One hundred square rods of ground, now known as Onondaga Center Burial Ground was deeded by C.M. Maynard to the Onondaga Center Burial Ground Association on February 7, 1845, provided that the members of the Association would build a good board fence around the cemetery and stake out lots in a convenient form and order. Also, whoever bought a lot must agree to become a member of the Association and be subject to all taxes and assessments levied at any time for support and improvement of the burial ground.

Thirty-three charter members purchased lots. There were 36 lots laid out with Lot 1 being too wet. Each lot was 16 feet by 22 feet in size. The elected sexton was allowed no more than one dollar for opening and closing a grave (and that was all hand labor in a time when 50 cents a day was high wages).

On April 16, 1859, William B. Noble offered an additional piece of land on the south side of the burial ground. His offer was accepted and one dollar was paid for the deed to make it legal.

In 1876, A.S. Noble deeded 24 feet the full length of the east side to the Burial Ground. A new fence was now needed and E.S. Lane built it for $75 including material using pine boards and oak posts. There was an assessment of fifty cents a lot as there had been several times in the past, to pay for this improvement.

A list of lot owners was placed in the Secretary’s book on June 2, 1883 with Lot 109 being in size 21 by 70 feet being designated as Potter’s Field. (Most cemeteries have a portion usually along the back fence, for burial of indigent or unidentified persons). There were now 97 lots owned, 19 vacant and Potter’s Field. At this time, there also were 260 graves recorded in 38 years.

In April, 1890, it was decided to have the cemetery cleaned once a year. The pay for this work was to be four dollars. A new fence was also authorized, using such boards as ere good and the balance was of first quality pine; also, first quality pine posts were needed. The job was let to Ira Eldred at twenty cents per rod. He was required to remove all rubbish from both sides of the fence and leave the grounds in good order.

On April 18, 1908, the old wood fence was sold to the highest bidder, W.O. Stone, for $6.25 and a steel fence erected which cost $67.48. The assessments by now were one dollar per lot.

On January 27, 1916, it was decided to have the cemetery cleaned twice a year between May 1-10 and August 15-30. Pay was still four dollars.

This cemetery has been variously called Onondaga Center Burial Ground, Baldwin, East Onondaga and we know it now as Lane Cemetery. It is located on Bellevue Road. The first record of it being called Lane Cemetery was in 1898.

Onondaga Cemetery, located just west of the village began its existence as the Booth Family Burial Ground. It was deeded to the township on September 10, 1841 by Silas and Nancy Booth to Amos Steele, Orin Cranson, L. Sherman, Jeduthan Fry, Mosely Baldwin, Benjamin Rossman and Parme Rossman, Township officials and was one and one half acres in size.

I could not find much information about his cemetery but would appreciate hearing from you if you haven any. Many records were lost when our township hall burned some years ago.

For those who think fondly of the Good Old Days, cause of death on the old burial permits might make you wonder if they were so great. Children died of blood poisoning, measles, diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough and many did not live to be five years old. Babies died of Cholera Infantum, prematurity (Stillborn, generally) and pneumonia. Some just starved for “lack of anything that agreed with them.” Many young folks died of Consumption (Tuberculosis), LaGrippe, Typhoid, pneumonia, and accidents. Older folks (anyone over 60) might have heart failure, paralysis, general old age, cancer, dropsy, gangrene of feet, worn out heart, and, if all else failed, “natural causes.”

It was not uncommon to see a grave lot with three to five graves marked “children of J.R. Smith,” etc. Women were not equals then. The cemetery lots were owned by the husbands and no women belonged to the Association, either. Since childbirth was a not uncommon cause of death in those days, some plots might have one man and two or three wives buried together, usually a wife on each side of the husband and, if he had, by chance, a third wife, she might be buried at his feet.

Florence Toburen, Onondaga