Headstones

Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Notes: Also known as Old Blair Memorial Cemetery.

Behind 2 Ashton St., Blair/Cambridge, Waterloo, Ontario

Cambridge (formerly Blair and Preston) Lot No. 4 Beasley's Tract Old Survey, West of the Grand River in the Lower Block of Waterloo Township, in the Village of Blair, formerly annexed to the Town of Preston now part of the City of Cambridge within the Waterloo Region, Ontario.

This cemetery is located in the village of Blair is reputed to be one of the oldest cemetery in Waterloo Region. The first burial took place on March 10, 1804. The original entrace to the cemetery is gained through a lane turning south off Old Mill Road just past the Blair Communtiy Church. This lane is quite steep and has two stone pillars at the entrance. Another access is now available from Ashton. From Old Mill Road, turn south on Meadowcreek Lane and turn left on John Brick Road to the end. This cemetery is divided into Section A and B. A sunken road divides the two sections. - From the website "Mennonite Heritage Portrait" http://www.mennoniteheritageportrait.ca/Report.php?ListType=Locations&ID=1682

Herald of Truth Newspaper November 1866 - Vol. III, No. 11 Page 92

In Wilmot, Waterloo Co., C. W, at the residence of Abraham Bricker, son of the deceased, on the 14th October, Nancy, wife of the late John Bricker, at the advanced age of 91 years, 10 months, and 2 days. She came from Cumberland Co., Pa., to Canada in the Spring of 1802, and lived here, respected by all, to the day of her death. She was a sister of Daniel and Jacob Erb, to whom the German Company Tract of Waterloo Township was deeded in 1865, also of Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo Village.

She was buried on the 16th in the old burying-ground in the village of Blair. This is the oldest piece of ground selected for burying purposes in Waterloo, and she was the one who made the selection. Sixty-two years ago, while her husband was away to the States, one of her sons died, and as there was no place to bury the dead she went up to the hill, a little distance from where they were then living, and found an open little little(sic) place where she decided to bury her dead. She planted a tree at the foot of the little grave which tree is now about ten inches in diameter. She herself gave ground for a public cemetery, and for that reason wished to be buried there. Moses Bowman and Daniel Wismer officiated on the occasion. Only one or two are still living who came to Canada so early as the deceased.- Waterloo Chronicle