Robbed!

Tulocay Cemetery has been robbed again!  It's such a shame. 

Carquinez Cemetery

Even though I could not find a gravestone for Charlene's grandfather, Joseph Martins, I did enjoy my visit out to the cemetery.  My mom-in-law decided to go with me.  I hope she'll go with me on future trips.

That poor old cemetery is in sad shape, but there's still quite a charm to the little place.  It not only is a very old cemetery (the first burials date back to the 1840's), but it feels old as well.  Picture a few green trees and lots of brown overgrown weeds surrounding the tops of barely visible stones.  The cemetery probably looks much as it did in its early years.

Wrought iron is not often found in town anymore.

The McCarty family plot is one of the nicer areas in the 

front of the cemetery.

Originally from Scotland, Thomas Brownlee married Mary Lamont

in New York City before moving to Vallejo circa 1857. 

According to Charlene's description,

Joseph Martins is buried somewhere under these trees.

Thanks for coming out to the cemetery with me, Mom.

Rolling Hills Cemetery

Rolling Hills Cemetery is a very spacious and serene cemetery that sits on top of the hill overlooking Richmond and the San Pablo Bay.  Although it lies next to the highway, it has a very peaceful feel to it.

As I was leaving the cemetery to return home, I noticed a portion of the grounds called "Innocence".  This area contains the final resting place of children who have died.  This post is dedicated to them.

 Karl S. Britt, Jr.

Michael Nelson Holye

 Ashley D. Brawley

Kenyetta E. Ridge

 Justin Seng Phanh

Angelique L. Jackson

 Kyana Delisha Payton

 Tori Shannae Nicks

Sunrise Memorial Cemetery

I was overdue for a post, and since someone actually requested MY help through RAOGK (I only get a handful of requests through them per year), I thought it was a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, er...so to say.  Yeah, I know.  Bad joke!

Most people can't claim to have good memories about a cemetery.  Sunrise Memorial is unique for me in that way.  I lived near the cemetery for a while when I was very young.  I remember being spooked out of my mind by my older brother telling me that zombies from the cemetery were going to get me while I was asleep.  I really believed him too!  And although I know now that he was pulling a fast one, I still tip toe around when I go to that cemetery.

It's been a while since I've been out there, and I was quite stunned to find that like everything else, it too has been hit by the tough economy. It seems that even in death, there no escape from this economic downturn!!

The office was closed due to staffing issues.  Thankfully, a groundskeeper was there today, and the lady that send me her picture request had the exact location of the burial.  The groundskeeper was kind enough to show me the way AND to trim around the stone.  What a nice man!

The request was for the gravestone picture of Dr. Franklin Ernst, Jr.  You can find his obituary here.

"Mastery of the universe is proportional to the

symbols man has by which to represent his universe."

Sunrise is an interesting cemetery.  Long ago, it was outside of town.  Now, it's in the center of town.  It's an old cemetery, but there are a lot of recent burials there as well, such as Dr. Ernst.  The good doctor is actually buried next to a lot of pioneer families including:

John Lee came to the area with his family

and the family of his brother, William.

George and Rachel (nee Marshall) Olinger were early

pioneers who moved to the county in 1854.

Interesting...I may be related to James Fenton Chappell.

I'll have to get back to you on that one! 

Update:   James Fenton Chappell is not a relative of mine.  An one-time mayor of Vallejo, James was the son of former State Senator and Assemblyman James Nathan Chappell (1822-1885) and Arvilla Fenton (1836-1911), early settlers of Shasta county.  James was married to Mae Corbett, daughter of the James and Margaret that is also on the above gravestone.

Benicia City Cemetery

Against my better judgment, I visited Benicia City Cemetery today.  Don't get me wrong- it's a nice little cemetery.  It's just very steep in places, and I'm suffering from a sprained ankle.  We're expecting another storm tomorrow, and I thought it best to beat the rain.  Wet or dry, bring your hiking shoes to this place!

Captain Edward H. Von Phister

Every stone seemed to have a symbol.  Gravestone symbols are not my expertise. 

This one caught my eye because I do know the Freemasons mark.

The Vickers Children

This grave marker made me feel very sad.  

I'll research this family and get back to you on who they were.*

The Goodyear Family

I counted six little headstones in this family plot. 

This family experienced a great loss.

Even stone does not last forever.

*Well, I didn't do too well on the Vickers family. I know that the father, Michael Vickers, died in 1893 and that his wife Annie (nee O'brien) probably died earlier.   I'll have to make a return trip to the cemetery to see if I can uncover any more Vickers buried there.

Tulocay Cemetery

Yesterday my husband and I enjoyed a break in the wet weather and drove to the historical Tulocay Cemetery in the city of Napa.  Founded in 1859, Tulocay was once a rural cemetery, but now sits in the heart of the city.  My first experience with this cemetery was as a kid sitting on the bus looking at all of the stones as I went to school.  My first experience actually visiting this cemetery was when a friend ran away from school and we later found him hiding behind one of the big headstones.  I've never really had the chance to actually take a good look around the cemetery until yesterday.

If you are expecting affluence from Napa, then the cemetery does not disappoint.  Elaborate tombs and grand pedestals stand throughout the meticulously kept grounds.  I thought my husband said it best yesterday:  "These people died better than we live."

I agree that Tulocay contains some of the most beautiful and ornate graves I have ever seen, but it was one rather simple gravestone that caught my eye.

"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

The inscription on this gravestone really touched me.  A father so concerned about his family, offers words of consolation from beyond the grave.

I wanted to learn more about this man, and so when I returned home I did a little hunting.  John Clift Simpkins was born in 1846 in Wiltshire, England, the son of Thomas Simpkins and Martha Clift, and part of the Simpkins family that can trace their roots in Wiltshire for generations.  A farmer by trade, J. C. Simpkins married Miss Eva Burnell in 1871.  The couple had a total of seven children; some of their descendants can still be found here in Northern California.

Not Forgotten

I'm ashamed of the amount of time I let lapse between posts.  I'm dedicated to this blog and so I should act like it!

A quick post to start me back on track:  Speaking of not forgotten, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite gravestone markers.  Yes, there are some markers out there that will actually put a smile on your face.   I like to believe though that these people faced their last hours bravely and perhaps with a bit of lighthearted humor:

Please honor Mr. Moore at Find A Grave.