St. James United Church Cemetery Stone #1 Hugh McDonald Dimensions: 12'8" in height Orientation: East Carver: Not identified Inscription: There are incised inscriptions on two panels of the obelisk. The panel facing east is dedicated to Hugh McDonald and reads as follows: "In memory of/Hugh McDonald/Of Elmbank/A native of the Parish of/Lairg, Sutherland Shire/Having served his-----(this word is not legible)/By the will of God, he fell asleep/June 23, 1867 aged 76./I shall be satisfied when I/Awake with thy likeness/Psal. XVII. 15/. The second panel, facing north is devoted to his wife, Ellen McDonald: "Also his wife/Ellen/A native of the island/Of Lewis/Who died March 16, 1867/Aged 78/The master is come and calleth/For thee, as soon as she heard/That, she arose and came unto him./John XI, 2829./" There are no inscriptions on the other two panels. There is a separate foot stone for Ellen McDonald with the initials, E. McD. Condition: Overall, this stone is in good condition, although there is evidence of deterioration. The white marble panels are discoloured and covered with small cracks and moss. This imposing tombstone is an obelisk-shaped monument, with its tapering shaft and pyramidal top. It is made of grey sandstone with four white marble panels, two of which contain inscriptions. The stone consists of four distinct sections. Decorative motifs are minimal. Outrivalling adjacent monuments in height, it is the tombstone's size that captures the viewer's attention. Its inscriptions also differ markedly from the abbreviated epitaphs of an earlier era. They contain biblical passages and provide information about place of origin. In short, this stone stands as a commemorative emblem of faith and affluence. Hugh McDonald was a man of both prominence and wealth. Based in Lower South River, this Scottish Presbyterian merchant operated a store as well as a number of mills and oversaw his own personal estate called Elmbank. He was reputed to rank among the wealthiest men in Antigonish County, although a disastrous partnership in a Halifax wholesale dry goods business substantially drained him of his fortune. Catherine Hirbour [ Back ]