​​This column is different than our previous submissions for instead of an Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery decedent’s bio or focusing on its history, we will be addressing the folklore contributed to one of its residents - Eliza Nottingham. She is alleged to have saved “Abe” when he was a little boy after he fell into a creek and almost drowned. However, two others are also purported for the same incident. So here are the facts that we have uncovered…

Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President, was born February 12, 1809 to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks on their Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. His family, including his older sister Sarah, moved to their Knob Creek Farm, also near Hodgenville when Abe was two. They lived there for the next five years before moving to Indiana and it was here that Abe’s near drowning occurred.
As we have different accounts of what happened, we will start with the most popular one attributed to his childhood friend and neighbor Austin Gollaher.  On Rodger J Norton’s website: Abraham Lincoln Research Site he writes, “As a very young lad growing up in Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln often played with a boy in the neighborhood named Austin Gollaher. …Austin lived into his 90s and told how he played with Abraham near his father's carpentry shop, hunted raccoons with him, and had youthful adventures in the nearby woods.”  

Additionally, he mentions that Austin’s story took place in 1816 when Abe was seven quoting Austin, “I once saved Lincoln's life. We had been going to school together one year; but the next year we had no school, because there were so few scholars to attend, there being only about 20 in the school the year before.
Consequently, Abe and I had not much to do; but as we did not go to school and our mothers were strict with us, we did not get to see each other very often. One Sunday morning my mother waked me up early, saying she was going to see Mrs. Lincoln, and that I could go along. Glad of the chance, I was soon dressed and ready to go. After my mother and I got there Abe and I played all through the day.
While we were wandering up and down the little stream called Knob Creek Abe said: 'Right up there' - pointing to the east - 'we saw a covey of partridges yesterday. Let's go over and get some of them.' The stream was swollen and was too wide for us to jump across. Finally, we saw a narrow foot-log, and we concluded to try it. It was narrow, but Abe said, 'Let's coon it.'

I went first and reached the other side all right. Abe went about half-way across, when he got scared and began trembling. I hollered to him, 'Don't look down nor up nor sideways, but look right at me and hold on tight!' But he fell off into the creek, and, as the water was about seven or eight feet deep, and I could not swim, and neither could Abe, I knew it would do no good for me to go in after him.
So, I got a stick - a long water sprout - and held it out to him. He came up, grabbed with both hands, and I put the stick into his hands. He clung to it, and I pulled him out on the bank, almost dead. I got him by the arms and shook him well, and then rolled him on the ground, when the water poured out of his mouth.
He was all right very soon. We promised each other that we would never tell anybody about it, and never did for years. I never told anyone of it until after Lincoln was killed.”
From the Kentucky Historical Society’s website article Lincoln’s Playmate, Warren Greer writes, “So what did happen? Clearly, we cannot know for sure. Lincoln never mentions being rescued by Gollaher, who is himself the only source for this claim. Most scholars are skeptical, noting that Gollaher’s memory seems to have become more precise the older he grew.”

​Next, we examine the dueling accounts of Frank Leslie “Doug” Mitchell’s grandmothers Amanda Elizabeth “Eliza” Nottingham (interred in Martinez’s Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery) and Mary Head “Polly” Berry-Mitchell (interred in Antioch’s Oak View Memorial Park Cemetery).  From our research we discovered that both women came from family’s with deep southern roots.  After marriage, they both relocated to California prior to the Civil War and according to family members became devout vocal supporters of the Confederacy.
​Their main story is that in 1815, Eliza or Polly were accompanying Abe and his sister Sarah to their first day of school and needed to cross the swollen banks of Knob Creek.  After eventually coming upon a log crossing the creek, Sarah and their companion made it to the other side before Abe fell.  From there either Eliza or Polly pulled him from the swirling waters to safety.
From the February 12, 1943, Contra Costa Gazette an unknown author quotes J. P. Woods (Alhambra’s caretaker for 31 years) regarding Eliza, “It’s true alright. She saved Lincoln’s life when he was drowning. She was 10 and he was 6 as I heard it. In later years, she said that if she knew he would live to free the slaves, she’d have left him in the water.”
However, the author stated, “Efforts to verify the incident from members of the Nottingham family at Walnut Creek proved unsuccessful…”. They also found no citations of her rescue, or of her, included in the 1880 file of the Contra Costa Gazette, when she passed away at the age of 75. Nor did they find a reference to it in the April 25, 1865 edition dedicated to President Lincoln’s death.  According to the author the Gazette was the only paper published in this part of the county. They concluded the story unverified, passed down by old timers claiming to have heard it from Eliza’s own lips. ​
​From our own genealogical research, we found no proof that Eliza ever lived in Kentucky but was born March 24, 1805 in Virginia. Then in 1826 or 1828 she meets and marrys her husband in Missouri.  The 1860 Census lists her as illiterate, a widow, living only with her son Commodore and her daughter Louisa in Township 2, Contra Costa County.  The 1870 Census has her living with Commodore’s family in Township 2. The 1880 Census has her living with Louisa’s family in Pacheco, just prior to her death on September 12.

From February 12, 1967, Knave supplement, Oakland Tribune, Untold Tale: Lincoln Rescue Unfolds From Antioch Grave, an unknown author mentions that during their attempts to verify Eliza’s account they instead discovered Polly’s from Doug. When Doug was asked why he hadn’t told Polly’s story before he said, “It was talked about among the family but nobody else ever asked me. I guess nobody believed me.”  Doug also noted that Mrs. Mitchell was better known as “Aunt Polly” by her entire family whom never regarded his grandmother’s tale as an act of heroism but instead as an amusing incident.
​The author cited that Polly was born in Hodgenville, KY in 1801.  Her family and the Lincoln’s were neighbors and friends for many years and because Polly was 14 she was asked to walk Abe 6 and Sarah 8 that fateful day. Her great grandson Victor B. Chapman (Clayton’s Constable) stated, “the family’s genealogy is what stamps the truth on Aunt Polly’s story.”
Doug continued, “I wasn’t even born when she first told her story of the Knob Creek dunking with young Abe. It all came to light during the War between the States, according to my elders including Aunt Polly.  Polly, it seems, was extremely sympathetic to the cause of the Confederacy. The Mitchells were already residents of Contra Costa County living in the Alamo neighborhood at the time. Aunt Polly would go about singing the Jefferson Davis song and cheer the victories of the South.  
Her family’s scolding’s didn’t seem to cool her valor. “They will throw you in Jail if you don’t keep quiet”, her family warned. Aunt Polly responded, “I don’t care if they do. Ol’ Abe will get me out. I pulled him out of the creek once and saved his life. He’ll save me.” But I know she had great admiration for President Lincoln, even though she cheered the Confederacy. It was only natural, she having been so close to the Lincolns down in Kentucky.” 
​The author concluded by stating that Doug recalled his grandmother repeating the story on numerous occasions long after he was old enough to understand and his recollections and memories of her are quite vivid as she was a woman to be reckoned with even unto death. Lastly, the author mentioned that the family has several letters from President Lincoln to Polly that confirms their relationship.

In conclusion, the authors would like to acknowledge other sources were found that help confirm Polly’s story that could not be included in this article due to space limitation. 
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Our column is sponsored and supported by the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA), the Martinez Historical Society (MHS) and the Contra Costa County Genealogical Society (CCCGS). For more information, please visit MCPA’s website MartinezCemetery.org, MHS’s website MartinezHistory.org, or CCCGS’s website CCCGS.net. Do you have a cemetery story or images to share? Please email us at martinezcemetery@gmail.com or call us at (925) 316-6069.

This brings us back to Don Galindo who (along with Don Juan Salvio Pacheco) founded the City of Concord.  He and his family were widely known for their community philanthropy and influence.  It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that he or his family might have donated the land for the water feature, as they no longer needed their plots.
 
Now that we have tackled its possible origins we’re left to answer, what led to its ruination?  For that, we turn to the history of another epidemic “Glanders”.  Glanders (much like Covid-19) attacks the pulmonary system, can be passed via air born transmission and is very deadly if untreated.  Although mostly found in horses, it is known to spread to humans and other animals. Unlike Covid, (a virus) Glanders is a bacterium.
 
In 1908, the California State Veterinarian, Dr. Charles Keane, remarked that communal water troughs were the most dangerous way for Glanders to spread.  He claimed that any type of nasal discharge from infected horses while drinking could infect the entire trough and pass the disease on to other horses.  Once infected, a horse sneeze or snort could cause airborne transmission to other horses, animals and humans. 
 
Making the disease even more dangerous was its 100% mortality rate and an infected horse usually had atypical presentation showing no outward signs of the disease before it suddenly dropped dead.  Since there were no vaccines or cures available, unsuspecting people suffered a horrible death.  Only two things could be done; Horse troughs had to go dry, and horses tested with a biological product called mallein.  If the horse had an allergic response to the mallein test, it was destroyed. (Fortunately, there are a series of antibiotics available today that prevent such a grizzly outcome for both animals and humans.)  
 
In 1909, Dr. Charles Keane made a plea to city and county officials throughout the state to shut down all water troughs knowing that he would get blow back.  Business owners refused to let their troughs go dry, complaining it would ruin their livelihood if people could not water their horses in front of their establishment.  Women horse advocates of Los Angeles and San Diego did not like the idea of standing pipes instead of water troughs.  They felt the teamsters would be too lazy to draw water in their buckets or refill them, leaving their horses thirsty.  By August, Dr. Keane gave up on trying to get Southern California counties to do the right thing. 
 
In the Sacramento Bee on April 20, 1911, Dr. Keane states, "Systemic efforts have been adopted by this department to eradicate Glanders in the state.  During the past year over 800 head of horses and mules, which were affected with this disease, were destroyed. …"  However, by November Glanders was raging in Los Angeles with the loss of over 300 horses within weeks forcing County Veterinarian W. B. Rawland to finally recognize that valuable horse deaths were traced directly to public water troughs.  Therefor the County Board of Supervisors ordered all of them to be abolished.
 
By 1914, eradicating Glanders became a nation-wide movement resulting in the removal or destruction of hundreds if not thousands of water features around the country.  The resulting aftermath sped up the country’s transportation transition from horses to motorized vehicles.  Perhaps this is what happened to ours, although exactly when is unknown. 
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During the epidemic there were some experts who believed that stagnant water allowed the disease to spread, while running water prevented its survival.  There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest they may have been right.  Buffalo kept their 200 fountains of flowing water and had no infections, while Cincinnati removed all of theirs and still had a major outbreak.  Although it no longer exists in N America, there are still numerous cases worldwide with the most recent major outbreak occurring in India.​

One final thought, should you visit the Alhambra Cemetery and pass by the old horse trough, now a flowerbox, give it a loving touch.  You won't catch glanders but now you will know why it might be a planter. 
 
Our Column is sponsored and supported by the Martinez Historical Society (MHS) and the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA). For more information, please visit the MCPA website MartinezCemetery.org or the MHS website MartinezHistory.org. Do you have a cemetery story or images to share? Please email us at martinezcemetery@gmail.com or call us at (925) 316-6069.

​Saturday May 11th marked the restart of our Potter’s Field Restoration Project (PFRP) during the City of Martinez’s Annual Spring Cemetery Cleanup.  Due to the numerous winter storms, there was quite the renaissance of those pesky annoying plants we all call “weeds” and the accumulation of numerous fallen branches.  Although much was accomplished, more still needs to be done and hopefully more cemetery cleanups will be scheduled over the summer.

​Outside of clearing Potter’s Field of debris, work renewed on the restoration of the Chinese Funerary Burner\Altar Complex.  We were fortunate to receive a large donation of brick that morning from our brick expert and uber volunteer Dan Mosier, owner of the California Bricks website.  Meanwhile, we finally completed the cleaning, sorting, and stacking of the burner’s original brick in preparation for its future rebuild.  All our volunteers commented on how much fun they were having while engaged in their Zen-like meditative activities.

As has been previously written, a committee formed during the winter of 2017 was tasked with designing the rebirth of the Burner\Altar Complex utilizing all the original elements within it. Christian Rousset (our project manager) led the committee’s efforts to create a new design, since not enough evidence has been found to restore the structures to their original form.  Once the new design was selected, Christian crafted the blueprints needed for gaining the City of Martinez’s authorization and to build from.  During the process, a drainage system was added to prevent future water damage to the complex and allow for its use by future generations.  ​

​Once the plans were approved, we were ready to break ground last summer.  However, due to unforeseen issues the project was forced to be delayed.  To resume the project a new nonprofit, focused on the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of the cemetery, had to be created.  Hence the formation of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) earlier this year.   Like many other nationwide “Friends of…” cemetery organizations, the MCPA’s main goal is to support an important outdoor historical museum through volunteer coordination, donations, and increased awareness.  This day then marked the debut of the MCPA’s work at the cemetery as the new coordinator of the PFRP.

​MCPA members pitched the information, first aid and volunteer coordination booth to welcome all visitors.  PFRP volunteers signed in prior to entering the cemetery grounds, receiving access to bottled water, and a variety of snacks.  Shortly after, Dan arrived with a smile and the brick he had been storing for the burner.  Most of it was from the Port Costa Brick Company founded in 1905 which matches the original burner’s brick.  With the help of several volunteers, the more than 200 bricks were quickly unloaded, sorted, and stacked neatly.

​Next came the removal of mortar from the remaining recovered brick before they could be integrated into the stacks.  Keith Park and his daughter Aleksandra wasted no time in joining Shauna Mundt, Dan, and Christian in their preparations for the Zen art of brick cleaning.  Their efforts were successful as all the brick is now cleansed.  However, we are expecting another donation of Port Costa brick removed from a building on Pacheco Blvd in the next couple of months that will also need mortar to be removed.  With offsite storage of yet more donated brick, we just may have enough to rebuild the burner!

​The rest of our crew took on the mission of beautifying Potter’s Field by pulling weeds while picking up fallen branches and other debris.  The undertaking was made easier with the use of bright orange buckets generously provided by Sean Dexter of Country Condor Consulting Inc. for their collection.  We had a couple of students (completing their community project needs) join our group of regulars and other new helpers.  One was a descendant of a Potter’s Field resident, who came to honor her ancestor by helping with the cleanup.

​Remaining at the booth, MCPA’s Judie Palmer greeted the curious passersby.  She introduced visitors to the project while handing out tri-fold brochures on the MCPA, the PFRP and a Potter’s Field self-guided tour.  As before, the tour contains a synopsis of the decedents history and their photographs that will lead you to their grave sites where red and white flowers have been placed in reverence during the project’s workdays.
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​Judie was also able to utilize her amateur genealogy experience to help a cyclist who had stopped to ask if we could help him locate his grandfather’s gravesite.  After much discussion, he left excited from the exchange.  He has since been in contact and we are honored that he has chosen to become one of our newest members.

As ever, are heartfelt thanks go to our many participants, who gave so unselfishly a few hours of their time; Cathy Basen, Richard Blue, Shauna Mundt, Chris Rousset, Dan Moser, Jennifer Wiseman, Caroline Lawler, Alejandra Leon, Keith Park, Aleksandra Park, and Michael Steele.  Thanks again to our Corporate Sponsors Dan Moser of the California Bricks website for the brick donation and Sean Dexter of Condor Country Consulting Inc. for the use of his buckets.  Look for updates in our column as work progresses regarding the Chinese Funerary Burner\Altar Complex rebuild.
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​There is something very serene and introspective about working in the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, both as the oldest known cemetery in Contra Costa County and as a wonderful outdoor museum. For one thing, the residents are very quiet. The other reasons include the beautiful views of the Carquinez Straights, the chance sighting of wildlife (including deer), and enjoyment of the unique monuments scattered throughout the grounds. The ability of meeting old friends and making new ones, while engaged in the Zen meditative art of cleaning and clearing the cemetery is of course its own reward.

​Whatever gravesite you wish to adopt for a day, you will be removing the weeds and light brush from the boarders. For those of you into genealogy and history, you might wonder if the decedent could talk with you, what would they say? Where were they from? How did they make a living? What did they potentially witness or influence regarding local, state, or US history?

​Another opportunity for volunteers to experience and explore all of the above is coming again on Saturday, May 11 from 10am – 2pm during the City of Martinez’s Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery Spring Cleanup Day. As usual, the City will provide bottled water, while E Clampus Vitus will furnish all volunteers lunch. Potter’s Field Restoration Project (PFRP) recruits continuing the brick cleanup of the Chinese Funerary Burner, will receive snacks and other goodies from the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA).
​

Speaking of the MCPA, we would like to take a moment to introduce our new nonprofit. As a result of founding the PFRP more than five years ago, we discovered the huge financial, material, and volunteer needs of the cemetery as a whole. We additionally have also been involved in helping others with finding and learning about their ancestors. It became obvious that founding an organization devoted strictly to supporting the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the Alhambra Cemetery would be helpful as municipal resources are limited.

According to ABC News in 2014, genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the US after gardening, with a number of television programs devoted to the subject. Who Do You Think You Are?, Ancestors In The Attic, Finding Your Roots, Long Lost Family and Genealogy Road Show are just some examples. The result of which has been to inspire huge interest in the restoration of old historic cemeteries. This in turn resulted in the creation of numerous nationwide “Friends of…” charities to facilitate their care and upkeep.

Following their lead, we officially founded the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance on February 11, 2019. However, the MCPA’s origins arose out of the PFRP which launched on May 9, 2015 during the Cemetery’s Spring Cleanup. Volunteers cleared broken bottles, trash, fallen branches, weeds, while also deconstructing the funerary burner. The PFRP is now under the auspices of the MCPA.

The MCPA’s mission: “To support the preservation, restoration and significance of an outdoor historical museum, while giving voice to its untold stories and serving as a genealogical resource for their descendants.” Their additional goals are: 1) to raise funds in aid of the preservation and maintenance of the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery and its resources. 2) To support the creation of an Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery Preservation Master Plan with the City of Martinez and the East Bay Regional Park District. 3) To create a partnership alliance with all entities and individuals with an interest in the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery. 4) To advocate for the implementation of the Cemetery Preservation Master Plan on behalf of said alliance in coordination with the City of Martinez and the East Bay Regional Park District. 5) To be ambassadors for community engagement by being an important genealogical resource, while celebrating and raising awareness of Alhambra Cemetery’s residents. To find out more please visit our website MartinezCemetery.org.

Back to the Cemetery Spring Cleanup, all volunteers will need to register and sign a liability waiver before entering the Main or Potter’s Field gates. You will become a dirt magnet. All volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeve shirt, gloves, and sturdy shoes. Gardening tools are permitted. Gas or battery operated equipment is NOT allowed.

To get more volunteer information regarding the overall cemetery cleanup, please contact the Martinez Recreation Office at (925) 372-3510. To volunteer specifically for Potter’s Field contact us either by phone (925) 316-6069, email martinezcemetery@gmail.com, or again visit our website at martinezcemetery.org. For those that love genealogy and history, MCPA will have tri-fold brochures available about some of the decedents in Potter’s Field, and about their organization during the cleanup.
Hope to see you there!

We are Judie and Joseph Palmer, founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Restoration Project (PFRP). Both of us have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. For more info, please visit our website MartinezCemetery.org. Do you have a Potter’s Field story to tell? We welcome any pictures or information regarding the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery or Potter’s Field. Please email us at martinezcemetery@gmail.com or call us at (925) 316-6069.

MARTINEZ, Calif. – A new nonprofit organization has been formed to provide support to the preservation of Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, which is considered the oldest formal burial site in Contra Costa County, Joseph Palmer has announced.

Palmer is president of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) which he said would be seeking donations of both money and materials to help with the historic cemetery’s presentation, as well as recruit volunteers and guidance experts.  The alliance also expects to provide coordination with anyone interested in the cemetery’s care, including public officials, Palmer said.  The organization will give a presentation to Martinez City Council at 7 p.m. today in Martinez City Hall, 525 Henrietta St.

While MCPA may be new, those involved have a longtime connection to the cemetery, Palmer said in his announcement.  “The MCPA’s origins arose from the Potter’s Field Restoration Project (PFRP) efforts to restore the historic Chinese Funerary Burner and overall beautification of Potter’s Field,” he said.  That project began May 9, 2015, curing the city’s annual cemetery spring cleanup. Volunteers had cleared broken bottles, trash, fallen branches and weed, and began deconstruction of the burner, he said.

In the ensuing four years, proponents of the project have learned that restoration of the burner and maintenance of the cemetery as a whole needs plenty of funding and involves significant logistical needs, Palmer said.  That prompted the formation of the alliance, which has inherited the tasks related to the Potter’s Field restoration as well as the mission of coordinating with the city of Martinez’s staff and the Martinez Cemetery Commission, Palmer said.

By Feb. 11, the alliance was formed. By April, it had filed its legal paperwork and became recognized officially by the Internal Revenue Service as “a legitimate 501(c)(3),” or nonprofit organization, Palmer said. The alliance also is included on California’s Registry of Charities, he said.

Its duties will be to raise money to underwrite preservation and maintenance of the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery through memberships and donations of money and materials.  The organization also intends to support the coordinated effort by Martinez and the East Bay Regional Park District in creating an Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery Preservation Master Plan; to create a partnership with individuals and organizations who have an interest in the pioneer cemetery; and to advocate for the cemetery preservation master plan.  The alliance also expects to be “ambassadors for community engagement,” not only in preserving the cemetery but also in the areas of genealogical resource and raising awareness of those who are buried in the Alhambra cemetery.

Palmer said the alliance’s first volunteer outing will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the city’s annual Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery Spring Cleanup Day. Participants will clean away debris and remove weeds from the graves. Lunch will be provided by the E. Clampus Vitus organization.  Volunteers will need to register and sign a liability waiver before entering the main or Potter’s Field gates.  “You will become a dirt magnet,” Palmer said, and urged participants to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, protective eye wear and sturdy shoes. While fuel or battery-powered equipment won’t be allowed, other garden tool use will be permitted.  Those who want to help with the rebuilding of the Chinese Funerary Burner will be able to remove sandbags and clear, clean and sort bricks. 

The MCPA will provide morning refreshments, water, first aid, insect repellent and suntan lotion.  Volunteers may call 925-316-6069, email martinezcemetery@gmail.com or visit the volunteer page, https://www.martinezcemetery.org/volunteer.html.

Those interested in supporting the alliance may visit its website, https://www.martinezcemetery.org/, and the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/martinezcemetery.