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Pioneer Cemeteries

Pioneer cemeteries are the final resting places of some of Niagara Falls' earliest settlers. These small, historic burial grounds hold the stories of families who helped shape our community.  Some were originally identified as abandoned pioneer farms and churchyards.

The City’s role

Under the Ontario Cemetery Act, municipalities must care for abandoned cemeteries within their borders. In 1973, the City of Niagara Falls passed a by-law to maintain 13 pioneer cemeteries. Our Cemetery Services team provides regular grass cutting from May to September and brush clearing, fence repairs, and monument restoration as needed.

Keeping history alive

In an ongoing effort to provide exceptional service and maintain historically accurate information, Cemetery staff continues to search for information related to the original owners and names of the deceased buried in the pioneer cemeteries. Please contact us if you or someone you know has old records or related information.

To look up available burial information and photos of monuments, visit the Genealogy and Family Search page.

Pioneer cemeteries in Niagara Falls

Some pioneer cemeteries are on private property. Please respect the privacy of the landowners and do not enter.

  • Location: Bossert Road at Niagara Parkway
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.03 acres (20 feet x 60 feet)
  • History: Originally owned by John Byer, this cemetery became city property in 1973
  • Known burials: John Byer (1839), Mary Byer (1855), Jacob Byer (1895)

Notes: Located in a pine grove off a dirt road. Approximately 0.8 km west of the Parkway. It is difficult to access during certain times of the year.

  • Location: Reixinger Road at Dell Road. It is asily accessible from Lyon's Creek Road
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 1 acre
  • History: Established in 1851 when Henry Dell donated land for a church and cemetery. The City took ownership in 1973.
  • First burial: Mary Dell (1849)

  • Location: Willoughby Drive at Sherk Road
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.4 acres
  • History: Original property of Jacob Gonder (1846). There are approximately twenty burials in this family burial ground. The City took ownership in 1973.
  • First burial: John P. Gonder (1832), son of Michael and Sarah

Notes: The cemetery is in a heavily bushed area. Due to road and ground conditions, it is not easily accessible.

  • Location: On private property on Beechwood Road at Warner Road
  • Township: Former Stamford Township
  • Size: Not available
  • History: The cemetery is also known as the Hutt/Brown Burial Place. The property was originally owned by Adam Hutt, Esq. (1762 -1842). The land was eventually purchased by the Brown family, who farm it to this day.
  • Known burials: Four Hutt family members - Adam and wife Dorothy, Jacob and William. Also, Mary McGlashan (wife of Alexander Robertson) and Margaret Muirhead are buried here.

  • Location: 4491 Garner Road at Shriners Creek
  • Township: Former Stamford Township
  • Size: 0.020 acres
  • History: Original property of Frederick Lampman. The city took ownership in 1973.
  • Known burials: Frederick Lampman, 1789 and Catharine Lampman, 1811. An infant grave is also noted in this family burial ground.

Notes: Turn south onto Garner Road from Thorold Stone Road (0.6 km). The cemetery is not easily accessible.

  • Location: On private property on Detenbeck Road at Niagara Parkway
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.05 acres
  • History: This small cemetery is the site of Abraham Lapp's family burial ground. Several Lapp and Hershey family members are buried here. The city took ownership in 1973. It has been privately owned and maintained since 2002.
  • First burial: Elizabeth Lapp (1812), daughter of Isaac and Anna

  • Location: On private property, on Detenbeck Road at Sodom Road
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.06 acres (20 ft x 20 ft)
  • History: Herbert Lee's family burial ground.
  • Known burial: Mariah, wife of Herbert Lee, died May 21, 1862 (age 52 years and 21 days)

  • Location: Latshaw Street at Lowell Avenue. Located on the north side of Lundy's Lane, across from Drummond Hill Cemetery and beside the Lundy's Lane United Church.
  • Township: Former Stamford Township
  • Size: 0.255 acres
  • First burial: John Lemon, February 24, 1802, age 4 years, son of Laurence and Mary (Willson) Lemon

History: 

  • This cemetery was originally known as the Lemon Family Burial Grounds and then the Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery when a church was built on the adjacent property in 1846
  • The Federal Government erected a monument in Drummond Hill Cemetery in 1895 to honour those who fought and died in the Battle of Lundy's Lane during the War of 1812. As a result, some graves were relocated to the church cemetery across the road.
  • The City took ownership in 1973

  • Location: On private property, on Miller Road off Niagara Parkway
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.2 acres
  • History: It is also known as "Hershey's Family Burial Ground". Christian Hershey farmed the land, and then the Lutes (Lutz) family purchased the farm sometime between 1862 and 1876; therefore, the name changed. The Willoughby Historical Museum has a plaque donated by the Hershey descendants in memory of Christian Hershey and his two wives. The city took ownership in 1973. Privately owned since 1989.
  • Known burials: Christian Hershey, 1768-1845, and two wives (Mary Acre and Elizabeth Snyder)

  • Location: Lyon's Creek Road and Schisler (off Montrose Road). Located on the east side of the old Methodist Church.
  • Township: Former Crowland Township
  • Size: 0.230 acres
  • History: Captain Henry Buchner settled the area in 1778. A Methodist Church was founded on the adjacent property in 1808, on land donated by Peter Buchner. The City took ownership in 1973.
  • First burial: Joanna Buchner (1820)

  • Location: McCredie Road off Willodell Road. 0.7 km south on McCredie Rd. The small plot is on the east side of the road.
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.002 acres (5 feet x 5 feet)
  • History: It is also known as Misoner Burial Plot and  McCredie Hill Cemetery. Original property of Thomas McCredie. One known burial is at the side of the road. However, it is believed that many graves were covered over when Lyon's Creek Road was constructed (now McCredie Road) Additional burials include Basnett Dell Jr. and wife Ann DeFields. The one stone remaining clearly identifies the deceased, Mary Misoner.
  • Known burial: Mary Misoner, wife of William Misoner, daughter of Isaac and Jane Vansicle, November 23, 1779 - October 17, 1801, age 22 years, 10 months, and 24 days

  • Location I: On private property, on Niagara Parkway near Weaver Road
  • Location II: On private property, on Ridge Road
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.06 acres
  • History: Originally owned by Henry Miller and then by his brother, Jacob. Several Miller family members are buried at this site. The Miller family gave Willoughby Township the right of way to the property in 1964 and requested that the Township take over the maintenance of the family cemetery.
  • First burial: Mary (1834), wife of John Miller

  • Location: On private property at Montrose and Ridge Roads
  • Township: Former Crowland Township
  • Size: 0.005 acres
  • History: Jacob Miller, a Mennonite minister, purchased the property in 1787 but later moved to the Miller property on the Niagara Parkway in 1804 (See Miller Family Burial Ground). Jacob and his wife, Barbara Hershey, came from York County, Pennsylvania. It is believed that their son, David Miller, received the property from his parents. David and his wife, Eva (Shoup) and five of their children are believed to be buried in the family burial ground. The cemetery was listed in the 1973 by-law 73-103 as abandoned.
  • First burial: Benjamin Miller, January 4, 1845 - April 10, 1846

  • Location: Willick Road, west of Sodom Road. Approximately 0.5 km from Sodom Road
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.3 acres
  • History: The cemetery was established in 1863 by the German Evangelist Protestant United St. Paul's Church of Chippawa. In 1872, George Weaver Jr. received a portion of the cemetery from the church elders. The Weaver family successfully petitioned the City to take ownership in 1993.
  • First burial: German Evangelist: Johann Rausow (1860)
  • Additional burials:  Weaver Family: George P. and Matilda (1873), children of George and Caroline Weaver

  • Location: On private property at Detenbeck Road and Sodom Road
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.009 acres (10 feet x 10 feet)
  • History: The Original property of Nicholas Willick and then John Willick. Eight, possibly more, Willick (aka Willik) family members are buried in this small cemetery. The cemetery was listed in the 1973 City By-law 73-103, as abandoned.
  • First burial:  Nicholas Willick (1831)

This is a semi-active cemetery.

  • Location: Corner of Sauer Road and Ort Road. Take the Sodom Road exit (south) off QEW
  • Township: Former Willoughby Township
  • Size: 0.440 acres
  • History: The property was originally owned by William Henry Sauer. The Willoughby Evangelical congregation established a church on the property in 1839. Over 100 burials took place in this cemetery, including several members from the Heximer, Kaumeyer, Miller, Morningstar, Plyley, Sauer, Sayler, Schabel, and Winger families. One or two burials per year continue to occur in this country cemetery. The Congregation successfully petitioned the City to take ownership in 1998.
  • First burial: Christian Shoup (1823)

  • Location: Grassy Brook Road, between McKenny Road and Moyer Road. West on Grassy Brook from Montrose Road
  • Township: Former Crowland Township
  • Size: 0.080 acres (100 feet by 100 feet)
  • History:  The cemetery is also known as Young-Misener, Misener, and Chippawa Creek Cemetery. The land was granted to George Young Sr. in 1798, who immigrated from Sussex County, New Jersey, a few years previously. The property changed hands within the family, and in 1876, the property was sectioned off, with the portion containing the cemetery being owned by John Schafer. The Miseners buried in this cemetery are relatives through the marriage of Adam Young to Margaret, the eldest daughter of Nicholas and Jan (McClain) Misener. (Reference: The Ontario Genealogical Society, Niagara Peninsula Branch, 1997).
  • First burial: Samuel Young (1811-1822), son of George and Rachel Young

Contact Us

City of Niagara Falls
Fairview Cemetery
4501 Stanley Avenue
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 2E8
Canada
905-356-7521 ext. 5224
cemeteries@niagarafalls.ca