Cloverville Cemetery Stone #14 William T. Foster Dimensions: 55” x 10” x 10” Orientation: North/South Inscription: TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM T. FOSTER DIED JAN. 5, 1901 AGED 25 YEARS Material: White marble Condition: Slightly tilted, some moss development. William Foster, who was described in his obituary as “a capable and reliable druggist, and a very popular young man,” and his brother, Charles Tupper Foster, owned and operated the Foster Brothers’ Pharmacy. The first record of them in the area is in the 1891 census, which indicates they were born in Nova Scotia, though it seems they moved to Antigonish County from somewhere else. William was a student at the time, receiving his diploma in pharmacy with special distinction before going into business with his brother for a few years before taking ill. Both were (publicly, at least) members of the Church of England at the time of that census. William’s stone is adorned with very obvious Masonic imagery, hence the above parenthetic, and though he was a young member he clearly had some standing within the Lodge. The prominent square rule and compass are the chief indicators, but given their attention to symbolism, it would be interesting to know what the urn-like carving on the top of the stone represents, if anything. Peter Hill (edited by Christopher Greencorn) [ Back ]