Glencoe & District Historical Society
Preservation of Local Heritage
St. Andrew's Cemetery, Glencoe Ontario. Only a few of the original stones remain. (Photo by NJ, 2011)
The Graham Family Plot
Duncan Graham first settled in Mosa Township on the south half of Lot 1, Con. 1 in 1832 and received the crown deed for the 100 acres in 1847. The Graham family established a family plot on the north-west corner of their land. It is believed that the first burial was Duncan's mother Mrs. John-Catherine McCormick Graham in 1844. For about 15 years this continued as the Graham family cemetery.
In 1861 Duncan Graham gave the land in front of the cemetery (between the cemetery and Main Street) for the building of a Presbyterian church. The land behind the church allocated for the cemetery was 5/8 acre (138ft x 200ft).
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Manse
St. Andrew's Church was completed in 1862. It was a brick church 38 by 50 feet in size, 20 feet high, capable of seating 300 personsı. The church sat well back from the street with a gravel walk leading up to it. A description includes: "there was a very high pulpit in the middle of the back wall, which was reached by a winding stair and there was a door on each side of the pulpit leading out to the graveyard behind. Because of this, at funerals the casket could be taken directly into the cemetery, with the mourners following"².
The last service held at St. Andrews was on September 1, 1889. St. Andrew's was torn down and its materials were used to assist the building of a new Presbyterian church closer in town, which was built during 1889-90. The church manse was moved across the street and in 1892 a new manse was built on the original manse property, but further back from the street (the author of this article lives there today!).
St. Andrew's Cemetery
In the year 1861 when St. Andrew's Presbyterian church was built the Graham family plot became St. Andrew's Cemetery. From that time there were many burials other than the Graham family and it became recognized as the local Glencoe cemetery. Most of the burials were made in the 1870's and 1880's, but after the opening of Oakland Cemetery on Longwoods Road in 1894, St. Andrew's was used less and less.
John Graham, who was buried on July 1928, was among the last buried at St. Andrew's. He was the great grandson of the first John Graham, buried in 1851. It is believed that the last burial was Jane A. White, aged 82, of Highland Park Michigan, who died on March 2, 1931.
Over the years some burials were moved from St. Andrews and other family plots to Oakland cemetery. Which burials were moved is now unknown, however there are currently 175 people recorded by tombstone engravings in Oakland Cemetery that died prior to its opening in May 1894. The St. Andrews cemetery records have also been long lost, apparently destroyed by fire.
Surviving Years of Neglect
Today there is not much left of St. Andrew's cemetery. Records have been lost, grounds were neglected, stones were broken. The 1950's and 1960's were tough decades for cemeteries.
In 1969 a group of local citizens made an effort to clean-up the cemetery. It was then that many of the remaining stones were photographed. In 1976 the Abandoned Cemetery Board restored several local cemeteries, and arranged the remaining intact stones at St. Andrew's on a concrete pad, as it is remains today.
Memorial Stone erected by the Mosa Township Cemetery Board in 1976. (Photo by NJ, 2011)
Duncan Graham first settled in Mosa Township on the south half of Lot 1, Con. 1 in 1832 and received the crown deed for the 100 acres in 1847. The Graham family established a family plot on the north-west corner of their land. It is believed that the first burial was Duncan's mother Mrs. John-Catherine McCormick Graham in 1844. For about 15 years this continued as the Graham family cemetery.
In 1861 Duncan Graham gave the land in front of the cemetery (between the cemetery and Main Street) for the building of a Presbyterian church. The land behind the church allocated for the cemetery was 5/8 acre (138ft x 200ft).
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Manse
St. Andrew's Church was completed in 1862. It was a brick church 38 by 50 feet in size, 20 feet high, capable of seating 300 personsı. The church sat well back from the street with a gravel walk leading up to it. A description includes: "there was a very high pulpit in the middle of the back wall, which was reached by a winding stair and there was a door on each side of the pulpit leading out to the graveyard behind. Because of this, at funerals the casket could be taken directly into the cemetery, with the mourners following"².
The last service held at St. Andrews was on September 1, 1889. St. Andrew's was torn down and its materials were used to assist the building of a new Presbyterian church closer in town, which was built during 1889-90. The church manse was moved across the street and in 1892 a new manse was built on the original manse property, but further back from the street (the author of this article lives there today!).
St. Andrew's Cemetery
In the year 1861 when St. Andrew's Presbyterian church was built the Graham family plot became St. Andrew's Cemetery. From that time there were many burials other than the Graham family and it became recognized as the local Glencoe cemetery. Most of the burials were made in the 1870's and 1880's, but after the opening of Oakland Cemetery on Longwoods Road in 1894, St. Andrew's was used less and less.
John Graham, who was buried on July 1928, was among the last buried at St. Andrew's. He was the great grandson of the first John Graham, buried in 1851. It is believed that the last burial was Jane A. White, aged 82, of Highland Park Michigan, who died on March 2, 1931.
Over the years some burials were moved from St. Andrews and other family plots to Oakland cemetery. Which burials were moved is now unknown, however there are currently 175 people recorded by tombstone engravings in Oakland Cemetery that died prior to its opening in May 1894. The St. Andrews cemetery records have also been long lost, apparently destroyed by fire.
Surviving Years of Neglect
Today there is not much left of St. Andrew's cemetery. Records have been lost, grounds were neglected, stones were broken. The 1950's and 1960's were tough decades for cemeteries.
In 1969 a group of local citizens made an effort to clean-up the cemetery. It was then that many of the remaining stones were photographed. In 1976 the Abandoned Cemetery Board restored several local cemeteries, and arranged the remaining intact stones at St. Andrew's on a concrete pad, as it is remains today.
Notes:
(1) Seating 300 sounds quite unlikely. Land Registry Document 3502, 1862.
(2) "Glencoe In The 1880's By Mrs. Rose Stuart", Reprinted in 1986 by the Glencoe & District Historical Society
(1) Seating 300 sounds quite unlikely. Land Registry Document 3502, 1862.
(2) "Glencoe In The 1880's By Mrs. Rose Stuart", Reprinted in 1986 by the Glencoe & District Historical Society
Memorial Stone erected by the Mosa Township Cemetery Board in 1976. (Photo by NJ, 2011)
Location of St. Andrew's Cemetery, Mosa Township Lot 1 Concession 1, at the south edge of Glencoe. The church was located between the cemetery and the road. Today there are two residential houses located in front of the cemetery. Google Maps, 2011
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Cemetery. An acre lot for the Presbyterian Manse is also indicated. Note that Main Street marks the division between Mosa and Ekfrid Townships. The village of Glencoe sits on this boundary. Plan for the South Half of Lot No.1 1st Con, Township of Mosa "Being an Extension to the Village of Glencoe", 1878. From the collection of H. Carruthers.
St. Andrew's Cemetery. Several decades of neglect. Transcript and Free Press, Sept 12, 1974
List of Burials
This list of burials is based on photographs of burial stones by Russell Walker in 1967, the remaining stones at the cemetery today, and various other sources that indicate individuals that were buried at St. Andrews cemetery. This is certainly not a complete list of all those buried, but it is the best that could be done. I apologize for any mistakes: reading century old stones is challenging, especially from 30 year old photographs!˟ Indicates documented in Russell Walker's 1967 album.
* Indicates burial stone still present.
Audrey(?), Murdoch M.*
Died May 10, 1875. Age 57 years, 5 months, 18 days
Davidson, Mary Jane˟
Daughter of George and Janet Davidson
Died July 13, 1877. Age 1 year, 6 months, 3 days
Davenport, Helen˟
Daughter of Harry and Matilda Davenport
Died Jan 20, 1892. Age 1 yr, 2 months
Dickie, Bertha D.˟*
Daughter of Andrew and Margaret Dickie
Age 13 months
Dickie, Joseph P.˟*
Son of Andrew and Margaret Dickie
Age 10 months
Dickie, Margaret˟*
Wife of Andrew Dickie
Died Jan 5, 1879. Age 33 yrs
Dickie, Mary M. W.˟*
Adopted daughter of John S. and Mary Walker
Died Feb 5, 1910. Age 28 yrs
Dickie, Melissa M.˟*
Wife of Andrew Dickie
Died July 1, 1882. Age 25 yrs, 2 months, 20 days
Dickie, Royden S.˟*
Son of Andrew and Margaret D|ickie
Age 14 days
Duncanson, Catherine˟
(Presumably wife of Peter Duncanson)
Died April 13, (?)
Duncanson, Peter˟
Died Nov 3, (?)
Ferguson, Fergus˟
Died Feb 3, 1870. Age 28 yrs
Ferguson, Margaret˟
Wife of Fergus Ferguson
Died Marcch 10, 1872. Age 70 yrs
Gardiner, James˟*
Born May 18, 1822
Died Jan 18, 1893. Age 70 yrs, 7 months, 25 days
Native of Fermanah(?) Ireland
Graham, Archibald˟*
Died March 31, 1908. Age 84 yrs
Graham, Annie*
Wife of John Graham (d. 1914)
Died June 19, 1899
Age 72 yrs
Graham, Bella M.˟
Daughter of A. and M. Graham
Died May 11, 1881. Age 25 years, 10 months, 19days
Graham, Catherine˟
Wife of John Graham
Died Nov 30, 1841. Age 77yrs
Graham, Daniel˟*
Died Jan 18, 1887. Age 23 yrs
Graham, Donald˟*
Died Nov 13, 1874. Age 77yrs
Native of Argyleshire, Scotland
Graham, Duncan˟
Died Feb 24 1873.
Native of Scotland
Graham, Flora*
Wife of (?)
Died Nov 15, 1883. Age 73 yrs.
Native of Argyleshire, Scotland
Graham, Grace*
Daughter of Donald and Grace C. Graham
Died May 25, 1885. Age 30yrs
Graham, Grace C.˟*
Wife of Donald Graham
Died Jan 8, 1833 Age 88 yrs
Native of Argyleshire, Scotland
Graham, John˟
Died Dec 21, 1851. Age 88yrs
Graham, John*
Died Jan (?) 1914. Age 92 yrs
Graham, Malcolm˟*
Died Oct 31, 1889. Age 21 yrs
Graham, Margaret
Wife of Archibald Graham˟*
Died Jan 27, 1922. Age 93 years
Graham, Mary*
Daughter of Donald and Grace C. Graham
Died 1849. Age 19 yrs
Griffith, Flora(?)˟
Wife of Ezra Griffith
Died July(?) 29, 1879. Age 40(?) years
Griffith, Nathan˟
Infant son of E. and F. Griffith
Died July 5, 1874
Henderson, Mary˟
[Wife of] (?) James Henderson
Died Jan 13, 1884. Age 42 yrs, 6 month, 25 days.
Havelock, Mary G.˟
Died Feb 12, 1871. Age 2 months, 12 days
Horn, Catherine (Graham)˟
Wife of Thomas A., Horn,
Daughter of Donald and Grace Graham
Died 1863
Mackenzie, Angus*
Died April 7, 1892. Age 47 yrs, 5 months, 21 days
MacKenzie, Hette˟*
Daughter of Angus and Catherine MacKenzie
Died Dec 13, 1887. Age 18 yrs, 1 month, 20 days
Mary Mawhiney˟
Wife of William Mawhiney
Died Sept. 24, 1889. Age 82 years, 4 months.
A native of (?) and emigrated to Canada in 1840
Mawhiney, William˟
Died April 23, 1874. Age 74 yrs.
A native of Ireland(?) and emigrated to Canada in 1831
McAlpine, Alex˟
Died Jan(?) 1854. Age 81 yrs
McAlpine, Catherine (Graham)˟
Widow of John McAlpine
Died May 17, 1861. Age 56 yrs
McAlpine, Donald˟
Died Sept. 28, 1873. Age 52(?) yrs
McAlpine, Elizabeth (McFarlone)˟
Wife of A. E. McAlpine
Died July 18, 1865. Age 86 yrs
McAlpine, Infant daughter of Donald and Mary McAlpine˟
Died Nov 23, 1886
McAlpine, James˟
Son of Malcome and Jane McAlpine
Died Aug 8, 1872. Age 15 yrs, 6 months
McAlpine, Katie C.˟
Daughter of Donald and Mary McAlpine
Died Oct 8, 1878. Age 24 yrs, 2 months
McAlpine, Sarah˟
Wife of D. McAlpine
Died March 7, 1886. Age 70 yrs
McArthur, Catherine˟
Daughter of (?) McArthur
Died Sept 2, 1874. Age(?) 31 yrs
McCallum, Archibald˟
Died May 4, 1873. Age 56 years
McCallum, Donald˟
Died July 2, 1851. Age 39 yrs
McCallum, John˟
Son of John and Nancy McCallum
Died Nov 24, 1874. Age 19 years, 4 months, 22 days
McCallum, Margaret (McRae)˟
Died Sept 4, 1891. Age 73 yrs, 5 months
McColl, Alexander˟
Died Jan 30, 1870. Age 20 yrs, 8 months
McCutcheon, John M.˟
Son of Alex and Martha McCutcheon
Died Aug 7, 1881. Age 15 years, 5 months
McDonald, James˟
Died April 3, 1900. Age 84 years
McDonald, Sarah˟
Wife of James McDonald
Age 86(?) years
McEacheran, Donald*
Son of Donald and Margaret McEacheran
Died Sept 27, 1874. Age 15 yrs
McEacheran, Donald˟*
Died Aug 8, 1899. Age 79 years and 6 months
Native of Argyleshire Scotland
McEacheran, John*
Died Feb 18, 1856. Age 71 years
McEacheran, Margaret (Lindsay)˟*
Wife of Donald McEacheran
Died Nov 25, 1867
Native of Argyleshire Scotland
McEacheran, Mary*
Wife of John McEacheran
Died March 10, 1870. Age 80 yrs
McEachern, Alex˟*
Died Feb 4, 1892. Age 38 years
McKellar, A. B. Henry˟
Son of Dwight and Mary McKellar
Died Jan 19, 1881. Age 3 months, 2 weeks
McKellar, Mary (McLarty)˟
Wife of John McKellar
Died Jan 25, 1901. Age 34 years
McKenzie, James˟
Son of (?)
Died Jan 11, 1863. Age 1 month, 10 days
McKenzie, John˟
Son of (?)
Died Aug 13, 1871. Age 5 yrs, 2 months, 24 days
McLarty, Catherine˟
Died Sept 20, 1900. Age 79 years
Native of Argyleshire, Scotland
McLarty, Donald˟
Died May 5, 1877. Age 74 yrs
Native of Argyleshire, Scotland
McRae, Archibald˟
Son of (?) McRae
Died Feb 19, 1875. Age 6 yrs
McRae, Duncan˟
Died April 20, 1870.
Native of (Fentail Ross?) Scotland
Emigrated to Canada in 1848
McRae, Floria˟
Wife of Kenneth McRae
Died Aug 15, 1856. Age 43 yrs
McRae, Kenneth˟
Died Oct. 5, 1876. Age 73 yrs
McRae, Mary˟
(Wife of ?) Duncan McRae
Died Feb. 20, 1870
Native of (Fentail Ross?) Scotland
Emigrated to Canada in 1848
McRae, Philip*
Died June 11, 1882. Age 56 yrs
Mitchell, Margaret˟
Wife of William Mitchell of Metcalfe
Died Aug 21, 1871. Age 74 yrs
Oldrieve, Isabella˟
Daughter of J. and M. Oldrieve
Died Oct 19, 1875. Age 1 year, 2 months, 17 days
Oldrieve, (?)˟
Child of J. and M. Oldrieve
Died April 15, 1871. Aged (?) yrs and 2 months
Oldrieve, (?)˟
Child of J. and M. Oldrieve
Died May 28. Aged 2 yrs and (?) months
Oldrieve, Thomas˟
Child of J. and M. Oldrieve
Died Aug 21, 1873. Age 1 yr, 10 days
Ross, Randolph˟
Died Dec 9, 1885
Sexsmith, Dora
Daughter of John N. and Rhoda Sexsmith
Died Oct. 2, 1889. Age 10 yrs
Simpson, Eliza˟*
Wife of Christopher Simpson
Died April 16, 1880. Age 91 yrs, 10 months, 19 days
Simpson, Joanna˟
Wife of Wm J. Simpson Esq.
Died Oct 21, 1876. Age 47 yrs, 8 Months, 18 days
Squire, Edward H.˟
Died July 1, 1881. Age 76 years, 3 months, 2 days
Squire, Margaret˟
Wife of Edward H. Squire
Died Nov 12, 1894. Age 87 years, 8 months, 12 days
Strachan, Elizabeth˟
Wife of John Strachan
Died March 29, 1869, Age 74 yrs
Thompson(?), Andrew˟
Son of James and (?) Thompson(?)
Died Aug 13, 188(?), age 5(?)
Thompson(?), Minnie˟
Daughter of James and (?) Thompson(?)
Died 1886. Age 5 yrs
Thompson(?)˟
Infant of James and (?) Thompson(?)
Died 1886. Age 5 days
Trestain, Charity C.˟
Wife of George Trestain
Died Feb 4, 1883. Age 78 yrs
Walker, John Simpson˟*
Died Feb 10, 1920. Age 84 yrs
Walker, Mary˟*
Wife of John S. Walker
Died Oct 6, 1912. Age 60
Walker, Mary˟
Infant daughter of John S. and Mary Walker
Webb, Daniel H.˟
Son of William and C. Webb
Died May 22, 1873. Age 4 yrs, 10 months
White, Jane A.*
Died March 2, 1931
White, Oliver˟*
Died Nov 24, 1880. Age 45 yrs
A native of Brighton Sussex England
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