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CEMETERIES Fonger Cemetery - The first known cemetery was at the Gallagher farm and called the Fonger Cemetery; it was more of a family cemetery and was surrounded by large maple trees and a picket fence. Barnie Rholson was the last burial there 35 years ago. Clipping of Photo of: This sketch by an early Hamilton artist depicts the old cholera cemetery on Burlington Heights, used during the epidemics described by Miss Burkholder. The Old Cholera Cemetery was at the southwest end of the high strip known as Burlington Heights, in the area adjoining the Hamilton Cemetery, being designated as the burying ground of Hamilton's cholera victims. During the worst years of the cholera epidemics 1832 and 1854, every summer day brought its quota of wagons and carts whose drivers were bent on the mournful task of covering the victims from mortal gaze. It is said that in those years the cholera claimed one out of 20 of the populations of Hamilton and Toronto. In 1836 the population of Hamilton was 2,846 and 1854 it was about 15,000. Therefore, the vital statistics of those years might have run something like this; during the summer of 1832 the little community of Hamilton may have buried about 142 of its citizens, and in 1854, the larger community of Hamilton and environs may have lost about 750 people. In Hamilton the disease broke out in the jail, a dark and unkempt place, indeed. Some prominent citizens immediately making themselves responsible for the good conduct of the prisoners, turned all inmates free on the street, except one poor fellow under sentence of death. But the precaution was taken too late. The jailer and his wife were among the first victims.