ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MARTINEZ NEWS-GAZETTE ON July 28, 2019Our column this week is different, however fear not, new biographies are in the works. The huge interest in genealogy has inspired nationwide cemetery restoration to become a large growing movement. Today as we have chosen to focus on conversations with three remarkable individuals. They are the founders and organizers of their respective community restoration projects.  Teresa Merkle at a ribbon cutting on cemetery grounds Our first conversation was with Teresa Merkle, Cemetery Commission Chair for the City of Medina, Ohio since 1995. Medina owns both the Spring Grove Cemetery (Est. 1883) and the Old Town Graveyard (Est. 1818). She’s also the founder and President of Friends of the Cemetery (Est. 1997), a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of both. For Teresa, cemetery restoration is deeply personal as her baby daughter Megan and her infant granddaughter are buried in Spring Grove. Over time, she became concerned about its lack of care and deterioration. Teresa: “I went directly to the mayor with my complaints. He told me the City’s Cemetery Commission had been defunct for many years and asked me to become the chairperson and revive the Commission. That was 24 years ago...”.  Friends of Medina Cemetery.com “In 1997, I co-founded our non-profit Friends group after lobbying to have a Master Plan done for our cemetery. One of the Master Plan’s recommendations was to form a not-for-profit advocacy group which we did.” Once the plan was approved, future projects were made easier as issues raised by city officials, or the public were addressed throughout the process.  Friends of Medina Cemetery.com Asked about the importance of the cemetery she stated, “Our cemetery is a crown jewel of our city. It was established in the 1880’s following the pattern of the “rural cemetery movement” or “garden cemetery” which became popular after the Civil War.  Friends of Medina Cemetery.com It was designed to be a park not only for burying the dead, but for relaxation and repose for the living. Our 34-acre cemetery has winding drives, lakes, open meadows, hundreds of trees and plants, and several historic structures.  Friends of Medina Cemetery.com It is important to me that my fellow citizens realize what a treasure it is, not only because of its historic significance, but also for the other amenities it offers, including exercise (walking, jogging, biking), nature (bird and animal watching), diverse trees and plants, peacefulness and so much more.” Additionally, besides weekly cemetery burials, “We also hold special events a few times a year…” she added.  Friends of Medina Cemetery.com Lastly, she stated, “Our cemetery is the final resting place for our city’s founders and others who have made our city the wonderful place it is today. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places” and “…is the largest park and green space in the heart of our ever-growing city.” Her nonprofit has over 200 engaged members, focused on maintaining this vital resource for generations to come.  Jeremy Dwight Nichols Our next conversation was with Jeremy Dwight Nichols, a retired Silicon Valley manufacturing engineer with a physics degree and author of “Cemeteries of Sonoma County, California: A History and Guide” (2001), and “Potter’s Field” (2009). He’s also the former president of the Sonoma County Historical Society, a self-described Cemeterian, and responsible for the rediscovery and restoration of the Chanate Historic Cemetery (Est. 1874 - 1944).  Courtesy Jeremy Dwight Nichols For Jeremy, answering why a relative was buried in Healdsburg’s Oak Mound Cemetery piqued his curiosity. As he found answers, he thought about other genealogists, historians, and researchers. This led to the writing of his first book focused on the history of all Sonoma County cemeteries and the discovery of a number being rundown. Their condition bothered him.  Courtesy Jeremy Dwight Nichols 2007 Jeremy: “One cemetery that especially stuck in my craw was the Old County Cemetery on Chanate Road. What an unfriendly act, I thought. Bad enough that these unfortunates had to be buried here, but then to have the cemetery all but abandoned! For me, each cemetery is like a history book and each person buried there has a chapter, however brief. I find it fascinating that all of these people have stories, and some are actually very interesting stories – places they’ve lived in, places they have visited, done business with, or what have you.”  To the county’s credit, in 1987 the area had been designated to become a parking lot. Staff discovered the abandoned Potter’s Field and chose to save it. However, after initially clearing the site they lacked funding to do more, abandoning it again. From his book “Potter’s Field” Jeremy describes it as, “… a place of burial for those who had no family, friends, or money to provide for themselves. “Pauper” cemeteries like this one also served as one of the few places where disadvantaged groups could bury their dead…” When Jeremy returned in 2003, he found it again overgrown with weeds, poison ivy, and a few “soup can” grave markers, but nothing else.  Courtesy Jeremy Dwight Nichols Jeremy: “I thought about the county cemetery more and more and finally decided to see if something couldn’t be done.” That August he met with county staff and the question was asked, “What can we do with volunteers and donations?” Jeremy: “In response, I offered to look for donations, Parks offered to have some United Way "Day of Caring" volunteers begin a clean-up the very next month, and the Architect's office made their historical files available to me for research.” Jeremy approached the Sonoma County Historical Society about facilitating donations. Not only did they say yes but (much to his surprise) they immediately drafted him to the board, and later elected him President.  Courtesy Public Domain Jeremy: “Community response was excellent. Contributions in time, materials, and cash have exceeded $50,000 over the years. The significance is that the county government really did care about those it buried: you can see it in the meticulously-detailed specifications listed in the published request for bids to bury the "indigent dead." You can see it in the response from those descendants I was able to locate. You can see it in the two separate ceremonies sponsored by the county, one for the cemetery itself and one for the monument with all the names.” During the restoration it was renamed the Chanate Historic Cemetery and has become an important cultural resource invoking immense community pride.  Janet Ramirez Our last conversation was with Janet Ramirez, social worker and force behind the County Home Cemetery restoration (Est. 18??) in Fremont, Ohio (formally Sandusky County Cemetery). Like many, this Potter’s Field was linked to a poor house named the “County Home”. Unlike our other two interviewees, her project only began two years ago. Janet: “The first time I noticed a grave needing a tombstone was when I was 10 years old. I often went with my mother to water flowers on her mother’s grave. I would walk among the tombstones and found a lone bronze stake with just a name and the dates of the person’s birth and death. That made me extremely sad for the person buried there. I was concerned the grave marker could be moved or taken by vandals. I told myself then I would get her a real tombstone  Courtesy Janet Ramirez when I became an adult and could pay for it. Even now, my 91-year-old mother remembers the name of the woman buried there since I’ve talked about her for the past 50+ years! Sometime in the last 10 years or so, a tombstone appeared, and it had the deceased's name on it, and then said, "By Daughter." I don't know who the daughter was, but it makes me so happy to see that someone had gotten a tombstone for Augusta Nellie Smith after decades without one! Since I no longer needed to get a stone for her, I apparently had to find a bigger project. LOL.”  Courtesy Janet Ramirez Unlike Teresa or Jeremy, there is not yet any nonprofit involvement. Janet: “The cemetery is owned by the county and I'm in touch with our Commissioners office and other county staff. We have been given permission to try to improve the appearance of the cemetery. I'm happy to do this and hope that I can be more active with it when I retire in a few years.”  Courtesy Janet Ramirez “As far as the community is involved, there is very little knowledge about the cemetery and how many people are buried there. Some residents think it's not an important project because, as I was once asked, "You know that is for the indigent, don't you?" Even a local historian who wrote a book about our County did not include the County Home Cemetery in her writings. In fact, she thought there were only one or two people buried in the cemetery when in fact there are several hundred at a minimum that we know of."  Courtesy Janet Ramirez "…Unfortunately, there are no records for burials prior to 1881. One exciting find was a possible Civil War soldier buried in the cemetery, …My hope is to make people more aware the cemetery does exist and deserves all the respect of any other cemetery.” Luckily, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library nearby has become an excellent records source. " Janet added, “…I've been in touch with a few of the siblings whose parents are buried at our County Home Cemetery. The siblings were young teenagers at the time of their parents' untimely deaths (at different times) and they had no financial means for burying their parents. These siblings continue to visit the cemetery regularly and are actively involved in volunteering and supporting our group goals for the cemetery. They are definitely one of the reasons I want to do this.” Her cemetery group Facebook page currently has 400 members. Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Restoration Project. The MCPA is always looking for any information or photographic evidence regarding the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, Potter’s Field, or its residents as well as monetary or material donations to finish this and other future projects. If you have anything to share, would like to donate, become a member, or volunteer, please visit their website martinezcemetery.org, email them at [email protected] or call them at (925) 316-6069
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MARTINEZ NEWS-GAZETTE ON MAY 22, 2019 Velda Dunn-Acker (18) 1932 -Courtesy Acker Family Velda Lillian Dunn-Acker, 20, gave birth to her only son Donald Jay Acker, February 27, 1934 in Los Angeles but died during the delivery. Her siblings retrieved her body for burial in Martinez and broke off all contact with her husband and son. This past July, we received an email from Todd Acker on behalf of his father Donald (now 84), wanting help in locating her gravesite and any information about her and her family. All he had to go on was a yellowed copy of her obituary (which incorrectly states her first and last names) from an unknown newspaper that read,  From Unknown Newspaper Published 1934 “Last Rites will be held here Sunday for Mrs. Velma Dunn Ackers, 20, of Los Angeles, former resident, who died in the Southern city earlier this week. The body will arrive today and the remains will be at the Scott & Greene parlors. Rev. Harvey Miller will officiate at the services which will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Curry Chapel and interment will be in Alhambra Cemetery. Deceased was the wife of Jack Ackers of Los Angeles, and the sister of Mrs. Natalene Bennett of Monterey, Ray Dunn and Earl Dunn of Martinez, George Dunn of Concord, and Walter Dunn of San Francisco.” We began our research with the 1900 census listing Velda’s mother Sarah Dunn, 26 (a daughter of immigrants) as a recently hired cook for the McCauley family in Placer, California. Living with her are sons Harry, 4 born in California, and Raymond, 2 born in the Arizona Territory. Velda’s father Henry T. Dunn, 35 is living separately as a border in Placer, while working as a miner Foreman. The Dunn’s have been married 6 years.  Donovan Mill Cyanide Tanks. Photo: Asa Gilmore - Courtesy Nevada Magazine From the 1910 Census, we found the family living in Virginia City, Nevada in a rented house with 10 farm animals. Henry T. 44, is working as a Foreman for the Cyanide Works, while Sadie L. 37, looks after her 5 children: Harry 14, born in California, Raymond 12, and George 9, born in Arizona, Natalene 4, and Walter 2, born in Nevada.  Placer Mine near Columbia, California CA 1870 - Courtesy Public Domain As a side note, we located a number of voter registrations for Henry living in California while working as a minor. First during 1886 -1888 he’s in Columbia, Tuolumne County, then 1892 Cargo Muchacho, San Diego County, and finally Havilah, Kern County in 1896. The last two list him as 6’1”, brown hair and eyes, fair complexation with a scar on his left thumb.  Date Unknown - Courtesy courthousehistory.com Next, we discovered Velda was born with her twin brother William “Billie” Earl on December 11, 1913 to Henry Thomas and Sarah Louise “Sadie” Dunn in Martinez. City Directories from 1914 – 1918 confirms their living throughout Martinez. 1914 - 402 Richardson, Harry works for PG&E and “Ray” is a machinist. 1915 - Castro near Mellus, Ray joins Harry at PG&E. 1916 & 1918 - 608 Mellus, Ray returns to being a machinist while Harry remains at PG&E.  Henry and Sadie Dunn Alhambra Cemetery 1934 - Courtesy Acker Family Unfortunately, the 1918 Influenza Pandemic strikes the Dunn family killing their father Henry on December 15 and their mother Sadie on December 24, 1918. There’s a good chance that Henry’s mining work for over 30 years contributed to his illness. The Pandemic becomes the second deadliest disease outbreak in human history, killing an estimated 3% – 5% of the world’s population. With their parents’ sudden deaths, the younger siblings were split up to be raised by their older brothers and extended family.  The 1920 Census shows: Velda’s twin Billie Earl 6, living with Harry 24, (still at PG&E) his wife Ada 17, and Ada’s sister, Sulie Thompson 20, (ship yard riveter) on Smith St, Martinez; Velda 6, living with her maternal grandmother, Louisa Mersich 74, aunt Della Hamblin 33, and cousin Arthur Hamblin 12, on Berrellesa St; and finally Natalene 14, living with Ray 21, (back at PG&E) with wife Maybelle Evelyn Eckberg 20, at the Rose Apartments on Ward and Green St, Martinez. George 19, (PG&E driver) married Maybelle’s sister Mildred Viola Eckberg 16, on December 6, 1919, and is shown living in the same Rose Apartments.  Donald J. Acker - Courtesy Acker Family During our correspondence, Todd reported that his father Donald found a box of his mother’s items which included photographs (more on that later) and books of stories she had written. Todd stated that two of the stories he read had a similar theme of families torn apart by tragedy and struggling to get back together. He shared with us her short story written in 1928 called, “A Little Lonely Lad”. It reveals unexpressed emotions concerning her parents passing and the family transitions that followed.  Todd Acker - Courtesy Acker Family The 1921-1923 Martinez City Directories shows the brothers still working for PG&E and keeping their families close despite several moves. 1921: Ray’s family - 1101 Smith St, George’s - 1023 Smith St, Harry’s - 1001 Smith St, while Natelene is now living with Lousia and Velda at 402 Berrellesa St and a clerk for D. Stathakis. 1922: Ray’s - 1015 Smith St, Harry’s - 1005 Smith St, and George’s - 514 Thompson St. 1923: Ray and George’s families don’t move but Harry’s does to 602 Berrellesa. However, the 1925 City Directory shows Harry’s family living at 2502 Humboldt, Oakland while still working for PG&E.  Velda Dunn (16) 1930 - Courtesy Acker Family By the 1930 census, the family is now scattered. Harry 33, wife Ada 27, daughter Betty 9, and son Harry Jr. 5, live at E. 33rd St, Oakland. Raymond 32, wife Evelyn 30, their son Raymond Jr. 9, and his brother, Billie Earl 16, live at 1013 Highland Ave, Martinez. George 29, wife Mildred 27, daughter Miriam 10, and son George 1, live at 1025 Green St, Martinez. Natalene 24, husband Frank D. Bennett 26, daughter Jane 7, are living on Monroe St, Monterey. Walter 22, is a US Army private stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Finally, Velda 16, (a soda fountain counter girl) grandmother Louisa Mersich 85, (a tire factory inspector) are living with her aunt Della Hamblin 43, on W Queen St, Inglewood with a border. Velda 18, marries John Thomas Acker 31, on March 5, 1932 in the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana. The following year her grandmother, Louisa dies on June 1, 1933 in Los Angeles. Nine months later, she passes herself on February 27, 1934.
Although we located her parent’s gravesite in the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, we could not find a listing or marker for Velda. Referencing the earlier mentioned photos, one seems to be of Velda’s gravesite taken in 1934. However, after finding the depicted location we discovered a few missing headstones leaving her grave unmarked. Which brings us back to Donald and Todd’s original question, where is Velda Dunn-Acker? If anyone has any information on her exact resting place, her marker, or the Dunn family, please contact us as the Acker’s would be extremally grateful for your help. Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Restoration Project. Both have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. The MCPA is always looking for any information or photographic evidence regarding the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, Potter’s Field, or its residents as well as monetary or material donations to finish this and other future projects. If you have anything to share, would like to donate, become a member, or volunteer, please visit their website martinezcemetery.org, email them at [email protected] or call them at (925) 316-6069.  Alhambra Cemetery 2019 - Courtesy MCPA ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MARTINEZ NEWS-GAZETTE ON MAY 22, 2019 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.  Dan Mosier Cleaning Brick 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.  Preliminary Sketch - Christian Rousset 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.  From L to R Harland Strickland, Joseph Palmer, Judie Palmer, Shauna Mundt 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.  From L to R Dan Mosier, Christian Rousset, Shauna Mundt 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!  From L to R Aleksandra Park, Keith Park, Dan Mosier, Christian Rousset, Shauna Mundt 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.  Judie Palmer - MCPA Booth 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. 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. Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Restoration Project. Both have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. The MCPA is always looking for any information or photographic evidence regarding the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, Potter’s Field, or its residents as well as monetary or material donations to finish this and other future projects. If you have anything to share, would like to donate, become a member, or volunteer, please visit their website martinezcemetery.org, email them at [email protected] or call them at (925) 316-6069
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MARTINEZ NEWS-GAZETTE ON May 5, 2019There 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 [email protected], 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 [email protected] or call us at (925) 316-6069. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MARTINEZ NEWS-GAZETTE ON MAy 1, 2019, written by Donna Beth Weilenman and republished here with permission of both parties above.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 [email protected] 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. Originally published in the Martinez News-Gazette on March 17, 2019From our last column, we discovered Aaron had siblings. Although his sister Judy Schlesher (58) was never found, (nor could we find any record of her) his older brother William (62) and family, were located living in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. We additionally found them enumerated in the 1880 Census living in the same location but unfortunately have find no other records. How did William’s family end up in Texas separated from Aaron’s?  1874 Collins County Court House, McKinney, TX - Courtesy courthousehistory.com As reported earlier, William (the slave-owner) moved to California in 1859 to avoid prosecution for his involvement in the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict with the additional intent of continuing Aaron’s family enslavement. His siblings probably moved to Texas for the same reasons. Zibbah Rice and her family lived in Grayson County in 1858, while Elihu Coffee Rice, a cattle rancher, moved with his family to Texas in 1861. When General Order No. 11 in 1863 ordered southern sympathizers to evacuate their lands, Elihu stayed until 1866. With Aaron’s niece Lucy born 1864 in Texas, it corroborates either could have been responsible for his brother’s family relocation.  1880 Vallejo, CA & Navy Yard [Photograph by James G. Smith.] - Courtesy UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library When we last left Aaron, he had sold the family farm to Manual Lucas for the necessary monies to file Dilcy’s probate and moved in with his son Nathaniel and new wife Annie residing on Napa’s Main St. From their 1880 and 1881 voter registrations, Aaron continues farming while Nathaniel finds work first as a teamster, then a peddler. Nathaniel and Annie then follow her family to Vallejo where he finds work as a laborer according to his March 16, 1882 registration.  1879 Napa County Courthouse, Napa CA - Courtesy Public Domain According to deeds of sale recorded by the Napa County Recorder’s Office, Nathaniel acquired two parcels (160 acres and 80 acres) of state school land located around Yountville. The State of California’s land office sold property specifically set aside for new schools. Presumably, Nathaniel’s intent was to build an African-American grade school, while serving as its headmaster and one of its school teachers as well. He sold the 80-acre parcel on January 16, 1886, for $5 ($140 today) to a James E. Francis and George Cuthbert. Hoping to accomplish his dream, he held on to the 160-acre parcel for almost two years before finally giving up and selling it to the same buyers for another $5 on October 22, 1887.  1876 Napa County Map - Courtesy Public Domain Meantime, Aaron (66) moves to Walnut Creek according to his September 15, 1886 voter registration. He continues farming while living on Louisa Rice’s (William’s widow) ranch. With William’s death from heart failure the year before (November 4, 1885), and the promise of payment for his services, Aaron was willing to work again for his previous slave owner’s family. Since Judy was never found, the Napa County Tax Collector seizes her portion of Dilcy’s land for delinquent tax owed to the county. The property is sold at auction on May 1, 1888 for $3 ($85 today) to the same Manual Lucas who previously purchased the rest of the Rice family farm. Nathaniel’s (42) May 31, 1888 voter registration records his and Annie’s return to E Napa as a farmer. Soon after Annie (39) dies on January 11, 1890 from paralysis (stroke), while living in Oakland. Nathaniel finds work there as an expressman after her death. The 1891 Oakland City Directory lists him at 708 4th St, while his September 27, 1892 voter registration records his move to 664 4th Street. Meanwhile, Aaron continues to live and farm on Louisa’s ranch according to his October 19, 1892 voter registration.  May 9, 1893 Church Deed - Courtesy The Palmers By 1893, the Napa AME Church officially closes. Aaron, Nathaniel, and an A. C. Jones as its surviving trustees\founders sell its property on May 9, for $700 ($19,751 today) to H.H. Briggs. With the last connection to their home gone, Nathaniel continues his wanderlust, finding odd jobs along the way. From his April 8, 1885 voter registration Nathaniel (48) is listed as a minister residing in Hollister, San Benito County. Aaron (75) on the other hand, stays on the Rice Ranch and is now a laborer instead of a farmer, as recorded by his July 8, 1886 voter registration. From the June 1900 Census, Nathaniel (53) is back in Napa lodging with the Canners while working as a day laborer and Aaron (80) is reduced to working as a servant for Louisa (78), who has become quite frail. This Census is our first official record that Aaron is literate despite his physical ailment preventing him from signing.  Louisa's Walnut Creek Home Circa 1917 - Courtesy Images of America Walnut Creek On February 6, 1904, Louisa (82) passes at home from unknown causes. Not long after Aaron (86), frail and weak, is left anonymously at the Martinez County Hospital, on July 23, 1905. Eight days later, he dies from “old age” on July 31 and finally laid to rest in the County Cemetery’s (now Alhambra Cemetery) Potter’s Field on August 4, as recorded by his official death certificate.  Circa early 1900's  Portland City Directory 1906 - Courtesy Public Domain Since Nathaniel is not listed as Aaron’s informant, chances are great that he received late notification and missed his father’s burial while living in Portland, Oregon. According to city directories, he is recorded working as a laborer living at 175 E Water Ave in 1905, as a teamster living at 1420 Madrona St in 1906, and finally the same living at 423½ Davis St in 1907. Also from city directories, he then returns to California working as a laborer first living at 1523 C St, Fresno in 1908, then living at 740 Charles St, Santa Rosa in 1909. Next he returns to Oakland as a laborer while living at 805 Harrison St according to his 1910 voter registration and fudges his age listing himself as (54) instead of (64). Two years later he’s an expressman living at 508 Jefferson St, Oakland conferred by his 1912 registration. Nathaniel’s final record was his death certificate from Seattle, King County, Washington. Wanting absolute proof, we ordered a copy that arrived recently. It records his admittance to the local hospital on May 1, 1917 before dying on July 19, from cirrhosis of the liver and dropsy (edema) at the age of 71. Additionally, it listed him living as a border while working as a peddler in Seattle prior to his death. He is buried July 21, in Seattle’s Lakeview Pioneer Cemetery.  Aaron Rice Repaired Headstone 2019, Courtesy The Palmers We started this journey after discovering Aaron’s broken headstone and wanting to know who he was. According to its inscription, he died on July 31, 1906, age 87 with “The Faithful” noted under his name. Why the discrepancy between his headstone and death certificate? Perhaps significant time lapsed from Aaron’s death to his headstone’s arrival. Which brings us back to our original questions. Who paid for his headstone? What does “The Faithful” mean? While we may never know definitively, we suspect a member of Louisa’s family, as slave owners commonly used the phrase in reference to former slaves who remained in their family’s employment. With that, we hope you have enjoyed Aaron Rice and his family’s story as much as we have in its discovery. It’s bittersweet to bring it to its conclusion as they have become family to us. However, as new information comes to light, we will publish updates accordingly. Till then, we have many more stories to share… Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Project. Both 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 its Potter’s Field. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at (925) 316-6069.
Originally published in the Martinez News-Gazette on 02/17/2019. Birds Eye View of Napa City\AME Church 1871, Courtesy the Palmers  1872 Marriage Certificate Rebbeca, Courtesy the Palmers When we last left Aaron and his family, they were living blissfully. They had become in a relative short period: property owners, industrious entrepreneurs, founders of Napa’s AME Church, ardent voters and proud US citizens. As proof of their accomplishments an announcement published in the Napa County Recorder on March 18, 1871, mentions Rev. Robert Rice (Aaron’s father) gave two sermons a day as AME’s acting minister while Nathaniel (Aaron’s son) was the Sunday school’s superintendent. On November 14, 1872, the family grew when Nathaniel married Rebecca Danzel at the Napa Courthouse. They became the 311th couple registered in Napa County when the Baptist minister on hand, Rev. G. W. Ford, joined them in matrimony. The County Clerk acted as their witness as no family members were present.  Elevator - November 1, 1873, Courtesy Public Domain The Elevator publishes their Napa report on November 1, 1873, “…There are six churches in Napa, viz., Episcopalian, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Campbellite, and Zion A. M. E. Church. There is no “stated preaching” in the latter, as they have no preacher. Mr. Rice occasionally officiates, but he resides on his farm in another part of the county, and cannot attend regularly. The colored population of Napa is between eighty and ninety, and they pole thirty-seven votes, all Republican. This is a fair proportion; above the general average. They have a colored school, numbering fifteen scholars. There is no colored Sunday School here ….” What caused these major changes to occur in the last two years? The local Episcopal Church had recently integrated their Sunday School which could explain what happened to Nathaniel’s school. By September 25, 1874, Rev. Robert Rice completes the terms of his Homestead 1862 application, giving the family free and clear ownership of their farm. However, he dies soon after on March 20, 1875 from dropsy (edema) age 75. Failing health would have explained his officiating decline. Four days later, Dilcy his wife is awarded his estate worth $164.16 ($3,800 today) after expenses of a $100 bond, court costs and unknown attorney fees. On November 1, Rebecca age 21 dies childless of consumption (tuberculosis). From Tulocay Cemetery’s records, she’s listed as “Copper” (Asian descent). With her Danzel surname, perhaps she had a white parent. “Mixing races” is extremely frowned upon in White Supremacist culture, dominant in California at the time, (this could explain the lack of family attendance at their wedding.)  Tulocay Cemetery's Potter's Field - Napa, March 5, 2018, Courtesy the Palmers Two and half months later, Dilcy age 84 dies of “old age” on February 16, 1876, followed by Charlotte (Aaron’s wife) age 64 on March 3, from Typhoid Fever. Since Typhoid is a very contagious disease, it’s most likely Dilcy’s cause of death too. In less than a year, Nathaniel and Aaron became their family’s sole survivors.  1877 Marriage Certificate Annie E., Courtesy the Palmers Choosing to not remain a widower long, Nathaniel 31 marries Annie Elizabeth Dyer 27, Edward Hatton’s stepdaughter on October 31, 1877, with the prominent Rev. Richard Wylie, pastor of the Napa Presbyterian Church officiating. This time both families were present and their wedding was witnessed by her stepbrother Joseph Hatton and Fred Sparrow (the first African-American registered to vote in Napa), giving further proof of the friendship between the two families and high esteem the Rice’s were held in. (Interesting side note, their marriage certificate states, “neither party married before.”) Despite their tragic losses, Aaron, Nathaniel, and now Annie managed to keep the farm going. Unfortunately, in order to avoid any penalties, he had to register Dilcy’s probate to resolve her 1\3 ownership portion of the farm before the four-year grace period elapsed. (None is required for Charlotte’s estate because she is not listed on the deed.) Aaron sells his 2/3 interest to Manual Lucas on January 17, 1880 for $500 ($12,500 today) and files the paperwork. Mr. Lucas was a large property owner in Napa County and possibly allowed Aaron to continue working the land as his employee. Nathaniel 33, on the other hand, begins taking odd jobs. His May 3rd voter registration lists him as a teamster along with the US Census taken June 17. Aaron 59 is recorded as a laborer living with Nathaniel as head of household and his wife Annie 28 keeping house. From Nathaniel’s September 14 voter registration, he is now a peddler while Aaron’s October 4th, reveals he’s still a farmer.  Aaron Rice's Signature, February 2, 1880, Courtesy Public Domain Unlike Robert’s estate, Dilcy’s takes eight months to resolve. Over the course of the proceedings, Aaron learns to write as illustrated by his signature’s dramatic improvement. (Although he is still recorded as illiterate by the June Census.) Her probate cost $123.10 ($3,300 today) not including attorney fees with her estate’s estimated worth set at $170 ($4,500 today).  Aaron Rice's Signature, August 4, 1880, Courtesy Public Domain  June 4. 1880 US Census, McKinney, Collin County TX, Courtesy Public Domain On August 17, the final distribution hearing is held revealing the surprising discovery that Aaron had siblings, William Rice 62 and Judy Schlesher 58 - whereabouts unknown. The judge orders each to receive a third of Dilcy’s property once they are located, prompting an immediate hunt to find them. It would take almost three years before William is located in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. He promptly sells his portion to Mr. Lucas for $50 ($1,250 today) on July 14, 1883, with his signature notarized in Collin County, Texas. Unfortunately, Judy was never found causing her portion to be seized by the sheriff for back taxes. It was sold at auction to Mr. Lucas on May 1, 1888. With the discovery of Aaron’s siblings, we wanted to know more. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any record of his sister Judy but were luckily enough to find William and his family recorded by the US Census on June 4, 1880, living in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. It lists William 61 laborer head of household, living with his wife Julia 56 born in Tennessee, oldest daughter Julia 19 born Missouri, married to William Frazier 40 laborer born as Indian Nation Native, and youngest daughter Lucy 16, born in Texas. Most of his family is illiterate, outside of Lucy being able to read and his son in law. Look for the Final Chapter next… Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Project. Both have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. For more info, please visit our website MartinezCemetery.org. To learn more regarding our sources and detail about Aaron’s life, type Aaron Rice in the Search Bar. Do you have a Potter’s Field story to tell? We welcome any pictures or information regarding the Alhambra Cemetery’s Potter’s Field. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at (925) 316-6069.
Originally published in the Martinez News-Gazette on 02/17/2019. Holiday Food - Courtesy, The Parent Report Picking up Aaron’s story from where we left off, William Rice still had custody of Nathaniel while the rest of his family was free. They finally get to celebrate the holidays without following someone else’s rules. This included their first ever Thanksgiving as it was not recognized in the South while Christmas was actually illegal in the North and wasn’t a federal holiday until 1870. When William Russell sells his Napa property to Robert and Charlotte for $100 ($3,000 today) on September 19, 1860, it established the family’s livelihood for years to come. For the Rice family to keep the land, under the Preemption Act of 1841, they had to cultivate crops or build a home. The 1853 U.S. California Survey Act allowed only improved property to be sold or purchased with few exceptions, which makes the Rice family’s acquisition even more impressive.  1890 Photo of Original Todd Flag, Courtesy Public Domain With the Civil War fast approaching, they become both observers and participants of one of the most consequential periods of California and US History. President Lincoln’s election on November 6, creates great tension within the state and anxiety for African-Americans. Approximately twenty percent were Southern sympathizers, with large numbers in Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Clara and Tulare Counties along with the majority of Southern Californians, who supported and attempted secession. On April 12, 1861, the Civil War officially begins and by September 4, California elects its first Republican Governor, Leland Stanford. The state goes on to bankroll the Union’s cause while remaining unified.  Courtesy Public Domain The Great Flood of 1862 brings about enormous destruction and loss of life in California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho and more. Despite certain damage to their family farm, they survive and continue to be prosperous. However, that April Louis (their youngest son who was only 11 years and 8 months old) dies of consumption (TB). On September 22, the Emancipation Proclamation is issued, declaring an end to slavery, if the Confederacy doesn’t surrender by January 1, 1863.  "The Spirit of Freedom" - Washington D.C. On May 22, 1863, the War Department issues General Order No. 143 establishing the “U.S. Colored Troops.” Then in short order: April 9, 1865, Robert E Lee surrenders; April 15, President Lincoln’s assassination; May 9, Civil War ends and finally June 19, slavery officially ends. Today, forty-five states celebrate “Juneteenth” or “Freedom Day” as a holiday yet it’s not recognized nationally. During this turbulent time, African-Americans sought safe places to fulfill their social, spiritual, educational and political needs. For most of the Napa African-American community, membership in the integrated Methodist Episcopal Church (ME) was one. Yet despite the anti-slavery congregation, cultural differences made it difficult for them to discuss politics and education. Edward Hatton’s Napa barbershop was another. He and his son Joseph were agents for both San Francisco African-American newspapers the Pacific Appeal founded 1862 and The Elevator founded 1865, vital components of their budding society.  Birds Eye View of Napa City 188? - Courtesy Bancroft Library UC Berkeley In April 1867, the newly formed African-American Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Napa purchases the old ME’s building with Aaron, Nathaniel, and five others as trustees. On October 2, they acquire property to house it. (Our first proof that Nathaniel reunited with his family.) Aaron’s father Robert, without any formal training, often officiated while Nathaniel ran the Sunday school. Since public schools didn’t exist until late 1870’s, the AME Church became Napa’s only African-American school.  The Elevator November 26, 1869, Courtesy Public Domain After three years of struggle, the 14th Amendment granting citizenship to African-Americans is ratified on July 9, 1868. However, without voter protections, full citizenship remained elusive. Thus on February 26, 1869, the 15th Amendment is drafted, securing voting rights for all citizens. To pressure the California Legislature for ratification, both The Elevator and Pacific Appeal sponsored preregistration efforts of African-Americans. The November 26, 1869, issue of The Elevator, publishes Joseph Hatton’s list of prospective voters naming Aaron, Nathaniel, his father Rev. Robert Rice, and 35 others. By February 3, 1870, the Amendment is ratified causing widespread celebration. (However, it takes the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s for California to finally ratify the 14th Amendment in 1959 and the 15th Amendment in 1962.) Aaron registers for the first time on April 16, 1870 along with Robert and Nathaniel. Until their deaths, they never missed an opportunity to vote.  1870 US Census, Courtesy Public Domain The 1870 Census depicts the Rice family living together in their newly built farmhouse with Robert 70 as head of household, Dilcy 74, Aaron 49, Charlotte 58, Nathaniel 24 with Robert owning the property valued at $1,000 ($20,000 today) and a personal of $600 ($12,000 today), while Nathaniel’s personal estate is $200 ($4,000 today). However, Aaron has no wealth recorded despite purchasing two thirds of the property from Robert for $1 in 1869. Additionally, Robert, Dilcy and Aaron’s recorded origin of birth is N Carolina, Charlotte’s Virginia, Nathaniel’s Missouri, and Robert’s parents as foreign-born (Africa). It also recorded Aaron and Charlotte as illiterate, Robert and Dilcy as readers only, and Nathaniel as literate.  1869 Napa Map, Courtesy Public Domain From the historical record, we can imagine a day in the life of Aaron’s Family. Aaron and Nathaniel did most of the wheat harvesting and preparation of its milling. On a good day, they would haul the grain by wagon, traveling the dirt roads back into town to leave it with the W. R. Cooper’s Flour Mill. They would continue on to Main Street probably stopping at J. B. Murphy’s Candy Factory and Bakery to satisfy their sweet tooth or checking on Charlotte or Dilcy’s baked goods before visiting friends, the Hatton’s at their barbershop. If they needed horse equipment or repairs, next door was Beebe & Hall. Along their journey, they might have observed the Amelia a 174-foot steamboat or the Napa Valley Railroad transporting passengers and goods to and from Napa. After enough time passed, they would return to the mill for their flour to sell it or keep it for Charlotte and Dilcy to bake more goods for the market or Sunday church socials. With Nathanial being of marrying age, it was only a matter of time…. Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance and the Potter’s Field Project. Both have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. For more info, please visit our website MartinezCemetery.org. To learn more regarding our sources and detail about Aaron’s life, type Aaron Rice in the Search Bar. Do you have a Potter’s Field story to tell? We welcome any pictures or information regarding the Alhambra Cemetery’s Potter’s Field. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at (925) 316-6069.
Originally published in the Martinez News-Gazette on 02/17/2019.We apologize for not writing since last May, but circumstances arose that put our column on hold. In celebration of Black History Month, we wanted to complete Aaron Rice’s story. However due to the time gap, we thought it best to summarize his saga in a few installments before finishing his story with the last. For new readers, we welcome you. For our devoted fans, we thank you for your patience. With that let’s begin…  Caswell County, NC Aaron Rice was born enslaved on January, 1819, Caswell County, North Carolina to his mother Dilcy and father Robert Rice. They were the property of Archibald and Sally Jane Rice, who at the time owned a cotton farm. To piece together Aaron’s story prior to 1860, we had to rely on oral histories and infer from other documentation related to their owners because there was no census data and very little records kept on the enslaved until after slavery was abolished.  MIssouri, (Rice homes dotted) From a number of sources we know that the Rices moved from N Carolina to Missouri in October 1826. For the next 10 years, they relocated several times before finally settling on 160 acres in Raytown, 8 miles from Independence on the Santa Fe Trail, when Aaron was 17. By 1838, they had cleared the land, built their home and established crops of corn and wheat. By 1844, they replaced their two-story log cabin with a gothic-style farmhouse that is still standing today.  Courtesy Friends of Rice-Tremonti Home Association For those of you familiar with the popular 1985 computer game “The Oregon Trail”, the starting point could easily have been represented by the “5 star rated” Rice farm. It offered travelers bound for Santa Fe and California, space for wagons, springs for watering, and grazing fields for feeding animals. Numerous accounts speak favorably of the Rice’s hospitality with Aaron most likely taking care of their animals and livestock. During 1849 alone about 490 men and 132 wagons lingered at the Rice campground. On February 26, 1840, the Rice’s son William marries Louisa Ish, a native of La Fayette County, Missouri, and moves about five miles outside of Independence. As was custom to give slaves as wedding presents, we believe this is how Aaron and his family became William’s property.  The Oregon Trail Courtesy Public Domain Because of William and his family’s involvement in the violent, bloody events of Missouri and Kansas, they choose to flee in order to avoid prosecution. From his own account, William leaves on April 28, 1859 for California with his wife and children, 890 head of cattle, 6 wagons, 24 oxen, an ambulance, 30 head of horses and mules, 17 hired men and 6 Negroes. From other records, we know this to be Aaron, his parents Robert and Dilcy, wife Charlotte, sons Nathaniel (born 1846) and Lewis (born 1850). William’s family on the other hand fled to Texas taking with them Aaron’s brother William and his family and perhaps their sister (although she disappears leaving her fate unknown). Again, for anyone who played “The Oregon Trail” you have an idea of what the approximate 3,000-mile harrowing journey was like for the Rice families. There were losses of livestock due to theft and death, losses of equipment due to damage, bouts of Cholera, and more. When they finally reached the Sacramento Valley, William had only four wagons left, the family coach, some cattle and a man or two.  Courtesy Library of Congress It was late 1859 when they finally arrived in Napa. William rents land from former Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs who dies soon after on March 19, 1860. His widow sells William (who departs soon after with Aaron’s son Nathanial to establish his ranch in Walnut Creek) the land along with at least three other slaves whom (with Aaron and the rest of his family) are left in her custody to work his farm. In April, the highly influential and powerful abolitionist Rev. Thomas Starr-King visits Aaron and the others working the farm. There we believe he apprises them of their rights and freedom, as California is a free state. However, the California Fugitive Slave law of 1852 left African-Americans in limbo as they were considered neither slave nor citizen. Aaron and his family chose to stay while the rest left immediately. We believe Aaron’s family stayed behind to regain custody of Nathaniel, prevent the law from being applied against them, and finally receive payment for services rendered from William. The US Census from July 12 lists William 46, living in Napa City in Napa County, farmer, with a personal estate of $14,225 and Aaron’s son Nathaniel 14 as a servant. Meanwhile on July 23, Aaron and his family are enumerated for the first time. The Census lists Aaron 45, day laborer; his wife Charlotte 48, servant; and their son Louis 12, (actually 10) all living in Napa with no personal wealth noted. However, Aaron’s parents Robert and Dilcy remained unrecorded.  Napa County Courthouse 1879, Courtesy Public Domain Unfortunately, William refuses to release Nathaniel. On August 12, believing his family was done with their bondage contracts, Aaron finds the courage to press charges against William (despite the odds stacked against him) risking his own potential imprisonment. Until 1873, state law considered African-Americans inferior to Whites, thereby preventing Aaron from testifying. As a result on August 20, he losses and is jailed for (ironically) perjury. Fortunately, his friends exchanged their labor as payment for his $500 bail ($15,000 today) thereby limiting his confinement to overnight. His case becomes well known, as he was one of only four former slaves to ever sue their former master in the great state of California. How long Nathaniel was forced to stay under William’s custody is unknown. However, a month later on September 17, 1860, Charlotte and Robert buy a 160-acre farm for $100 ($3,000 today) from William Russell. Probably Aaron was excluded from the deed due to his newly acquired record. Despite limited opportunities available to them, Aaron’s family quickly earned the ability to purchase property, forging a new and exciting chapter for themselves…. Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance and the Potter’s Field Project. Both have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. For more info, please visit our website MartinezCemetery.org. To learn more regarding our sources and detail about Aaron’s life, type Aaron Rice in the Search Bar. Do you have a Potter’s Field story to tell? We welcome any pictures or information regarding the Alhambra Cemetery’s Potter’s Field. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at (925) 316-6069.
This is an update of our 03/11/2018 Column on the potential finding of the original 1856 ME Church of Napa with some revisions. It was originally published in the Martinez News-Gazette on 06/03/2018. Since we last wrote about the potential finding of the lost African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Napa from 1867 – 1892, a lot of new information has come to light creating a number of unresolved questions regarding the building, its exact location, and wither it survived. As Aaron Rice and his family were instrumental in establishing the church, we felt it necessary to attempt to answer them.  1983 Pictorial Directory - Courtesy Mary Herzog Let’s start at the beginning, from Mary Herzog’s (Napa Methodist’s Church Historian) research, J.E. Pond and his wife Amanda were pioneers of Napa and founding members of the Methodist Episcopal (ME) Church. From 1856–1860, Mr. Pond purchased Lots 1-4 in Block 19 of Napa Abajo. In 1867, the African-American community bought the 1857 church building for $600 from their white brethren of the ME Church and moved it one block onto Washington (now Randolph). (As a side note, we discovered that in the mid to late 1800’s it was commonplace in Napa (like Martinez) for buildings to be relocated. In a number of cases they were just repositioned.)  Napa Valley Register, May 4, 1867 - Courtesy Public Domain On May 4, 1867, from an article published in the Daily Evening Reporter, “Passing by that structure to-day, we found that “our colored brethren” had succeeded in moving it, about twice or thrice its breadth, from its former position. …The masons are already engaged in the foundation for the new Methodist Church.” Mary recalled a story she had heard years ago, “… about the church being moved out into the street and used for worship while the new church was being built. At the time I understood they were talking about 1916 when the 1867 church was being replaced by the present church. It really didn’t make sense that such a large church could be moved and that it would be allowed to block streets in a built up area.”  1869 Napa Map - Courtesy Public Domain She found a number of mentions about the AME’s fundraising efforts published in the local paper, including one festival that raised $86. “It makes sense that they were still in the process of trying to purchase a permanent lot and that it took several months to accomplish that.” On October 2, 1867, the AME Trustees did purchase the “Northern half of Lot number four (4) in Block number nineteen (19) in the Town of Napa,” (next to the corner of Oak and Washington) from Mr. Pond for $250. She also found that on November 9, 1869, Mr. Pond sold the “Southern half of Lot number (4) in Block number nineteen (19) in the Town of Napa” to Joseph and Penelope Howell. Although the 1870 census didn’t record street names, she recognized “several families surrounding the Howell family as those living between Washington and the river.”  Birds Eye View of Napa City 1871 - Courtesy P.F.R.P. From the 1880 census the Howells are recorded as living on Oak St. However from an 1871 “Bird’s Eye View” map of Napa, it illustrates a large church structure labeled the “Colored M.E. Church” next to a building we believe was the original ME church facing Washington not Oak. Another “Bird’s Eye View” map produced in 188? by the same publisher utilizing a different illustrator, depicts the same two buildings with the corner structure now having porches and side windows.  Birds Eye View of Napa City 188? - Courtesy Bancroft Library UC Berkeley In 1881, the History of Napa and Lake Counties, printed and published by Slocum, Bowen & Co., regarding the AME Church states, “Now the building is the abode of bats and mice, being entirely dilapidated,” implying the church is unsafe and potentially abandoned.  Sanborn Map 1891 - Courtesy Public Domain Mary also found that in 1882, the Howells sold the South half of Lot 4 to James McWilliams. From other records we discovered his ownership of a number of properties throughout Napa County. If the church was unsafe as of 1881, where did the AME parishioners worship? The trustees as we know didn’t sell the land until May 9, 1893 and from the 1891 Sanborn map the larger building is gone. According to Alexandria Brown (Napa Historian), by the 1880’s there had been a large exodus of the African-American community from Napa. Interestingly enough, a month after the AME trustees sell their property in 1893 to HH Briggs for $700, he moves into the corner house. There is no record of anyone living there after 1882 before Mr. Briggs moves in, indicating that it could have indeed been rented by the church from Mr. McWilliams.  Historical Sketch of the Centenary ME Church 1852-1927 - Courtesy Mary Herzog From the Historical Sketch of the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church 1852-1927 published 1927, parishioner Mrs. Penelope Howell stated to Ruth Norton, “It was just one room, straight up and down boards with hard benches to sit on. But, we went to be fed with the word of the Lord, so it did not matter how we had to sit, and the one room was big enough for the 12 members of that church.” Her depiction matches the corner house, not the larger building next it. According to Mary, “Mrs. Howell was 100 years old at the time and had been one of the founding members of the church along with Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Pond. She died at age 101, in January of 1929,” therefor making her account less reliable. However, we feel the opposite since not only was Penelope a founder but she had lived in or next to the church for twelve years.  Methodist Church March 5, 2018 - Courtesy PFRP When we spoke to Kenneth Fish, the current resident, he recounted the story told to him from the previous owners, that the house was moved from the location of the Methodist Church in 1866. When we were doing our research of Napa County records, an assessor who had lived in that neighborhood recalled the same story. He went on to give us an original recorded account of the house as being nothing more than a 24’ x 24’ room. Mr. Fish concurred by stating that it obviously contained only one room, as at some point it was split in two using very thin material. In addition, the building is consistent with late 1850’s construction.  Potential Original Church Window circa 1856 This leaves our biggest question to answer, if the smaller house is the original church, where did the larger one come from? One potential possibility is the small building was originally moved onto the North half of Lot 4 but the congregation quickly outgrew it and a larger structure was needed. Therefore, they moved it to the Southern half of Lot 4 to make room to build a bigger church. Most likely, they exchanged the building for lumber in a handshake deal very common in Napa dealings. Unfortunately, not being well constructed, it lasted only 12 years as referenced by the Slocum historical account. So far, we have not found any documentation that directly supports this idea yet but it does fit the evidence we have found. However, there are existing tax records of the AME Church currently misplaced (from the 2014 earthquake) that could provide answers. Stay tuned…
The authors of this column would very much like to thank Mary Herzog, Alexandria Brown, Kenneth Fish, Presley Hubschmitt, Nancy Levenberg, John Tuteur and his amazing staff for their generous support, help with our research and collaboration. Judie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Project. Both 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 its Potter’s Field. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at (925) 316-6069. |
AuthorsJudie & Joseph Palmer are two of the founding members of the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance (MCPA) and the Potter’s Field Project. Both have a passion for discovery, history, genealogy, anthropology and archaeology. Archives
May 2025
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