The following is a transcription of the Moiseyevo Doukhobor Cemetery located 3 miles south-west of Buchanan, Saskatchewan. Rural Municipality of Buchanan No. 304. Land location: SE 21-31-6 West of Second. Latitude: 51°40.021. Longitude: 102°47.661. Transcribed October 2, 2004 by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff with Fred S. Petroff & Fred J. Strelieff. Updated September 9, 2006.
View of the cemetery from the north facing south. It lies in the midst of pasture land.
Historical Background
Moiseyevo (aka Khristianovka) Cemetery was established in 1902 by the Doukhobors of Moiseyevo (aka Khristianovka) village. After the abandonment of the village in 1917, the cemetery continued to be used by local Doukhobors until the 1940’s. Thereafter, the cemetery ceased to be actively used. For many years it sat unkept, unfenced, in a pasture. Grazing cattle knocked over many of the stones. In 2002, the cemetery was fenced and the stones were put back in place. The cemetery is privately owned by the Crown.
Layout
The cemetery is approximately one acre in size and is enclosed by a wire fence. There is no gate. The cemetery contains approximately 100 interments in a single section comprised of eleven rows facing east-west. The majority of graves (92) have no marker, however, many of the mounds are still clearly visible. I have used death certificates and oral tradition to identify nine of these. The remaining 84 or so unmarked graves are unidentified. With respect to graves with markers, the markers are typically plain, upright marble or slate headstones. Click here for an online cemetery map.
Driving Directions
To access the cemetery, travel south from Buchanan on Highway No. 47 for 1 3/4 miles (2.8 km). Then turn west and continue on the gravel road for 1 1/2 miles (2.4 km). The cemetery is on the south side of the road, approximately 200 yards (182 m) from the road allowance. This cemetery is on private property and permission to access should be obtained by the owners.
Transcription
| Surname | Name | Birth Date | Death Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barowsky | Alexander A. | 1857 | 1908 | Mill Operator – No Marker |
| Burnson | Helen J. | Apr. 8, 1911 | Dec. 29, 1936 | Nee Sookochoff – No Marker |
| Demosky | Alex M. | 1864 | 1934 | No Marker |
| Demosky | Annie G. | 1867 | Dec. 29, 1937 | Nee Dorofaeff – No Marker |
| Fofonoff | Mary | 1850 | 1938 | No Marker |
| Kalmakoff | Fotei D. | 1850 | 1908 | Mill Operator – No Marker |
| Shirstabitoff | Maria | Aug. 28, 1888 | Nov. 14, 1918 | Wife of Sam |
| Shirstabitoff | Wasil S. | Jan. 16, 1909 | Jul. 26, 1913 | Child of Sam and Mary |
| Sookochoff | Cyril J. | 1938 | 1938 | Son of John and Lillian – No Marker |
| Sookochoff | John F. | 1865 | March 11, 1917 | Died – age 52 years |
| Strelioff * | Agafia S. | 1884 | Oct. 1934 | |
| Strelioff * | Evdokim G. | Mar. 1, 1889 | Nov. 12, 1918 | |
| Strelioff * | Grigory E. | May 13, 1917 | Nov. 14, 1918 | |
| Strelioff | Grigory V. | May 6, 1861 | Jun. 5, 1935 | No Marker |
| Strelioff | Polly A. | 1847 | Feb. 9, 1940 | No Marker |
| Strelioff * | Vakul V. | Mar. 25, 1832 | Nov. 18, 1918 | |
| Terichow | John W. | 1915 | Nov. 10, 1918 | Died – age 3 years |
*Translated from Russian.
In addition, the following families resided in Moiseyevo village and may have members buried in Moiseyevo Cemetery: Androsoff, Barowsky, Chutskoff, Demosky, Fedosoff, Fofanoff, Kalmakoff, Kolesnikoff, Maloff, Negraeff, Ostoforoff, Popoff, Rebalkin, Sherstobitoff, Shukin, Sookocheff, Strelieff, Tomilin, Voikin, Wishloff.
View of the cemetery site. Note it is overgrown with grass.
View of the cemetery from the south-east facing north-west.
Notes
Various sources of data have been used in compiling this information, including: marker transcriptions, death certificates and oral tradition. I have photos of the headstones and would be happy to share them. Special thanks to Lauralee Nogue for her work in preserving this cemetery and in identifying additional interments. This is a work in progress. If readers have any comments, corrections or additions with respect to Moiseyevo Cemetery, please contact Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.
