Sgt. James C. Traynor (1840 - 1882) - Unknown Burial Site

 

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A Soldier Remembered: Sgt. James C. Traynor

On a December evening in 1882, tragedy struck at the Salt River crossing near Phoenix. Sgt. James C. Traynor, a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Civil War, lost his life while trying to board a moving wagon. The wagon's wheel passed over him, and death was instant. He was just 42 years old.

That night, his body lay alone in a tent near the city cemetery. At the time, the Phoenix City Cemetery was located between Jackson and Madison and 5th and 7th Ave. James was guarded by steady footsteps of a sentinel.

A military burial was held the next afternoon, with full honors and a volley of farewell from his fellow soldiers. Today, his exact resting place is unknown. He was most likely reburied when the cemetery was moved, but due to the lack of surviving records, we can’t say for sure.

Though we may not know where he lies, we honor the life he gave in service. May he never be forgotten.