Story of an Old Stone Along Kempt Road

As a little girl, going up and down the road where I was born, Kempt road, as the road to St Fidele, P.Q., is called, many times I remember seeing what looked like a tombstone by the edge of a field under some trees.

I asked my dad what it was and he told me it was someone who was buried there. Being afraid of the dead, then, I guess made that stone stand out in my mind and each time we passed there I would look at it and wonder who was buried there all alone under the trees.

Having a wild imagination I would imagine it was some cowboy who was killed like in the movies by some indians maybe. But I never did find out who was buried there, until last summer my sister and I had gone up to St Fidele to pick berries and as we passed that field, I said "I still wonder who is buried in that field although we dont see the stone anymore" she said "wanna go see ?" I was elated, as no one had ever seemed to show interest but me in that old stone.

We parked the car and walked down to the edge of the freshly cut field of sweet smelling clover, walked the edge of the field, approximatly, where I remembered seeing the stone and within 3 minutes, there it was an old tombstone, that had been broke off its base, had been respectfully picked up by the owners of the field, no doubt, and laid against a tree

I had finally found out who was buried there and the trip was worthwhile as this is what I found on it

Erected by
his sons Charles and Alexander
John Nicholls
of Banff-Shire Scotland
who died Jan. 26/1861
at age 70
He was First settler of Kempt Rd.

**NOTE**

If you pass by that spot today (2004) you will notice a nice little white fence that surrounds a brand new looking stone. I have not gone down to the edge of the wood but have seen this from the road. I am not sure who did this but whomever, it was a great gesture and he/she is thanked warmly.