Page 5 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

NORTH RUSSELL CEMETERY

The North Russell Cemetery is located just a few miles north of the Village
of Russell and is on the west side of the road. The development of this
cemetery is, according to land records, as follows:

a) On October 19, 1854, John Scott purchased for 250 pounds 99% acres
from John A. and Elisabeth Mattice. This composed the North half
of Lot 18 of Concession 2 of Russell Township with the exception of
one-half acre of land which was deeded for a protestant burial
ground.
b) In 1897 the second half acre was purchased from Archie Scott for
$50.00.

c) In 1922 a second acre was purchased from the Ross family for $300.00
d) In 1929 the vault was built by Arthur Fraser for the sum of $880.00.
e) In 1958 a third acre was purchased from Howard Ross for $1000.00.

This cemetery is well maintained and the stone inscriptions indicate that it
was in use prior to the 1871's. Of course the land records indicate that it
commenced in 1854. There is a belief, however, that the first burial was made
in 1844 which was the 12 year old daughter, Elizabeth, of Mr and Mrs Henry
Hitsman. She died from burns received when her clothing caught fire as she
was hanging a pot over the open fireplace. A younger sister Sarah Hitsman,
about 3 years of age, died in 1839 after drinking lye. Her burial location is
not known. It should be noted that stone no. 210 records the burial of a Mr
and Mrs Henry Hitsman - the parents of the above two children?

The earliest death recorded on a stone was that of Ida Jane SHELP, who died at
20 days on April 30th, 1825 (stone 265). It is presumed that this burial did
not occur here, but was added to a family stone at a much later date. An
analysis of the 301 stones does produce much interesting information.

The oldest person buried in the cemetery was Annie McDERMID who was born in
1873, died in 1933, at the age of 100 (stone 72). The next oldest was Jean
NAISMITH, born in 1840, died li 1936, at 96 years of age (stone 288). She was
followed by Stewart BRADLEY who was 94 when he died in 1959 (stone 80). Other
oldsters are to be found at stones 56, 57, 149, 246 and 296.

The earliest birth dates as indicated by the transcriptions are Henry HITSMAN,
who was born in 1800 (stone 210) and his wife, Letitia GILLASPY, born in 1801.
Both came from Ireland.

The majority of the emigrants came from Glasgow and Dumfrieshire in Scotland,
and the Counties Tyrone and Cavan in Ireland.

Gordon H. HENDERSON, a wireless air gunner in the RCAF, is shown as killed in
action and buried in Africa (stone 62). Aged 26 years, (1917 - 1943).