the road in front of his property, as a settlement duty.

The first settlers in 1810 were Daniel Rapelje and David Mandeville, who settled at Talbot Rd and Kettle Creek. These were St. Thomas’ first citizens.

1812 had the settlers laying down their ploughs and taking up muskets as the US declared war on Great Britain. Most of the settlers served in the militia and continued to plant their crops between periods of service.

The summer of 1812 saw victory at Detroit and British control of Lake Erie ensured that no Americans could penetrate the Talbot settlement.

In 1813, the Americans won a battle at Lake Erie and Tecumseh, and the great Shawnee Chieftain was killed. The Americans controlled all of Southwestern Ontario from Chatham to almost Delaware. The Talbot Settlement was in no-man’s land between the British land in the Oxford County area and the American land to the west.

General McArthur led 1000 mounted Kentucky soldiers down the Talbot Road to Long Point area and back destroying the mills and farms along the way; December 24, 1814 a peace treaty was signed at Ghent – the end of the war of 1812.

The community of the Talbot Settlement began to grow. Daniel Rapelje donated land for a church and cemetery in 1820. The Anglican Church

98 began building in 1822 and was finally completed in1824.

In 1833, Thomas Curtis subdivided his lot on the north side of Talbot Street, part of which became the Curtis cemetery.

In 1838, on lot two, concession eight, William Drake’s farm butted on the Gravel Toll Rd (now Sunset Dr). Within a fenced area was laid to rest in peace and majesty his daughter-in-law Margaret, who was married to his son Benjamin. She died in the spring at the age of twenty. What a great tragedy for Williams’s son to lose a wife so young.

In March of 1842 the reading of William Drake will’s stated his wishes emphatically,

“It is my will and desire that a certain part of the above piece of land now fenced off and used as public burying ground be at all time and times hereafter reserved for that use and purpose forever.”

As the city of St. Thomas grew in size, the Curtis Cemetery at the foot of Pearl Street, owned by James Thomas Curtis, fell into disuse. The need for a new cemetery was great. A number of citizens saw this need and formed together to purchase a piece of land as a public burying ground.

Benjamin and Isabella Drake (his second wife) felt this need also within the community and made available to this group, three (plus) acres of land on April 19, 1850. Included in the three acres was the fenced part where Margaret rests and also Sarah Jane, the one-year-old daughter of Benjamin and Isabella. It seems so fitting for the cemetery to begin with this man who had felt many losses in his short life here in St. Thomas.

The Legislature of Upper Canada passed an Act in 1851 to establish the County of Elgin, so following, in 1852 a council for the County of Elgin was appointed and a building was erected on lands donated by Benjamin Drake for a Courthouse and county Seat. Since St. Thomas had received the prestigious honour of being the County Seat, it was incorporated as a village in 1852, with David Parish appointed as the first reeve.

We saw, in 1856, the first railroad from London to Port Stanley; this did not give the city the economic boom that was hoped. However, in 1860 the Canada Southern Railway needed a large piece of land for their station and car shop, they chose Millersburg as the site. They located on Talbot Street near Manitoba St. This was actually between the Village of St. Thomas and its tiny rival town, Millersburg.

Millersburg prospered due to the influx of people to work for the Canadian Southern Railway.

In 1861, St. Thomas was incorporated as a town and M.T. Moore, a prominent tanner, was the first mayor.

98 The businessmen who helped shape the village of St. Thomas also took care of the dead. They incorporated the cemetery as a non-profit cemetery in 1865 with a volunteer board of directors, and thus it remains to this day. The cemetery began with a Board of Trustees of caring citizens - Murdock McKenzie, George Southwick MD, William Ross, James Coyne, Joseph Laing, Archibald McIntyre, Alexander Love and of course, Benjamin Drake.

In 1871 the city of St. Thomas annexed Millersburg and the annexed portion became known as St. David’s Ward. The town had only four buildings between Metcalfe and John St at that point. The new town of St. Thomas truly had a west end and an east end – plus a very empty center. The gap between the two would be filled in the next 20 years.

As we began our journey through time we stand within the gates of the cemetery lovingly constructed under the care of William E. Smith, superintendent of the cemetery in 1925. William designed the pillars and the staff mixed the cement and poured them where they still stand today. Interesting Landmarks

The Oddfellows Monument Location: Source:

Example

The “White Bronze” Monuments Location: Source:

Seven Oaks Location: Source: Warren LeMay, PSGM

The seven oaks planted on the Masonic Plot in a circle.

The circle is a geometric object which symbolizes perfection and has been used to represent the Lodge (where Masons meet), and esoterically signifies the limits to which a Mason can go without compromising his integrity, honor and commitments to the Supreme being family and society.

The seven trees represent the seven liberal arts and sciences that Freemasonry hold in the highest regard – grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.

98 St. Thomas Mausoleum Location: Source:

Example

West Ave Columbarium Location: Source:

Example Stories Section A

Edward G. O’Donnell Location: Section A Plot 22 and 24 b. c.1819 d. April 2 1906 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (22 April 1906 P1 C3).

Edward Gibson O’Donnell was born in Trillick, Tyrone, Ireland in 1819. He came to Canada in 1855 with his family; they settled in Toronto. Following the death of his father in 1858, he went to stay with his mother’s family in Cardwell until he was fifteen years old. Then he went to Peel County, where he learned the blacksmithing trade.

In 1862, Edward served his country in the Fenian Raids. He was a private in the 36th Peel Battalion.

He worked many jobs in many places. He was employed in the Patterson Brothers' agricultural works in Richmond Hill, in Hall's agricultural works in Rochester, N.Y., and in Beaumont & Sons’ tool works, Philadelphia. He then returned to Canada where he worked in the St. Lawrence Foundry in Toronto, Haggart Bros.' agricultural works in Brampton, and was foreman for two years in Thompson & Williams' engine and mill works in Mitchell, ON.

Finally, in 1872, Edward found his calling in St. Thomas. He was employed as a blacksmith at the C.S.R. shops. By 1879, he was appointed foreman of the blacksmith shop, and in 1884 he was appointed foreman of the boiler shop.

Edward was one of the founding members of the Mechanics' Institute. He took an active role in organizing the free library for the city and was part of the Board of License Commissioners for West Elgin in 1892 and 1893.

98 Dr. John T. Pullen Location: Section A Plot 24 b. September 13 1882 d. September 3 1916 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (5 September 1916 P1 C2).

John Tyson “Ty” Pullen was born in St. Thomas to J.T. Pullen, a local grocer. He went to school in St. Thomas and later studied dentistry in Philadelphia. He practiced dentistry for some time before failing health caused him to return to St. Thomas. Here he became associated with the automobile business, working as local representative for Overland automobiles. In this endeavor he was quite successful.

Ty was a popular young man who served as president of the Talbot Club. He died in his early thirties of pneumonia, though he had been in poor health for some time before that. His mother and six siblings were left to mourn him.

A large red granite monument with an angel on top marks his family plot.

Frederick W. Wright Location: Section A Plots 37 and 39 b. c.1858 d. March 1924 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (20 March 1924 P1 C2).

Frederick William Wright was born in Southwold to Thomas B. and Grace M. Wright. As a child he came to St. Thomas with his parents, where he attended school before going off to the Ontario School of Art in Toronto.

He devoted much of his life to making St. Thomas the city it is today. He served as chairman of the both the Widows' Allowance Board and the Board of Education. He was called the "dean of the school board" by many and was an honorary life member. He was also a member of City Council for eleven years, serving as mayor for two years (1897 and 1898).

During his time in office, Balaclava and Wellington Street schools were built. He also took an active role in building a new waterworks system for the city and in having Talbot Street paved. He identified with the Conservative party, taking part in almost all of the elections. Frederick also devoted a great deal of time to caring for children in need. For many years, he was president of the Children’s Aid Society of the city and county.

He worked for the Michigan Central Railroad, serving as foreman of the painting department of the local shops for more than thirty years. He was a member and official of Grace church, a member of the Royal Society of Arts of London, England and was past master of St. David’s Lodge, A.F. and A.M. He was also past noble grand master of St. Thomas Lodge No. 98 76 Independent order of Oddfellows and past chief patriarch of Elgin Encampment no. 20, and past president of the local lodge of the Sons of England.

Frederick was married in 1872 to Margaret Stuart. At the time of his death, there was one daughter living. A large red granite monument with a cathedral top marks his plot.

Herman C. Ponsford Location: Section A Plot 69 b. unrecorded d. July 17 1887 Source: Robert Kirkpatrick. 2004. Their Last Alarm. Burnstown: General Store Publishing House. P16-17

Herman C. Ponsford was killed in a tragic fire caused by a railway collision in St. Thomas in 1887. He was a St. Thomas native who was just 31 years old at the time of his death.

Just after seven o’clock on July 15, 1887, ten railway coach cars packed with people were coming home from a church picnic in Port Stanley. As the train neared the south end of St. Thomas, engineer Harry Donnelly thought that the semaphore signal said that the crossing was clear. As his train crossed the Michigan Central Railway line near Centre and Moore Streets, Harry saw that the way was not actually clear; that he had been confused by a new, not functioning signal. He quickly hit the brakes and reversed his engine, while blowing the train’s whistle to warn people of impending disaster.

The Michigan Central freight train was most of the way through the crossing when the passenger train collided with it at twenty miles per hour. The large steam engine crashed into two cars loaded with oil. The resulting explosion was heard for miles. Ignited oil flowed in all directions, engulfing the coach cars and nearby buildings in flames. Some nine passengers who had not escaped were instantly killed. A space the size of a city block, containing buildings and train cars, was quickly covered in flames.

The St. Thomas Fire Department was fast on the scene. They worked against the flames with inadequate equipment and despite the huge crowds milling about. At around eight o’clock, a tank car ruptured and exploded and burning oil rained down all around. The hundreds of people in the crowd, along with horse-drawn carriages, scattered and ran for their lives. The fire department’s reel horse bolted and ran over Mrs. W. Howarth, who later died. It was a devastating scene.

Herman Ponsford stood atop the roof of the Elliot’s and Reath’s Stables, where he was operating a hose stream. When the oil tank car exploded, a burning sheet of oil fell atop him. He stood, burning from head to toe and leapt twenty feet into the arms of a man named Comfort. He was brought to the Dake house for medical aid, but he knew that he was going

98 to die. Along the way, he said goodbye to his friends. Herman was soon moved to his home, where he died at 6:50 am the next day.

Against the odds, the St. Thomas Fire Department was able to save a great portion of the city. Every member of its force was injured. Eight were in serious condition. The immediate death toll of the accident was fifteen and over a hundred people were hurt.

City Council honoured Herman with a carved tablet, which was placed on display in the St. Thomas Fire Station.

Winfred G. “Leggo” Morden Location: Section A Plot 89 b. c.1898 d. November 11 1961 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Winfred "Leggo" George Morden was born in Wingham and came to St. Thomas in 1923. He began his successful career in baseball as a shortstop, but it was as a pitcher that he really became prominent. He was unpredictable in his pitching style, which made him puzzling to the average batter.

He was married to Jean Morden, and they share a dark pink granite grave marker.

William Foote Location: Section A Plot 235 b. August 3 1848 d. February 26 1935 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (5 February 1935 P1 C3).

William Foote was born in a small frame house at the foot of Talbot Street hill when St. Thomas was just a village in the Kettle Creek Valley. The only time he ever spent away from the city was when he served the St. Thomas Cavalry in Windsor as a recruit for the Fenian Raids.

Around 1873, William joined the Beaver Fire Department. He later became the first paid member of the city fire department when the municipality formed it. One of the early duties of the fire department was to sweep the streets. If there was a fire alarm, they had to abandon their sweeping and quickly rush to the fire station. They had to pull a hand-drawn pump down the streets to the scene of the fire.

No wives were allowed to live at the fire station. William and his wife, Mary Jane Lewis, were married for thirty years before they lived together, spending time together only at dinner. It was not until the municipality formed the paid fire department that William and Mary Jane were able to live together. William worked twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The pay was a reliable $37.50 per month, which he appreciated greatly. 98 William was known for his great sense of humour. He was a member of First United Church and of St. Thomas Council, No.17 I.O.F. He and Mary Jane lived at 15 Elizabeth Street and had two sons together.

William O. Pollock Location: Section A Plot 240 b. June 3 1848 d. May 21 1925 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (21 May 1925 P1 C2-3).

William Oliver Pollock was born in Yarmouth. His father was the master of a lake steamer. He took William aboard his ship for nine years on journeys between Montreal and Chicago. During that time the intermediate ports rarely had harbors and were tended to by what William’s obituary refers to as “half-breeds”.

He was part of the crew that took the Colonel (later Field Marshal) Lord Wolseley part of the way to the second Riel Rebellion. William enlisted himself in 1866 in the Port Stanley Marines and served in the Fenian campaign.

He received a government grant of land in Yarmouth for his services and became a farmer for many years. He was a member of City Council for many years, serving as deputy reeve of Yarmouth of twelve years and becoming warden in 1901. He was credited for being the man who persuaded council to buy the toll rights to the Port Stanley road. In his younger days he was also a county magistrate.

Around 1931, William retired from farming and moved to St. Thomas with his wife, Matilda Broderick, where he stayed for the rest of his days.

William E. Smith Location: Section A Plot 307 b. April 12 1938 d. November 8 1905 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

William E. Smith was the surgeon of the Canada Southern Division of the Michigan Central Railway.

He was born in Norfolk County, a son of D.B. Smith. After attending elementary school he went to Woodstock College. In 1863 he graduated from Victoria College, Toronto. He began a practice in Carlisle and remained there for ten years before coming to St. Thomas in 1872. That year he was appointed surgeon by the railway.

William was chief physician on the Railroad Hospital Association and consulting surgeon of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo railway since its

98 construction. He saved many lives and limbs in his service of the railway. He was known as a kind, gentle person who endeared himself to not just the railway men, but to all who knew him.

Mary E. Crothers (Burns) Location: Section A Plot 377 b. c.1865 d. October 30 1938 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (31 October 1938 P2 C8).

Mary Ellen Crothers was the daughter of Dr. Alonzo and Mrs. Burns of St. Thomas. She married Hon. Thomas W. Crothers in 1883, a young lawyer in St. Thomas at the time. When he was made Minister of Labour in 1911 she went with him to Ottawa, where she remained.

During the Great War, Mary Ellen was earnestly active in the Red Cross Society, where she helped to raise funds to assist organizations overseas. She was a director of the Elizabeth Residence and of the Local Council of Women in Ottawa. She took a leading role in women’s Conservative organizations in both Ottawa and St. Thomas.

Mary Ellen was a lover of music and was one of the first students to enroll at Alma College to study it. She was known for being a delightful hostess. She was active in the St. Thomas Chapter of the I.O.D.E. and of the Benevolent and Temperance Society, which was an early form of welfare for the city of St. Thomas.

Hon. Thomas W. Crothers Location: Section A Plot 377 b. c.1850 d. December 1921 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (15 December 1921).

Thomas Wilson Crothers was born in Northport, Prince Edward County to William Crothers and Nancy Gray Crothers. He went to school there and earned his B.A. at Albert College in Belleville. He then taught and was headmaster of the Wardsville Public School. He then went into the law office of Foy, Tupper and Macdonald in Toronto, later studying in the office of Bethune, Osler and Mass.

On April 1, 1880 he began a law practice in St. Thomas. He then entered politics at an early age, first heard as a speaker in St. Thomas in 1878 while still a law student in Toronto. A year later he was nominated for the Legislature in West Elgin, only to be defeated by eleven votes. He became a speaker in the interests of other candidates, not running again until 1908. This time he won. He was elected again in 1911 and became Minister of Labour. Again he was re-elected in 1917 and continued to serve until poor health forced his retirement in 1918.

Thomas took a keen interest in matters of education. He was a member 98 of the St. Thomas Board of Education and the Board of Control of Toronto University. His greatest achievement for education was his investigation into the cost of high school textbooks, through which it was made possible to reduce their prices.

He was married to Mary E. Burns on July 26, 1883. He was called to the Canadian Senate in October of 1921, and died in office just two months later.

Arthur E. Spencer Location: Section A Plot 400 b. July 10 189 d. April 26 1944 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (27 April 1944 P14 c4).

Arthur Earl Spencer was born in Hepworth, ON., to William and Susan (Babcock) Spencer. He spent his youth in Owen Sound, Fort William and Port McNicholl.

It was in Port McNicholl that Arthur entered the service of the Canadian Pacific Great Lakes service, a position he held for twenty-three years. He was in charge of the catering and cuisine on C.P.R. Great Lakes passenger boats. In 1936 he left that job to take over the management of the Greyhound Post House in Talbotville. He came to St. Thomas in the last years of his life to work for the New York Central Railroad.

In the short amount of time he spent in St. Thomas, Arthur became a widely known citizen. He was a member of the Optimist and the St. Thomas Lions Clubs, Knox church, and of the Lodge. In Kitchener, he had been a past master of Earl Kitchener Lodge No.538, and he was affiliated with the lodges in St. Thomas as well.

His wife, Hilda S. Ross, and a son survived Arthur.

Alina Lamont (Whitenberg) Location: Section A Plot 416 ½ b. May 5 1882 d. January 28 1936 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (28 January 1936 P7 C2-3).

Alina Lamont (Whitenberg) was born in Waterloo and lived in London until she came to St. Thomas for the last thirty years of her life. She married John D. Lamont, proprietor of the Empire Hotel and shared in the responsibilities of managing it with him. She was known as an excellent businesswoman, a fluent speaker, an intellectual and a gracious person in general.

She presided over the arrangements for numerous dinners, luncheons and weddings at the Empire Hotel and was part of a number of organizations throughout the area and province. She was corresponding secretary for the Local Council of Women for fifteen years, later vice president, and at 98 the time of her death an honorary vice president and life member. She was also treasurer of the Ontario Provincial Council of Women for eight years.

In 1930, she attended the meeting of the International Council of Women in Vienna, Austria as one of the Canadian delegates, where she represented the Ontario Council of Women. She gave many interesting addresses on her trip and the convention upon her return.

Alina was a member of the Old Age Pension Board and was secretary of the peace celebrations in St. Thomas at the end of the war. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in St. Thomas and of the Women’s Canadian Club in London. She also served as vice president of the Western Ontario Women’s Conservative Association.

Hugh J. McIntyre Location: Section A Plot 455. b. September 30 1936 d. December 6 2004 Source: Martin, Sandra. “Hugh McIntyre was a Librarian”. “Obits”. Dec 24 2004. http://juggernautco.typepad.com/obits/2004/12/hugh_mcintyre_w.html

Hugh John McIntyre was born in St. Thomas. He studied philosophy at the University of Western Ontario and library science at the University of Toronto before becoming a public librarian for thirty years.

His real "claim to fame" was his forty-year involvement with the famous Nihilist Spasm Band, of London, ON. The group, which Hugh co-founded, made "noise" music. Hugh played a homemade electric bass, which looked like a stick of wood with strings on it. The music was totally improvisational, with patterns coming out of chaos. The band recorded many albums, toured Japan in the middle of the 1990s and played at various venues throughout North America. They headlined the No Music Festivals from 1998-2003.

While the “noise” music might not have been to everyone’s taste, many famous musicians and artists loved the band. In 1999, Thurston Moore, of Sonic Youth, said of aspiring rock stars that "there's no way they can ever attain the majesty that Hugh has on stage." Ben Portis, curator of the Art Gallery of Ontario, said that the band was "among the best in the world." Another fan was the band REM, who asked to play with them at their London concert in 2003. This was the last time that Hugh, who was by then in poor health, played in public.

Hugh was a big man with piercing blue eyes, a long white beard and a quiet demeanour. However, he could speak for hours on topics that interested him. Isabel Huggan, a prize-winning Canadian author, remembered sharing some of her early poetry with him in the 1960s. "These are really pretty bad," he said in a "tone of such regret and such affection that I still regard that moment as the best rejection I've ever had. Slowly we went through the poems and he showed me what utter 98 crap they were, and yet he did so without discouraging me from ever writing again."

Hugh was also co-founder and publisher of Twenty Cents Magazine, one of the first do-it-yourself 'zines. This served to promote the work of London artists. It featured many artists who later rose to prominence, such as Michael Ondaatje and Denis Tourbin.

Hugh never married. His band members and their relatives were his family. Section B

William B. Doherty Location: Section B Plot 31-33 b. October 29 1854 d. March 1298 Source: St. Thomas Times-Journal (14 March 1928 P1 C6-7).

William Burton Doherty, called Burt by his friends, was born in London, Ontario to William and Margaret (Burton) Doherty who came from County Monaghan, Ireland around 1845. The family moved to St. Thomas in 1865. William went to school here and studied law in the office of Edward Horton. He was called to the bar four years later. For several years he was in partnership with John Farley but later practiced alone and was quite successful.

When Henry F. Ellis died in 1895, William took over his position as solicitor and clerk to the city. He still continued with his private practice, but the interests of the city became his largest concern. His opinions on municipal policy grew to be quite highly regarded at the Parliament Buildings in Toronto. In 1880 the University of Toronto honoured him with a Bachelors’ degree in Law. In 1894 the University of Trinity College gave him a doctorate in civil law. He was a great admirer of John A. McDonald and James P. Whitney.

Burt spoke at the opening of the Memorial Hospital as well as at many other civic gatherings. He was, in earlier years, a part of Masonic circles: past master of St. Thomas Lodge No. 4, A.F. and A.M., a past district deputy, a master of Nineveh Council of Select Ministers, a Grand Officer of the Grand Council of Commanders and a Knight Templar.

He was a member of Trinity Church and was married to Louisa Parish. At the time of his death he left two sons and a daughter to mourn him.

Arthur A. Luton Location: Section B Plot 230 and 232 b. March 25 1870 d. November 17 1947 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (17 November 1947 P16 C2). 98 Arthur Augustus Luton was born into a pioneer family in Yarmouth, to Daniel and Emma Luton. He spent his youth on the farm, but soon took a position with the government. He eventually became inspector of Weights and Measures for the Ontario Government. He retired in 1936.

He lived for many years on Port Stanley and was married to Winnifred Marlatt. He was a member of First United Church and the local Lodge. Upon his death he was interred in the Luton family mausoleum.

James Wilson Location: Section B Plot 297 b. September 13 1851 d. July 20 1878 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

James Wilson was yardmaster at the Air Line Station. He lived in a cottage on John Street and was a part of the Masons. He drowned tragically in Kettle Creek when he was just twenty-six years old, leaving a wife to mourn him.

An article in the St. Thomas newspaper details the tragic event. He went swimming with Lewis Jones, a switchman, at around six o’clock on a Saturday night. Lewis jumped in and swam across, the depth being about nine feet and the width of the water being about forty or fifty feet across.

Once Lewis reached the other side, he noticed that James was struggling to stay above the water, and swam to rescue him.

Unfortunately, James frantically caught his arm and struggled with him so much that both men nearly drowned. Lewis was able to extricate himself and reach the shore, but James never resurfaced.

James’ stone reads that James was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland and drowned while bathing at St. Thomas. It reads “a faithful friend, companion dear / A loving brother lieth here / Great is the loss that we sustain /

Sacred / to the memory of / James WILSON / born at Hamilton / Lanarkshire Scotland / Sept. 13, 1851 / Drowned while bathing / at St. Thomas, Ont. / July 20, 1878 / A faithful friend. companion dear / A loving brother lieth here / Great is the loss that we sustain / But hope in Heaven to meet again WILSON

Mitchell Hepburn (Senior) Location: Section B Plot 303 b. July 21 1833 d. October 1921 Source: St Thomas Times-Journal (16 October 1922 P1 C5-6).

98 Mitchell Hepburn was born in Fifeshire, Scotland of Highland Scottish parentage. Along with fourteen relatives, he left Dundee in July of 1843, sailing over the perilous seas to land in Quebec. From there, the party continued by boat and portage over Lakes Erie and Ontario, reaching Port Stanley in October of 1943. At the time, Port Stanley was a thriving international town and St. Thomas was a small hamlet with a few small houses, a tavern in the woods and a general store. He was the last living member of that travelling party by the time he died in his ninetieth year.

Upon arriving here the family bought farmland on the Gravel Road and built homes there. They were among the area's first road-builders, and Mitchell’s grandfather was the known for being the second to be buried at the St. Thomas Cemetery. Mitchell eventually became on the most successful farmers in the area, taking great pride in his crops, buildings and livestock.

Mitchell was a Liberal in politics and was always willing to assist in a worthy cause. He is remembered for having given $1000 to the Elgin County Patriotic Fund. He was married twice, once to Eliza Johnson who died twenty-eight years before him. His second wife was Elva Waite. At the time of his death he had a son and two grandchildren. One of his grandchildren was Mitchell F. Hepburn junior, who became the eleventh premier of Ontario.

Mitchell F. Hepburn Location: Section B Plot 302 and 304 b. August 12 1896 d. January 5 1953 Sources: Saywell, John T. 1991. “Just Call Me Mitch": The Life of Mitchell F. Hepburn, and The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Hepburn, Mitchell Frederick.” 2010. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA 0003717

Mitchell “Mitch” Frederick Hepburn was a St. Thomas man who rose to prominence as premier of Ontario from 1934-1942. In his younger days he was a well-liked farmer and served in the Royal Air Force in World War I. He was married to Eva Maxine Burton.

In the 1926 federal election, Mitch won a narrow victory in the Elgin-West riding. He was re-elected by a good majority in 1930. That same year he was elected the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. He allied with the Progressives and tried to solve the issues that divided the two parties. He won the provincial election in 1934 by an overwhelming victory. He improved labour legislation, closed the Lieutenant Governor’s residence and helped the iron-ore industry, as well as made the pasteurization of milk compulsory.

In 1937, there was a strike at General Motors in Oshawa. The workers wanted to unionize, have eight-hour workdays, and a seniority system. Mitch was opposed to unionization. When Canada’s Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, refused to send the RCMP to put down the strike,

98 Mitch organized a volunteer police force. This caused a falling-out between Mitch and the Prime Minister. In 1940, Mitch passed a resolution in the Ontario legislature that criticized King’s war efforts. King then called and won an election. The struggle between the two men eventually caused Mitch to resign from his seat in 1942.

A new public school in St. Thomas was named after Mitch in 2008.

Frederick Doggett Location: Section B Plot 312 b. February 5 1859 d. October 29 1921 Source: St Thomas Daily Times (10 May 1906).

Frederick Doggett was born in Bath, Somerset, England and came to Canada in 1873. He spent a year in Stratford and London before finally settling in St. Thomas and beginning a stone and granite business. He was known for his fancy stonework. Perhaps it was the Roman Baths in his native town that inspired him. He was responsible for many of the monuments that sit here at the St. Thomas Cemetery.

Frederick Doggett contributed to the development of St. Thomas in many ways. He was, for a term, chairman of the Board of Education, a fire-fighter for fourteen years, fire chief for two years, and served various civic bodies totaling 35 years altogether. He was also connected with many fraternal organizations, serving as Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Ontario, past Grand Representative of the Sovereign Grand Lodge and a member of various other groups.

He was an avid curler and past president of the Granite Curling Club. In his later years he disposed of his granite business and began a seed and nursery firm. He was married to Helena Fewings and they had five daughters and two sons together.

John Frederick Green Location: Section B Plot 313 b. c.1907 d. January 30 2004 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

John "Fred" Green graduated from the architecture program at the University of Toronto in 1927. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 and served overseas in submarine patrol, rising to the rank of Wing Commander. King George VI honoured him with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He returned to St. Thomas after the war to take up the profession for which he had studied. He designed many buildings in the area, including the Memorial Arena, the Curling Club, Central Elgin Collegiate and Valleyview Nursing Home. He was supervising architect for the Elgin General Hospital and the Ontario Police Academy 98 Fred was closely associated with the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was a founding member of the Elgin Military Museum and a life member of the Royal Military Institute of Toronto. He lived to be ninety-six years old. Over a hundred friends and family, at a celebration at the Elgin Military Museum, honoured his memory following his death.

Frederick W. Cowley Location: Section B Plot 313 b. February 1862 d. 13 December 1932 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (December 1932)

Frederick William Cowley was born in Windsor and attended the Barracks School there. He began his career as brakeman with the M.C.R. Railroad in 1883. He was promoted to freight conductor and then to passenger conductor. Within eight years he was night Train master. During the war years, Frederick was divisional superintendent in charge of transporting troops and army supplies by train. He served the railroad in various capacities for fifty-one years.

Frederick believed in the importance of railway brotherhood organizations. He was one of the promoters of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen for many years, before withdrawing to join the Order of Railway Conductors. He was also a member of the local lodge and a supporter of Central United Church.

After his retirement, Frederick and his wife, the former Miss Carrie Estelle Leach, traveled to London, England to visit their son. Upon their return to St. Thomas, he accepted a nomination for city alderman. He headed the polls with the largest number of votes ever given to an aldermanic candidate in the city.

He was president of the Michigan Central Pioneer Association and became involved with the Board of Heath and the St. Thomas Special Relief Committee. In fact, the heart attack that caused his death occurred when he was in the basement of City Hall, lifting boxes of goods to be taken to the needy.

At the time of his death, he and his wife had a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.

Philip S. Minshall Location: Section B Plot 368 and 370 b. c.1870 d. March 1931 Source: St Thomas Daily Times (27 March 1931 P1 & 9 C3-5).

Philip Samuel “Phil” Minshall was born in Thamesville and moved to St. Thomas when he was nine. His father, John B. Minshall, worked in the

98 C.N.R. Wabash shops for many years. Philip himself was educated in St. Thomas and studied tin-smithing under John Risdon. Following this he worked on the Michigan Central Railroad for 24 years as foreman of the tin-smithing department.

The dawn of motion picture entertainment was of great interest to Philip, who saw many possibilities in the new medium. S.B. Harder had opened the Star Theatre in a small building east of the old Y.M.C.A. Philip bought the theatre from him and operated it for three years before he needed to build a new, larger theatre to accommodate all his patrons.

He built a theatre on Talbot Street (near Southwick Street), which later became known as the Tivoli Theatre. He booked many motion pictures to the city as well as many road productions, including light operas and musical extravaganzas presented by English companies. He also encouraged local productions within the city and donated generously of his theatre to good causes.

He ran the theatre until about 1924. He then became associated with the Supertest Petroleum Corporation in London, Ontario. He brought the product to St. Thomas and helped manage the plants in St. Thomas for a time. He was still associated there at the time of his death.

Phil was a 32nd Degree Mason and was past master of the local lodge and held many high titles within masonry. He was very interested in the local progress of Masonry, and for the last six years of his life was in complete charge of the Masonic Temple duties.

He attended the Church of Christ Disciples and had served as deacon at the Princess Avenue church. He was married to Ida Ann Minshall (1872-1954).

It was believed that Philip died of injuries he sustained after falling through a trapdoor in his theatre. Section C

James A. Fewings Location: Section C Plot 7 and 9 b. March 7 1834 d. November 20 1907 Source: St Thomas Daily Times (20 November 1907 P1 C1-2).

James Angell Fewings hailed from Hatherley Devonshire, England. Before coming to Canada, he was an officer for four years in the militia during the Crimean War. He was first a corporal and then a sergeant and was stationed in various parts of England, Wales and Ireland. He attended the Hatherley English Church there and was, for many years, leader of the

98 surplice choir.

He came to St. Thomas in 1861. He did whatever he could to make an honest living, working as a contractor in various lines. In 1868 he was made constable of Elgin County and in 1877 he became chief of police of St. Thomas. He stayed in that position for thirty-seven years. In 1881, he was appointed county constable in Middlesex, Norfolk, Kent, Lincoln, Lambton, Welland and Essex.

He was known for being a gifted detective. He made many clever captures of notorious criminals. James had the difficult task of doing his job in a town that went from a small village to a well situated and booming railway town during his time in office. He was commended for having somehow maintained good relations with everyone during his long career.

James was married to Jane Fewings and they had two daughters and a son. At the time of his death he also had a number of grandchildren. He died two years to the day after his retirement.

Thomas Hortop Location: Section C Plot 36 b. August 9 1861 d. August 28 1910 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (29 August 1910 P1 C5).

Thomas Hortop was a well-known local livery stable keeper and horseman for twenty-five years. His business was known as one of the largest and best-kept stables in this part of Ontario. He was a great judge of horses and kept many for showing. His obituary states that he was a straightforward and honest businessman without a single enemy.

He was born in Devon, England and came here with his parents. He was a member of Court Elgin, A.O.F. and of Antiquity Lodge No.1 A.O.U.W. He was married to Mary E. Hortop, and was survived by two sons and a daughter.

Dora Curtis (Ferguson) Location: Section C Plot 43 b. August 26 1871 d. April 24 1963 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (24 April 1963).

Dora Ferguson was born in Caradoc Township near Strathroy to James and Caroline (Corneil) Ferguson, natives of Devon, England and owners of Fairview Farms. She came to St. Thomas when she married Dr. James D. Curtis and became a prominent member of the local community.

She was leader of the Central Group of the Ladies' Aid and a member of the Women's Association at Trinity Anglican Church. She was a graduate

98 of Alma College, and a life member of the Alma Daughters. For nine years she was president and charter member of the Senior Women’s Hospital Aid. She was honorary member of the Women’s Art Association. On the fiftieth anniversary of the St. Thomas Chapter of the International Order Daughters of the Empire, Dora was honoured as one of the charter members.

Dora was known for being a kind, gentle person who preferred to stay out of the spotlight and do things quietly. At the time of her death, she had one daughter, one son and three grandchildren.

James D. Curtis Location: Section C Plot 43 b. October 16 1868 d. January 1967 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

James Davis Curtis was born in Southwold to John and Mary (Davis) Curtis. He was a teacher for year before he realized that medicine was his true calling. He went to the University of Toronto Medical Faculty and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine in 1894 before opening a practice in St. Thomas. He later studied surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

He went overseas in 1914 and served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War I. For a year, he was medical officer to the Workmen's Compensation Board in Toronto. In 1925 he was honoured with a degree by the American College of Surgeons for his services to humanity. He became an honorary member of the Ontario Medical Association in 1949.

During his many years as a doctor, James delivered around 3000 babies. He also performed or assisted with thousands of surgeries in all three of St. Thomas’ hospitals: Amasa Wood, Memorial and Elgin General. He saw the Amasa Wood hospital enlarged, was a member of the board when memorial was built, and was influential in the designing and construction of the Elgin General.

James also served as alderman for six years. As chairman for the Board of Health, he was instrumental in setting up a garbage collection program. As chairman of the Board of Works, he implemented extensive street improvements. For many years he was a director of the Chamber of Commerce, taking special interest in the welfare of veterans. He was the first president of Branch 41, Canadian Legion.

He attended Trinity Anglican Church and supported the Conservative party. He was an avid golfer, having been part of the formation of the Elgin Golf and Country Club. He was the first doctor in town replace his horse and buggy with a car. He also wrote a book called “St. Thomas and Elgin Medical Men of the Past”.

98 He was still practicing medicine on his ninetieth birthday, which quite possibly made him the oldest practicing doctor in Canada. He was married to Dora Ferguson and they had two children together- a daughter and a son who also became a physician.

William R. Jackson Location: Section C Plot 51 & 53 b. c.1860 d. July 1930 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (28 July 1930 P1 C3,4,7).

William Rollin Jackson was born in St. Thomas to William and Adelaide (Lewis) Jackson. He went to both public and collegiate schools in St. Thomas before going to the Michigan Military Academy in Pontiac.

Following this, he went to Toronto to work in a high-end jewelry store. He then returned to St. Thomas to establish a jewelry store of his own, W.R. Jackson, Limited. "Jackson's Limited" became a household name in Elgin County and was a prestigious, high-end shop.

William was also a large property owner. He was in the partnership that launched the Grand Central Hotel, of which he later became the sole proprietor. He was a member of the Lodge and of Trinity Anglican Church.

After his retirement, he dedicated most of his time to the management of his property and to his gardens. His home was at 91 Metcalfe, and his gardens were described as a “bower of beauty”.

He was married twice: first to Jennie Radcliffe and then to Tillie Griffin Pewes. A son, a daughter and three grandchildren survived him

Henry Roe Location: Section C Plot 59 and 61 b. June 11 1866 d. June 7 1942 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (8 June 1942 P1 C8).

Henry Roe's death notice reads that his passing was "Like the Closing of an Interesting Chapter in the History of St. Thomas". He was born at the south end of Metcalfe Street at "Woodlawn", the old Roe residence. His father, Charles Roe was one of the first to settle in St. Thomas and was one of its first businessmen. He dealt in the buying and shipping of grain and owned a large grain elevator adjoining the London and Port Stanley Railway Tracks on Talbot Street. He also operated locations in Payne’s Mills and Lawrence Station.

Henry’s career was quite varied and interesting. He went to school in St. Thomas before becoming a clerk in his father’s business in 1881, when he was seventeen. Later on, he worked in the stock broking business with his uncle, W.K. Kains. Between 1886 and 1888 he was local manager for Cox & Co. stock exchange and later for Doran and Wright, both located on 98 Talbot Street.

In 1888 he became timekeeper for the Michigan Central Railroad on the Oil Springs branch extension. He was transferred to the engineering department in that same year, and entered the road master’s office in West Bay City, Michigan. He was promoted to the road master’s office in St. Thomas, where he stayed until 1902. That year he began a general insurance and real estate business, taking the agency of the Canada Life Insurance Company. He continued that work until his retirement.

Henry was known for being a talented actor, particularly in comedic drama. He took part in many amateur theatrical productions. He was a member of the St. Thomas Board Of Education for many years, serving as chairman in 1912. He was also a member of the Public Library and St. Thomas Cemetery boards for many years. Henry was the first president of the St. Thomas Talbot Club and was one of the organizers of the St. Thomas Camera Club.

He was a member of Trinity Church, and served as its warden and layman for a time. He also took an interest in the preservation of the Old St. Thomas Church, which he had attended as a youth. He used to have the job of pumping the original organ, which stood in the choir loft. During that time, Harry C. Hindmarsh, vice president of the Toronto Star Publishing Company, was organist.

He was also very active in the Masonic circles, having been past master of the St. Thomas Lodge No.44, past potentate of Mocha Temple Shrine, past commander of the Royal Arch Masons, and past deputy grand chancellor of the Knights of the Pythias. He was grand superintendent of Royal Arch Masons, member of the Great Priory, Knights Templar, and Provincial commander of the Knights of Maccabees. At one point, Henry held the executive chair in five different fraternal societies.

He was considered one of the best penmen in Western Ontario, having Henry held a wealth of knowledge about early St. Thomas, and was the source of many historical articles written in the Times Journal during his time. He was a collector of letters and autographs from interesting men and women and an amateur photographer. He had many rare photographs of St. Thomas and the surrounding area. He also loved to travel, having spent almost four months in Europe in 1901 and also having travelled the West Indies.

He was married to Ethel Roe and they lived at 59 Metcalfe. There were two daughters living at the time of Henry’s death.

John M. Green Location: Section C Plot 65 b. June 21, 1845 d. February 19 1904 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

98 John McNab Green was born north of London, ON. His parents both died by the time he was thirteen, leaving him with three older sisters. He worked on farms for a few years, taking his education by night in a log schoolhouse. At a young age he began working as a carpenter for Thomas Green of London. He came to St. Thomas in 1871 to take charge of the carpenter work for Thomas Christie.

In the year that followed his arrival in St. Thomas, John began to contract for himself and built a small factory on the corner of White and Talbot Streets. It was a successful endeavour; he later enlarged the building and added many lumberyards. That building was destroyed by a fire in 1893- a heavy loss for John- but undeterred, he built a three-story brick building on the site, which was still in operation at the time of his death. in 1902 the business was incorporated under the name of J.M. Green and Sons, Ltd.

In 1891, he married Inez Harriet Parish of New York. They lived for a few years on the site where the Grand Central Hotel was later built, and then in a fine residence on Yarmouth Heights. A year before he died he took up residence on Roseberry place. The couple had nine children together.

Daniel Ferguson Location: Section C Plot 66 and 68 b. February 21 1845 d. February 4 1940 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (6 February 1940 P14 c3-4).

Daniel Ferguson was born to James and Janet (Jardine) Ferguson, a pioneer family in St. Thomas. He became an early businessman in the city, going into the grocery business and later opening a boot and shoe store. He was appointed customs collector in 1901. He also served on City Council as chairman of the finance committee.

It was during his time in service that a new waterworks plant was built as well as the eastern section of the city’s sewage system. He took a leading role in the sale of land to London for the railway to Port Stanley by St. Thomas and was a member of the first board of governors for the Amasa Wood Hospital. He served on the public library boards for more than thirty years.

When the famous sailing vessel called the Mary Roe was under construction in Port Bruce, he was the young man who carried the boat builders' pay to them from St. Thomas, alone over the pioneer roads on horseback. He worked for the Roe brothers until the Fenian invasion of Canada threatened. He became one of the first to enlist, and was stationed in Sarnia in the same company as James H. Coyne. After the raids he became joint manager of a large cotton plantation in Tennessee for five years.

Daniel was a member of the St. Thomas Rifle Corps and a member of the 98 volunteer fire brigade. He attended Knox Church and was a member of the church board when the church on Hincks Street was built. He was also a part of the Independent Order of the Oddfellows, the Sons of Scotland, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World.

He was married in 1875 to Emily Philips of St. Thomas, and they made their residence at 36 Owaissa Street. Together they had four daughters and two sons. By the time of his death at the age of 94, he had thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Frederick Westover Location: Section C Plot 178 and 180 b. c. 1900 d. June 1926 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (14 June 1926 P1 c2-3).

Frederick Westover’s story is a sad one. The Canadian War Veteran was only twenty-six years old when he died on a motor trip to Louisville, KY. There he had taken a temporary job with the Arctic Ice Company as a stationery engineer.

On the day of his death, he left his rooming house to call on the son of his landlady. While sitting in front of the building in his Ford coupe, a man ran up to him, pulled out a gun and shot him three times. He died that evening.

The gunman was Richard Karr, 28-year-old employee of the Louisville and Interurban Railroad Company. He said that a strange man had been stalking his wife, Donnie, for several days and had insisted on meeting her at the same spot where Frederick parked his car.

It was a sad mistake that ended this man's young life. His body was returned to St. Thomas for interment.

Effie J. Howe (Ellwood) Location: Section C Plot 208 b. c. 1867 d. February 20, 1895 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Effie J. Howe was born around 1867 and was the daughter of A. Ellwood, an employee of the M.C.R. store department. She was married to Albert Howe, a Talbot Street tobacconist, for just six years before she died suddenly at the age of 28. She was taken suddenly with a severe chill, followed by inflammation, which caused her death. She had three small children at the time, ranging in ages from five years to eight months. A unique triangular-shaped marker marks her burial spot.

Hazel M. Leakey (Hendershott) Location: Section C Plot 288

98 b. c.1898 d. March 28 1936 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (28 March 1936)

Hazel Maud Leakey (nee Hendershott) was born in Fingal and came to St. Thomas with her parents when she was fourteen years old. She remained here until failing health forced her to move in with her sister in London a year before her death.

Hazel was widely known for her beautiful soprano singing voice. She was soloist for Grace United Church as well as St. Andrew’s Church in Windsor for many years. She was active in various musical circles and sang in many concerts and social gatherings in her times. In 1928, she won the gold medal at the Eistedfodd festival in Hamilton as well as the Eistedfodd in Wilkesbarre, Pa.

She was married to Edgar A. Leakey and was survived by one son. She was only thirty-six when she died.

William R. Bear Location: Section C Plot 331 b. 1889 d. May 5 1947 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (5 May 1947 P7 C6).

William Richard Bear was a lifelong resident of St. Thomas and a veteran of the First World War. He was born in St. Thomas to William and Olive Bear and was employed in the C.N.R. Wabash shops for a few years before changing to the M.C.R. shops. Soon after he enlisted with the 91st Battalion and went overseas. He was discharged in 1919 and returned to work in the New York Central shops, where he remained employed for the rest of his life. He died quite suddenly while at work in the New York Central roundhouse. William was a member of the Anglican Church, the International Association of Machinists, the 91st Battalion Association and the Canadian Legion. William was married and lived at 61 Wellington Street. At the time of his death they had two sons and a daughter together, as well as four grandchildren.

John Mackenzie Location: Section C Plot 360 b. July 25 1851 d. June 9 1910 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (9 June 1910 P1 C1-2).

John Mackenzie was a native of Zorra. He became one of the best-known men in St. Thomas, being particularly well known to the railroaders. For about 28 years, he was employed with the Canada Southern Railway. He served as bailiff of the second and third division courts of the county of Elgin for the last twelve years of his life. 98 John was married twice, and his second wife, formerly Miss Smale, survived him along with two young daughters. Their residence was at 50 Gladstone Avenue. He was a member of Central Methodist Church and secretary-treasurer of the St. Thomas division of the Order of Railway Conductors.

John W. Roberts Location: Section C Plot 363 b. c.1862 d. February 24 1935 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (25 Feb 1935 P12 C3).

John West Roberts was born in Cornwall, England and lived in St. Thomas for forty-five years. He was a tailor by trade, for twenty-five years in business with A. McPherson and later conducting his own shop at 4 Flora Street.

John contributed in many ways to the development of St. Thomas. He was for many years until his death secretary of the St. Thomas Cemetery Board. He was re-elected to this position many times. He was also secretary to the Tailors' Union, Lodge Chester, Sons of England and a member of Central United Church.

He resided at 34 West Ave and had four sons at the time of his death. Section E

Elmo G. Sherk Location: Section E Plot 3 and 4 b. December 14 1879 d. March 15 1923 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (15 March 1928 P 18 C 3)

Elmo G. Sherk was the only son of John and Martha Sherk and was born in South Dorchester. Around 1921 he came to St. Thomas with his mother, making his residence on St. George Street, where he remained until his death. For many years, Elmo was a traveler for the International Harvester Company. Later on he became a skilled mechanic in the garage of J. T. Webster.

He married Mary N. Taylor in 1906. He was a member of Knox Church as well as the local lodge. Two daughters survived him. A small red block stone marks his grave.

Matthew Gilbert Location: Gilbert Family Mausoleum. Section E Plot 1-4 98 b. January 29 1822 d. June 29 1907 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Matthew Gilbert was a native of Devonshire, England, who came here with his parents and four brothers in 1831. They settled and lived on the Edgeware road in Yarmouth, where Matthew lived for seventy-six years.

Matthew took an interest in politics and served on City Council for many years, having been elected in 1953. In 1860 and 1861 he served as reeve for the township of Yarmouth. He also served as magistrate of the county from 1861 until his death. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Mapleton for nearly fifty years.

He married Janie Campbell in 1816. They had three children together. He is interred in the Gilbert family mausoleum.

James H. Westlake Location: Section E Plot 5 and 6 b. c.1855 d. February 28 1914 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (March 2 1914).

James H. Westlake was born in Yarmouth, the son of George Westlake, owner of the Daniel Black farm. James lived there his whole life and was involved in municipal politics. He served as councilor for three years, during which time he became well known as a leading agriculturalist and a good friend. He attended the Yarmouth Centre Methodist Church and was active in the St. Thomas Lodge.

James died tragically on March 2, 1914. He was driving a wagon of lumber on the Edgeware Road, with the intent of using to build a barn. It was thought that in the gathering dark he drove his team too close to the edge of the road. The cart overturned and buried him. His wife and two daughters survived him.

A large pink granite stone on a double gray granite base with an urn on top marks James’ family plot.

Samuel Pearce/The Pearce-Williams Family Location: Section E Plot 25 b. c.1879 d. 1 October 1972 Source: Jones, Kristie. 2004-2010. “50 Years at Pearce Williams” Port Stanley News.com. http://www.portstanleynews.com/details/headline.aspx?menu=1024_News_News_ 50+Years+at+Pearce+Williams+Christian+Centre

Samuel Pearce was the grandson of Samuel Williams, the original owner of the property that is now Pearce Williams Christian Camp.

98 Samuel Williams had sold the property to Thomas Pearce, his son in law, in 1868. The family was deeply spiritual, and Thomas’ wife, Marinda (Williams) Pearce began a Sunday school in the farmhouse.

Thomas eventually sold the property to their son, Samuel Pearce. In turn, Samuel sold the property to the Elgin Presbytery of the United Church of Canada in 1960. His one stipulation was that the Bible be read daily on the property.

The Pearce-Williams Centre’s first overnight camp was held from June 29th to July 2nd, 1961. It remains to the present a beloved children’s camp.

Freeman Ellison Location: Section E Plot 33-34 b. c.1834 d. March 12 1899 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Freeman Ellison was the son of John Ellison of Yarmouth and was a local coal and lumber merchant as well as a member of City Council for many years. He was an honorary member of the Lodge and survived by three sons and three daughters. A large pink 4-sided column granite stone marks the Ellison plot.

Joseph Griffin Location: Section E. Plot 37 and 38 b. c.1839 d. May 18 1911 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (18 October 1943).

It was said of Joseph Griffin that “St Thomas had no more productive citizen” (St Thomas Times Journal Oct 18, 1943). He founded the successful Griffin Coal and Ice Company, which celebrated its golden anniversary in 1922. The company was founded when St Thomas was just a small town, and grew in prosperity alongside it. The ice department of their business was incorporated in 1897, when a small icehouse was built on the north shore of Pinafore Lake. As demand increased, so did their business and they had to build a larger house. They also dealt in coal, which they hauled in from Buffalo by train.

He was also the first person in St Thomas to have a telephone. He was known as an excellent employer- two of his employees had been there more than 25 years in 1922. Joseph was on the Board of Management of Alma College, The Free Library Board, water commissioner, trustee of the First Methodist Church, and a charter member of Lodge 76 of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. He was killed in an elevator accident in San Francisco in 1910.

Joseph’s son, Frank Griffin was active in the family business and in the community, just like his father. He married Isabelle Smith of Sparta, and they had three children, one who later became a doctor. The descendants 98 of the Griffin family still live in the same house that Joseph took such pride in.

The Griffin plot features an eleven-foot tall, grey granite monument with a pedestal, cross, and a five-foot tall meditating angel. The Griffin Angel, who watches over our cemetery near the West Ave gates, came to rest there sometime between 1893 and 1910. She is renowned for her angelic beauty.

The Griffin angel remains a public fixture in St Thomas just as Joseph was in life.

William E. Idsardi Location: Section E Plot 39 b. c.1844 d. 1929 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (3 July 1929 P7 C3), and St. Thomas Public Library. June 2010. “St. Thomas Public Library History”. http://www.st-thomas.library.on.ca/index.php/Library/History

William Ebas Idsardi was a prominent citizen of St. Thomas, serving as its mayor from 1895-1896. He was a businessman in town for sixty years and part of the Masonic order. He sold the land behind City Hall to build a public library in 1904 for $1500.

He was married to Margaret Idsardi (1852-1914) and they had a son together. A large gray granite stone marks their family plot.

Dr. Archibald Leitch Location: Section E Plot 44 b. December 25 1846 d. March 9 1927 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (10 March 1927 P1 C2).

Archibald Leitch was born to Donald and Nancy (Campbell) Leitch on Christmas Day, 1846. He was raised in North Yarmouth but came to St. Thomas when he was 21 as acting deputy registrar of deeds under John McKay. He did that for seven years before leaving to study medicine under Duncan McLarty. He graduated from Trinity Medical College with a Bachelor’s Degree in medicine.

He first practiced medicine in St. Catharine’s, where he remained for 24 years before returning to St. Thomas in 1899. He was assistant surgeon of the Michigan Central Railway and held a successful general practice. He did a special study in smallpox and was a member of the Board of Health in St. Catharine’s when an epidemic broke out there. He took care of about sixty cases there.

In 1902, a similar epidemic broke out in St. Thomas and Dr. Leitch took charge. He tended to eleven cases, and despite the "crude and inadequate" facilities he was able to use, he was able to save all eleven 98 lives. He retired in 1910.

Archibald was prominent in Masonic circles. He was a 33rd degree mason and was involved with the lodge for over fifty years. He was also considered a good authority on local history and kept extensive diaries. He collected old coins and historical relics. He was married three times but never had children.

George Wegg Location: Section E Plot 46 b. c.1839 d. September 2 1930 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (2 Sept 1930 P1 C6-7).

George Wegg was born into a family of carriage builders in St. Thomas. His parents came to Canada from Norfolk, England in 1837. They established a workshop and a residence on Talbot Street near where Munn’s grocery store stood at the time of George’s death in 1930.

He first worked for his father, but later set out for himself in a carriage-making business where the Granite ring later stood. Another member of his family also had a wagon shop, which George later took over as well.

Wegg’s wagons, carriages and buggies were known for their neat finishes and solid builds, and were completely built by hand until the later years of George’s career. George and his men made even the spokes of the wheels until it eventually became necessary for some parts to be bought ready-made. He did an extensive business with local farmers and liverymen, and his obituary states that at one point most of the sleighs, wagons and buggies in Elgin County were of his workmanship.

George was treasurer of the streetcar system in St. Thomas during the days of the horse cars. He was married Maria Marlatt in 1868 and they attended First United Church. George was survived by two sons and predeceased by his daughter.

Section F

Stewart F. Brickenden Location: Section F Plot 2 b. unrecorded d. April 16 1996 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Stewart Francis Brickenden was born in St. Thomas but moved to Petrolia in 1929. He was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1943 to

98 1972 and was a Squadron Leader at his retirement. Afterwards, he flew with Exec-Air, Worldways and Knight Hawk Air Express. He was a member of and a contributor to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton.

He visited the St. Thomas area many times with the Warplane Museum’s Lancaster Bomber, and was one of the first pilots to fly the restored plane across Canada. The Lancaster Bomber was designed during World War II and had impressive bomb capacity, range and navigational equipment.

James (Jimmie) Alexander Location: Section F Plot 4 b. May 29 1889 d. September 3 1969 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (September 3, 1969 P 7).

James (Jimmie) Alexander was born in St. Thomas, the son of William Gordon Alexander. He began his career with the railroad as a call boy in 1902 and worked for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad for fifty-six years as a machinist.

Jimmie loved baseball. He was an amateur baseball pitcher in his younger days and organized both minor and senior baseball leagues in the city. He coached girls’ softball teams in both St. Thomas and London.

He attended Knox Presbyterian Church and was in the Brotherhood of Machinists. His first wife was Vera M. Masterson, who died in 1942. He was then married to Helen McNernie, who passed away in 1966. Three daughters survived him. His only son, pilot officer Ronald O. (Jake) Alexander, was also an amateur baseball player. He was killed overseas in 1944 while serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Cyrus H. Hepinstall Location: Section F Plot 5 b. c.1855 d. c. September 1925 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (19 Sept 1925 P1 C1-2).

Cyrus H. Hepinstall was a prominent jeweler and optician in St. Thomas for over forty years. He was born in Darlington and was connected with the Diamond Hall in Toronto, where he learned about the jeweler business. He established his jeweler business in St. Thomas in 1880.

For many years, Cyrus was watch inspector and visual examiner for the Michigan Central Railroad. He was a member of the directorate for the Canadian Jewelers Association, past president of the Ontario Jewelers Association, and at the time of his death was president of the St. Thomas Jewelers Association. He was highly regarded in this field as a likeable yet professional man.

98 As early as 1888, Cyrus wrote a treatise on the eye and refraction, which proved to be of great value for opticians of the time as no similar book had been written before that.

He also had many interests outside of business. He was president treasurer of the Horticultural Society and kept beautiful flowers in the windows. He also had a great love of horses and was often seen riding in town in the early mornings. In his youth he was known for being a champion cyclist.

Cyrus was married to Sophie Jones and they made their residence at 406 Talbot Street. A daughter and two sons survived him.

Job Wooster Location: Section F Plot 22 b. October 6 1846 d. November 1900 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (Charles Raven’s Obituary) January 1947.

Job Wooster was native to Yorkshire, England. He owned a dry goods store in St. Thomas on 650 Talbot Street, which later became the Charles Raven’s shoe business. He was a member of Grace United Church and was married to Carrie Wooster. At the time of their daughter Annie’s death in 1947, there were four daughters and two sons still living.

A large red monument with three bases marks the Wooster plot.

Russell Oakes Location: Section F Plot 38 b. 1874 d. May 31 1911 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (31 May 1911 P1 C5 and 6 October 1916 P1 C2).

For more than five years after his tragic demise, the story of 36-year-old Russell Oakes’ murder was shrouded in mystery. Russell had been an employee of the Michigan Central Railway since he was just sixteen. He was a popular man with many friends and a married father of three, residing at 24 Chestnut Street. His youngest child was just twelve months old when the tragic event took place.

Russell was the fireman of a Michigan Central passenger train. He and Stephen E. Quinlan, the engineer, were aboard engine No. 8422, pulling a westbound train. They were about a mile east of Ridgetown, at around 3:50 in the morning, when the train hit a piece of track that had clearly been tampered with. The train turned over and went into the ditch, dragging three baggage cars with it and killing both Russell and Stephen. Thankfully, the men in the baggage and express cars escaped without injury.

Officials of the railway discovered two stolen crowbars and a wrench, as 98 well as an empty whiskey bottle, near the scene of the crime. Despite the overwhelming evidence of foul play, the case remained unsolved until October of 1916.

The Michigan Central had scorned two brothers, Henry and Frank McDonald, after they were the ringleaders in a strike amongst the section men of the railway. Having lost their jobs, Henry decided to get even. When Frank spoke fearfully that someone might get hurt, Henry said that “it was the best way to bring the company to time” and that “the passengers had no business in patronizing such a railroad.” It was Henry who tampered with the tracks. Both men were arrested at the request of the Ontario police, and justice was finally served.

Russell is at rest in his family plot and shares a large red monument with his relatives.

David E. Broderick Location: Section F Plot 40 b. June 3 1831 d. May 8 1909 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (20 May 1908 P8 C4).

David Edwin Broderick was a native of March, England, and is remembered for his contributions to early St. Thomas. He was engaged in a large dry goods store in the West end of town, in which he remained active until his retirement only a few years before his death. He was one of the earliest members of the Centre Street Baptist Church as well as a part of the old St. Thomas Curling Club.

His wife, Jane Broderick, predeceased him. The death of his daughter Effie in March of 1909 came as a great shock to David and he never recuperated.

A 10-foot tall white-bronze monument with an urn atop marks the Broderick plot.

John A. Jagoe Location: Section F Plot 58 b. June 18 1869 d. April 3 1951 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (April 5 1951).

John Abraham Jagoe was known for being “a colourful individual, a man of strong personality and an Irish wit inherited from his forbears” (St. Thomas Times Journal, April 5 1951). His contributions to St. Thomas were significant- along with serving as St. Thomas’ mayor for four years during the depression, he was a prominent railroader for almost half a century.

John was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1869. After the death of his father he moved to Niagara Falls, where at a young age he took a job at as a 98 butcher to support his family. An offer of employment with the Michigan Central brought the 17-year old to St. Thomas in 1887, where he helped to build the old M.C.R. Kettle Creek Bridge before returning to Hamilton to become a freight locomotive engineer.

As a railroad employee, he recalled the early years of the Canadian division of the Michigan Central (New York Central System). He worked his way up to become an engineer of passenger trains all over the Canada Division until his retirement on July 28th, 1937. He was well known for having engineered the Wolverine, the M.C.R.'s Twentieth Century Limited. Never once in his railroading career was John involved in an accident that caused a fatality.

He successfully ran for mayor of St Thomas in 1930 and stayed in office for four years, the longest consecutive mayoralty in St. Thomas history at the time. He made headlines internationally during the Great Depression when he set up a butchers’ shop in the basement of city hall. He donned an apron and cut beef and pork to feed the unemployed, plying the trade he had learned before his railroading days for the good of his community. He took a keen interest in the development of Pinafore Park.

John was fond of travelling and made his way throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico and the British Isles, where in Cork he met many of his Irish relatives. He was married to Bertha Ann (McCallum) and was survived by two daughters and a son.

John J. Roberts Location: Section F Plot 62 b. November 8 1866 d. January 19 1936 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (20 Jan 1936 P1 C2-3).

John James "Jack" Roberts was born in Lyons, Ontario and came to St. Thomas in around 1898. He became quite active in the affairs of the city as well as in various local sports.

He served as the superintendent of the St. Thomas Hydro-Electric Commission from its inception until his retirement in 1930. He was a member of the St. Thomas Hunting and Fishing Club and the Granite Curling Club for many years. Jack was a member of various fraternities as well, and an attendee of Knox Church.

Jack was married to Mary E. McIver (1868-1939) and they lived at 199 Stanley Street. They had one daughter together at the time of his death.

A black granite cylinder on black granite with a black granite base marks the Roberts plot. Into it is carved a lodge symbol.

Calvin Lawrence Location: Section F Plot 67

98 b. January 30 1857 d. May 4 1931 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (4 May 1931 P1 C3-4).

Calvin Lawrence was born in Norfolk County to William and Elizabeth Lawrence. He came to St. Thomas in 1879 and became a brakeman on the Canada Southern Railway. In 1882 he transferred to the locomotive department and became a fireman, and in 1888 he was promoted to an engineer.

He was active in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In 1894 he was a delegated in the international convention at St. Paul, Minnesota where he was elected first grand assistant engineer. He held that position for two years. He attended a convention in Ottawa in 1896 as grand officer and then a convention in Norfolk, Virginia in 1902 as a delegate. He served as chairman of the local committee for division 132 from 1893-1910.

Calvin did important work in Ottawa as well. He was legislative representative of the Brotherhood for Canada and chairman of the Dominion legislative board of the B. of L. E. He was a representative of labour and railway interests on the Board of Railway Commissioners.

He was also active in municipal government. He was elected alderman in 1903 and became mayor three years later. During the time he was mayor, and again in 1910, Calvin was honoured to serve as engineer of the train that took pedestrian and freight cars on the Talbot Street train tracks during the Labour Day demonstrations.

Calvin was a member of Central United church and various fraternal organizations. He was married twice- first to Margaret Davidson, who died in 1927. He had two sons, one of whom was killed overseas while serving in the Canadian Air Forces.

Lieut. C. V. Lawrence Location: Section F Plot 67 b. April 15 1882 d. November 1 1918 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (4 May 1931 P1 C3-4), his monument and cemetery burial records.

Lieutenant C. V. Lawrence was the son of Calvin and Margaret Lawrence and the husband of Ruby Jane Lawrence. On August 18, 1914 he enlisted for military service and went overseas to serve in the Canadian Air Forces. He died of influenza in the General Hospital at Shorncliffe, England on November 1st, 1918. He was the only soldier who died overseas in World War I to be transported back to Canada for burial in the St. Thomas Cemetery.

William Baird Location: Section F Plot 68 98 b. c.1861 d. March 13 1934 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

William Baird was born in Bright, Ontario and moved to Harrison in his youth before coming to St. Thomas in 1876 to work for the railroad. He was only fifteen years old at the time.

His first job with the railroad was as a section man on the St. Clair branch. In January of 1878 he took the duty of engine wiper at the Victoria engine-house. In 1880 he made St. Thomas his permanent home and took work as a locomotive fireman. On February 4, 1884 he was promoted to engineer. He retired in 1926.

William was captain of the St. Thomas Hunting and Fishing Association for many years. For at least twenty years he took annual camping trips in Northern Ontario. He was a member of St. Thomas Lodge No. 44 A.F. and A.M. as well as a part of Grace United Church.

He was married to Elizabeth Row and they lived at 13 Celestine Street. Together they had four daughters and a son, and by the time he died they also had four grandchildren.

Alonzo Bowlby Location: Section F Plot 74. b. c.1859 d. December 7 1934 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (8 Dec 1934 P2 C 3-4).

Alonzo Bowlby was born in Talbotville and moved to St. Thomas when he was about nineteen years old. He learned the trade of wagon maker from Charles H. Wegg and pursued that trade until he entered the service of the city of St. Thomas in around 1894. At the time of his death, he was the oldest active employee of St. Thomas in length of service. For forty years he was connected with the waterworks department of St. Thomas, serving as foreman for the entire system for many years. He held a great deal of knowledge about the system of mains and the workings of the service department which went with him when he died, having only retired three weeks prior.

In his more youthful days, Alonzo was part of the volunteer fire corps and served as fire chief for a number of years. After the fire department became a paid organization, he stayed on call as a volunteer and helped out at almost all of the big fires in the city.

He was a member of the Church of Christ and was married to Florence Gadsby. They made their residence at 43 Elizabeth Street and had three daughters together.

Sadie Watson 98 Location: Section F Plot 74 b. October 19 1910 d. February 17 2001 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Sadie Watson was born in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, to George Stuart and Marguerite (LaRocque) Watson, but lived most of her life in St. Thomas. She was a retiree of Bell Canada, where she worked for many years.

Sadie was an avid sports fan and athlete, one of the home-run hitters of the Pere Marquette Purples in the 1920s and 1930s. She also played baseball with Silverwoods in London, hockey with the Michigan Central Wolverines and bowled.

She was a member of First United Church and the Thursday Group of the United Church Women, as well as the Lady Trainmen and the Telephone Pioneers of America.

She outlived her sister and four brothers and was sadly missed by her nieces, nephews and her long-time friend, Donna Powles.

William Burnip Location: Section F Plot 86 b. August 6 1849 d. April 18 1906 Source: St. Thomas Evening Journal (27 April 1906 P5 C4).

Just to the right of the cemetery’s main gate is the red granite marker that marks the final resting place of William Burnip, who was married to Mary Adeline Rowan.

Burnip was engineer of the Grand Truck Engine No. 88. He got a taste of fame on September 15, 1885 when he struck and killed Jumbo, the world famous circus elephant on the tracks east of Woodworth Avenue. In those days, engineers had their own engines assigned to them, After the accident, William had a tin elephant made, which was attached the head lamp of No. 88. For many years thereafter, this engine was widely known as the one that killed Jumbo.

In 1906, William travelled to San Francisco, California to visit his son. While staying in the Kingsbury Hotel on April 18, the Great San Francisco Earthquake struck and the building collapsed, killing William. His remains were cremated and returned to St. Thomas on May 31, 1906. This was the first recorded cremation burial in all of St. Thomas.

Catharine D. Warner (Parsons) Location: Section F Plot 90 b. c.1854 d. 1926 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (22 Sept 1926 P1 C8).

98 Catharine D. Warner (nee Parsons) was the youngest daughter of Rev. Robert C. Parsons and Sarah Jane Griffin of Waterdown, Ontario. She married Rev. Dr. Robert I. Warner on March 25, 1879. She came to St. Thomas with him two years later when he took a position as teacher at Alma College in 1891. He later became principal in 1897.

She spent the greater part of her life in St. Thomas and was known for her active involvement with the students of Alma College. She touched nearly six thousand young lives in her time there, and was known for being a kind and motherly figure to the girls there, many of which were far from home. She is described as gracious, sympathetic and endearing. She kept in touch with the graduate students and was a charter member and past president of the Alma Daughters. Her kind and loving nature must have been of great value to the young pupils of Alma College.

She was predeceased by her husband and was the last living member of the family she was born into, but left two living sons and the lives she touched at Alma to mourn her.

Rev. Dr. Robert I. Warner b. October 22 1848 d. November 14 1924 Location: Section F Plot 90 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (12 November 1924 P1).

Robert Ironside Warner was born to United Empire Loyalist stock on the family ancestral farm in Niagara Township, to Margaret Lampman and Joseph Warner. He attended school in Thorold and became a teacher in Lincoln Township for four years. He got his B.A. from Victoria College at the University of Toronto, and was valedictorian and gold medallist in 1877. He was ordained a minister in the Methodist Church in 1881. He was probationer for Beverley, Seaforth, Forest and Ebro Circuits from 1877-1881 before being appointed to the staff of Alma College at its opening in 1881.

He was present at the laying of the cornerstone of Alma in 1878, and three years later came there with his bride to teach English and Modern Languages. He became principal there after the resignation of B.F. Austin in 1897 and remained in that position until 1919. He was involved with the college for 38 years. He was known for his kindliness towards students.

Outside of his duties as principal, Robert was delegate at four general conferences, was president of the London Conference 1911-12, served on the General Board of Missions, the Deaconess Beard, the general board of education, Victoria College Senate and the Alma College Board. Victoria College awarded him with a Doctorate of Divinity in 1902. He was a trooper in the St. Catharine’s West volunteer Cavalry, a member of the I.O.O.F. and the R.T. of T., the Canadian Club, the Ontario Historical Society, the United Empire Loyalists Association, the Horticultural Society and the Ministerial Association. 98 He was married on March 25, 1879 to Catharine D. Parsons; there were two sons living at the time of his death.

Donald Frazer Location: Section F Plot 172 b. April 6 1833 d. September 29 1902 Source: St. Thomas Cemetery records

One of the most intriguing monuments in the St Thomas Cemetery is that of Donald Fraser. He was born in Scotland and died here in St. Thomas. Although the exact date of his arrival in Canada is unknown, records indicate that he and his wife lived at 5 Drake Street, and that he was a blacksmith.

The monument is in the shape of an anvil resting upon a tree stump. A hammer lays atop the anvil, signifying that its owner has gone to rest. The tree stump signifies immortality and that he was the head of his family.

The inscription on the stone reads: “His work is done, he’s gone to rest”. Section G

Robert W. Johnson Location: Section G Plot A b. c.1874 d. June 13 1965 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Robert Wilbur Johnson is hailed as one of St. Thomas’ patriarchs. Born in Port Hope, Ontario, he became a schoolteacher in Budley, Ontario at the age of eighteen. He soon left to study Pedagogy at the University of Toronto. On January 5th, 1898, he came to St. Thomas to teach junior and senior arithmetic as well as drawing classes. He later organized and headed the commercial department of the Commercial Institute, which formed the beginnings of Arthur Voaden School.

In 1903, Robert moved to Detroit to become a partner in the F.H. MacPherson Company, but returned to St. Thomas to start his own accounting firm. He became an honorary member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and was honoured with a Fellowship by the Association as the oldest chartered accountant in Canada. In his spare time he was a dedicated ornithologist who wrote a weekly column for the St. Thomas Times-Journal, which was called Bird Talk. He donated a collection of some 300-400 birds’ eggs to the Royal Ontario Museum upon his death.

98 Robert was known for recording his early impressions of St. Thomas, including details of the old Town Hall, horse-drawn cars, bridges, ravines and railroads. He was one of the founding members of the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club and a member of Knox church. He was a Worshipful Master of St. Thomas Lodge No.44 A.F. and A.M. in 1906 as well as a Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Canada in Ontario in 1918. He was also part of the Royal Canadian Legion, Kiwanis Club and the Victorian Order of Nurses.

He was married to Belle Johnson (McCrone). They had one son together.

Charles E. Barrett Location: Section G, Plot 94 b. ca. 1877 d. June 28 1904 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Charles E. Barratt was the son of Samuel and Hannah Barratt. He was born and raised in St. Thomas where he found work in the local post office. He was also sergeant of the bugle band. Four years before his death, he departed for Rossland, British Columbia, where he took a position as deputy postmaster. He later resigned that post to take a job in the Power, Water and Light Company there.

Tragedy struck Charles’ family in St. Thomas when they received notice that he was undergoing surgery for appendicitis and then a telegram that he had died. He was just twenty-seven years old.

Samuel Barratt Location: Section G Plot 94 b. ca. 1874 d. April 28, 1923 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (14 Aug 1925 p1 c1-2).

Samuel Barrett was born in St. Thomas, where he stayed all his life with the exception of the time he spent overseas serving his country in the military.

He enlisted in the 91st battalion of St. Thomas and served in France, being part of the army of occupation that went into Germany. He also served in the campaign in South Africa.

Samuel was hired by the M.C.R. on September 27th, 1909, and at the time of his death he was a senior brakeman in line for a promotion to passenger service. Sadly, it was not meant to be.

At 5:45 p.m. on April 28th, 1923, he was riding atop the caboose of a westbound Michigan Central freight train a mile west of Ridgetown. When the train picked up speed, the caboose lurched ahead, throwing him from the roof. A passenger train was flagged and took him to the hospital in St.

98 Thomas, but he never regained consciousness and died an hour later.

Samuel was a member of Central United Church and the Brotherhood of the Railroad Trainmen. He was married to Minnie (last name), with whom he had three daughters and three sons.

Charles E. Raven Location: Section G Plot 94 ½ b. September 28 1876 d. March 9 1940 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (26 October 1929 P 13).

Charles Edmund Raven was born in St. Thomas, the son of English-born Frederick Raven and Iona- native Mary (Roche). Charlie, as his friends called him, went to both public school and the Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas before taking a job in J. Wooster’s shoe store at 659 Talbot Street. When Mr. Wooster died in 1900, he took over the business and was still conducting it in 1929. It became the largest leather-goods and footwear businesses in the district.

He served on city council for ten years, eight of those as alderman and two as the city’s mayor between 1922 and 1923. During the years he served the city, the Memorial Hospital, the Y.M.C.A on Mary Street, and Arthur Voaden Vocational School were built. A gifted businessman, he served as chairman of finance on City Council and on the executive board of Alma College.

In October of 1929, Charles was elected to the Ontario Legislature as Conservative representative for West Elgin. He was known in politics for working in the interests of his constituency before those of his party, and for being courteous towards everyone, regardless of their political views. He was said to be a kind, considerate person and a good listener who made many lasting friendships in his time.

In 1905, he married Alberta Forbes, also a native of St. Thomas. They lived at 74 Roseberry Place, and had two boys and two girls together.

John A. Miller Location: Section G Plot 101 b. c.1843 d. November 1930 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (November 11 1930).

At the time of John Alfred Miller’s death, he was the oldest living ex-warden of Elgin. He was born to pioneer settlers and farmed on the Warren Hill farm in North Yarmouth. His parents, Andrew and Mary Penhale Miller, had personally paid installments to Thomas Talbot, having walked all the way to Tyrconnell to pay their last installment. In fact, it was that family after which “Millersburg” was named, the town that was later annexed by St. Thomas. John entered municipal politics in 1880 and

98 served as warden in 1883.

He remembered some of the early pioneer events in St. Thomas, including the arrival of the first train, the introduction of the first mowing and reaping equipment, and was the first man in Elgin to sign up for the Times when Jonathan Wilkinson started it.

In his early days, John attended the Old English Church, but later was a member of St. John's Anglican Church. He was married to Diana Jeffrey and left one son when he died.

Charles A. Brower Location: Section G Plot 113 b. June 13 1859 d. June 1924 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (2 June 1924 P1 C2).

Charles Andrew Brower was a native of Yarmouth and lived on a farm there almost all his life. He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Mills) Brower. He attended high school in St. Thomas and commercial college in London.

Charles entered the world of politics at a young age, occupying a seat on the Yarmouth town council for eleven years. During this time, he was councilor for five years, deputy-reeve five years, and reeve for three years. Following this he was chosen to run for legislature as a conservative, and in the eight elections that followed he never lost a single time.

His obituary states that his keenest victory was in 1898, when he went against Daniel McIntyre and won by just twelve votes. Charles first wife was Ellen Penhale. After her death he married her sister Minnie. He had one son, George F. Brower.

The Family of Benjamin F. Austin Location: Section G Plot 133 b. ca. 1850 d. January 22, 1933 Source: E. Lee Howard. 1933 “Benjamin F. Austin- In Memoriam.” Reason, vol 24 no.4, also: Walter Meyer zu Erpen and Debra Bar. 2006. “Austin, Benjamin Fish (1850-1933)”. The Survival Research Institute of Canada.

Benjamin Fish Austin was a well-known clergyman, minister, editor, author, Spiritualist lecturer and publisher. He was also the first principal of Alma College. While it is unknown where his ashes were interred, the remains of his wife and four children are at rest in the St. Thomas Cemetery.

Benjamin was native to Brighton, ON. He became a teacher while

98 still a teenager, entering the ministry in 1871. He studied at Albert College and earned a divinity degree from Victoria College. He was later granted an honorary doctorate in divinity from the same university. He married Frances Amanda Connell in 1881, and the couple moved to St. Thomas, where Benjamin became first principal of Alma College. Their four children were born in St. Thomas.

Benjamin was an adamant believer in the higher education of women. He published many articles with titles like “Woman: Her Character, Culture and Calling” (1890).

Fascinating sources suggest that experiences with students at Alma College sparked this Methodist minister’s interest in Spiritualism. Spiritualism follows the notion that spirits of the dead may be contacted through “mediums”. The death of Kathleen D., Benjamin’s two-year-old daughter, in March of 1896, also affected him greatly.

Benjamin’s growing interest in Spiritualism led him to publish many works while simultaneously serving as principal of Alma College. His writings became markedly more liberal between 1878-1898, with titles such as “Rational Memory Training” (1894).

He resigned his position as principal of Alma College in 1897. There are two main reasons cited for his departure. One was that his publishing ventures and lack of fundraising interests had proven costly to the school, and the other was that his interest in psychic phenomena might have been seen as heresy.

Indeed, in June of 1899, Benjamin was found guilty of heresy by the Methodist Church and was expelled from the ministry. He moved with his family to Toronto, where he became a full-time Spiritualist writer. Under the Austin Publishing Company, Benjamin published more than 50 works, most of which were of a Spiritualist nature. He then moved to the United States, finally settling in Los Angeles, where he remained until his death.

A very small, light gray marble stone marks the Austin plot. Upon it are inscribed the names of Benjamin, his wife (Frances) Amanda (1851-1928) little Kathleen (1893-1896), a son, Albert (1882-1921) and Beatrice (1898-1921).

Though her cremated remains rest there, daughter Alma Austin’s name is not inscribed on the stone. She was the only child of four in the family to outlive her parents. In 1911, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Rochester

98 and became a teacher at the Western New York Institute for Deaf Mutes. Her ashes were transported to the St. Thomas Cemetery for interment upon her death.

Charles F. Maxwell Location: Section G Plot 133 b. c.1856 d. July 14 1935 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (15 July 1935 P1 C6).

Charles Francis Maxwell made numerous contributions to early St. Thomas. He was born in London, and came to St. Thomas with his parents as a child to settle a small farm south of the city. He became a schoolteacher and taught at Orwell, Dunboyne and Malahide townships. At nineteen, he became one of the first schoolteachers at East Elgin and taught the first commercial classes at Alma College. He attended business school in Oswego, North Carolina and law school in Toronto.

He was a man of many talents. He was a court authority of handwriting, a practicing lawyer for many years and a member of city council for eight years. He was, for a time, chief magistrate for the city and county. He was mayor of St. Thomas between 1903 and 1904. He was chairman of the committee that organized the historic Talbot Centennial celebration in 1903. He was on the Public Library Board, the Amasa Wood Hospital Board, the St. Thomas Water Commission and the Street Railway Commission. He was also the secretary of the St. Thomas Police Commission and the Elgin Bar Association. In 1891 he graduated with honours from the Toronto Law School and opened a law office in town.

In 1915 he was appointed police magistrate for St. Thomas, and in 1921 he was made chief magistrate of Elgin County. For many years he was Local Master of the Supreme Court. He was known for his focus on reformation over punishment, giving law-breakers a chance to redeem themselves. For young offenders, he tried to keep the matter private and to preserve the family as much as possible. He was a steadfast supporter of the St. Thomas police force, and was largely responsible for improvements in their working conditions and compensation.

Somehow, amidst all this, Charles found the time to make violins. He imported the wood of a special maple from Herzegovina to carve his exquisite sounding instruments, which also he could play with great ability. He was also a member of the St. Thomas Rifle Association, an avid gardener and collected old books. He was a well-liked man who made many lasting friendships. He was married to Josephine Connell and they had a daughter named Ruth Isobel.

John W. Kettle Location: Section G Plot 143 b. c.1853 d. December 28 1937

98 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

John Wesley Kettle was born in Ononanda Township, Galt County. His father was Hiram Kettle, a preacher. He spent the greater part of his life living in Port Stanley. He married Mary Silverthorn, and after living a year in St. Thomas, he moved to Aylmer with his wife.

He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church and was Liberal in politics. A large red granite stone on a gray base marks the Kettle plot.

Charles A. Riddle Location: Section G Plot 146 b. August 18 1867 d. January 13 1958 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Charles Augustus Riddle was born in London, Ontario, the son of John and Rebecca (Axford) Riddle. The family came to St. Thomas when Charles was eight years old and they spent six years farming on the fourth concession of Yarmouth.

His father formed a roofing company in 1878, which grew to enjoy a great deal of success. It eventually became the largest and oldest roofing firm in Elgin and Essex counties. When John died in 1896, Charles took over the company.

On January 11th 1892, Charles married Lillian Skelding in a ceremony at the home of her mother. They celebrated their diamond (60 year) wedding anniversary together in 1952.

Besides running the local roofing company, Charles was an avid horseman who was known for attending the local racing events. He served a term on St. Thomas city council as alderman in 1906. He was also a member of Elgin Encampment No. 20 and was the oldest member of Oddfellows Lodge No. 76. He attended Central United Church.

Charles lived to the age of ninety, while Lillian lived to be ninety-four. At the time of his death, they had three children, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Clarence R. Pincombe Location: Section G Plot 147 b. 1889 d. July 5 1967 & Molly V. Pincombe (Wright) b. 1890 d. June 6 1982 Source: Susan (Pincombe) Moore, 2010

Clarence (C.R.) Pincombe was one of Elizabeth and Robert Pincombe’s 98 five children. He followed his father in the butchering trade, taking over the shop at 370 Talbot Street.

Molly V. Pincombe came to St. Thomas with her mother to study music at Alma College. She met and married Clarence, who gave her a baby grand piano as a wedding gift. This was donated to Alma College at her death in 1982.

Molly and C.R. were experienced horseback riders who kept horses for both work and pleasure, and taught their three children to ride. Over time their riding ceased and they purchased fine hackney horses for driving. These were Terrington’s Maudine and Terrington’s Fairy Queen. They were beautiful, high-stepping show horses and were shown at local horse shows, including the Western Fair. These shows eventually became family events, with Molly and her granddaughter Susan spending hours to braid green ribbon into the horses’ manes.

During his early retirement, C.R. purchased land off Sunset Drive across from where Parkside Collegiate Institute is today. At the time it was still countryside. He developed the subdivision with his brother Bill building most of the homes. Today, it is called Lyndale subdivision. C.R. was also very involved with the rebuilding of First United Church after the fire of 1946.

Jack W. Pincombe Location: Section G Plot 147 b. March 22 1915 d. April 28 2003 Source: Susan (Pincombe) Moore, 2010

Following World War II, Molly and C.R. Pincombe’s son, Jack Wright Pincombe, joined in the family butchering business. Both father and son were tall and well built, priding themselves on being able to lift and carry whole sides of beef. However, C.R. had been suffering from arthritis and had to retire at the age of forty-seven.

In the 1960s, the arrival of the A. & P. grocery store slowly began to take its toll on the butcher shop businesses. In his mid forties, Jack went back to school to study for his Real Estate License. He eventually became partnered with Alan Keith, but later went on his own for a time before his youngest son Chris (C.R.) came on board.

Upon Jack’s retirement, Chris bought the business. Pincombe Real Estate is still in business in the present day, and many members of the family live in the area.

Robert T. Pincombe Location: Section G Plot 147 b. January 28 1858 d. March 21 1937 Source: Susan (Pincombe) Moore, 2010. 98 Robert Pincombe was a gentleman butcher and an adherent of First Methodist Church. He and his wife Elizabeth built and lived in the house on Parkins Ave presently owned by the Vermeer family. A short distance from the house was the slaughterhouse. Each day, Robert would drive the meat up the St. George hill to his butcher shop at 370 Talbot Street. He worked long hours.

Elizabeth died at a young age. She and Robert had five children together. He built a larger home on St. George Street across from the First Methodist Church and hired two sisters from St. Mary’s to accommodate his children. He did all of this while working at the slaughterhouse and butcher shop daily.

During the Depression, Robert and his son C. R. did their part to help those in need. They sent C.R.’s son, Jack, around town on a bicycle, delivering meat to those in need. Jack was told never to accept money or tell anyone about his daily visits. Robert would say “people have their pride, you know!” He also did this during the years of the war.

Bill, one of Robert’s sons, became a carpenter and built homes in Lynhurst for his father and siblings. All the other sons followed their father into the butchering business.

James W. Panther Location: Section G Plot 148 b. March 29 1877 d. February 12 1952 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

James William Panther was a lifelong resident of St. Thomas, the son of William and Mary Jane (Oliver) Panther.

He was the owner and operator of the Southside Memorial Works on West Ave, a business that designed and supplied grave markers and monuments. He served on the St. Thomas Cemetery board for many years as its president.

He attended Trinity church and was married to Edith Eliza Perry. They made their residence at 37 Wilson Avenue and had two daughters and four sons. A large red granite stone with an urn on top marks their resting place.

James H. Still Location: Section G Plot 155 b. April 1, 1843 d. May 24, 1902 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (14 May 14 1928 p14 c6).

James H. Still was born in Rochester and attended school in Rome, New

98 York. There he worked in the clothing business until the age of twenty, when he relocated to Fingal in hopes of working as a machinist with his uncle Hovey. However, he worked instead for a year at the general store of Yarwood and Mitchell of St. Thomas, where he made ten dollars a month. Following this, he worked with Robert Carrie for a year, before entering a partnership with D. K. MacKenzie selling general merchandise on the corner of Stanley and Talbot streets. Their store was destroyed in the infamous Christmas Day Fire of 1870.

But James was still determined to be a successful businessman. He opened and ran a very successful shoe store for nine years before entering a manufacturing partnership with Benjamin Wintermute of Tilbury. For three years, they manufactured handles and various wood-turned articles until James was able to purchase the company in whole and relocate it to St. Thomas. The factory grew to become one of the most successful in Ontario; there were over 200 employees by 1902.

He was a director for the St. Thomas Gas, Electric Light and Power and the Elgin Loans and Savings Companies, as well as was president of the Farmers and Traders Life and Accident Insurance Companies. He was part of an association that purchased the old Street Railway Company and built the electric rail. He also purchased the Yarwood farm and sold what is now Pinafore Park to the city.

James was known as an indomitable businessman with a knack for making profitable business ventures. He was married to Mary Carrie, who was born in Carnoustie, Scotland and came to Canada at the age of twenty. They lived at 113 Metcalfe Street and had three daughters together.

Mabel M. Watts Location: Section G Plot 155 b. c.1880 d. July 6 1925 Source: St. Thomas Cemetery records

Mabel May (Colledge) Watts was the only adult to drown in the Swan Boat Disaster of July 6, 1925 on Pinafore Pond. On that day, three Anglican churches had congregated for a joint picnic. Part of the evening’s festivities included Swan Boat rides. The boat itself was constructed of two small rowboats and a paddle wheel, covered with a frame designed to look like a swan.

During the ride, the boat began to take on water. An inquest later revealed that the paddle wheel had spilt, allowing water into the rowboat, causing it to capsize. Of the twenty-four that were on the boat, seven children and Mabel drowned.

The following Thursday the victims of the disaster were all buried. It was considered one of the worst tragedies in St. Thomas’ History.

98 Archibald V. Coulter Location: Section G Plot 160 b. March 17 1889 d. June 14 1985 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Archibald “Archie” Vernon Coulter was born in St. Thomas and lived here for most of his life. He was a cash crop farmer in North Yarmouth for many years. He served on the Yarmouth Council for eight years, acting as reeve between 1949 and 1950 and as warden for Elgin County in 1950. He was one of the founders of the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and served on the board as its chairman for the first eight years. He served on that board for twenty-one years in total.

Archie was a school trustee for Yarmouth School Section 24 for twelve years. He was part of the St. Thomas Boards of Trade. He directed the Elgin Holstein Breeders Association, the Elgin Federation of Agriculture and the St. Thomas Motor Club. He was in charge of the United Way campaign in 1954. He attended the Church of Christ Disciples in Mapleton. Archie was married to Mary McNeil and was survived by three daughters, two sons, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A 135-acre conservation area north of Springwater Conservation Area was named in Archie Coulter’s honour, and it remains to this day a beautiful place to go for a hike.

James Hales Location: Section G Plot 160 b. c. 1850 d. January 11 1915 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (11 January 1915 P1 C3).

James Hales was a well-known resident of the city who resided at Glenbanner, Gravel Road. He conducted a butchers shop in St. Thomas for more than thirty years in the space that later became the Moody and Clarke store. He brought his skills as a butcher from his hometown in Yarmouth, Essex County, England.

Upon his arrival in Canada, James spent some time living in Guelph. He was married twice: Once to Susannah Sallows (1850-1925) and Kathleen Norsworthy (1894-1983). Three sons and two daughters survived him at the time of his death.

Edward R. Langan Location: Section G Plot 166 b. 1834 d. ca. May 4 1919 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records.

Edward Rogers Langan was born in St. Thomas on the site where the Talbot Street Y.M.C.A. once stood. In his youth he made his trade as a 98 furrier and tanner at the Moore Tannery. After briefly working for E.S. Hyman in London, he returned to St. Thomas and took up his former position at the tannery once more. He was an avid athlete and sportsman who was well known as the champion wing shot of the county.

After the tragic 1870 Christmas Day fire in the Victoria Block of St. Thomas, Edward was appointed St. Thomas first official fire chief. Before Edward took up this position, the only protection the city had from fire was a voluntary fire brigade.

By 1872, Edward had become a part of the St. Thomas police force. He was promoted from constable to sergeant, and in 1886 he was appointed turnkey for the county jail, a position he held for twenty-seven years- until he retired at the age of eighty.

He was a supporter of the Liberal party as well as a member of the Anglican Church, having attended the Old English church for many years and later, the Trinity church. He was married to Elizabeth (Last name 1835-1929) who whom he had six children. They resided at 36 St. George Street.

John F. Langan Location: Section G Plot 166 b. January 24 1869 d. May 22 1923 Source: St. Thomas Daily Times (May 23 1923 p1 c5-6).

John F. Langan was born in St. Thomas, the fourth child of Edward and Elizabeth Langan. During his fifty-two years of life, he enjoyed a very successful career in business. During his youth, he worked in Alexander Lindsay’s grocery store. Later he travelled to Chicago, where he studied law and remained after graduating, becoming a prominent attorney in the practice of commercial law.

In the early twentieth century, John became interested in the movement for immigration into Western Canada. He was given the momentous responsibility of organizing the first trainload of American settlers to be brought to live in the Canadian prairies.

Following this, he remained in the west, where he became influential in colonizing and developing the Pacific coast. Both active in Canadian and British Columbian levels of government, he eventually also became involved in brokerage, becoming prominent in many financial circles. Before his sudden death, John had been hoping to take up headquarters in Port Arthur, where plans were being made to implement more aggressive plans for colonization.

Besides being an active businessman, John was a member of the Royal Geographical Society of England. He contributed often to journals and newspapers, the most notable being Queen Charlotte Islands. He was known for his eloquence as an after dinner speaker. He was close friends 98 with both the Rev. Dr. J.A. MacDonald and Sir Wilfred Laurier, who he accompanied to the coronation of King George.

While he did not leave a wife or children behind, his mother, three brothers and a sister mourned him.

Keith G. MacDonald Location: Section G Plot 168 b. April 13 1892 d. March 15 1947 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (17 March 1947).

Keith Graham MacDonald was born in St. Thomas but moved to London when he was a child. He served overseas in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps before going to New York to study singing. He became well known in concert work there and sang in the Savoy Hotel concert series.

Following this, he returned to London where he became musical director of the University of Western Ontario’s Glee Club. Between 1935 and 1937, he produced the modern choir. He became interested in musical comedy and produced The Student Prince and New Moon, assisted by Philip Fine of Chicago.

He had one son named Jack, who lived in Goderich.

Norman MacDonald Location: Section G Plot 168 b. c.1861 d. September 12 1895 Source: Toronto Daily Mail (December 28 1894), and Canada Death Penalty Index. “Ontario Notes”

On December 14th 1894, William Henry Hendershott died in Waddell’s Woods in Southwold. Upon receiving telegram that William had been killed in a logging accident, his uncle, John A. Hendershott did something suspicious. He showed his friends the insurance policy he had taken out on his nephew, and was carrying in his pocket.

A famous detective, John Murray, investigated the case. He discovered that John and his farmhand, William David Welter had staged this “accident” in order to commit insurance fraud and cash in on William’s death.

Norman MacDonald was the lawyer given the arduous duty of defending Hendershott and Welter at trial. It was a hopeless task. Besides the circumstantial evidence, Hendershott had tried to take out an insurance policy on a homeless man previously, and knew details of the “logging accident” before the news even reached him.

98 Hendershott and Welter were double-hanged and buried in the Elgin County jail yard on June 18, 1895. These were the last known executions at the Elgin County Courthouse.

Norman MacDonald died on September 12th of that same year. He was only thirty-four years old.

William Hendershott Location: Section G Plot 178 b. c.1854 d. December 7 1937 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records.

William Hendershott was born in the Ancaster district near Hamilton, but lived in Norfolk County for many years until finally moving to Southwold. He remained there for the last fifty years of his life. His wife, Eliza Styles, was the daughter of pioneers John and Sarah Styles, of Payne’s Mills. They had one daughter.

Section H

John G. Lang Location: Section H Plot 7 b. September 1864 d. December 6 1939 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (7 December 1939).

John Gilbert Lang was born in Glanford Township, Wentworth County. He attended school there and learned woodworking in Tilbury. He came to St. Thomas and worked for many years at the J. H. Still factory before striking out to have a business of his own.

He bought a tea, coffee and spice business from James Begg and operated a store on Talbot Street across from Holy Angels’. His two-wheeled delivery wagon was built in the shape of a teapot and drawn by a pony; it was a prominent sight in the city for many years.

As well as being a prominent businessman, John served on public boards. He was on the city’s Court of Revision and a member of the West Elgin Board of License Commissioners. He sought only once to become an alderman, being defeated by his friend Patrick Meehan by just one vote. He often remarked that he had beaten himself, having cast a vote for his friend in that election.

He retired in 1918, but kept quite busy with his real estate interests. He became a member of the St. Thomas Cribbage Club and took an interest 98 in golf at the age of sixty-five. He was predeceased by his wife, Rose, and was survived by nine children.

Lorne E. James Location: Section H Plot 22 b. 1891 d. March 1 1964 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (3 March 1964 p7 c2).

Lorne James was born in Perth County to Henry and Sarah L. James. Lorne came to St. Thomas in 1910. His father was a market gardener, and he followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a nurseryman. He also grew beautiful flowers in his later years, becoming widely known in the area. He also had an interest in mounting botanical plant specimens from Elgin County.

He was a member of Grace United Church and lived at 184 Centennial Ave.

Malcolm “Mac” A. Leitch Location: Section H Plot 43 b. 1875 d. 17 September 1932 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (17 September 1932).

Malcolm Alexander "Mac" Leitch was born in Glencoe and came to St. Thomas in 1904 to take a position with the Michigan Central Railway. He worked for the railway for almost thirty years and was eventually promoted to passenger conductor, in charge of many important trips between Detroit and Buffalo.

He was an enthusiastic sportsman and was known for attending all the local amateur sporting events. Baseball was undoubtedly his favourite sport; he was a baseball player himself in his youth. He was a member of the Brotherhood of the Railroad Trainmen and Knox Church, and was very popular amongst his co-workers, who gave him his nickname “Mac”.

Mac died in a sad railroading accident involving shunting cars in 1932, widowing his wife, Margaret (McMaster) Leitch. Their three sons and two daughters also survived him. Railroading accidents were very common in those days, and frequently brought tragedy to the St. Thomas community.

Julia A. E. St. Thomas (Payne) Smith Location: Section H Plot 50 b. c.1856 d. January 10 1929 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (8 December 1928 p1 and 7, c4 and 6).

Julia Ann Elizabeth St. Thomas Smith was a gifted sculptor, painter, poet

98 and writer. She was born in Payne’s Mills to the Payne pioneer family, for whom the district was named. She was raised on the family farm but inherited a love of art from her parents. Her mother and father sent her to art school in Toronto, where she progressed so well that she became a part of the teaching staff.

It was there that she met W. St. Thomas Smith, a pupil at the time, whom she later married. She was W. St. Thomas’ first teacher. Both his strongest critic and supporter, she believed in his artistic abilities before he was well known for them.

Julia was known for her striking beauty. She spoke articulately on subjects of art and literature while still being a practical and capable businesswoman. She believed in the advancement of women’s rights and wrote informative papers to the Women’s Art Society. She was a member of the Women’s Civic Club, which served to inform women of civic affairs, and would have devoted her whole life to women’s civic rights if she had not also been devoted to her art and to her home life.

She was also one of the founders of the Women’s Art Society and a member of the Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute. She was vice president of the Local Council of Women for eleven years, and president for one. She was a member of Knox Church

Julia taught at Alma College for many years until her position was filled by one of her three daughters, Eva St. Thomas Smith. It is great to know that such a progressive woman was so highly valued and respected in St. Thomas during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Minnie May St. Thomas Smith (Cotton) Location: Section H Plot 50 b. c.1875 d. February 9 1944 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (19 Feb 1947 P1 C2 & P7).

Minnie May St. Thomas Smith (Cotton) was born to James M. Cotton and Sarah Ferguson Cotton in Toronto. She was the second wife of artist W. St. Thomas Smith, and moved to St. Thomas twelve years before her death. Her brother, John Cotton, was also a noted Canadian artist. Minnie May was a gifted artist in her own right, and went with W. St. Thomas on many sketching trips both in Canada and overseas. She was a member of Knox Church and was survived by her husband and three stepdaughters.

Dr. William St. Thomas Smith Location: Section H Plot 50 b. c.1862 d. 18 February 1947 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (19 Feb 1947 P1 C2 & P7).

William St. Thomas Smith was an eminent marine and landscape artist. He 98 was born in Belfast, Ireland to Scottish parents William and Anne (Hoig) Smith and came to Canada when he was eight. He spent his school years in Beaverton, ON., where he gained his love of nature on the shores of Lake Simcoe.

He attended the Ontario Art School in Toronto beginning in 1885. There he met his future wife, Julia Payne, the daughter of pioneers in Payne’s Mills. By this time, he had already been living in St. Thomas. As another man named Smith was in his class, William was called St. Thomas Smith- a nickname that stuck with him throughout his life.

When first he arrived in St. Thomas, William painted portraits of some of the well-known citizens. But he found that watercolour painting was more to his taste and began to work more with the subject matters of Elgin County’s natural landscapes. These inspired him to travel to other beautiful places around the world, including Newfoundland, Cornwall, the Scottish Coast, Ireland and Holland.

W. St. Thomas’ work was displayed at the National Gallery of Canada, and has been exhibited throughout Canada, the United States and in Scotland. He did frequent showings at Alma College, where his wife taught and his daughter later became art director.

One of his more famous patrons was Wilfred Laurier, premier of Canada. He was elected an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy and later a member of the Ontario Society of Artists. He had an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario and was an honorary member of the St. Thomas Kiwanis Club.

Even when paralysis affected his right hand, he learned to paint with his left. According to friends, the paintings he created thereafter were some of his finest. He was considered one of the greatest watercolour and marine painters of his time.

His first wife, Julia died in 1928, and he later married Minnie May Cotton. She also predeceased him. Three daughters survived him.

Ella Hood (Downie) Location: Section H Plot 59 b. September 14, 1887 d. July 19 1975 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (18 July 1975 P7 C2).

Ella R. Mailing Hood was born in Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, to Warren Downie and Eliza Reid Downie. She lived in West Lorne for a time, and around 1910 she moved to St. Thomas, where she became a successful and well-known dressmaker.

Ella was an active member of Centre Street Baptist Church participating in both the Ladies Aid and Bible Class of that church. She was also active in

98 the St. Thomas Children’s Aid Society.

She was first married to Manley Mailing, who died in 1940. Her second husband, Robert J. Hood, died in 1964. Three daughters, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren survived her. Her son, Leonard Mailing, had died previously. Leonard, Manley and Ella rest together in the same plot.

Anne Smale Location: Section H Plot 60 b. Unrecorded d. 11 August 1966 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Anne Smale was born in Middlemarch to Samuel and Fannie (Sillifant) Smale. She moved to St. Thomas with her family as a child and remained here for the rest of her life. During her early adulthood, Anne learned the millinery business and became engaged in the Elite Hat Shop, which operated at a number of locations on Talbot Street. In the thirty-five years she was a businesswoman in St. Thomas, Anne’s kind and gentle personality endeared her to everyone she met.

Section I

”William J. “Major” Gaymer Location: Section I Plot 13 b. unrecorded d. October 12 1925 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (12 Oct 1925 P1 C2-3).

William James Gaymer was born in Diss, England and served for three years in India with the British Army. He also served in the South African war. Because of this, he was fondly referred to as "Major".

Upon his arrival in Canada, he first lived in Port Burwell before settling in St. Thomas for the last thirteen years of his life and working at the Michigan Central Railway Roundhouse. “Major” was fondly remembered by his co-workers for always having a cheerful word to say.

He died sadly in an accident while walking home from work.

He was crossing the train yard near the Ross Street subway to save time. Many of the employees were known to do, despite the fact that it was against the safety rules of the company. He was struck by yard engine No. 8591 and was killed. He was only 52 years old.

“Major” was survived by his wife, three daughters and three sons and was 98 residing at 39 1/2 St. Catharine Street. Old Survey Section

John Farley Location: Old Survey Plot 1 b. c.1837 d. c. July 1920 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records.

John Farley was born in the township of Nissouri to Turner and Georgina Farley. He went to school in St. Thomas, and later studied law here as well with Edward Horton between 1860 and 1865. He was called to the bar in 1865 and was appointed Queen’s Councilor in 1885.

He served on City Council between 1874-5 and 1884-6. He was chairman of the committee that built the first city water works and was part of the committee that built the second. He was a part of the water commission from 1891-1900 and a president of the board of trade from 1899-1902.

John was a member of the Masonic Order, First Methodist Church and the St. Thomas Club. He was married to Frances (Fannie) A. Berry. They made their residence at 121 Stanley Street and had two sons and four daughters together.

Adelaide Hughes (Rowland) Location: Old Survey Plot 2 b. 1863 d. 1924 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (31 May 1924 P1 C9).

Adelaide Hughes (Rowland) was one of St. Thomas' best-known citizens during her time. She was a member of Knox Church, having been organist for a time and member of the musical committee. In the year that she died, she was president of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society of Knox Church as well as president of the Local Council of Women. She was also a member of the board of the Thomas Williams Home.

Charles B. Spohn Location: Old Survey Plot 3 b. November 13 1843 d. December 7 1907 Source: St. Thomas Daily Times (December 2 1882 P1 C2).

Charles B. Spohn was a native of Ancaster, Wentworth County. He came to St. Thomas with his father, Peter Spohn, when he was eleven. Peter Spohn died only two years later. His mother also died a few years later. At a young age, Charles took a job as parcel boy in the dry goods store 98 of Robert Carrie. When Robert’s brother, James Carrie bought the store, Charles continued to work there as clerk. Later on, he left to go into the grocery and liquor business with T. L. Lindop. Later on, Lindop took over the grocery portion, with Charles conducting the liquor business. He remained in that business until around 1857, when he retired.

For years, he was a director and president of the Star Loan Company. He became a director of the Southern Loan Company when the two companies amalgamated, staying in office there until his death. Charles had a large amount of property in St. Thomas. He owned the Spohn block at the corner of Talbot and William Streets and Spohn’s flats to the west of the courthouse.

He loved horseback riding and was often seen riding around town. He also served on St. Thomas City Council for a time. He was married to Selena Cole and they lived on Stanley Street.

Peter Spohn Location: Old Survey Plot 3 b. Unrecorded d. December 7 1907 Source: St. Thomas Daily Times (December 2 1882 P1 C2).

Peter Spohn came to St. Thomas from Ancaster, Wentworth County. He brought his family here in around 1854, but died only two years later in an unfortunate accident. His horse had become restless, and when he went down to calm it, it kicked him in the head. Confused, he ran all the way home on foot before lapsing into a coma. He died the next day. He was only 37 years old.

His son, Charles, would have made his father proud. He grew to be a prominent citizen who served on St. Thomas City Council for a time.

Henry Lindop Location: Old Survey Plot 4 b. c.1928 d. c.1929 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (25 Feb 1928 p11).

Into the stone and mortar of a city are woven the lives and stories of its foundation families- the able, clever citizens often long departed; or almost unknown to many of the on-swinging generation. -A.S. Paragus, Henry Lindop, Born 92 Years Ago, Is Oldest Citizen

The Lindop family was one of St. Thomas earliest pioneer family families. They came to St. Thomas by chance. They hailed from Wrexham, Wales, where they had unfortunately lost their claim to their iron mines when their grandfather died without leaving a will. When they were in Buffalo on their way to Cincinnati, a man named “Thompson” convinced them to come to St. Thomas instead.

98 Henry was born and attended school in St. Thomas. In 1870 he entered the lumber business. He opened a door and sash factory at 60 Moore Street. He is credited for having built at least 300 buildings in the city, at one time being the owner of 75. He also served as a member of city council between 1875-6.

He was a member of Trinity Church and was married to Maria E. Straffon of Lawrence, Kansas. They lived at 78 St. George Street and had two daughters and a son.

George W. Midgley Location: Old Survey Plot 8 and 9 b. c.1859. d. November 1929 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (9 November 1929).

George W. Midgley was born in St. Thomas and was in business here all his life. He was the son of John Midgley, who had established a men's store at 201 Talbot Street. When George was only sixteen years old he entered his father’s company and had conducted it ever since. The business was eventually moved to 626 Talbot Street.

By the time George died in 1929, the store had been in business for sixty-seven years, making it possibly the oldest business in town. He was married to Wilhelmina Howard (1868-1961).

Colin Munro Location: Old Survey Plot 12 b. c.1820 d. February 2 1884 Source: Lechniak-Cumerlato, Stephanie. 2008. “Alma Ladies’ College in St. Thomas, Ontario.”

Colin Munro was a St. Thomas sheriff at the time when Alma College was built. It had been referred to as “St. Thomas Ladies College” until Colin had the honour of naming the school in 1877. He named it for his late wife, Alma Munro (Moore), who died in 1865, and their daughter, Mrs. Alma Munroe Duffield.

Nathaniel Vail Location: Old Survey Plot 43 b. 1855 d. December 29 1935 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (30 Dec 1935 P 1-2 C 5-6).

Nathaniel "Nat" Vail served for more than 45 years as a locomotive engineer and about five years as a locomotive fireman. He was a highly respected railroader with many friends in all stations of railroad work. As engineer, Nat made record runs on the "Wolverine" and other crack 98 international trains running over the Canadian Division. He operated many of the finest trains. Though he had a reputation for operating at record speeds, he maintained a perfect safety record.

Nat loved to play sports, especially lawn bowling. He was a member of the St. Thomas Bowling Club. He loved to attend the local baseball games. In his retirement, Nat became especially interested in beautifying his home. He was a member of Trinity Anglican Church, a member of the Lodge and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Samuel Dominion Day Location: Old Survey Plot 44 b. December 1 1830 d. February 31 1909 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (1 Feb 1909 P1 C4-5).

Samuel Dominion Day was born in Devonshire, but came to Canada when he was just sixteen. He worked for William Barrett in carriage making. He married Eliza FitSimons in 1854 and resided with her in Talbotville for two years before settling in St. Thomas again. He conducted a successful carriage business and erected the third brick house ever built in St. Thomas on Church Street.

Samuel served on city council as alderman for ten years; for the last two elections he was at the head of the polls. He acted as both reeve and warden during his time in service. He was also a member of the high school board. He was chairman of the building committee for Trinity church at the time of his death.

In 1868 he moved to Glen Banner, a 250-acre farm just outside the city on the Port Stanley road. The farm was also a success, and he was able to retire in 1906 with a comfortable fortune somewhere between $40,000 and $50,000- a large amount in that time!

Thomas Williams Location: Old Survey Plot 48 b. April 5 1803 d. October of 1891 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records, also The Ladies’ Benevolent and Temperance Society Fonds in the Elgin County Archives. Storage range R7 S1 Sh2 B2, R7 S1 B1-2 and R7 S2 Sh6 B1-3.

Thomas Williams was born in Stockport, England, the second son of silk manufacturer Richard Williams. He came with his father to North America in 1815, and lived in New York for about two years. In 1817, he made the two months’ journey to Port Talbot, where he settled with his family on lot 8, Talbot Road, Southwold. Thomas helped his father clear the land.

As a young man, Thomas went to Raleigh Township, where he did the necessary clearing and work to receive a land grant of 200 acres from Colonel Thomas Talbot. He sold the land and returned to Southwold,

98 where he purchased 100 acres of his family homestead. He remained there until 1866, when he moved to Centre Street, St. Thomas. Thomas was very active in both farming and the buying and selling of real estate. Between these endeavors, he was able to amass a fortune of around $100,000.

Thomas rarely drank and never smoked. He was appointed a justice of the peace, but rarely did he act in that capacity. He attended the First Methodist Church and was married three times. His first wife was Martha Ann White, who died shortly later, leaving an infant daughter. The second was Mary Nash, who died in 1876. They had seven daughters and two sons together. His third wife was Charlotte Ryall.

He was a public-spirited man who will be remembered as the benefactor of the Thomas Williams Home. The Ladies’ Benevolent and Temperance Society was an early form of welfare for the city of St. Thomas and was incorporated in 1876 for the care of the aged and the homeless. On July 24, 1882, the Society bought a house on 57 Walnut Street from Hiram Cornford. Later in that year, they built a home on the site as a residence for the needy. Thomas Williams generously paid the mortgage under the sole condition that it be named after him.

Thomas was named a life member of the Home’s advisory board for his generosity and kindness. Upon his death, he also left a generous sum to the Society. The Thomas Williams Home operated until 1994, when it was sold to private investors who made it into a bed and breakfast. Today it remains as such, and is called Rosebery Place.

James A. Bell Location: Old Survey Plot 63 b. unrecorded d. 25 June 1929 Source: Darrah, William Culp ,Paul C. Lyons, Elsie Darrah Morey and Robert Herman Wagner. Historical Perspective of Early Twentieth Century Carboniferous Paleobotany in North America. Genealogical Society of America. 1995. Also, St. Thomas Times Journal (26 June 1929 P9 C6).

James Anthony Bell was born in Lobo Township, Middlesex to Archibald and Agnes (Hood) Bell. He studied civil engineering and surveying under W.G. McGeorge. In 1876 he came to St. Thomas to work for Alfred Weir, city engineer at the time. Upon Alfred’s death, James became civil engineer for Elgin County, a position he held for half a century. He made many important contributions to St. Thomas, and to Canada. He became well known for his innovative building and bridge designs. His work set precedents for construction all over Canada. Though he could have worked at a national level, James confined his work to the southern counties of Ontario.

James designed the cantilever bridge over Niagara Falls for the Michigan Central Railway- this was later replaced with a heavier bridge, but was considered a fine structure. He was one of the first to introduce cement

98 into bridge building and gave Elgin County its first solid steel bridge with a cement floor. Later he designed the longest single span solid cement bridge in the area.

He is credited for rebuilding and modernizing the waterworks system in St. Thomas. He also designed systems in Milton, Paris, Tilbury, Aylmer, Port Stanley, Rainy River, Forest and Lambeth. He was considered to be the "father of the good roads movement" (St. Thomas TJ), as he leant his ideas and expertise to A.W. Campbell, commissioner of highways for Canada. He was also prominent in the building of good roads in Elgin County. At the time of his death, the Elgin County roads were thought to be some of the best in North America. James was also the manager of the St. Thomas Street Railway.

James was elected a member of the Canadian Society of Engineers in 1887. He was also a part of the Dominion and Ontario Land Surveyors' Associations. He was also associated with the Southern Loan and Savings Company and served as chairman of the board for a time. He was past master of the St. Thomas Lodge and past chancellor of Rathbone Lodge no. 12, Knights of Pythias.

James was married to Kate Darrach and they had five sons. The youngest, Lieutenant William D. Bell, was killed at the Battle of Courcelette. Another son, Fred A. Bell, followed in his father's footprints and became city engineer for St. Thomas.

In the later years of his life, James was known for tending to his beautiful gardens at home.

Mary (Mamie) A. V. Chamberlain Location: Old Survey Plot 80 b. May 24 1895 d. July 16 1975 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (18 July 1975 P7 C2-3).

Mary (Mamie) Alice Victoria Chamberlain was born in St. Thomas to Charlotte (Ponsford) and Arthur Chamberlain. She lived in St. Thomas all her life and was a retired kindergarten teacher at Myrtle Street School. She taught for more than forty years. She was a retired member of the Teachers’ Federation, attended First United Church and was a member of the United Church Women. She had formerly lived at 274 Ross Street.

Samuel Paddon Location: Old Survey Plot 87 b. c.1815 d. December 21 1896 Source: St. Thomas Cemetery records

Samuel Paddon was a local butcher. His first wife Mary died and was buried in the Old English Church yard. Soon after, the newspaper reported

98 that her body had disappeared. The body was found two days later in the Oddfellows Lodge Room- with precise incisions on the body. It is believed that some medical students had disinterred her to study for their final exams.

Samuel remarried Dinah Oliver in 1858. He was paranoid that someone would dig him up as well and was buried without any sort of marker.

Years later, his great-grandson finally placed a marker on the spot where Samuel is at rest!

Jonah W. Knight Location: Old Survey Plot 101 b. September 28 1859 d. October 16 1938 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (21 Oct 1938 P9 C3).

Jonah “Quiet Joe” William Knight was a noted professional baseball player. He was born in Port Stanley and became a famous as one of the greatest hitters in the old Eastern League. In the early days of his baseball career, Joe played with the Eries in Port Stanley. He left Port Stanley for Bay City, Michigan in the late 1870s, but returned to Ontario and played for a London team and then was part of the Worcester team.

He was a modest person who rarely spoke of his own success. His records, however, speak for themselves. In 1879 he was sixth in the league, hitting with an average of .366 percent. At the time when the averages were released, he had played more than fifty games, which was more than the players with the higher batting scores. He was also a star infielder, though his favourite position was in the outfield.

He was also a member of the Baltimore Orioles and for a short time with the Howard and Harvard teams. He also played with Cincinnati and Detroit times. He was believed to have finished off his professional baseball career in the Providence team, retiring due to a weakening right arm. After his retirement, Joe came to St. Thomas and worked for the Green Lumber Co. and other firms. He also managed and coached a number of baseball teams within the city. One daughter, Valerie, survived Joe. Many baseball stars attended his funeral.

William Reeks Location: Old Survey Plot 105 b. c.1841 d. December 25 1870 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (Jan 14 1937), also Robert Kirkpatrick. 2004. Their Last Alarm. Burnstown: General Store Publishing House. P10-11.

A young married man of only twenty-nine years, a town councilor and a volunteer firefighter, William Reeks lost his life in the Christmas Day Fire in St. Thomas in 1870.

98 Just before six o’clock a.m. on Sunday, December 25th, 1870, a St. Thomas resident named Miss Teahen took notice of a fire in the McKenzie and Stills dry goods store on Talbot Street. She sprinted to ring to town bell to tell the firefighters. But the firefighters thought that the bell was being rung to celebrate Christmas, and were unaware of the emergency until they began to hear screams of “fire!”

By the time they arrived with a hand pumped hose, the dry goods store was totally engulfed in flames. Furthermore, the freezing temperatures had frozen the water in their hose. The fire was spreading, unabated, in the strong wind.

William Reeks and a few of his co-volunteers entered McAdams Grocery Store to try and rescue some of the valuables, and to fight the fire with the small amount of water they had. Weakened by the fire, the walls in the structure began to come down. William was last seen on the third floor of the building where his remains were later found. His crystal watch had stopped at eight o’clock, around the time when the building had collapsed.

The stone that marks William’s grave is a white marble obelisk, which is not in the best of shape in the present day. It is somewhat difficult to read, but discernable are the words “who ably sacrificed”.

Helen Ferguson Location: Old Survey Plot 141 and 151 b. November 4 1905 d. May 16 1934 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (16 May 1934 P1 C6-7).

Helen Ferguson was the daughter of Robert and Daisy (Geary) Ferguson. She was born at Maplehurst, the family farm and educated at Alma College. She was May Queen in 1923- a title awarded to the most well liked girl at the school annually. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Hilda’s College at the University of Toronto in 1930.

Helen was the first vice-president of the Southwold Junior Liberal Club, first vice-president of the Elgin Junior Liberals, and a member of the Twentieth Century Clubs. She was well known for her sweet and gracious personality and her intelligence. She was almost thirty when she died.

Robert D. Ferguson Location: Old Survey 141 and 151 b. c.1870 d. December 2 1951 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

For around half a century, Robert Douglas Ferguson was a local leader in agriculture. He ran Maplehurst farm on the Port Stanley Road out of Fingal, and it was regarded as one of Elgin’s agricultural showplaces. He was born on the Ferguson homestead, a farm well known for its rich 98 soil. He ran the farm like a business, ensuring that the soil would remain fertile. He grew apple orchards so impressively that they were used for advanced demonstrations. He was a pioneer in this area for black-fired tobacco and was one of the first to prove that hybrid seed corn could be raised in Elgin. He also raised livestock, with a particular interest in beef cattle.

Robert served in various agricultural associations. He worked to improve crops, in agricultural auxiliary service with the County Council and the Ontario Department of Agriculture and in the development of the Elgin Fruit Growers' Co-Operative. He was one of the first agriculturalists to join the St. Thomas Kiwanis Club and a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge in Port Stanley. He was a member of Port Stanley United Church.

Robert also dedicated a great amount of time and effort to help with the Red Cross and other organizations during both of the World Wars. The farmhouse in which he lived with his wife, Daisy Geary, was the location of many cheerful gatherings. They were known for being gracious hosts who often had guests from other countries visiting to see their farm. At the time of his death, one daughter was living.

Neil R. Darrach Location: Old Survey Plot 158 and 159 b. 1850 d. 1926 Source: Murray, Rita. 2010. “City of St. Thomas, Ontario Designated Heritage Properties” . Also, St. Thomas Public Library. 2010. “St. Thomas Public Library History”.

Neil Darrach was a renowned architect who contributed a great deal to Canadian architecture. He was born in Southwold Township, and despite not being formally educated in the field, became a very successful architect.

Much of Neil’s work was done in St. Thomas. His first building design was the Centre Street Baptist Church, but he also worked on the Grand Central Hotel, the Masonic Hall, Balaclava and Myrtle Street schools, First United Church, St. Thomas City Hall, the old public library, the Southern Loan Building and the Princess Ave Playhouse.

In 1911 Neil went to Saskatchewan, where he designed the Western Trust Company with Maurice Sharon. He returned to St. Thomas and designed the Memorial Hospital in 1923 before his retirement.

Wasyl W. Dziabenko Location: Old Survey Plot 169 b. March 1 1926 d. January 3 1985 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

98 Wasyl W. Dziabenko was born in Ukraine to Wasyl and Motria (Lysycia) Dziabenko. He moved to Canada in 1950 and became a machinist at Essex Wire. He also worked at Allen's Cleaners. He was a member of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in London.

He was married to Elfriede Schmeissner, with whom he had one daughter. His marker includes Ukrainian script.

William Coyne Location: Old Survey Plot 230 and 238 b. c.1816 d. August 2 1895 Source: Elgin Tweedsmuir Histories

William Coyne was the son of Henry and Anna Coyne, who came to Dunwich Township in 1817. Their journey was a long and interesting one; they came overseas from Ireland on the sailing vessel Danube, only to be delayed in New York when the war of 1812 broke out. The family settled temporarily in Pleasant Valley for a few years; it was there that Elizabeth, Thomas and William Coyne were all born.

William and his brother James learned the building trade, building many of the early structures in West Elgin. William also became a merchant in Colonel Henry’s back acres Clearville at the age of 21 and was part of the militia during the Rebellion. Afterwards, he went into the general mercantile business in St. Thomas. When his brother moved to London, William kept the St. Thomas store running. He eventually became involved in politics, a trustee of the First Methodist Church and the first treasurer of Elgin County after it separated from Middlesex in 1853.

He was married to Christina Patterson and they had seven children together. Many of their descendants became prominent Canadian citizens.

Dr. James H. Coyne Location: Old Survey Plot 230 and 238 b. c.1849 d. January 5 1942 Source: Plaque erected by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada on wall of Elgin County Courthouse. Also Elgin Tweedsmuir Histories

James Henry Coyne was born in St. Thomas and served as a private in the St. Thomas Rifles at a very young age. For his service, he was awarded with the Fenian Raid Medal and a veteran’s land grant.

James became a writer, historian and educator. He was very active in 98 these endeavors. In 1889 he became the Registrar of Deeds for Elgin County, later becoming Master of Titles. In 1891 he founded the Elgin Historical and Scientific Institute. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1906 and also served as an executive of Alma College.

He was president of the Ontario Historical Society from 1898-1902 and a member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (1919-1930). He kept extensive, extremely interesting journals. He was elected F.R.S.C. in 1906 and F.R.G.S. in 1926.

In 1877, James married Matilda Bowes, daughter of John G. Bowes, former mayor of St. Thomas and M.P.P. in Toronto. They had four sons and two daughters together.

A plaque in James’ honour is mounted on the wall in the main corridor of the Elgin County Courthouse.

Dr. Charles B. Taylor Location: Old Survey Plot 230 and 238 b. 1877 d. December 17 1948 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Charles Berkeley Taylor was born in Perth, Ontario to Charles B. Taylor and Barbara Playfair. He spent his youth in Lindsay before attending the University of Toronto, where he studied dentistry. He came to St. Thomas to practice in 1903 and remained in the city ever since. His dental practice became one of the oldest in South-Western Ontario.

He was an active member of First United Church, serving on the official board for many years and as superintendent of the Sunday school for around twenty years. He was captain in the old 25th Elgin Regiment, a senior member of the St. Thomas and Elgin Dental Society and past president of the Y.M.C.A. board. He was associated with the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, having been an early member and president in 1948.

Charles was the general manager of the Nobility Chocolate and Biscuit Company when it operated in St. Thomas. He was also a member of Rathbone Lodge No.12 Knights of Pythias. He loved to fish, golf and hunt. He was a conservationist and took an active role in the stocking of fish in various local streams and lakes, including Lake Mimesaugamasing. This was a lake near the hunting camp he co-owned with some other local St. Thomas men. He was an important part of the Elgin Game Protective Association.

He was married to Christine Coyne, the daughter of James H. Coyne and Christina Patterson. They lived at 100 Hincks Street and had a daughter and three sons together.

98 William H. Murch Location: Old Survey Plot 251 b. 1855 d. 1924 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (3 June 1924 P1 and 7).

William H. Murch was a native of Plymouth, Devon, England and came to St. Thomas as a child. After he finished school he went into photography and later into the service of Archibald McLachlin, in newspaper and book work.

In 1879, William opened his own bookstore. The store became a haven for booklovers, who valued his knowledge and expertise. William loved books. He was a member of the Public Library Board for many years and was chairman of the Ontario Library Association.

He sold the business to M.G. Hay in 1901 and took over the management of the South-western Loan Company, where he stayed until 1904. He then joined the Huron & Erie Mortgage Corporation, where he remained employed until 1915 when he entered the bond business, holding office in the Royal Bank building.

He was also a lover of music, and once belonged to a glee club led by Dr. Vogt, which used to give concerts all around the area. He used to tell a story about how some of the men in the club attempted to stealthily approach and serenade certain ladies at Alma College- and were rewarded with a bucket of water.

William served on the Alma College board and was one of the founders of the Elgin Historical Society. He was one of the original directors of the Y.M.C.A., served as an alderman in 1894-5, and was secretary of a committee that brought many industries into the city. He was part of the First Methodist Church since it opened in 1873, serving as a member of the trustee board, the board of quarterly stewards, an auditor and a Sunday school teacher. He also wrote "A History of Methodism in St. Thomas." during the war.

He also loved to travel, having explored Great Britain, Europe, and the Mediterranean including Egypt and Jerusalem, Alaska, California, Florida and Western Canada. He often lectured on his many travels.

He was Past Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the Domain of Ontario and a charter member of Rathbone Lodge No. 12.

He was married to Anna C. MacPherson of Yarmouth, and they made their home at 34 Elgin Street.

Neil McAlpine Location: Old Survey Plot 277

98 b. c.1789 d. 23 August 1875 Source: St. Thomas Cemetery records

Neil McAlpine is known as the Scottish pioneer who saved the Talbot Settlement in 1842-1843.

Frost had killed all the wheat crops that year, but Neil had a surplus of 3000 bushels in his granaries. When St. Thomas' local miller offered to buy Neil's stock for a more than decent price, Neil had an idea.

He stood by the church gate that Sunday, whispering to the churchgoers as they passed that they might get grain at his farm- bushel for bushel. He asked only that they replace it at the end of harvest. Once he reached home, he realized that he had only helped the Presbyterians, and sent his sons on horseback to the other churches as well.

It was said that it took three days to distribute the grain to all who needed it.

Neil McAlpine’s trusting and generous act was never forgotten. He was married to Mary McAlpine and had many children with her. He lived to be eighty-six years old.

Benjamin F. Honsinger Location: Old Survey Plot 285 & 298 b. c.1858 d. September 30 1932 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (27 August 1921 P12 C2-4 and 4 Oct 1932 P7 C2).

In 1885, when St. Thomas was still in its infancy, Benjamin Franklin Honsinger opened a cigar and tobacco business at 308, 310, 312 and 314 Talbot Street. He manufactured cigars, retailed tobacco and had a small wholesale business in the area. The Honsinger Cigar and Tobacco Company became a successful limited company before 1921. It was known for being a clean, modern looking store, which sold pipes, walking sticks, tobacco, smokers' sundries, chocolate bars, chewing gum and various other items. It grew to become the foremost tobacco shop in the district.

As a wholesaler, Benjamin’s company served practically all of Western Ontario. The company brought thousands of dollars into the city. The cigar factory employed many people in the area, manufacturing well-known brands like The Real Thing, Landon, and Honsinger Panettela.

Dr. Eliphalet Wilbur Honsinger Location: Old Survey Plot 285 & 298 b. 1873 d. April 25 1947 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (28 April 1947). 98 Eliphalet Wilbur Honsinger was from one of the oldest families in St. Thomas. His mother was Margaret Drake, daughter of Benjamin Drake, whose father donated the land that eventually became the St. Thomas Cemetery. Eliphalet's father was Waite Honsinger.

He served with distinction in the First World War and was decorated in 1916 by King George V. He had the ribbons of the long service medal, Victory and Mons Medals as well as the Medaille Miltarie.

By trade, he was a dental surgeon. He also served on the board of Education for St. Thomas. He was a member of the Lodge- a life member and Past Master of St. David's Lodge No, 302, A.F. & A.M., a 32nd degree Mason, as well as a member of various other fraternities. He attended Trinity Anglican Church in St. Thomas.

Daniel Coulter Location: Old Survey Plot 292 b. July 28 1851 d. April 24 1940 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (29 April 1940 P1 C6).

Daniel Coulter was born to an Irish father (William) and a Scottish mother (Margaret). He was born in the Coulter pioneer home on Concession C, Southwold, just a mile and a half from where he died.

For the last forty-five years of his life, he operated the family farm. He was known for being a progressive farmer, always interested in making improvements in his industry and community. He was past vice president of the Fingal Telephone Company and a member of the United Church. His political views were Conservative.

Daniel was married to Elizabeth Carswell and was survived by one daughter, Erie Coulter. At the time of his death he was almost 89 years old and the second last living of eight children in his family.

William S. Stoner Location: Old Survey Plot 298 1/2 b. 1867 d. July 17 1950 Source: TJ July 15 1950

William S. Stoner was born in London, England to William and Mary Ann Stoner. He came to Canada as a child, residing in Toronto for many years before coming to St. Thomas. He was park concessionaire of Pinafore Park for many years, and was the builder of the Swan Boat that famously capsized on July 6, 1925 (See Mabel Watts).

He was married to Annie Vowles and they lived together at 112 Elm Street. Seven daughters, twenty-two grandchildren and sixteen

98 great-grandchildren survived him.

Joseph Field Location: Old Survey Plot 300 half b. 1890 d. June 12 1987 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Joseph Field was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, England, to Boaz and Rebecca (Medhurst) Field. He moved to St. Thomas in 1908. Joseph had many jobs in St. Thomas. He helped fill the springs at Waterworks before the dam was built, made bread at the R.H. Beattie bake shop, and was brakeman for the New York Central Railway. He was also served as labourer at the St. Thomas broom factory, carpenter at the Sanders and Bell mill and custodian with the Elgin County Board of Education.

But his real calling was music. He played the saxophone and the clarinet in the silent picture houses, including the Columbia, Princess, Idle Hour, Star and the Opera House. When the American Federation of Musicians, Local 633 was chartered in 1913, Joseph joined and taught music in the city.

He was a member of many orchestras, including the Citizens Band in Brantford, the 25th Regiment Band and the 7th Fusiliers in London. He was also a member of the St. David’s Masonic Lodge 302 and the St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club.

He was married to Ethel J. Stoner. At the time of his death he had one son, one daughter, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Major-Gen. Daniel W. B. Spry Location: Old Survey Plot 498 b. October 15 1872 d. July 13 1939 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (14 July 1939 P1 C2-3).

Daniel W. B. Spry was born in Toronto and worked for Toronto and Montreal Newspapers in his youth. He became prominent in military circles and served with distinction in World War I. He was advertising manager of the St. Thomas Times Journal and later worked for the Chatham News.

His death notice states that Henry’s military career really started in St. Thomas, where he was a junior officer in “C” Company of the old 25th Elgin Regiment. He was in charge of the re-organization of the 24th Kent Regiment in Chatham, ON. During wartime, he was on the 5th Division and headquarters staff at Brighton, later assistant adjutant and quartermaster general of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. By the end of the war, he was at the Whitley camp headquarters.

When the war ended, Daniel was named assistant adjutant and

98 quartermaster general in Calgary. He transferred to Halifax in 1927 and was appointed director of personal services for the Federal Government in 1932. In 1934, he went back to Calgary and became commander of Military District No. 13. He retired in 1937 and moved to Ottawa, where he remained until the year before his death. He was married to Ethel Rich, a girl from St. Thomas, and was survived by two sons and a daughter.

Samuel Goodwin Location: Old Survey Plot 505 b. 1845 d. March 17 1910 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (18 March 1910 P1 C 2-3).

Samuel Goodwin was born in Huddington, Quebec and came to Canada when he was very young. His father, William Goodwin, had a furniture and undertaking business on the west end of Talbot Street between Pearl and St. George Streets. In 1886, he and Richard Sanders built the Goodwin & Sanders building on the corner of Hincks and Talbot Streets. It was later turned into a furniture store and was associated with W.B. Jennings. Samuel was in business here for 34 years.

He was married and lived at 64 Gladstone Ave. Two sons and a daughter survived him.

Agnes A. Corlis Location: Old Survey Plot 554 b. December 14 1864 d. January 2 1877 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (27 June 1981).

Agnes Augusta Corlis was the daughter of Margaret (Walker) and Dr. Josiah Corlis. Her father practiced medicine in St. David’s Ward. Agnes was just a child when she died of diphtheria.

However, her death was not in vain. Her mother, Margaret, was motivated to go into medicine herself after her daughter’s sad death. At the age of forty-two she enrolled at the Women’s Medical School at Queens, even though she had three young sons at home. Margaret became the first woman to practice medicine in this part of the country. She was particularly kind and caring towards her younger patients.

She was also well known for being a gifted horsewoman. She could be found driving swiftly through both city and country roads with a team of spirited horses.

When Josiah and Margaret were both fifty-one years old, they immigrated to Australia where Margaret became the first woman there to ever be registered as a medical practitioner.

98 Ralph Herbert Crocker b. 1878 d. 1950 Location: Old Survey Plot 608 and 609 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Ralph Herbert Crocker was a veteran florist and nurseryman of St. Thomas and a member of the one of the oldest St. Thomas Families. He was in the florist business in St. Thomas for more than 45 years and was widely known, not only in the city, but also throughout the province. He had a greenhouse on what is now the site if Metcalfe Gardens. The present Crocker Avenue heads north from Wellington Street to the site of Metcalfe Gardens.

He was born in St. Thomas and was the third generation of his family to be born here. His parents were George K. and Mary Crocker, highly esteemed residents of St. Thomas. Ralph was married to Ethel Maud and they had three daughters and three sons together. 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild survived him.

The Crocker Family resided at 31 Wellington St at the time of Ralph’s passing. Ralph will be remembered for the elaborate casket sprays that he created to adorn the caskets of many prominent people.

Dr. William C. VanBuskirk Location: Old Survey Plot 636 b. May 21, 1825 d. December 13, 1910 Source: St. Thomas Daily Times (12 December 1910).

William Campbell VanBuskirk was born in Yarmouth Township to Henry VanBuskirk, a native of Nova Scotia. He moved with his parents to St. Thomas at the age of sixteen. He graduated from Toronto University in 1953 and from New York College in 1954. He then took post-graduate studies in Paris and London before returning to St. Thomas to set up his practice on William Street in the south part of the Spohn Block. Later on he set up both his practice and residence in the house where the Merchants Bank stood by the time of his death in 1910.

As a physician, William was known for his charitable nature. We would treat his patients even if they could not pay. He was also known for his particularly strong physique, which he retained far into his older years. In his younger years he was able to lift heavy barrels into a wagon without any trouble, when men who were strong themselves could not. He was medical health officer to the city for a quarter of a century and assistant physician of the Railroad Hospital Association. He was also physician for the Thomas Williams Home and the Elgin County Jail.

He contributed greatly to the development of St. Thomas. He served as alderman for many years and then as mayor of the city at its incorporation in 1881. He played a large role in the building up of 98 Wellington Street, and VanBuskirk Drive is named for him. He was a strong advocate for moving the waterworks pumping station to a location above the city and a more modern filtration system.

As well as being a gifted physician, William invented machinery. One such invention was a ditching machine that, with a few improvements, was in use all over the country by the time of his death.

He was married to Annie Fraser. Two daughters were living at the time of his death. An impressive monumental Celtic Cross marks the VanBuskirk family plot.

William T. Venning Location: Old Survey Plot W b. April 6 1865 d. February 16 1931 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (16 Feb 1931 P1 C7-8).

William Thomas Venning was one of the original members of the St. Thomas postal delivery staff, as well as an employee of the Michigan Central Railroad. He was born in England and came to Canada when he was about sixteen.

When the house delivery service began in St. Thomas on October 2, 1908, William was one of the original nine employees. He took care of the Wilson Avenue-Ross Street route for many years.

William lived at 222 Ross Street with his wife, and was survived by a daughter and a son. He was a member of Central United Church.

John A. Sutherland Location: Old Survey Plot LL b. c.1882 d. October 10 1965 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (12 October 1965).

John Arthur Sutherland was born in Seaforth to Andrew and Margaret (McBride) Sutherland. He spent most of his life in St. Thomas, having been an employee of the St. Thomas Times Journal in his early days here. Later on, he conducted the J.A. Sutherland Realty and Insurance Company. He was also formerly the manager of the Canada Vitrified Products.

He was a member of the Knights of the Pythias, Rathbone Lodge No. 12 and a life member of St. David’s lodge No. 302, A.F. and A.M. and attended St. John’s Anglican Church. He was also active in the Elgin Liberal Association.

John was married to May Else and was survived by two daughters and four grandchildren.

98 Blocks Section

Thomas Hall Location: Block A Plot 1 b. August 1, 1859 d. February 11, 1924 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (13 Feb 1924 P7 C4).

At the time of his death, Thomas Hall was assistant general superintendent of buildings of the Michigan Central Railway. Formerly he had been division superintendent of building on the lines in Canada.

He was high up in Masonry, having been an honoured member of St. Thomas Lodge No. 44, A.F. and A.M., Palestine Chapter No. 54, Royal Arch Masons, Burleigh Preceptory, No. 21, Knights Templar, Mocha Temple, Shiners’ London, St. Thomas Lodge No. 76, I.O.O.F. and Elgin Encampment No. 20.

He was married to Janet Scott Hall (Reekie) and they had two children together. Their son, William T. Hall, predeceased him by many years.

William T. Hall Location: Block A Plot 1 b. October 25, 1886 d. October 31, 1910 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (1 Nov 1910 P1 C3 and 4 Nov 1910 P 1 C3).

William T. Hall, referred to by his middle name Thomas in his obituary, took ill and died at the age of 24, just as he was embarking on a promising career.

Having just graduated from Queens University in the spring before he died, Thomas held the position of chief clerk in the Division Engineers office of the Michigan Central. He is described as a quiet and unassuming man who endeared himself to everyone he met. A special carriage was required at his funeral to convey the many floral offerings to his grave.

He passed away at the residence of his father, Thomas Hall and was mourned by a large circle of friends.

Kenneth M. Cameron Location: Block A Plot 2 b. c.1890 d. March 2, 1909 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (March 2 1909).

Kenneth McLean Cameron was the son of W.K. Cameron and was only 19 years old when he died. He was the youngest and brightest student at the School of Practical Science in Toronto, which he was attending at the time

98 of his death. Before going off to college, he had played hockey for the Collegiate Institute and was known for being a talented tennis player. He had been an active member and secretary of the Young Men’s Club of Knox Church and was employed during the summers with Haney & Miller, working on the Port Stanley harbour improvements.

His death came as a shock to everyone who knew him. He had just cheerfully bid a good night to his friends and closed the door to his room when they heard the sound of a gunshot. His friend McCarthy entered to room to discover that Kenneth was dead from a bullet wound to the head.

Nobody could believe that such a promising and bright young student would take his own life willingly. It was thought that the death had been accidental; the revolver was usually left unloaded and was used often by the students in their various pranks. Some suspected foul play, but his obituary states that no plans were made for an inquest.

William K. Cameron Location: Block A Plot 2 b. c.1860 d. June 1927 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery Records

William Kenneth Cameron was born in Beaverton, Ontario, near Lake Simcoe. He attended school in that area and later entered the Osgoode Hall in Toronto. He articled with Nicol Kingsmill in Toronto before returning to St. Thomas to work for the Michigan Central Railroad, which he did until 1887 when he was called to the bar. After that he went to Port Arthur, Ontario to form a legal firm called Wink and Cameron. In 1893 he returned to St. Thomas, where he entered into partnership with his father-in-law, John McLean and his brother-in-law, James McLean.

After the death of John McLean, William practiced alone for a few years before forming a partnership with Andrew Grant in 1916. In 1919, his son, Hugh C. Cameron joined the firm. William was also the associate editor of The Municipal Worlds legal department.

He was a noted Lacrosse player who was captain of the Checkers in Beaverton. He was manager for a number of teams in the Ontario Lacrosse Association for many years. In his later years he turned to curling. He also enjoyed golfing and was a part of the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending his vacations in the wilderness of Northern Ontario hunting and fishing. He spent many of his summers at his residence in the Parry Sound District.

Arguably, one of William’s greatest contributions to the city was that he organized the St. Thomas Athletic Association and deeded the present Athletic Park to the city, on the condition that it would be used for athletic purposes in perpetuity.

98 He was married twice. At the time of his death, he had six living children with his first wife, the late Frances Jean McLean, and three children with his second wife, Ruby Lillian Stough. He also had many grandchildren by the time he passed away.

Dr. Frederick K. Guest Location: Block A Plot 4 b. 1866 d. October 17 1947 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (17 Oct 1949).

Frederick K. Guest was born near Thorndale to Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Guest, who were leading farmers in London. He went to school at the Thorndale public schools and then to the London Collegiate Institute and the University of Western Ontario, graduating from medical school in 1890. He also trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Toronto. Following this, he set up practice in Shedden and moved to St. Thomas ten years later after doing postgraduate work in New York City.

He continued practicing in St. Thomas until enrolling for active service in World War I, where he served overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps service. Following his return from the war, he went west to Regina, Saskatoon, where he became a physician with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police until his return to St. Thomas around 1944.

Frederick served on St. Thomas City Council for many years. He was alderman from 1903 until 1910, when he was elected the city’s mayor. He was known as a progressive mayor who was particularly active in promoting the industrial growth of the city. During his time as mayor, the Monarch Knitting Company came to St. Thomas and built large wool spinning plants on Metcalfe Street, St. Anne’s Place and on the site of the drill grounds.

He served as president of the Elgin Medical Association, the Alumni Society of the University of Western Ontario, and the Board of Governors for the Amasa Wood Hospital. He was also associated with Masonry, having served as district deputy grand master of District No. 3. Frederick was also interested in politics. He was president of the West Elgin Liberal-Conservative Association and the London Old Boys Association of St. Thomas for many years. He also took an active interest in the annual horse show in St. Thomas.

He was married to Alice Silcox. They made their residence at 32 Metcalfe Street and had two children together.

Dr. Archibald C. Campbell Location: Block A Plot 5 & 7 b. 1875

98 d. February 1298 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (20 February 1928 P1 C4-5 and P3 C4-8).

Archibald C. Campbell was born in Fernhill, Ontario, but came to St. Thomas as a child. He attended school here and later graduated in medicine from the University of Toronto. He also took medical surgery courses in Dublin, Ireland and London, England.

He was often described as the protégé of his uncles, doctors Duncan and Colin McLarty. He joined the family medical practice upon Duncan’s death, and was later associated with Dr. J.D. Curtis. He was both a general practitioner and a surgeon, and was considered one of the most popular medical men in Western Ontario.

Archibald was a member of the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club and attended Knox church. He supported the Liberal party. He was married to Helen Lindsay (1877-1941), and they had three young sons at the time of his death. His death notice states that for years, he practiced seven days a week and seldom took a vacation. He began to feel overworked. In the winter of 1927, Archibald went to England and Scotland to holiday, but upon his return began practicing regularly again. It was widely thought that he was a martyr to his cause.

Edgar C. Harvey Location: Block A Plot 8 b. June 13 1865 d. April 3 1947 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (5 Apr 1947).

Edgar Corydon Harvey was born in Lynedoch, Ontario, the third of thirteen children born to Leander and Ann Harvey. He attended school at Watford and later, the Ontario College of Pharmacy in Toronto, where he received the Shuttleworth Gold Medal for academic excellence. Following this, he went to work at a store in Brigden. Here he had the strange experience of having to train his own employer, who was not yet a qualified druggist.

In 1887 or 1888, Edgar left to establish his own business in Rodney. After five years, he left this store with a manager and came to St. Thomas to open a second place of business. He became the first in Southern Ontario to establish a chain drug store, eventually operating locations in St. Thomas, Brussels, West Lorne and Rodney. His St Thomas drugstore was first located on Talbot Street between Mary and Hiawatha, and later on land purchased from Joseph Mickelborough. He was in business for nearly 55 years and even established his own line of drugs, known as the Wellway Line. He retired in 1943.

He also took a great interest in St. Thomas industrial interests. His obituary states that he was instrumental in bringing the Armand Company’s Canadian plant to St. Thomas, where it stayed for many 98 years. He also served as a trustee for the Board of Education for eight years and was chairman of the Board when the Vocational Institute was launched and beginning to be built.

Edgar was an avid traveler who once took an extended cruise to visit many South American Countries. He married Hattie Belle McKinnon in 1889; they made their home on East Street and had four children. After Hattie passed away, he made his home at 40 Elgin Street. In 1947 he drove south to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he passed away after just a months visit.

Roy C. E. “Fat” Farley Location: Block A Plot 11 b. 1888 d. July 13 1965 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Roy Clayton “Fat” Farley was a native of Yarmouth Township. He was the son of Hannah and Reuben Farley and was employed as a letter carrier since 1916. It was said that by the time of his retirement in 1953, Roy had walked around 125 000 miles and worn out 100 pairs of shoes.

He was an avid sportsman who became well known as a shortstop in the Inter-county Baseball League. He was also a member of the Lodge and attended Knox Church.

Roy was married to Gladys Hoover and was survived by a daughter and a grandson.

Adam W. Graham Location: Block A Plot 12 b. c.1847 d. January 1930 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (January 22 1930).

Adam Wilson Graham was born to pioneers in New Glasgow. An adventurous man, he travelled to Manitoba when it was just being opened to settlers in 1869.

He was the last living survivor of a small band of volunteer soldiers held prisoner by Louis Riel in old Fort Garry between 1870 and 1871. In the nine weeks that he was held prisoner, he made acquaintance with Thomas Scott, who escaped, was caught and was executed in the Fort Garry yard on Riel’s orders. Adam saw Scott’s blood in the snow. When Adam was put before Riel and ordered to swear allegiance to him, he bravely refused, enraging Riel. Thankfully, rather than put him before the firing squad, he was put in a small room and fed only bread, water and dried buffalo for a week.

Once released, Adam walked 300 miles in the snow to St. Cloud, Minnesota to work, and ate nothing but dried buffalo the whole way. Once 98 he had saved ten dollars, he paid his fare on a paddle-wheel steamer going down the Mississippi. Then he travelled by train and by Studebaker wagon, driving what was described as an eccentric team of steers. Once there, he worked his way up to being entrusted with the survey instruments, despite his lack of education. Though he had many close calls when angry natives tried to shoot him, he somehow evaded injury.

He tried his hand at farming in Kansas and even forayed into Texas. He returned to St. Thomas to become a lifelong citizen in 1873, and was a member of the Board of Education for 21 years. During the time he served, Myrtle, Balaclava and Wellington schools were built.

An avid reader, horticulturalist and ornithologist in his later days, he once said to a Times-Journal representative that his only regret was not staying in the West after the Red River Rebellion. He was married to Caroline (Stevenson) Graham and they resided at 16 Margaret Street.

George W. Hoover Location: Block A Plot 14 b. c.1886 d. November 3 1938 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (4 November 1938 P15 C8).

George William Hoover made his living as a Canadian Pacific Railway telegrapher. He was born in Kingsmill, Ontario, but resided in both Zorra and St. Thomas for many years before moving to London, where he resided until his death. He was married to Ann Hoover with whom he had four daughters and two sons.

Richard V. Anthony Location: Block A Plot 14 b. c.1876 d. April 5 1926 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (April 2 1926).

Richard Vincent Anthony was born in Hadley, Shropshire, England and came to Canada in 1894. He resided near Comber until 1903 when he moved to St. Thomas. He stayed there for the rest of his life.

He was a member of Knox Church and a well-respected member of the local community. He was a prominent railroad man as well as a member of the lodge No. 44 A.F. and A.M. Palestine chapter, Burleigh Preceptory, Mocha Temple Shriners, Hi Ro Shrine Club, Maple Leaf Order of the Eastern Star and Rathbone Lodge.

Richard was married to Maggie Dixon and they resided at 8 Myrtle Street.

Dorothy E. Ayearst (Curtis) Location: Block A Plot 21 b. October 19 1900

98 d. June 27 1988 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Dorothy Ellen Ayearst was born in Middlemarch to Salathiel and Mary (Hunt) Curtis. She lived in St. Thomas all her life. She was a member of First United Church, the Golden Links of First United Church, the W.M.S., the Button Club and the Antique Club.

She was married to William B. Ayearst. At the time of her death, she had one living son, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

John C. Ponsford Location: Block A Plot 25 b. c.1863 d. June 8 1946 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

John Charles Ponsford was born in Malahide Township, one of George Ponsford's seven sons. As a young man, he joined his brother Henry T. Ponsford in a construction business in El Paso, Texas. He returned to St. Thomas and became a tax collector, and became active in various sports- particularly baseball.

Around 1911, he was manager of the St. Thomas baseball league in the Canadian League. He was a captain in the 25th Regiment of Elgin and a member of the St. Thomas Rifle Club.

John left St. Thomas to become a prison warden at Stoney Mountain Penitentiary in Alberta before relocating to Portsmouth Kingston Penitentiary. He became widely known for his penitentiary reform work and retired in 1932.

Following his retirement, John returned to St. Thomas where he became an active official of the St. Thomas Cemetery Board for a number of years. He was a member of Trinity Church and a part of St. Thomas Lodge No. 44 A.F. and A.M. for almost fifty years.

He was married to Ada Hepburn, and at the time of his death had two daughters and a son with her.

Ruby Copeman Location: Block A Plot 126 b. December 28, 1878 d. October 22, 1985 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Ruby Copeman was the first of eight children born in Aylmer to William and Nan (Wyatt) Copeman. She moved with her family to St. Thomas at the age of five, where she remained for the rest of her 106 years. In 1985, Ruby was believed to be the last living person to have seen Jumbo the elephant. She knew St. Thomas when it was just a country 98 village, and remembered the day that the first electric streetcar made its way through downtown St. Thomas.

Five weeks after Andersons store opened in 1896, she became a cashier there, where she remained for fifty years until she retired in April of 1946. She became a stockholder in 1906, when Mr. Anderson formed a limited company and made her secretary-treasurer.

She was part, of and contributed to, numerous organizations around town. She was a member of the Elgin-St. Thomas board of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind for more than 25 years. She was the only living member of the Women’s Senior Hospital Aid and paid regular visits to patients in nursing homes and hospitals. She also played a large role in the Patriotic Association in 1914, a group that supplemented the soldiers’ pay of $1.10 per day.

Ruby was part of the First United Church from the age of eleven, when it was still called First Methodist Church. She was sector leader in the Women’s Voluntary Services since it began and the youngest member of the founding committee of the Y.W.C.A. She cut its 70th birthday cake in 1972. She was treasurer of the Gleaners Women’s Missionary Society at her church for around 40 years. Somehow, Ruby still found time to be a member of bridge club.

Ruby was given the honour of unveiling the Jumbo monument when it was presented in St. Thomas in 1985.

Pte. Rheyo M. Cornwall Location: Block 1 Plot 1 b. 1895 d. May 30 1917 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (30 May 1917 P1 C5-6).

Rheyo Morgan Cornwall was born in Avon, ON., a son of Eva McCallum. He spent most of his life in St. Thomas, where he attended school and was later employed with the local parcel delivery company.

Rheyo enlisted early in the WWI and went overseas with the 1st Hussars. He was transferred to the 7th C.M.R. in England, where he was at the front in the Battle at Courcelette in 1916. It was during this battle that the British introduced tanks into warfare. It was also the battle in which Rheyo was wounded and damaged his spine.

He was hospitalized in France and England, and was brought back to Canada on April 24, 1917 to stay in a soldiers' hospital in Toronto. His relatives visited him there frequently and his mother was at his side when he died.

It must have been a very difficult time for his mother, Eva McCallum. Rheyo's obituary states that at the time of his death, two brothers were in active service in France and a half-brother, Pte. A. McCallum, was a 98 prisoner of war in Germany.

George E. Nethercott Location: Block 1 Plot 25 b. Unrecorded d. February 11 1960 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (12 February 1960 P7 C4-5).

George Edwin Nethercott was born in St. Thomas to Louisa Styles and Edwin Nethercott. He became one of St. Thomas’ best athletes, with a particular love of baseball. He was catcher for an independent team called the St. Thomas Pastimes in the early 1900s. He played on teams in the Western Ontario League and was thought to be one of the best pitchers in Canada.

He was also a manager, running the St. Thomas Tom Cats in the early thirties and helping them win many victories. He was also a member of the Granite Curling Club and the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. He attended Grace United Church and was a member of the Lodge.

George was a retired Wabash Railway conductor. He lived at 37 St. Catharine’s Street and was married to Adelaide Nethercott.

William J. Oke Location: Block 1 Plot 25 b. August 18 1892 d. January 4 1962 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (4 Jan 1962 P1 C5).

William John (Bill) Oke was born in St. Thomas to William and Melissa (Hutchinson) Oke. When he was a young man, he worked in the Rudolph and Begg Brewery on the Gravel Road. This business was later sold out to John Labatt. St. Thomas had five breweries at one point.

In later years, he was a handyman for several businesses on the west end of Talbot Street. He was married to Mabel Dickson. He died sadly in a pedestrian accident in 1962.

Lundy J. Butler Location: Block 1 Plot 30 b. July 25 1874 d. February 21 1926 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (22 February 1926 P1 C2).

Lundy Jackson Butler was born near Jaffa, Ontario, a son of George Butler. He lived in this area all his life, and had a successful barbering business in the Grand Central block of St. Thomas. He was regarded as a talented barber and was quite popular among patrons. Around 1920, he moved to Cleveland and then to Detroit, where he built successful barbershops. He died after undergoing two operations on a ruptured appendix. 98 John A. McCance Location: Block 2 Plot 8 b. July 22 1874 d. April 23 1930 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (8 February 1930 P1 C6).

John Alexander McCance was born near Listowel and came to St. Thomas as a boy. He worked with Dan Black in a grocery store on the corner of Elgin and Wellington Street, where W.E. Norsworthy was later in business. John went into business for himself at 373-75 Talbot Street around 1900 and was quite successful. A few years before his death he sold the business to A. A. Housley and went into partnership with Herbert Mortin in a coal business on Princess Ave.

He was a supporter of Knox Church and later First United, serving on the boards for both churches. He was a member of the Lodge for thirty-two years and a Pythian for thirty-five. He was also a member of the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, the Curling Club and the Bowling Club. He played a significant role in the funding and building of the Y.W.C.A.

John was known for his outgoing, cheerful personality. His wife and two children survived him.

Milton P. Buchner Location: Block 2 Plot 29 b. c.1906 d. October 31 1929 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (6 November 1929 P2 C5).

Milton Peter Buchner was born in Buffalo, the son of Mantelbert and Joanna Buchner. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Glanworth. He made his living as a sailor, working as wheelsman for a freighter called the Senator.

He died on Halloween of 1929 in a fatal collision between the Marquette and the Senator in Port Washington, Lake Michigan. He was just twenty-five years old and was the last living member of his immediate family.

Norman M. Murray Location: Block 3 Plot 5 b. July 22 1874 d. April 23 1940 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (24 April 1940 P1 C4-5).

Norman McLeod Murray was born at Lakeside, Ontario and lived in Woodstock before coming to St. Thomas, where he stayed for the last 47 years of his life. He was one of the most popular men employed by the Michigan Central Railway.

98 During his time with the M.C.R., Norman was a brakeman, freight conductor, and later a passenger conductor, in charge of the fast passenger trains between the borders. Prior to his retirement had been working on the St. Clair branch.

He belonged to Grace United Church, the Order of Railway Conductors, Elgin Lodge 32, I.O.O.F. and the Railway Pioneers' Association. He was married to Alma G. Couch and they made their residence at 84 Elgin Street. They had two daughters and a son together.

Joseph Albertson Location: Block 3 Plot 18 b. c.1860 d. February 2 1933 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (28 July 1921 P1 C5-6).

Joseph Albertson made headline news in the St. Thomas newspapers in July of 1921. A group of armed and masked criminals were in the area, burglarizing a series of homes. At Lewis Gilberts' house, shots were fired between the two parties, and at the residence of Fred Hill, the intruders demanded to know where the whiskey was kept and threatened to burn the soles of his feet.

They had already robbed the residences of Lewis Gilbert and Fred Hill before they arrived at Joseph Albertson’s house in South Yarmouth. Two of the bandits came to his door, asking for him to help them get their car out of a ditch. In a kind gesture, Joseph went and assisted them, only to notice that the robbers had ransacked his entire house.

It was believed that the robbers were motivated by a need for whiskey. A stranger had been seen riding a taxicab in the area and chatting with locals around the time of the burglaries; it was thought that he was scouting for full cellars. Constable John Hopkins warned the local farmers to keep their shotguns and revolvers loaded and keep their windows and doors locked.

Joseph Albertson was married to Bertha. They had two children together. At the time of his death he was living in Chatham.

John R. Staples Location: Block 4 Plot 22 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (January 27 1913 P5 C2). b. c.1884 d. January 26, 1913 and John Krouse b. 1870 d. 1921

John R. Staples was born in England and had no relatives in Canada. He

98 worked for a time at the Grand Central, but at the time of his death was a janitor for the Thomas Williams home. He lived at 33 Wilson Avenue and died of pneumonia when he was just twenty-seven years old.

He shares a stone with John Krouse, a former employee of the Thomas Brothers' Broom Factory. This large factory was located near the Pere Marquette railway tracks. There is an inscription on the stone that reads "Thomas Brothers Relief and Sick Benefit Association."

Into the stone is carved an open gate (symbolizes immortality) and a book (signifies Christianity). Carved drapery cascades down the stone.

Peter Peters Location: Block 4 Plot 22 b. c. 1836 d. May 20, 1907 Source: St Thomas Daily Times (21 May 1907).

Peter Peters was born in Hirsham, Sussex County. As a twenty-year old, he came to Canada with James Hammond and his wife. Ten years later he started a butcher shop in town, which enjoyed a great deal of success for the next forty years.

Peter and Dan McCallum were charged with the ominous job of cutting up Jumbo's body when a train engine struck the famous circus elephant on September 15, 1885. It took them two days to prepare the elephant for burning.

He left a wife named Christmas Emma to mourn him, as well as two sons and three daughters. At the time of his death, he still had five brothers living in England.

Capt. Henry Borbridge Location: Block 4 Plot 23 b. August 4 1818 d. September 5 1904 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Henry Borbridge died at the age of 86, though his obituary claims that he could have passed for sixty, and evaded all queries about his age. He was a harness-maker and conducted a business in the west-end of town for many years. He was also an avid bicyclist and horseman, and was known for having dumbbells and other workout paraphernalia in his room.

He was well known for his excellent horsemanship skills. He got his title from being in command of a cavalry corps, which disbanded a few years before his death.

John Apostal Location: Block 4 Plot 30

98 b. c.1885 d. February 17 1917 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (19 February 1917 P5 C6).

Little is known about John Apostal, who was born in Turkey. He was the proprietor of the Alexandra Café. Into his monument is carved an image of Christ on the crucifix.

Thomas Taylor Heard Location: Block 4 Plot 34 b. c.1853 d. January 9, 1932 Source: St. Thomas Cemetery Records (January 9 1932 P8 C3).

Thomas Taylor Major Heard was a native of St. Thomas, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Heard. He was associated with his brother in the Spraymotor Company of Canada and was well known throughout the area. Although he was never connected with the army, many referred him to as Major.

He spent most of his life in London with the exception of a brief period spent in Buffalo. He married Emma Rowley, of St. Thomas, and they had two children together.

Lewis Norton Location: Block 5 Plot 11 b. October 29 1817 d. July 26 1907 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (27 July 1907).

Lewis Norton was a young Wabash brakeman who died tragically in a railroading accident, which left three St. Thomas men dead in 1907. They were on the Wabash line east of Simcoe when locomotive no.1894ès boiler exploded without warning. The train had been passing beneath a farmer’s private bridge at the time when it exploded- the bridge was consumed by fire along with two freight cars. Engineer Dennis Patterson was killed instantly, fireman Fred Calvert died the next day, and Lewis Norton was badly injured and died later. The conductor and the rear brakeman survived.

The cause of the explosion was never understood. Dennis H. Patterson and Lewis Norton were buried feet apart in the St. Thomas Cemetery after a double funeral.

George Gillett Location: Block 5 Plot 18 b. c.1838 d. May 9, 1913 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (9 May 1913 P4 C6).

George Gillett was born in Richmond, but moved at a young age with his 98 father to a farm a mile east of Sparta, later making his home near Yarmouth Centre where he remained for the rest of his life. He was a well-known farmer and a member of Centre Street Baptist Church. He was married to Emmaline Gillett and they had one son and three daughters together.

John P. Bailey Location: Block 5 Plot 27 b. c.1838 d. March 30 1909 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (1 and 2 April 1909).

John Porter Bailey was a well-known St. Thomas citizen who met his untimely death in an Elgin Cobalt Development company mine. He stayed in a shack in Haileybury and was working in a mine in Loraine. Despite being 72 years old, he was regarded as mentally and physically hale. When he did not show up for dinner or at home one night, his co-workers searched and found him dead. He had been caught in an explosion in the mine when he could not get away fast enough.

His permanent address was at 17 Chestnut Street, where he lived with his wife and three children. He was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows.

Harold E. Price Location: Block 5 Plot 40 b. c.1899 d. August 1928 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (23 August 1928 P16 C5).

Harold “Harry” E. Price was a prominent grocer from St. Thomas. He was one of three people who drowned tragically in Port Bruce in 1928. His wife, Verna F. Trembley, was left with two small children to mourn him. The funeral cortege for the young man was over a mile in length.

Andrew D. Windsor Location: Block 6 Plot 7 b. August 16 1914 d. February 5 1943 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (6 Feb 1943 P1 C5) and Marion McKenzie

Andrew D. "Andy" Windsor spent his youth in St. Thomas, attending Arthur Voaden School and working on his parents' farm. But he was always interested in flying.

On September 1, 1935 (less than a month after his 21st birthday) Andrew enrolled at the London Flying Club's school in Lambeth. After earning his civilian pilot's license, Andrew got a Porterfield, his first plane. He flew recreationally, often landing on farms in South Yarmouth. He won the H. H. Childs trophy for having the most flying hours in 1936 after having

98 flown for 250 hours. He also held the altitude record for the London Flying Club after reaching 14,040 feet in an open plane.

In March of 1937 he got a job with the Ontario Forestry Department as an aerial forest ranger, where he worked for three years. He became one of the first pilots in the Ontario fire ranging service to offer his service to the Royal Canadian Air Force, having applied the day after war was declared. He was called on February 1, 1940 and went to Trenton to train as an officer.

When sinus troubles caused him to be discharged in December of 1941, he was still determined to help. He went to Montreal, where he became an instructor in ground school. When his sinuses improved he moved to Ferry Command and ferried bombers across the Atlantic. His sinuses began to trouble him again and he was forced to go back to ground work again. He took an inspection course on flying boats in England and qualified at Boucherville, Quebec.

Andrew’s sinus troubles were a recurring issue for him and caused him to undergo various extensive surgeries. But he never gave up on his dreams of flying. When a medical exam declared him fit for service once more, Andrew started a job with Dominion Skyways. His job was the fly freight to remote fields.

Andrew died in 1943 in a flying accident in St. Luc, Quebec, along with four other men. He was just 29 years old. At the time of his death, he was employed out of Quebec with the British Fleet Air Arm. These were flight officers that came to Canada to do special training during the war. He was a test pilot for them. Andrew was considered one of the finest pilots of his time.

Andrew was married to Margaret Catharine Pugh and they had one daughter together, Sylvia Margaret Windsor.

Erle G. Ponsford Location: Block 7 Plot 2 b. January 8 1887 d. October 22 1952 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (22 October 1952).

Erle George Ponsford was born in St. Thomas and lived there for his whole life. He was the son of Harriet and George A. Ponsford.

He was one of the first people to open a garage and automobile sales agency in St. Thomas. His garage and salesroom were on William Street, where the Berry-Hill Sales headquarters were located at the time of his death in 1952.

Erle retired from the automotive business in 1940 and began operating two large farms in Payne’s Mills. He was particularly interested in purebred

98 Guernsey and Holstein dairy cattle. Interestingly, he is credited for introducing Dawbul winter wheat to Elgin. He was able to obtain enough seed from the Western Ontario Experimental Farm in Ridgtown to plant a small field. By the time of his death, the Dawbul wheat had become a popular crop in Elgin County.

He was a member of First United Church, a life member of St. David’s Lodge No. 302, the Commercial Travelers Association of London and was part of the Hi-Ro Shrine and Talbot Clubs.

He was married to Lila Ponsford. They held residence at 115 Stanley Street and had one living son at the time of his death. Another son, George (Pete) Ponsford, was killed in Normandy during the Second World War.

George A. Ponsford Location: Block 7 Plot 2 b. December 23 1859 d. March 14 1943 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery Records

George Alfred Ponsford was born in the old Ponsford home, near where Pinafore Park now stands. He was the third of eleven children, seven of whom were boys. All seven went into masonry with their father, George Ponsford senior. George junior established his own firm, the George Ponsford Construction Co., in the 1880s and was in business for over half a century, becoming one of Western Ontario’s leading contractors in construction and building work.

He learned his trades from his father, having helped him build the Grand Central Hotel in 1881. The first building he undertook on his own was the old Canadian Pacific Roadhouse in London. He contracted the Wellington Street Public School, the old Times Journal building, the Public Library, the Andersons Limited Store, the Southern Loan building, the Griffin block at Talbot and Princess, the Talbot Hotel, and the Iroquois Hotel, to name a few. He was also responsible for the building of hundreds of local residences and other structures.

For thirty-five years, George was contracted with the Michigan Central Railway to erect brick structures. Some of the larger buildings he was contracted for were the roundhouses in Windsor, Fort Erie and St. Thomas and the first concrete bridge abutments built in Elgin County. He was responsible for many of the sidewalks, pavements and curbs in St. Thomas.

As one of the largest property owners in town, George took an interest in municipal politics. He served St. Thomas for many years as alderman. He was an eager Conservative who was known for getting into many lively political debates.

98 George bought a Buick in 1907, becoming one of the first men in town to own a motorcar. Despite this, he retained his horses. He was a good judge of heavy draft horses and city firms consulted him before purchasing delivery horses. He was also a part of the Independent Order of the Oddfellows and a member of Trinity church.

He was married twice. His first wife was Harriet Axford who died in 1930, and his second was Ida Zavitz. He had one son, Erle Ponsford.

Dr. Dee A. McLarty Location: Block 7 Plot 11 b. December 14 1847 d. November 11 1928 Source: St Thomas Times Journal (13 November 1928 P1 C3-4).

Dee Archibald McLarty was born in a log house on the family homestead in Southwold. He was the seventh of ten children. His mother, Sarah McIntyre was born near the river Dee in Aberdeenshire, which accounts for his then-uncommon first name. He attended a log school, and discovered a love of learning at a young age along with his brothers and sisters. He studied law in St. Thomas and became a teacher himself, making $20 per month.

In December of 1872, Dee went to Detroit to pursue his destiny. Finding nothing of interest there, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he met a cousin. Together they went harvesting and walked 32 miles of the way to Evansville, where they found work at the high wage of $2 a day. He saved his money and went back to school at the State University of Minnesota, qualifying for the bar in 1877.

Around 1878, Dee settled in Granite Falls, where he won thirteen lawsuits for workmen against railway contractors in his first year alone. In 1892, he became a partner with the Hon. J. A. Volstead, who was at the time a county attorney. Mr. Volstead later dissolved the partnership when he became a Congressman, and later fathered the famous Volstead prohibition legislation. When the Granite Falls bank was established in 1881, Dee was elected director and vice president. He became an extremely successful banker and financier and lived the rest of his years in Granite Falls.

Upon his death, Dee’s body was returned to St. Thomas, where it was interred in the family plot in the St. Thomas Cemetery.

Dr. Colin McLarty Location: Block 7 Plot 12 b. December 20 1849 d. June 25 1918 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records.

Colin McLarty graduated from Trinity College in Toronto in 1875, and was awarded the gold medal of his class. After graduating, he 98 travelled to England, where he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.

Colin was the younger brother of Duncan McLarty, and when he returned to Canada, he entered into partnership with his brother, whose health was failing. He unselfishly took the heavier work until Duncan passed away. He then entered into partnership with Dr. A. C. Campbell, his nephew, and formed a firm called Campbell and McLarty, first located across from the Grand Central Hotel and later moved to offices opposite City Hall.

His obituary speaks of his kindness, consideration and unselfishness.

Robert A. McCully Location: Block 8 Plot 4 b. c.1870 d. January 1955 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Robert Allen McCully was a proud Irishman who hailed from County Fermanagh. He lived in St. Thomas for 55 years of his life and never lost his Irish accent. His obituary mentions that he spoke as though he had just arrived from Ireland yesterday. Though he was obviously proud of his native land, he was led a very rewarding life in Elgin county and contributed to the police force and industry of St. Thomas.

Robert arrived from in Yarmouth Township in 1892, where he stayed until 1900, when he took a job with the St. Thomas police force and moved with his family into town. He served the force until 1921 when he entered the grocery business, operating a store at the corner of Talbot and Queen Streets until his retirement in 1937.

He was a member of Tempo Lodge, L.O.L. in Ireland. On arriving here he became a life member of L.O.L. no. 98, Scarlet Chapter Elgin County L.O.L. No. C-46 and of King Hiram Royal Black Preceptory No. 278. He had served as county master and worshipful preceptor.

He was married to Lillie Jane and was predeceased by her and two children, leaving seven living sons and daughters at the time of his death.

George Fulton Location: Block 8 Plot 6 b. August 31 1849 d. November 2 1924 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (3 November 1924 P1 C5).

George Fulton was born, lived and died on the Fulton Ridge Farm on the River Road. George and his father Adam had cleared that land together

98 during pioneer days of Elgin. He was a devout member of Knox church. He married a girl from Southwold named Euphemia Walker and they had two daughters together. They rest together in the Fulton family plot, and their graves are marked by small grey granite stones.

Frank A. Lemon Location: Block 8 Plot 9 b. January 25 1877 d. June 4 1945 Source: Newspaper copy in St. Thomas Cemetery records

Frank Arden Lemon was the son of John and Jane (Far) Lemon. He came to St. Thomas to take over the pharmacy that belonged to Robert Reekie and lived in St. Thomas for forty-five years. He may not have been a St. Thomas native, but Frank made many important contributions to the city. He served for many years as alderman, and worked with the gas commission when it was being operated as a civic utility.

After arriving in St. Thomas, he became a part of the Rathbone Lodge No. 12, Knights of Pythias, and eventually became grand chancellor for the domain of Ontario.

He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy with the silver medal for his year and served on the college council for many years. During the last three of those years (1937-39) he was president of the council. He was also a charter member of the St. Thomas Kiwanis Club and on the Alma College Board.

Frank was married twice. He first was wed to Sarah Jane, who died in 1908 at the age of 32. After her death he married Blanche May Chambers of Ingersoll. He had three sons and a daughter, made his residence at 100 Wellington Street.

Neil C. Sinclair Location: Block 8 Plot 16 b. April 2 1868 d. 1929 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (20 March 1929).

Neil C. Sinclair was born in Lambton County to Colin and Flora (Campbell) Sinclair. He attended school in St. Thomas where he got his teacher’s certificate before going to Manitoba to teach in 1886.

In 1888 he returned to St. Thomas and took a job as grain buyer for John Campbell. John was one of the leading milling men in Western Ontario and later became the first man to open a market in the West Indies for Canadian flour. In 1911, Empire Flour Mills, Limited was organized in the city, and Neil became manager and secretary. The flourmills became one of St. Thomas’ chief employers and developed a large trade in export. Neil

98 became president of the company upon the death of R.N. Price.

When War broke out, Neil was appointed one of the flour milling representatives on the Food Control Board of Canada. The Board served to regulate the production and distribution of flour. He was also a director of the Millers' Association Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

Neil was known for being a companionable, outgoing person. He was known for giving freely to help families in need. He attended the Church of Christ and was Past Chancellor Commander of Rathbone Lodge No.12, Knights of the Pythias. He was married to Jean M. Miller and died in 1929 following an operation.

George Geddes Location: Block 10 Plot 1 b. September 20 1860 d. February 26 1938 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (26 February 1938).

George Geddes was born in Glenmorris, Brant County, into a farming family. He attended a little red schoolhouse there. He then lived in Tillsonburg for many years, working as manager for the Tillson Flour Mills and as a member of the town council there for three years. He was also active in the school board there.

He came to St. Thomas in 1898, and over the next forty years he played a large role in the development of the city. He was elected to City Council in 1906, and in 1908 he became mayor. He was re-elected the next year by acclamation. He served as Chairman of the St. Thomas Water Commission for twelve years and was one of the first to sign an agreement to bring hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls to southwestern Ontario.

During George’s time as mayor, various improvements were made to the city. A mail carrier system was implemented, the Ross Street Subway was built and Forest Avenue was widened and concrete bridges were built west and north of the city. George was vice president of the Ontario Municipal Association for the first year he was mayor of St. Thomas, and president for the second year.

He was also an insurance man. He founded a well-known firm called Geddes, Gerrard and Elgood. Some people thought that he had written more insurance policies than any other man in Ontario. Though he was mostly self-educated, journalism was one of George's interests. He wrote many historical and philosophical articles in the St. Thomas Times Journal, often times concerning his boyhood in Galt. George was member of Knox Church. He also rose to eminence as a Pythian Grand Chancellor. He attended conventions in Portland, Oregon and Milwaukee.

98 He was also interested in the military, having served as quartermaster of the old 25th Elgin Regiment. When the 91st Battalion was formed for the War, he tried to enlist but was over the age limit. He instead gave his assistance wherever he could, for which he was given honorary membership in the St. Thomas Legion.

He was also an avid curler, bowler and golfer. He loved to watch the local baseball games. He made many trips into Canada’s West and to Northern Michigan. He was married twice, first to Margaret Alexander and then to Margaret Livingston Tisdale. There was one daughter living at the time of his death.

Clark H. McDougall Location: Block 10 Plot 12 b. November 21 1921 d. December 17 1980 Source: Michael Gibson Gallery. 2003-10. “Clark McDougall”

Clark Holmes McDougall was born in St. Thomas to Rachel Jane (McIntyre) and Alexander McDougall.

He left high school at the age of sixteen, determined to become an artist. He sought out training from library books and nature, and looked to local artist William St. Thomas Smith for advice. Riding his bike from just North of St. Thomas into North Yarmouth, he would paint watercolours from nature.

In 1950, he went to Montreal and saw the work of Henri Matisse. His vibrant colours and abstract, painterly style must have inspired Clark greatly: He was working as a “fauve” painter by 1952 or 1953. Between 1952 and 1964, Clark created work ranging from realist watercolours of nature in North Yarmouth and black enamel abstract paintings. The black enamel paintings were first exhibited in 1968 at the 20/20 Gallery in London. He had a coronary in 1957, which forced him to work from his studio. Being forced to work from photographs caused a shift in his style towards focusing on outlines.

Clark was commissioned to do a painting for the London Regional Art Gallery in 1976 to commemorate the opening of its new gallery. His work was exhibited at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1977.

He died in 1980 when he was 59 years old. In 1987 the London Regional Art Gallery did a large retrospective exhibition of his work, Today, his work has been collected by many corporate institutions as well as the Vancouver Art Gallery, Museum London and the Canada Council Art Bank.

His stone is a humble monument inscribed with an easel and a tree. Inscribed upon it are the words “he left a legacy of beauty.”

98 P.C. Colin McGregor Location: Block 11 Plot 18 b. 1906 d. May 7 1934 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (30 March 2001).

Colin McGregor was killed in one of the most tragic events in St. Thomas’ history. In 2001, Ray Galloway, a local historian, revisited the crime to shed light on the historic event.

In the 1930s, a local man by the name of Frank Temple was teaching his son Fred how to steal bicycles. The two were forced to leave St. Thomas, heading out to Erie, Pa. when the authorities began to catch on to them. Their disappearance caused one of the largest manhunts ever known to this area.

The two outlaws became homesick after a year and returned to St. Thomas. On May 7th, 1934, police Chief William M. Ketchabaw handed Sergeant Sam McKeown and Police Constable Colin McGregor a warrant for Frank’s arrest.

Sam and Colin arrived at the Temple residence, 17 Queen Street, St. Thomas. Upon entering the house, a kitchen shootout ensued, with the thieves opening fire on the authorities. Colin was shot and later died.

Fred and Frank Temple were hanged for their crimes in the Elgin County jail yard on June 27 1935.

Henry (Harry) L. Margetts Location: Block 12 Plot 12 b. October 19 1881 d. March 30 1944 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (26 June 1944 P14 C2).

Henry (Harry) Lyle Margetts had a very extensive and prolific railroad career. He was, for a time, former assistant to the vice-president and general manager of the New York Central Lines at Detroit. During his long career, he and his family lived in Windsor, Niagara Falls, Nyles, Michigan, Detroit and Chicago.

He was married to Mary (Cook) Margetts. They had four daughters and a son. Their grave marker is a large three-piece red granite stone with a cylinder atop.

Beatrice Meredith Location: Block 12 Plot 20 b. 1903 d. October 28 1910 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (28 October 1910 P1 C1).

Beatrice Meredith was one of the many St. Thomas children who died of 98 diphtheria. She was only seven years old and had been sick just three days. At the time of her death, there were three other cases of the disease in the city- two on Rosebery Place and one over the Wilson Bridge. At the time of her funeral notice, the source of the outbreak had not yet been discovered.

In the same plot rests another child who died of diphtheria, six year old Gladys Jean Collinson, of Miller Street. She died on January 22, 1910, just nine months after Beatrice. At the time of Gladys' death, her sister Vera, was sick with diphtheria as well. It was a terrible, highly contagious disease.

Capt. Thomas H. Jones Location: Block 13 Plot 2 b. Unrecorded d. May 1933 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (1 May 1933 P1 C1-2).

Thomas Henry Jones was born in London, England. He had military training there before coming to Canada at the age of twenty. He was appointed physical trainer and drill instructor by the Board of Education at some point in either 1879 or 1880.

He was a member of the British Army Service Corps. He is credited for introducing a system of cadet training in the St. Thomas schools that was used as a model for other schools for many years. He saw unpolished buttons or shoes on the drill field as grave offences and was a strict disciplinarian. Nevertheless, he was popular amongst the thousands of boys and girls he trained; his words of approval were highly valued. For many years, St. Thomas was known for turning out the drill corps of the district, taking high honours in the inter-city competitions. Captain Jones took his especially well-trained students to Toronto to compete. He also introduced the blue and white uniforms of the British Army Service Corps at the Collegiate Institute.

Thomas was a commissioned officer in the old 25th Regiment. He led a military survey of the district south of St. Thomas to Lake Erie. The completed survey was stored in the records at Ottawa, and won the Captain and his officers the commendation of the Federal Government. He was a member of Trinity Church and of the Lodge. His widow and two sons survived him.

Thomas H. Hutchinson Location: Block 15 Plot 11 b. 1855 d. October 3 1914 Source: St Thomas Daily Times (3 October 1914 P1 C3).

Thomas H. Hutchinson was born and lived most of his life in St. Thomas. For many years he operated a furniture store in town, later going into the grocery business with Mr. Arkell. This business was called Arkell and 98 Hutchinson. He was also a manufacturer of soft drinking and conducted the St. Thomas Soda Water Works on Talbot Street West. This business was later taken over by D. J. Boughner.

For the last three years of his live, Thomas lived near Talbotville. St. Thomas Mausoleum

Luman Dake Location: Mausoleum Tier 9 b. c.1847 d. December 13 1924 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (December 1924).

Luman Dake was one of the best-known hotel men in Ontario. He was born in Oxford County to Luman and Margaret (McCarthy) Dake. He was raised on the family farm until 1867, when he went to Hamilton to learn blacksmithing.

He came to St. Thomas in 1876 and conducted the Dominion House at the corner of Inkerman and Talbot Streets. He built the Dake House in 1881. The building, located on Talbot Street, adjoined the London and Port Stanley Railway tracks. With the brief exception of two years he spent in Chicago during the World’s Fair, he ran the hotel until 1904. Luman sold the Dake House to his son, William.

A fire destroyed the Dake house in 1915.

At the time of his death, Luman owned a number of houses and cottages in town and a cottage at the summer resort in Port Stanley, Invererie Heights. He lived at 721 Talbot Street.

Luman was pre-deceased by his wife and four sons. A daughter, a daughter-in-law and a grandson, Adrian Dake, survived him.

Annie Jane Stidwell (Cusack) Location: Mausoleum Tier 40 b. 1864 d. September 1933 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (18 Sept 1933 P1 C 6-70).

Annie Jane Cusack was born in Hamilton to William and Annie Cusack. She lived in Wallacetown for some years and before coming to St. Thomas around 1895. She was married to Walter Stidwell, a Michigan Central conductor. She was a member of Central United Church and lived at 26 Forest Avenue.

Annie died during the St. Thomas-Hamilton baseball game in the Pinafore 98 Park Grandstand. She had been seated in the sunny section and began to complain of the heat. She proceeded into the shady section during the seventh inning, when the Hamilton team gained a one-run lead. She died just as Crawford, a player for the Hamilton team, made a three base hit. There were many medical men in the crowd, but Dr. Gliddon arrived first. She was dead by the time he reached her. This was said to have been the first incident of its kind to occur at a baseball game in Pinafore Park.

Andrew Grant Location: Mausoleum Tier 75 b. January 2 1862 d. May 9 1931 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (9 May 1931 P1 C 3-6).

Andrew Grant was born in Beaverton, Ontario, but lived in St. Thomas for his entire professional career. He was the oldest practicing barrister in the city at the time of his death in 1931.

He attended the Collegiate Institute in Toronto, the University of Toronto, and Osgoode Hall before entering Colin MacDougall's law office in St. Thomas. After being called to the bar, Andrew practiced in the office of Sheriff Dougald Brown for several years before opining his own practice on 391 Talbot Street.

Andrew became well known for his work in criminal law. He was known for his work in defending accused persons. He entered into partnership with his friend W.K. Cameron around 1917.

Andrew was never affiliated with the Lodge or public office, but he was a very well liked man. He is described in his death notice as having been the life of the party. He attended Knox church and supported the Liberal party. He was married to Rose Brooks.

Marshall B. Johnson b. March 28 1855 d. June 13 1926 Location: Mausoleum Tier 82 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (June 1926)

Marshall B. Johnson was born in St. Catharine’s and spent his younger days farming in Dunnville. In 1876 he took a job with the Great Western Railway as a telegraph operator. He was a train agent and express messenger for the Great Western and the Michigan Central for many years. He quit railroad work in 1911 to start a coal and wood business that enjoyed great success.

Marshall was an alderman on City Council from 1908-1914 and was mayor of St. Thomas from 1914-1916. He was a member of the Lodge and of Knox Church. He was a quiet and friendly man, held in high regard by his peers, and was married to Annie Agnes McNabb. They had two

98 sons and two daughters living at the time of his death.

Robert D. (Bob) Emslie Location: Mausoleum Tier 92 b. January 27 1859 d. April 26 1943 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (26 April 1943), the Canadian Census Record, and Bookends Canada. 2008. “Bob Emslie.”

Robert Daniel (Bob) Emslie was born in Guelph and began his long and prolific baseball career in Harriston, ON as a youth. The 1881 Canadian Census Household Record states that he was a watchmaker.

Bob became well known for his talent as a pitcher, and played with Guelph, London and St. Thomas. He became well known after a tour in the Eastern States with the St. Thomas Atlantics. He was signed his first professional team in 1882 in Camden, New Jersey. When the team disbanded in 1883, Bob went to Baltimore in the American Association. He finished the year playing for the Orioles. 1884 was considered his greatest year as a baseball player; he was one of the best.

The next year he switched to the Philadelphia Athletics, but returned to Canada the next year to play for Toronto where he helped the team win the championship. Many experts of his time believed that Bob was the greatest curve ball pitcher of the game. He moved to Savannah, GA., wanting to go south due to a sore arm. The trouble continued with his sore arm and he returned to St. Thomas, thinking that his career in baseball was finished.

On July 1, 1887, Bob went to Toronto to see his old teammates play in an important International League game. In a fateful turn of events, the umpire was a no-show. The two frantic teams dragged Bob out of the grandstand to do the job.

From that day on, he was a regular umpire. He worked in the International League for three years, entered the American in 1890, and in 1891 joined the Western Association. The League fell apart in the middle of the season and Bob was left jobless for just a few hours before signing to the National League. He held his position there for 34 years, retiring in 1925. He then became advisor to the president as well as scouted for new umpires, coaching and occasionally umpiring at exhibition games for the next four years.

Bob was married to Helena Ward and they had a son and a daughter together. He suffered from premature baldness and was well known for the wig he wore for most of his life. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. Emslie Field in St. Thomas is named for him.

98 George A. McMurtry Location: Mausoleum Tier 93 b. June 22 1867 d. March 26 1955 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (16 March 1955 and 23 March 1936).

George Arthur McMurtry was born on a farm in Bowmanville but left as a young boy to work in a hardware store in Galt. Soon thereafter he operated his own business in Toronto.

His obituary says that he was “always a go-getter”. He came to St. Thomas in 1891, where he acquired the hardware business of Paulin and Price. 18 years later, he established a new store at 621 Talbot Street, where he remained until purchasing the business of Ingram and Davey at Talbot and Southwick Streets. That building was destroyed by a fire in March of 1936, and George was then associated with W.J. Sanderson at 624 Talbot Street.

McMurtry hardware catered especially to the farm trade. His son, Cyril was associated with him in later years. George was in the hardware business for sixty years.

In his spare time, George was a promoter of and avidly attended the amateur baseball games. In his retirement, he took an active role in civic and church affairs as well. He was a member of First United Church and of the St. Thomas Lodge.

George was survived by his wife, Maria McMurtry, a son, a daughter and three grandchildren.

James H. Carrie Location: Mausoleum Tier 118 b. December 6 1861 d. October 6 1942 Source: St. Thomas Times Journal (7 October 1942 P1 C2).

James Henry Lumsden Carrie was born in St. Thomas, to James and Margaret Begg Carrie. In his youth, James was associated with his father. James Carrie and Son was one of the oldest businesses in town, in charge of managing and operating the Scotch Warehouse.

He stayed in business here until he was around thirty years old, when he moved to Woodstock and entered the dry goods business. The firm was called Gray, Runion and Carrie. After four years there he moved to London, ON. where he opened a dry goods store under the same name. In 1901, he turned his interest to wholesale dry goods and became associated with Richard Baker and Company in Toronto. He became one of the best-known businessmen in Western Ontario.

He moved back to St. Thomas where he retired. In his early eighties, he took brisk daily walks and was considered to be remarkably active for his 98 age.

James was married to Mary Eliza Scott. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1941. They resided at 56 William Street. A daughter and a son survived him.

“Strangers” Ground

Eino and Johannes Metsala-Koivisto b. c. June 1905 d. March 1906 Location: Strangers Ground Source: Research by LeAnne Eastman and Marie Manierski

Eino and Johannes Metsala-Koivisto were only eight months old when they died on the journey to America from their homeland in Finland. Their mother, Eliina, took them aboard the Teutonic in Liverpool, England on February 24, 1906. On Saturday, March 3, 1906, they arrived at Ellis Island, New York and boarded a train for Wyoming, but stopped in St. Thomas as they were sick with pneumonia.

That Monday, the newspaper ran an article that they were in the Amasa Wood Hospital, and one of the twins had died Sunday night. Five days later on March 10th, another article stated that the second twin had passed away. Nobody was able to speak with Eliina in her native language; they thought she was a Russian Jew. All that she could do was write out Rock Springs Box 382. They wired the address, discovered her name and contacted her family. While the article states that her husband, John Maki, was coming to St. Thomas to pay for the burial, he was actually her brother-in-law. Her husband, Isaac Koivisto, was new to America and did not speak enough English to make the journey himself.

Officials of the Wabash train company and the hospital made numerous efforts to communicate with Eliina. One newspaper article describes their stopping of a train carrying immigrants to see if any of them could assist with the language barrier. They found a young man from Sweden who, when asked If he might stop for a night to help, thought that there was a deep-laid Russian plot in the works and refused to leave the train.

However, he did write some information on a piece of paper that allowed the officials to finally identify Eliina.

The last article, published on March 14th, tells of John Maki's arrival to bury the twins and escort Eliina to Wyoming. The children had a proper funeral and were buried in the Strangers ground. Afterwards, the Wabash train 98 officials prepared a basket of food for Eliina and John to have on the final leg of their 1,500-mile journey. John paid $6 to bury the twins and the city of St. Thomas paid the rest. The train company paid hospital costs.

Now, a memorial stone sits in the garden at the Strangers ground.

St. Thomas Cemetery Company Today

Acknowledgements

Index

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