Canada: St. Peter's Cemetery

St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, Brodhagen

Location: Concession VIII, Lot 27, Logan Township

History: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church

An Evangelical Lutheran congregation was founded on Nov. 8, 1858, under the leadership of Rev. I.A. Hengerer of Ellice Township, having the name, First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Logan. They held services in two school buildings, School Sections 3 & 4 of Logan, and had 66 legal voting members. At first they were served by members of the Canada Preacher’s Conference of the Pittsburgh Synod, but in 1859 they welcomed a pastor of their own, Rev. H. Hoehn. Three years later, the congregation joined the Canada Synod, which had been formed in 1861. In 1867, the school at S.S. No. 4 was destroyed by fire, so it became necessary to build a church. Across the road from the schoolyard, on concession 8, lot 27, one acre of land was purchased from Carl Rock, and a frame church was built. This became St. Peter’s Lutheran. Another 50 acres was received from the Canada Land Company. The cornerstone for the frame church was laid by Rev. C. R. Gerndt on May 5, 1867. Rev. Gerndt was the pastor for 12 years. The choice of the location of the new church caused a split in the congregation. Thirty members withdrew and retained the name of First Lutheran Church on concession 6.

St. Peter’s Church parsonage was built in 1868. By 1920, the frame church was not large enough to serve the needs of the congregation, so it was decided to build a new brick church, to be completed the following year. The cornerstone was laid on May 22, 1921.

The Cemetery

Between 1858 and 1869, there were 58 burials. These burials were made in the schoolyard of S.S. No. 4. In 1869 St. Peter’s Cemetery was opened behind the church. The first burial was of Friedrich August Bennewies, on March 14, 1869. Each member was buried in a single grave site, in order of death. There were no family plots until 1920. The centre section was not opened for burials until 1975. At some time the cemetery needed to be renovated. The old stones were gathered together to form the shape of a cross and the broken stones were placed upright in a cement base.

In 1870, an epidemic of quinsy and nerve fever or diphtheria wiped out entire families. The family of J. Siemon, eight in number, all died within twenty days, except for the second youngest, who actually escaped illness while living with the family. In Carl Strickert’s family, three children died, ages 5-7 and were buried Nov. 15, followed by two other children on Nov. 30. George Weben lost his wife and 19 year old daughter. There were 24 burials in one year. During 1880-1882 there was another epidemic of diphtheria, when fifteen persons died within two months.

Burials with Markers

Section A, Row 7, number 5. Christine Feuerhak Strickert

Hier ruhet in Gott/
Die Ehefrau des Herrn/
Johann Strickert/
geb. Christine Feuerhak/
Geb. den 24 Jan. 1801/
in Wichmansdorf/ in Provinz/
Brandenburg Konigreich Preussen/
gest. A Sept. 9, 1891 in Logan/
Alter 90 Jahre 7 Monate.

Section A, Row 7, number 3. Dorethea Hoppenrath (geb. Feuerhak in Wichmannsdorf)
                                                     [sister of Christina Feuerhak ?]

Hier ruhet in Christo/
Doethea Hoppenrath/
gest. Den/ 30 December 1880/
im Alter von/ 79 Jahr. 5 Monat./
Verse
 [ note: according to place in row, the year of death may have been 1889 or 1890 ]



Burials without Markers

10 March 1862, Wilhelm August Strickert, s/o Carl, 1 month, 10 days. 25 June, 1869, _________ Strickert, ch/o Johann and Louise (Wall), stillborn

5 Nov. 1870,Anna Christine Strickert, d/o Carl & Justine Scherbarth, 3 yr. 5 months.

14 Nov. 1870, Daniel Wilhelm Strickert, s/o Carl & Justine Scherbarth, 10 mon , 2 days

24 Nov. 1870, Maria Auguste Pauline Strickert, d/o Carl & Justine Scherbarth, 11 months

18 June 1871, Gustav Adolph Strickert, s/o John & Louise (Wall), 3 yr. 5 m. 17 days.

9 August 1871, Johann Christian Friedrick Strickert, s/o Johann & Christine Feuerhak, at 34 yr. 8 m, 26 d

13 May 1872, Wilhelmine Augusta Friedericke Strickert, geb. Germaine, wife of Frederick Strickert, at 27 yr. 8 m, 20 d.
 
18 Jan. 1873, Friedrick Wilhelm Strickert, s/o Frederick, 8 months

14 April 1875, Caroline Wilhelmine Sophia Strickert, 7 months 2 days

7 Sept. 1875, Augustus Friederick Strickert, 3 months 19 days

14 Sept 1875, Heinrich Wilhelm Strickert, 3 months 26 days

9 Nov 1877, Sophia Johana Strickert, 17 days

19 Aug 1879, Carolynn Strickert 1 yr 4 m 15 d