Page 10 - Sept 2024 News On 7

HAZZARD HISTORY NOTES

by Grant Ketcheson
A MYSTERY IN THE GRAVEYARD

Dicken's Christmas Carol is a timeless Christmas classic and my favourite. Remember that spooky scene where the ghost
brings Scrooge face to face with his own tombstone? Walking through Hazzard's Cemetery some years ago brought that
scene to mind. I must have gasped when I saw my name, “G A Ketcheson”, on a weathered old stone!

The stone was that of George Allan Ketcheson Embury (1870-1871) who died at seven months old. He was the son of David
Embury and Elizabeth Wannamaker. Their farm was located along what is now Public School Road, only a mile from the
farm of Daniel and Almira Ketcheson and their sons, George and Allan. But why did David and Elizabeth give the infant such
names? When Baby Embury was born, George M. Ketcheson (1839-1867) was already deceased and his brother Allan was 20
years old. There must have been a special bond between the Embury and Ketcheson families.

A discussion with a descendant provides no answers. David Gunn (his great- great-grandmother was a sister of wee GA) is
as puzzled as we are. Perhaps it was a difficult pregnancy and the Ketcheson boy's mother, Almira Acker Ketcheson. had
provided care and remained as someone to lean on during the boy's short life. In the latter half of the nineteenth century in
rural areas of Ontario, it was common practice for women of a community to act as midwives or special care nurses during
“lying-in” periods after a difficult pregnancy and birth. Living only a mile away, perhaps Almira Ketcheson was a great
comfort to Mrs. Embury.

There are many stories of women who acted as doctor, nurse and midwife to a pioneer community. One of these notable
ladies was Elcey Hazzard. Elcey and Joseph Hazzard purchased a farm in 1837 at what became known as Hazzard's Corners.
When they arrived. there was already a log school/meeting house as well as a small burying ground on what became
Hazzard's Cemetery. Stories abound of the exploits of Elcey Hazzard traveling throughout the community, either on
horseback or by horse and buggy, administering to the afflicted. A Hazzard family relative confirmed that Mrs. Hazzard did
indeed have a doctor's black bag full of medical gear.

While we claim “no stone unturned” in our search for stories from the Hazzard's community, there are mysteries that will
remain just beyond our grasp. Nonetheless. our search continues.