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Matthew Webb was a daredevil that was the first person to swim the English Channel without the use of artificial aids. Though he had contracted tuberculosis, Webb still attempted to swim down the rapids at the Niagara Gorge in 1883. His attempt was not successful as he was sucked into the whirlpool. His body surfaced four days later and the autopsy revealed that he died from paralysis caused by the water pressure which lead to respiratory failure.

He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery and some old photographs have been scanned and added to the New York Heritage website. The first three pictures are estimated to be taken between 1880-1910 (obviously after 1883 as that is when he passed away):

The fourth picture is estimated to have been taken between 1920-1950. How very interesting to see how many more headstones were added behind his headstone to the cemetery and many plants were growing amongst the headstones.

For Matthew Webb’s Find a Grave Memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10848453/matthew-webb

The following digitized map was found on searchiqs.com. Info Quick Solutions, Inc. (IQS) is a site that the Niagara County Clerk has partnered with to digitize many of their books and maps.

This Oakwood Cemetery map was originally found in Book 12 on Pages 1144-1145.

The following is an article found in the Niagara Falls Gazette in 1855 – three years after the cemetery was established in 1852.

“Oakwood Cemetery.

About mid-way between Niagara Falls and Niagara City, and a short distance East, is a plot of ground set apart under the above name for the repose of the dead. It consists of about 18 acres, and since the organization of the Cemetery in 1852 has been more or less improved by the Trustees and owners of lots. The grounds are rolling and the unimproved portion covered with young oak and hickory trees. When the proposed improvements have been made, and which will be made from time to time, Oakwood Cemetery will be one of the most beautiful burial places in Western New York.

The Trustees have adopted rules and regulations for the protection of the grounds, concerning interments, &c. Interments are made under the direction of a Superintendent of the grounds, and by permission from the Secretary, or, in his absence from one of the Trustees. The Superintendent keeps a registry of the name, place of nativity, residence, age and disease of the person interred, which is required to be furnished by the friends of the deceased.

He is allowed the following fees: -For conveying a body to the Cemetery $1,00; opening closing and sodding each grave $2,00. Child’s grave $1,50.

Visitors may enter the grounds during the day. None but owners of lots and their household are permitted to enter the grounds on horseback, and they only by special permit at the Cemetery office. Each proprietor is permitted to enter the grounds with a vehicle under certain regulations

The present officers of the Cemetery are as follows:-

P. Whitney, President; P. B. Porter, Vice President; H. W. Clark, Treasurer; O. G. Johnson, S. M. N. Whitney, E. P. Graves, H. H. Hill, P. A. Po[r]ter and Ambrose Packard, Trustees; Chas. H. Piper, Secretary.”¹

The following digitized map was found on searchiqs.com. Info Quick Solutions, Inc. (IQS) is a site that the Niagara County Clerk has partnered with to digitize many of their books and maps.

This map of Oakwood Cemetery shows the subdivision of Mistletoe Grove and was originally found in Book 12 on Page 1141.

The following digitized map was found on searchiqs.com. Info Quick Solutions, Inc. (IQS) is a site that the Niagara County Clerk has partnered with to digitize many of their books and maps.

This two-part map of Oakwood Cemetery was originally found in Book 12 on Pages 1133-1134.