Discover the stories of our most well-known permanent residents.
Margaret St. John died on September 29, 1847. She had lost her son Cyrus in 1812, during the war to camp disease. On June 6, 1813, she would lose her husband Gamaliel and son Elijah, as they both drowned in the Niagara River ferrying supplies to the American army at Fort Erie. When the British attacked Buffalo on December 30, 1813, she sent seven of her nine remaining children to safety, keeping Maria and Sarah with her as the British closed in. Margaret actually was able to save, on the first day, both of her houses. However, when the British returned on January 1, 1814 she would only be able to save one of the two. The other was burned down. The St John house was one of three structures that remained in intact after the British attack. She stood up to the British and was able to save one house and her daughters. As a result of her actions and bravery she became a heroine of the War of 1812. Margaret St. John is buried in section 2 in Forest Lawn.