The Rural Voice, 2003-01, Page 28STORIES IN STONE
Ontario's Rural Cemeteries offer
memories, and much more
Story and photos by Larry Drew
Cemeteries are not only a sacred place for prayer and
memory, but also an important place to experience
history and culture, and for nature and art lessons
too.
Some of my first lessons were through boyhood
involvement. Whether cutting the grass, leveling fresh
graves, painting the fence, or taking part in work bees to
straighten up old stones, it was clear that the cemetery was
an important part of the community in which I grew up.
During those working visits, it was common for Dad to
point out different stones and share stories of old — some
tragic, some funny, and others of fond memories. In fact,
with push mowers in hand my brothers and I spent many a
full summer day there. So much so that I soon felt I knew
all the stories and all the stones.
Not only are histories of families told, but histories of
whole communities also abound in our rural cemeteries.
For example, despite the claim in one history book written
on Kent County that the first Irish settlers arrived in the
1860s to work on the railroad, our cemetery at Saint
Patrick's confirms this Irish farming community was well
established by the 1830s. In fact, many of the stones state
the Irish towns and counties these pioneers left abroad,
such asp"Native of Stratford, County Wicklow" carved on
the stone of my great -great grandparents. Another pair of
stones at Saint Pat's documents a remarkable couple from
Country Louth, Ireland who died just a few months apart.
The hardy fellow died in January 1875 at the stated aged
103! His hardier wife died in mourning in April that year
at the stated age of 105!
Other stones document the hardships of pioneer life,
such as references to lives cut short. A young man falling
to his death at a barn raising, or a child drowning in an
24 THE RURAL VOICE
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Top: A common sight in rural Ontario is the family plot at
the corner of the farm where some of the earliest
settlers were laid to rest before communities and
community cemeteries took shape. Here the graves of
my wife's ancestors, Pearly Keyes and family, remain in
the care of members of my wife's family who still own
and work the farm. Heck, it's worth a visit just to resound
that name: "Pearly Keyes!"
Above: Young Hilton Pearson died in 1898 at aged 10.
His beloved dog still holds vigil over his grave.