Today’s entry takes us down the River towards Amherstburg, and to the Wyandotte Indian Cemetery.
When this cemetery was established, it was located on what was at the time the Anderdon Reservation.
The Historical Marker at the cemetery
Chief Joseph White’s final resting place, the last Chief of the Wyandottes.
A photo of the Chief, from the 1909 Fred Neal Book “The Township of Sandwich”.
In 1861, he was presented with a Silver Medal by the Prince of Wales (Who became King Edward VII) for his part in the rebellion of 1837-38. He was Chief for 50 years before he passed at the age of 82 in Windsor in February 1885. His Grandson Sgt. Walter White was killed during the battle of Paardeberg in the Boer War in South Africa in 1900. He was with the Essex 21st Fusiliers, and a part of the first Canadian Contingent to South Africa.
The Anderdon Reservation stretched from the River back to Walker Road. The GoldeN family on Texas Rd near Howard still live on the original homestead in the original house , stone and you can see where the wood beams rest on the stone walls. I was in there once and it is an amazing old place. Obviously built within the Reservation.
When we built our house in McGregor in the 70’s, we turned up arrow heads, minie balls and an ax head. Neat stuff
i live across the street from the wyandotte indian cemetery, the grass hasn’t been cut yet this year. i think this is a disgrace and disrepectful to the indians. something should be done about this as soon as possible.
I can only pray that mayor hurst doesn’t relocate these graves and sell the property to the highest bidder. He is considered one of the top WORST mayors in Canada, yet he gets re-elected. The ONLY reason he did was because the “other guy” was suing the town.
I live next door to the Wyandotte Burial gound in Amherstburg Ontario. This grass has not been cut this year!! I have spoken to my MP’s Ofifice (JEFF WATSON ) on several occasions about this situation. At first the person I talked to had no knowledge of the site and who was responsible for it?? After going back and forth with this individaul in phone conversations I am now told that it is in the hands of the Ministry Of Indian Affairs and they are working as fast as possible to secure a contract to get the site claeaned up??.( I offerd to temporarily, or if possible yearly to make sure the grounds were kept up WIN WIN right??) This site is also a registered Natinal Historic Site. ” Mr.” Watson has yet to contact me personally himself even though I have requested a phone call from him –According to his office he is very busy in Ottawa. Mr Watson makes his primary home with his wife and children in Gatineau Quebec and is very rarely seen at his riding in Amherstburg. This site is a disgrace to the people of the First Nations and the Candian people in general!!
Since my direct-line ancestor Chief Joseph S. White & many members of his family are among those at rest, here. I’ve made several visits to this site, over the years. My last visit in 2002 found the historic cemetery well taken care of, at that time. I’m very saddened to learn that the Historic Site is now being neglected! My Father’s Uncle G. Louis Schumacker, after a letter-wrting campaign to the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Bureau during the 1920’s, following a similar period of years of neglect to this Historical site, was incidental in getting it taken care of then! This is the 21st Century & it’s happening, all over again!!
Gary it is being maintained now. I go there frequently and have brought my daughter (when she was young) many times to have lunch and to educate her. It is a beautiful place but does need a bit of fixing as many of the headstones are starting to wear.
i think that they should take better care of wyandot indian cemetery because the first nation people should be taken care of better but no they don’t care any more whos with me