Hi everyone! Just a quick reminder that we will not be open
Thursday, December 26, but we WILL be open:
Saturday, December 28th for Open House from 10 - 1:30
1317 W. Jefferson
Hope we see you all!
And Happy Holidays from us to you, our wonderful friends!!
John Fraser Cameron, born January 1878 in Memphis, Tennessee, is believed to have been the son of Col. John Fraser Cameron, Sr. and his wife Mary A. Myers. Since John Sr. and his wife died in 1882 and 1883 respectively, it is likely that their six orphaned children were raised by relatives. Three of the Cameron daughters—Mary Belle, Chloe Ann, and Nancy Louise--made advantageous marriages.
John F. Cameron was working as a telephone lineman when he enlisted in the U. S. Army at Galveston on April 28, 1898. It was just a few days after President McKinley had declared war on Spain.
Cameron was regarded as a very good soldier. He rose to the rank of sergeant in Company C, 30th U. S. Infantry and might have made a career in the military, had it not been for his contracting tuberculosis.
He was at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, when he was discharged on May 16, 1905, as unfit for duty. Fort Bayard was a decommissioned frontier fort which was being used as a tuberculosis sanitarium for Army personnel. A week later, Cameron was awarded a disability pension.
At that time, regulation veterans’ grave markers were available only to those buried in military cemeteries, not private ones. Without a marker, the exact location of Cameron’s grave is not known.
Libbie (maiden name unknown) was born in Canada about
1850. At some point, she came to the
United States and married Arthur W. Taylor, born around 1845 in New York
state. There is no evidence that the two
ever had any children.
In
1880, Libbie and her husband were living in Denver, Arapaho County,
Colorado, where Arthur was a molder at
the Colorado Iron Works.
The Taylors were in Phoenix by 1894, but thereafter it appears that Libbie and her husband separated, with Arthur moving to Los Angeles. Though estranged, they nevertheless did not divorce. Apparently Libbie had enough money to be self-sufficient, as she bought several lots in the Churchill addition for $3000, intending to use them as rental properties.
Libbie developed a case of pneumonia and died December 22, 1897, at her home at 27 South Fourth Avenue in Phoenix. Her funeral was postponed until after Christmas as friends sought to reach her husband in California by telegraph. She was buried in Loosley Cemetery, Block 5, Lot 11. One obituary gave her full name as Libbie H. Y. Taylor, possibly indicating she had been previously married.
Shortly
after Libbie’s funeral, her husband returned to Phoenix to take over her
affairs. Mr. Taylor had his late wife’s
remains moved to Porter Cemetery and a large marble monument erected. The plot Libbie is buried in has plenty of
room for other burials, so perhaps he was planning to be buried next to
her.
Since
Libbie had died intestate, a special administrator was appointed to handle her
estate. Notice was given and several
creditors came forward: James M.
Creighton was one of them. Keystone
Pharmacy submitted an unpaid bill for quinine tablets and laudanum, and there
were also bills for nursing and final expenses.
After all of Libbie’s debts had been settled, her husband A. W. Taylor
inherited $4666 in cash and real estate.
Arthur
was last known to be residing in Los Angeles, California, with a family named
Riley and working as a teamster in 1900.
-by Patricia G.
Margarita Wall was born February 14, 1882, most likely in Arizona. She was the first-born daughter of Fred Wall and Refugio Rebecca Ramirez. Fred Wall is thought to have been an immigrant from Ireland and sometime miner. A sister, Matilda, was born about four years later, after which her parents parted. Their mother remarried several times thereafter.
On February 15, 1904, Margarita (or Maggie, as she was known), wed Carlos Robledo Chretin in Phoenix, Arizona. Chretin’s unusual surname was due to the fact that his father, Jean-Marie Chretin, was a Frenchman who had married a Mexican woman.
Maggie was probably suffering from tuberculosis already at the time of her marriage. She gave birth to a male infant on December 2, 1904, and died only six days later, on December 8. She was buried in Rosedale Cemetery, with a three-piece marble monument marking her grave.
Maggie’s newborn son was originally named Fred John Chretin. Upon his mother’s death, he was given to his maternal grandmother, Refugio Rebecca Ramirez, who was already nursing an eight-month-old daughter named Ruby O’Leary. Baby Fred’s life was most likely saved because of this steady supply of breastmilk, which also imparted some degree of immunity to childhood illnesses. Fred and Ruby grew up together, and Fred always regarded her as his sister, even though she was actually his half-aunt. Being raised in his grandmother’s household, Fred adopted the surname of her then husband, Daniel O’Leary.
Margaret Chretin’s widower, Carlos Chretin, eventually remarried and had several more children with his second wife, Marta Hernandez. Both the Chretins and the O’Learys moved to Los Angeles around 1918.
Mary Ann List was born August 15, 1843, in Pennsylvania. She was the oldest of seven children belonging to David J. List and Ursula Newell.
The Lists had moved to Lee County, Iowa, by 1858, when Mary Ann married Benedict Mosier at the tender age of fifteen. Soon thereafter, the young couple moved to Tyler Township, Hickory County, Missouri, where Mary Ann bore eleven children between 1860 and 1875. Six survived to adulthood. The Mosiers were farmers and, apparently, quite successful ones. Mary Ann’s parents moved to Missouri at about the same time.
In the summer of 1861, Benedict Mosier enlisted in Company C, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, serving in Captain William C. Human’s company. The mission of the regiment was to prevent Confederate forces from establishing a foothold in southwestern Missouri. The soldiers went on numerous scouting patrols and engaged in a few skirmishes. Since Mosier’s duties kept him fairly close to home, he was able to make periodic visits to his family.
Mary Ann’s father, David List, served in the same regiment although he was more than forty years old at the time. He died in Missouri in 1868, leaving his wife and five children.
Although the Mosiers had a productive farm in Missouri, they moved to Arizona around 1884, as did Mary Ann’s widowed mother and several of her siblings. Possibly the Mosiers’ son Sydney was ill and required a warm, dry climate. He died on 30 May 1886 and was buried in City Loosley Cemetery.
Mary Ann undoubtedly lived the life of a farmer’s wife. In addition to the usual household chores, she occasionally worked in the fields and forked hay for the cattle.
Late in life, Mary Ann developed heart problems. In April 1897, she resigned her position as a Sunday School teacher because of ill health. While driving home on 14 December 1897, she apparently suffered a stroke. A neighbor moving cattle noticed that the horse and buggy had stopped in the road and came to her aid, but attempts to revive Mary Ann failed. She too was buried in City Loosley Cemetery.
Following
Mary’s death, Benedict Mosier was much chagrined to learn that Arizona was a
community property state and that Mary’s property would be split between him
and their children. It had never
occurred to him that his late wife owned anything, much less half of the
marital assets.
Mary Ann’s mother, Ursula Newell List, outlived her, dying in Glendale, Arizona, in 1906.
Benedict died on 4 October 1908 and was buried in the family plot in City Loosley.
-by Donna Carr
Save the Date! You are invited to the dedication ceremony
for the Jacob Waltz Gravesite! Lots of time and talents were put into its
beautification for all generations to enjoy. Please RSVP to our email:
pioneercem@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there!
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Tallman Jacob Trask was born 1852 in Vassalboro, Maine, one
of eleven children born to William Chase Trask and his second wife, Sophia
Winslow. By 1860, the Trask family had moved to Concord, Illinois.
When he was 17, Tallman, or T. J. as he was known, went to
work for Abel Gum as a clerk in Gum’s dry goods store. T.J. roomed
with the Gum family while he learned the ins-and-outs of the mercantile trade.
Around 1876, young Trask traveled west to Pueblo, Colorado,
where he became the head clerk in the grocery store of John D. Miller.. It
was there that he met Laura E. Cooper, whom he married in July of 1877. The
couple had two children born between 1878 and 1879, but both died in infancy
and were buried in the Odd Fellows section of the Pueblo Pioneer Cemetery.
In 1879, T. J and Laura moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to
start a new store with Lyman Putney, a business man from Lawrence, Kansas. The
store, which specialized in wholesale groceries and exotic fruits from
California, was located in downtown Albuquerque on Railroad Avenue, opposite
the train depot.
T.J. and Laura had a tumultuous relationship, with Laura
spending much of her time with her family in Pueblo and Kansas. In
the spring of 1884, T. J. filed for divorce on the grounds of desertion. It
was granted in October of 1884. In December of 1884, he married
Lizzie Strother of Ohio, thought by some to have been “an adventuress”. T.
J. dissolved his business interests with his partner Lyman Putney and moved to
Phoenix, Arizona, where he opened a store with his new brother-in-law, Emory
Kays.
Still later, in 1892, T.J. opened another store with Charles
Kessler and T.J’s brother Alonzo. Located on Washington between modern-day
Central Ave and 1st Avenue in Phoenix, the Trask-Kessler wholesale grocery
soon became one of the largest grocery stores in town.
As he prospered, T.J. took on many civic duties, becoming
president of the Arizona Industrial Exposition Association and territorial
fair. His most notable exhibits were a pagoda made from grains grown
on his farm, and a display of hanging tea cups and saucers from his wholesale
grocery store that spelled “Trask-Kessler”. He also served as
president of the Immigration Union, vice president of the Business Chamber of
Commerce in Phoenix, and was on the board of the Phoenix and Prescott Toll Road
Company.
T. J. died on December 8, 1894, from an intestinal ailment
which he had fought for eight months. He was laid to rest in Porter cemetery.
His headstone is of an unusual Moorish design and describes him as an “upright
businessman”.
-by Val Wilson
Reuben A. Hill was born November 5, 1839, in Naples, Cumberland County, Maine. He was the son of John Hill and Rebecca Garland, farmers in the area. Farming did not seem to be in Reuben’s future, however. By 1860, he was already in San Francisco, California, working as a common laborer.
That changed with the outbreak of the Civil War, when Reuben Hill enlisted in the Union Army for a term of three years. On September 29, 1861, he mustered in at Camp Downey, near Oakland, California, as a third corporal in Co. I, 1st California Infantry.
As part of the California Column commanded by Colonel James H. Carleton, Hill’s unit was posted to the New Mexico Territory, where it saw action against the Confederates at Picacho Peak, Arizona. Hill seems to have been an effective soldier. He was promoted to sergeant and then commissioned a captain in Co. K, 1st New Mexico Volunteers (New), at Fort Sumner, New Mexico Territory, Feb. 29, 1864. Captain Hill resigned at Fort Union, New Mexico Territory, on February 6, 1866.
After the war, Hill returned to Maine where he married Vesta Marhon Whittier on January 19, 1865, presumably while on leave from his military duties. They remained married until January 1880, when Reuben divorced Vesta so that he could marry a widow, Jane Tyler Burrell Wilson.
Jane later alleged that Hill drank excessively and was abusive. By the time he moved out in 1894, he had spent all of Jane’s money. Destitute, Jane was forced to move in with her married daughter. Although Hill suggested that Jane divorce him, she did not do so—possibly because of the social stigma of being a divorced woman.
Reuben Hill then secured a loan from another widow, Olivia S. W. Payne, with which he purchased a hotel in Strafford, New Hampshire. He remained in New Hampshire until about 1902, when he sold the hotel and moved to Arizona to speculate in mines. Once in Phoenix, Hill was cagey about his past and intimated that he had traveled in Europe on a mission for the U. S. government’s secret service.
On December 7, 1905, Reuben Hill died of a broken neck when thrown from his wagon near his mining property at Cave Creek, Arizona Territory. He was buried in Rosedale Cemetery, North section, Block 168, Grave 7.
Hill’s widow Jane did not learn of his death until her son-in-law saw a notice published in a Boston newspaper. Since she was still legally married to Hill at the time of his death, she applied for and received a widow’s pension based on his Civil War service.
In March 25, 1841, she married John Preston Osborn, a native of Claiborne County, Tennessee. By 1850, they were farming in Morgan County, Kentucky., and already had four children.
Around 1853, the Osborns relocated to Adams County, Iowa. The Civil War was in full swing by 1863, when they moved to Colorado, but they had their sights set on the newly created territory of Arizona. Early in 1864, the Osborns joined a party of emigrants traveling via Santa Fe to northern Arizona. They arrived in Prescott on July 6, 1864, with three or four ox teams and wagons loaded with flour, ham and bacon which they sold to Prescott’s hungry miners. With flour selling at $1 a pound and bacon at $.75 a pound, they soon had enough capital to begin their family’s new life in Arizona.
The Osborns built Osborn House, one of Prescott’s first hotels, which provided modest accommodations with a menu of pork and beans, bread and coffee. Perlina, by now expecting her tenth child, remained in Prescott to run it while John Preston explored Del Rio and the Verde Valley and tried his hand at farming and ranching. Unfortunately, his attempts came to naught as the local Yavapai tribesmen repeatedly raided his livestock and crops.
The Osborns’ oldest children having reached marrying age, daughter Jenettie wed Joseph Thomas Barnum in 1865, and Louisa married an up-and-coming lawyer named John Alsap on June 6, 1866. However, the alliance was short-lived as she died barely a year later.
The Osborn's son, John Jr., along with his erstwhile brother-in-law, John Alsap, moved south to the Salt River Valley in 1869, and John Sr. and Perlina joined them in January 1870, establishing a homestead at what would become McDowell and Seventh Street.
Once again, the Osborns were among the first white families to settle in a pioneer town. John Preston, now in his sixties, became an influential citizen of the new town. Perlina was known for her nursing skills, and the Osborns hosted many a traveling minister during Phoenix’s early years.
When John Preston Osborn died on January 19, 1900, he was buried in the A.O.U.W. Cemetery. Around the time of Osborn's death, the street that ran along the south side of the Osborns' farm became known as Osborn Road, a tribute to this pioneer family.
Perlina passed away on December 3, 1912, at the age of 91.
-by Donna Carr
This December, we will commemorate 12 pioneers from our historic cemetery who passed away during this month. Through this countdown, we honor their contributions to our community, reflect on the challenges they faced, and remember the impact they had during their time.
While some of their stories are somber, they are an important part of our history, reminding us of the resilience and humanity of those who came before us. Join us in this journey of reflection and remembrance as we count down the 12 days, preserving their memory during this season of reflection and giving.
She may have been the daughter of John Wesley Maddux, a white man who owned a saloon in Happy Camp, California, and his first wife, a local Native American woman. John Wesley Maddux did have a daughter named Sarah, but little else is known about her.
While at school, Sarah apparently fell in love with a young man who was a member of the school’s baseball team. Being shy, she hoped to attract his attention by appearing on stage in the school’s dramatic productions. One such performance took place late in February, 1911, and all confirmed that she did an outstanding job. However, Sarah was bereft to learn that the object of her affections had not even been present to witness her triumph.
Feeling rejected, Sarah swallowed a caustic compound—possibly lye or mercury—and died about two weeks later from the painful effects. She was buried in Rosedale Cemetery.
It is not known whether the young baseball player ever knew of her interest in him.
- by Donna Carr
Pie Socials with Neighbors
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, post-Thanksgiving
evenings were often spent visiting neighbors for "pie socials."
Families would bring their leftover desserts to share while catching up with
friends. It was a relaxed and delicious way to wind down the holiday.
How could you revive it?
Host a mini pie party with leftover slices, or turn it into a potluck
dessert swap. Light some candles, play vintage music, and enjoy the cozy vibes.
Storytelling by the Fire
Before television, families gathered by the fireplace to
share stories. Elders would recount tales from their youth, and children would
chime in with their own whimsical creations. These sessions were rich with
laughter, learning, and love.
How could you revive it?
Set up a storytelling circle with family or friends. Ask older family
members to share their Thanksgiving memories, or take turns creating a
collaborative story.
Leftover Feasts
Late-night snacks were a beloved tradition. Families would
gather for a second, smaller meal of turkey sandwiches, pickles, and pies.
These impromptu feasts were about savoring the holiday flavors one last time.
How could you revive it?
Take leftovers to work or school, or even better, take a picnic lunch
with friends and family to the cemetery.
You can visit and celebrate with your loved ones there too, both past
and present.
Thanksgiving Scrapbooking
Victorian families loved creating keepsakes of their
holidays. They often documented Thanksgiving by pressing autumn leaves, writing
reflections, or sketching scenes from the day.
How could you revive it?
Start a Thanksgiving scrapbook. Collect mementos like photos, pressed
leaves, or handwritten notes of gratitude from family members. Add to it each
year for a cherished family heirloom.
The days after Thanksgiving can be used by embracing vintage
customs that make the holiday even more meaningful. By revisiting these
nostalgic traditions, you can create a warm, connected, and memorable
experience for everyone around you
What are your favorite post-Thanksgiving traditions? Share
in the comments, and don’t forget to pin this post for inspiration next year!
