The Vineland Cemetery had its beginning in1798. As the Pennsylvania German settlers
moved north to Upper Canada. Many Mennonite families settled in the area around the"Twenty Mile
Creek" later a part of Lincoln County. The main trail west which later became the King’s Highway #8
made the Twenty area a natural stop over to rest and regroup after the hard journey north. One of
those families having lost a child along the way,and made a burial between Rittenhouse and
Martin Road.along what is now Hywy #8 This was on the property of Jacob Moyer, the first Mennonite
Bishop of Upper Canada.
The original one acre site was surrounded by a stone wall (1833) and by 1915 there were burials
outside the wall. As the community grew, the need for more land became aparent and In the early
1900'sMoses F. Rittenhouse a lumberman from Chicago, returned to his Mennonite birthplace
moved north to Upper Canada. Many Mennonite families settled in the area around the"Twenty Mile
Creek" later a part of Lincoln County. The main trail west which later became the King’s Highway #8
made the Twenty area a natural stop over to rest and regroup after the hard journey north. One of
those families having lost a child along the way,and made a burial between Rittenhouse and
Martin Road.along what is now Hywy #8 This was on the property of Jacob Moyer, the first Mennonite
Bishop of Upper Canada.
The original one acre site was surrounded by a stone wall (1833) and by 1915 there were burials
outside the wall. As the community grew, the need for more land became aparent and In the early
1900'sMoses F. Rittenhouse a lumberman from Chicago, returned to his Mennonite birthplace
| THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN FOLKLORE SOCIETY OF ONTARIO |
| THE TWENTY CHAPTER |
| THE VINELAND CEMETERY |
His strong desire to be buried near his ancestors led him to give a further three acres of land and to
set up a trust in 1915 to insure the future of the Cemetery in the community. The Trust was very
specific about the care and maintainance of the original one acre Mennnonite Burial ground and the
original trust still directs the maintainance of the Cemetery property today.
In 2001, the board of management began a schedule of much needed repairs. The one acre burial
site was re-sodded and broken headstones were repaired.
set up a trust in 1915 to insure the future of the Cemetery in the community. The Trust was very
specific about the care and maintainance of the original one acre Mennnonite Burial ground and the
original trust still directs the maintainance of the Cemetery property today.
In 2001, the board of management began a schedule of much needed repairs. The one acre burial
site was re-sodded and broken headstones were repaired.
One Hundred year old trees on the site were trimmed and the (1833) stone wall along the highway side
which was badly deteriorated was replaced with new lime stone. The remaining three walls were
repaired and re-pointed. A heritage designation was dedicated on the one acre site (1798) inside the
wall and at the headstone site in the main cemetery of M.F. Rittenhouse. The Cemetery still serves a
large Mennonite community.
which was badly deteriorated was replaced with new lime stone. The remaining three walls were
repaired and re-pointed. A heritage designation was dedicated on the one acre site (1798) inside the
wall and at the headstone site in the main cemetery of M.F. Rittenhouse. The Cemetery still serves a
large Mennonite community.
1798 Mennonite Burial Ground
Vineland Cemetery 1915 Main Gate
