History of Augusta
Augusta was a hamlet that came into being in the late 1860's. It was situated north of Listowel, on Con. 2 and 3, Wallace Township, 2 1/2 miles west of #23 Highway. It is said to have taken its name from the first child to be born there, Augusta Keeso. The hamlet had a store, then a school, S.S. No. 2, a blacksmith shop, cobbler shop and for a short time, a post office. An Evangelical United Brethren Church was built in 1870 at a cost of $1,000. It was situated beside the school. Since this was a German settlement, the language used in their services was German, until a number of English speaking settlers moved into the area. Then sermons were delivered once a month in English. At one point, Sunday School attendance numbered 50 children.
The church cemetery was laid out by Leonard Wenzel, Levi Good and Samuel Good. It was situated about one half mile north of the Augusta corner, up the sideroad on the east side of the road, on a little hill. The cemetery was established at the same time as the church or possibly earlier. There are still three exisiting tombstones of burials in 1870. It is no longer used, that latest burial recorded on a stone in 1982.
The is only one house at the Augusta corner today, all the old buildings are gone. The church closed in 1918 but the cemetery is still there, on the little hill, a memorial to these pioneer families.
Sources:
William Johnston's History of the County of Perth (1825-1902)
The Listowel Banner, June 29, 1967
Magnified Memories, The History of Wallace Township
Perth County Historical Atlas, 1879
As printed in the OGS Cemetery Transcripts