SMCGS Databases: SMCHA Monograph Collection

The first President of the San Mateo County Historical Association, Dr. Frank Stanger, was also a history professor at San Mateo County Junior College.  As part of his class assignments he required his students to write monographs of events, places and families from San Mateo County.

Like all student work the results are uneven, but the best of these papers could definitely have been published.  Fortunately, a large collection is located in the SMCHA Archives, where it is easily accessible for use.

However, it wasn't always easy to know what was there, so our newest database.  This original list was compiled by Craig Siulinski from the card catalog in the History Museum Archives and edited by Archival Collection Specialist, Debra Peterson.


"The San Mateo County Historical Association’s student monograph collection includes winners of the Charles N. Kirkbride competition at San Mateo Junior College (now College of San Mateo). The award was given to the best three term papers written each year on local history. Ranging from the 1930s to the late 1980s, they contain one-of-a-kind photographs and interviews with local historical figures.

"The Historical Association’s staff is continually increasing the accessibility of our collections across online platforms, whether it is partnerships with other local historical organizations, Facebook, or the Association’s Online Collections Database." [Debra Peterson]

INDEX TO THE SMCHA Student Monograph Collection

https://historysmc.org/

https://historysmc.pastperfectonline.com/

https://www.facebook.com/smchistmuseum/

SMC Cemeteries: Western Hills

The Cemetery that never was.

Western Hills Cemetery was designed by Bernard Maybeck in collaboration with Julia Morgan in 1940. "Bernard Ralph Maybeck was an American architect in the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century. He was an instructor at University of California, Berkeley. Most of his major buildings were in the San Francisco Bay Area." Wikipedia   Maybeck Foundation 

UC Berkeley's Environmental Design archives has a collection of Maybeck's designs.  Among them are site plans for the proposed Western Hills Cemetery which was under consideration by Memorial City Corporation.

It has been on my To Do list to visit Berkeley to view the collection since I first discovered their existence.  Well, Berkeley beat me to it. They have posted the drawings online for all to see. You will find the drawings included here and the rest of the collection at the Environment Design Archives Berkeley Exhibitions - A Palace of Fine Deaths.

Julia Morgan, “Western Hills Cemetery,” Environmental Design Archives Exhibitions, accessed April 11, 2019, http://exhibits.ced.berkeley.edu/items/show/30.

Bernard Maybeck & Julia Morgan, “Western Hills Cemetery,” Environmental Design Archives Exhibitions, accessed April 11, 2019, http://exhibits.ced.berkeley.edu/items/show/23.

The drawing of the cemetery gives the cross streets of Junipero Serra Blvd and Collins Way.  There is no Collins Way that I can find on today's map, but it seems likely that Collins Way of 1940 is Collins Avenue of today.  This would put the cemetery in the same area as the other Colma and Daly City cemeteries. Unfortunately, this beautifully designed cemetery was never established.

http://exhibits.ced.berkeley.edu/exhibits/show/fatal/palace_fine

SMC Newspapers: The Times Gazette

In his Story of Redwood City, which was edited by John Edmunds years after his death, Roy Cloud notes......

"During the first few years of its existence San Mateo County had no newspaper to disseminate its news or in which to publish its official doings. This deficit was overcome on April 9, 1859 almost exactly three years after the formation of the County. On that day William Godfrey published the first issue of the San Mateo County Gazette."

The story goes on to state that, "Charles N. Fox was the editor of the Gazette for the first six months, then turned over his editorial duties to Mr. Godfrey who up to that time was printer and pressman."

The paper changed hands a number of times over the next few years, there was David Downer, proprietor and publisher in 1861, George W Fox, editor in 1864, Horace Hawes, Harvey Scofield (editor) and A Warren (printer) proprietors in 1866.

In 1871 Duncan and Sandy McPherson who owned the Santa Cruz Sentinel took over and continued until at least 1886.  In 1876 the Gazette purchased the San Mateo Times which had been established in 1874. The first issue of the consolidated Times-Gazette was published on 5 Feb 1876.

In 1893 the Times-Gazette was purchased by Denis and James O'Keefe.  James left to practice law after a few years, but Denis continued as editor until 1922 and continued ownership until the paper was sold to the Redwood City Tribune.

San Mateo County Times Gazette Index 1859-1899
San Mateo County Gazette Transcriptions by Chris Havnar on SFGenealogy 1906

1893

• San Mateo County Gazette (w) Vol. 1, no. 1 (Apr. 9, 1859)-v. 13, no. 24 (Sept. 9, 1871) Original RCL, CA Lib (p), Microfilm RCL, UCR, CA Lib
• San Mateo Gazette  (w) Vol. 13, no. 25 (Sept. 16, 1871)-v. 17, no. 44 (Jan. 29, 1876) Original RCL, CA Lib (p), Microfilm RCL, UCR, CA Lib
• Times and Gazette (w) Vol. 17, no. 45 (Feb. 5, 1876)-v. 28, no. 8 (May 22, 1886) Original RCL, CA Lib (p), Microfilm RCL, UCR (p) , CA Lib
• San Mateo County Times and Gazette  (w) Vol. 28, no. 9 (May 29, 1886)-v. 31, no. 24 (Sept. 14, 1889) Original RCL, CA Lib (p), Microfilm RCL, UCR (p) , CA Lib   
• (Redwood City) Times Gazette (w) Vol. 31, no. 25 (Sept. 21, 1889)-v. 75, no. 60 (May 24, 1935) ; v. 75 (May 31, 1935)-v. 76 (May 27, 1949) Original RCL, CA Lib (p), Microfilm RCL, UCR (p) , CA Lib   
• Times Gazette: The Peninsula Beacon  (w) June 3, 1949-v. 104, no. 48 (Mar. 27, 1963) Original RCL (s), Microfilm RCL, CA Lib (p)
• Times Gazette (w) Vol. 104, no. 49 (Apr. 3, 1963)-114th year, no. 52 (Apr. 25, 1973) Original RCL

_____________________________________________________
(w) weekly (d) daily (n) daily except Sunday and holidays
(p) partial run  (s) scattered missing issues
CA Lib - California State Library
UCR - University of California Riverside - Newspaper Master Files
RCL - Redwood City Public Library
SM Lib - San Mateo City Library

SMC Newspapers: San Mateo Leader & The San Mateo County News

On 25 May 1889, Charles N Kirkbride and R H Jury with help from Henry P Bowie, established the San Mateo Leader, the first newspaper in the city of San Mateo. Jury subsequently bought out Kirkbride and became the sole owner.  At some time before 1913 the Leader was purchased by Charles M Morse.

On 1 Nov 1913 John D Bromfield and AP Bellisle purchased the leader from Morse. Bellisle had been working with Morse in the production of the Leader and Bromfield had been working for the San Francisco Call for about five years.  Within a few months of the purchase, the two young men had announced their intention to establish a new daily newspaper. The History of San Mateo County reported that they had over six hundred subscriptions within less than Two days.

Many thought the enterprise wouldn't be successful, however, it took off.  They continued to publish the Leader as a weekly paper.  Eventually,  Bromfield bought out Bellisle and became the sole owner.  On 31 Dec 1918 he combined the two papers into the the Daily-News Leader.  In 1920 the paper was purchased by Ed S Riggins of San Francisco.

It continued production until 21 Jan 1926 when it was purchased by Horace W Amphlett and consolidated with the San Mateo Times

  

The San Mateo County News  - History of San Mateo County from the Earliest Times - 1916

• San Mateo Leader (Weekly) Vol. 1, no. 1 (May 25, 1889)-v. 30, no. 52 (Dec. 26, 1918) Microfilm CA Lib (s) , SM Lib (s) , UCR (s)
• San Mateo County News (Daily/no Sun) [Vol. 1] no. 1 (Jan. 5, 1914)-v. 5, no. 301 (Dec. 31, 1918) Microfilm  SM Lib, UCR 
• News-Leader (Daily) Vol. 6, no. 1 (Jan. 2, 1919)-v. 6, no. 63 (Mar. 18, 1919) Microfilm CA Lib (s) , SM Lib (s) , UCR (s)
• News-leader, the San Mateo County news (Daily/no Sunday) Vol. 6, no. 64 (Mar. 19, 1919)-v. 7, no. 75 (Mar. 31, 1920  Microfilm CA Lib (s) , SM Lib (s) , UCR (s)
• News-Leader (Daily/no Sunday) Vol. 7, no. 76 (Apr. 1, 1920)-v. 9, no. 203 (Aug. 31, 1922) Microfilm CA Lib (s) , SM Lib (s) , UCR (s)
• Daily News Leader (Daily/ no Sunday) Vol. 9, no. 204 (Sept. 1, 1922)- v. 13, no. 16 (Jan. 20, 1926) Microfilm   SM Lib, UCR (s) CA Lib, SMCHA (p)
• SEE SAN MATEO TIMES

________________________________________________

(w) weekly (d) daily (n) daily except Sunday and holidays
(p) partial run  (s) scattered missing issues
CA Lib - California State Library
UCR - University of California Riverside - Newspaper Master Files
RCL - Redwood City Public Library
SM Lib - San Mateo City Library
SMCHA - San Mateo County Historical Associatino

San Mateo County First Families

SMCGS has revamped their First Families Project.  First Families Promoter, Laurie Coulter, is the first to say it was a complicated process for the non-genealogist.    She would like to extend the following welcome to the new program, and also to invite anyone interested in getting started to the SMCGS meeting this Saturday.  There will be a First Families/San Mateo County Round Table Session, where we will explore the many online resources for finding information on your San Mateo County Families.

_______________________________________________

Welcome to the San Mateo County Genealogical Society FirstFamilies Project!

Do you have relatives or know of someone who lived in San Mateo County in the 1880's? the early 1900's?

Do you know anything about them, like where they lived or worked or sent their children to school?

Perhaps you  have a picture of a house or business or land that identifies when or where the person was in the early development of the county.

Perhaps you have a diary or letter or business journal or map.

All of these things help to create the story. What story? The story of how people lived and contributed to the growth and development of the area.

The San Mateo County Genealogical Society is interested in these stories and learning more about the ordinary people who came to this area following their dreams. We have shelves in our library dedicated to these stories.

Our First Families Project is designed to assist friends, relatives, school children, scouts, and anyone interested in sharing these stories. We provide assistance with finding proof of residency and will assist you if you get "hooked" and want to delve into finding all the public documents related to your person or family.

Laurie Coulter

_______________________________________________

Meyer's Family at Searsville Lake - Laurie Coulter

There are three categories of early pioneers in the First Families Program:

Founding Families – Ancestors who settled before 1879

Early Settlers – Ancestors who settled between 1880 and 1905

Century Families – Ancestors who settled between 1906 and 100 years ago.  

You will find the requirements and the needed forms for a First Families Submission on the SMCGS Website.  

San Mateo County Genealogy & History Events Calendar

Be sure to check out the newest page on this blog.  It is a calendar of genealogy and history events occurring anywhere in San Mateo County.  It was the wealth of Victorian Walking Tour events coordinated by the San Mateo County Historical Association that made me realize that there was no one place to go to find all the events close by.

There is a SF Bay Area Genealogy calendar which can be accessed from the new page. It includes genealogy events within 75 miles of San Francisco, but does not include most history events.




And San Mateo County Genealogical Society calendar which you can access from the SMCGS website or from the new calendar page, which includes only SMCGS events

And most of the local historical societies have their own calendars or event pages ... BUT I was unable to find any good compilation of all the societies events.

So I added all the walking tours, added a SMCGS calendar and a few other upcoming events.  I have also sent email and FB messages to contacts for some of the historical societies in the county and hope to send more out to those I've missed.

If you know of a genealogy or history class, meeting, event, tour etc. occurring anywhere in the county that is not on the calendar, please submit information to publications@smcgs.org.  Alternately, if a society creates their own google calendar it is possible to add it to ours allowing that society to keep their own events and meetings up to date for all.

San Mateo County Genealogy & History Events Calendar

Minorities Not Welcome

Most genealogists, who spend any time online, have seen one or more posts about the 14 year old girl who one upped the college professor who had taken it upon himself to insist that "No Irish need apply" was a figment of an imaginary past.  Well, those of us with Irish ancestors know that the prejudice encountered was real as were the signs.  My own great-grandparents were lucky enough to find jobs in St. Paul on their arrival, but housing was another matter.  In the end they pooled their money and made a down payment on land where they built a multifamily dwelling.  Even then an unscrupulous landowner tried to cheat them, and their new neighbors, out of the land by not filing the deeds.

Prejudice did exist in all phases of the settling of the US.  Against Anibaptists, against Native Americans, against Catholics, against Jews, against Irish, against Germans, against Blacks, against Asians, and on and on.........

Time does not change the past..only hopefully the attitudes that created that past.  A good genealogist and a good historian will not only accept that the past happened but try to learn more about it.  

S0...... fitting right in with that concept and the July SMCGS: Databases Online, is the "Cases of Sing Sheng and Robert U.M. Ting" by Mitchell P. Postel in the new issue of La Peninsula, the Journal of the San Mateo County Historical Association.  The focus of the entire issue is Chinese Americans in San Mateo County.  The article discusses the successful effort of a South San Francisco neighborhood to keep Sheng, a SF Airport mechanic,  and his family from purchasing a house in their neighborhood in 1952. The second part of the article is equally interesting. Robert U.M. Ting was a purchasing agent for Magna Engineering and a charter member of the Menlo Park Exchange Club.  Then, in 1954, the National Exchange Club stepped in stating the rules did not allow "non-whites" to belong.  In this case the Menlo Park club ended up disbanding rather than oust Ting.  They were followed by other California chapters.

This article as well as the rest of the journal is a must read for anyone interested in San Mateo County, or for that matter in US history.  If you don't belong to SMCHA you will find a copy of the journal in the SMCGS library.  Or visit the SMCHA Archives where you are sure to find a copy as well as being able to access some of the sources that went into the writing.

John Christ: Redwood City Town Marshall

John M. Christ

"John Christ. Was born in Germany (actually Gluckstadt, Holstein, Denmark)  June 8, 1838, and received his education in his native country. He came direct to this coast in 1861, and to San Mateo county during the same year. He ran a boat on the bay from the embarcadero to San Francisco until 1868, when he engaged in the wood, coal and grain trade, which he still follows.  Mr. Christ, before going to California, was a tailor, having left home at the age of sixteen to follow that occupation, his voyages carrying him to many countries.  He married Theresa Putner, and they have seven children, Cornelius, Julia, George, Charlotte, Olive, John and Franz." History of San Mateo County(6) 

Charlotte, Theresa, Ollie @1890

Besides his warehouse, wood and coal business which was located in Redwood City at Beech and Heller Streets (3), John continued the operation of several schooners.  In 1878 he was elected to the office of town marshal of Redwood City for a two year term. He was reelected in 1882 and from that time on served for many years either as a town trustee or as marshal.  In 1896 he retired from trade but continued living in Redwood City until about 1923 when he moved to live with his daughter, Julia Rathbone, in Kentwood.

The San Mateo Times of 13 Feb 1933 

John and Theresa had a home at 114 Madison Ave where it met the road to San Francisco (El Camino Real)(3).  They were members of the First Congregational Church and John belonged to the Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and served as a volunteer fireman.

Christ Home 1878

In her History of John Christ, Sue Corso notes, "Longevity of life and good health were some of the blessing of his life, as were his children.  He lived to be over 94 years of age at his passing.  His granddaughter, Florence E. C. LeRoy, remembers that he would walk to town from Lowell Street everyday, when they lived together with her family.This was in the early 1920's."


John Christ (Jun. 8, 1838 - Schleswig-Holstein, Germany- Feb. 11, 1933, Kenwood CA)  John married Theresa Puttner (Mar. 16, 1846 NY -  Jun. 6, 1934 CA)  on 7 Jan 1868 aat St. Mark's Lutheran Church in San Francisco.  John and Theresa are buried in Union Cemetery.

John and Theresa had nine children and outlived all but two.

Cornelius circa 1880

Julia Christ Rathbone

George - Music Teacher

1. Cornelius Nicholas   (pr. 12, 1870 CA - Jan. 7, 1900 CA(2)) Cornelius died of typhoid fever and is buried Union Cemetery plot N134
2. Julia Char  (Sep. 3, 1872 CA -  Nov. 5, 1927 CA)  married Leland D Rathbone (1861-1938) on 30 Jun 1896.(6)  They settled in Kenwood, Sonoma County after Leland retired as minister of the First Congregational Church in Redwood City.
3. Herman M.   (13 Apr 1873 CA - 30 Apr 1876 (2)) Herman died of Scarlet Fever.  He is buried in Union Cemetery plot N134. 
4. Theresa   (15 Jan 1875 - 3 May 1876 (2)) Theresa died of of Scarlet Fever and is buried in Union Cemetery.
5. George Charles (Apr. 30, 1876 Redwood City  Jul. 9, 1965 CA) George married Edith Brace (1886-1979) on 31 Jan 1911.  George was a resident of Redwood City and a Journeyman Carpenter.  He served in the Navy during the Spanish American War. A Member of the Eagles Lodge and carpenters union local 1408, George is buried in Golden Gate national cemetery.  George and Edith had four children:  
1. Lucille ( b.11 Feb 1912  d.26 March 2003) married Diego Moyano
2. John C (b.3 June 1913 d.5 September 2006) married Josephine Gibson
3. Florence (living)  mother of family researcher Sue Corso
4. George  (b 28 March 1924 d. 28 February 2005) married three times.
6. Charlotte Ernestine (May 3, 1878 Redwood City Oct. 19, 1923 Redwood City) Charlotte married Frank Pitman Wentworth (1867-1960) on 25 Jun 1902 (6) Charlotte was a member of the First Congregational Church and the Redwood City Woman's Club. She died unexpectedly after a short illness and minor operation. Charlotte and Frank had four children George Cornelius(4), John Russell, Frank Dealton (3) and a daughter who died in infancy.
7. Olive R. (11 Mar 1880 Redwood City - 31 Mar 1979 Stanford) Ollie married Hary Winslow Brace (1879-1953) on 8 Sep 1903. She lived most of her life on the peninsula where she was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and of the Palo Alto Lawn Bowling Club.   Ollie and Hary had two sons: Harry and Beverly(4).   Ollie is buried in Alta Mesa Cemetery. 
8. John   (Mar. 17, 1881 CA Sep. 21, 1887(2)) John is buried Union Cemetery plot N135



Frank 1957



Charlotte Christ Wentworth
as teen.

9. Frantz P.   (Frank) (Sep. 25, 1882 CA  - Jul. 31, 1894(2)) Franz is buried Union Cemetery plot N134  

Parade Float of Christ Coal & Feed Store, on Broadway, Redwood City. CA
Left to right. George Christ,abt 14: Cornelius Christ, abt 20: John Christ Sr.abt
 42 Mr Ketlins,  unknown Driver, Frantz Christ, abt 8 yrs

__________________
All pictures courtesy of Joe Wentworth    







Resources for Christ Genealogical Research

1. Find A Grave Memorial # 52970436  Links to memorials for the rest of family.
2. James Crowe Death Register   Cornelius, Frank P, Herman M., John Theresa
3. Christ Redwood City Land Records
4. San Mateo County Birth Index  
1. Brace Beverly Orlando 1904 10 12 Christensen M 1D 360
2. Brace Harold Henry 1906 11 28 AF B2 1018 85 
3. Christ Florence E 1920 10 9 Brace F 8 45
4. Christ George C 1924 3 28 Brace M 11 120
5. Christ John O 1913 6 3 Brace M 4 156
6. Christ Lucille B 1912 2 11 Brace F 3a 353
7. Wentworth Frank D 1906 1 3 Christ M 2 264 1017 376
8. Wentworth George Cornelilus  1903 4 7 Christ M 1 215 A 210
5. Richard Schellens Collection of Historical Materials Christ entries p 395-397.  See also Brace, Rathbone and Wentworth
6. History of San Mateo County (1883)  p.266  
7. Irvine, Leigh Hadley, A history of the new California: its resources and people, Volume 2  pg.656-7
8. The History of John Christ     By M Sue Corso   August 25, 2000 
9. San Mateo Times Gazette Index  (1859-1879) 
1. Christ, boy 23-Apr-1870    b.12-Apr   John Christ (Cornelius)
2. Christ, boy 19-Apr-1873    b. 13-Apr   J. Christ  (Herman)
1. Christ, Herman  06-May-1876    d.28-Apr   3 yr./ John Christ
3. Christ, girl  23-Jan-1875    b 15-Jan   J. Christ (Theresa)
1. Christ, Theresa  06-May-1876    d.31 Apr   1 yr./ John Christ 
4. Christ, boy  06-May-1876    b. 29-Apr   John Christ (George)
5. Christ, girl   25-May-1878    b. 03-May   John Christ (Charlotte)
10. San Mateo County Marriage Index. 
1. Brace Harry W 24 Christ Ollie R 23 8-Sep 1903 5 341 Redwood City  
2. Christ George C 34 Brace Edith L 24 31-Jan 1911 9 522 Redwood City
3. Rathbone L D 35 Redwood City Christ Julia S 24 Redwood City 30-Jun 1896
4. Wentworth Frank P 24 Redwood City Christ Charlotte E 24 Redwood City 25-Jun 1902 5 250 Redwood City

SMCGS Databases Online : Sole Traders

The debut of San Mateo County Genealogical Society's new website brings with it the opportunity to tout some of our great SMCGS offerings.  Over the next few months we will highlight some of the great indexes we have created over the years, starting with our newest.  

Barry Goyette has put together an index of the Register of Separate Property of Married Women and Sole Traders 1856-1913.  While I could tell you about the wonders of California's Sole Traders law, why redo what Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, does much better.  In two posts published the week of her recent seminar at SMCGS she explained the law and gave examples of what the records might tell you.

Reprise: California’s sole traders - Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist October 30, 2014  

Reprise: Separate property, separate debts - Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist  October 31, 2014

You can the index here:

Index to San Mateo County Sole Traders Register - Barry Goyette 2014

And I am very happy to tell you that you do not need to order these records from the county!!!!  They are available on FamilySearch.  Be sure to start with a page number from the index to search through these browseable records.

 Separate property of married women and sole traders vol 1 1856-1913

First Families - Morris

Welcome SMCGS' newest Founding Family, that of Reuben Morris (1833 IN - aft 1866 UNK) and Margaret Lynch (1828 IRE -1901 CA).

Julie Mooney's account of her great-grandfather states: "Reuben Eldon Morris was one of the transportation pioneers in the Bay Area.  He was the owner of the largest stage line leading from San Francisco to the interior towns, according to the obituary of his widow, Margaret Lynch Morris.

"His ‘outerlands ‘routes would have included one to the western portions of San Francisco which were sparsely populated at the time, and to the south to Brisbane and likely South San Francisco. 

"Later he expanded to the ‘Mile House” routes which would have proceeded from San Francisco via what is now San Bruno Avenue around the east side of San Bruno Mountain to Brisbane and then via what is now Hillside Road in So. San Francisco to Mission Street.  The road then connected with El Camino Real.  His routes would likely stop at Castor’s Store in Belmont and end in San Mateo at 2^nd Avenue and El Camino or Old County Road. .

"Reuben had a livery adjacent to the original blacksmith’s shop owned by Michael and Dennis Brown on 3^rd and what is now Railroad Ave in San Mateo.  His daughter Rachel married Dennis Brown and had two sons.  Their respective homes remain side by side on the west side of No. Delaware Street numbers # 2 and #5 and have been beautifully maintained and restored. (1)

"The family moved to San Mateo County in the late 1850’s as he initiated the first stage line from Belmont Township to Spanishtown ( now known as Half Moon Bay), Purissima and Pescadero.

"In August 1859  the road from Condon’s to Belmont was declared a public highway.  And in October “Stage line and express from Belmont to Spanishtown and Half Moon Bay: Leaves Belmont ( Castor’s Store) at 1 pm every Monday, Wed and Friday…Leaves Spanishtown every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8 o’clock , arriving at Belmont at 12 Noon.  R.E. Morris, propr. (2)

"Per the Wells Fargo Archivist, these were not stage coaches as we know them but, mud wagons – similar to the one on display at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City.

"When the Freeman express contract was bought/absorbed by Wells Fargo Stage Lines, it is likely that Reuben Eldon Morris sold his livery company and routes in the county within a few short years. (3) 

Reuben, the grandson of a wealthy Henry County, IN farmer, most likely arrived in San Francisco in the early 1850s.  According to family tradition he married Margaret about 1855 in the city, but no record has been found to date.  Reuben seems to have drifted between San Francisco and San Mateo counties in the 1850s and 1860s.  He is listed in the San Francisco directories in 1861-63 and again in 1866.

Reuben Morris is last found in records in San Francisco or San Mateo County (or elsewhere) in 1880 when the family is found living in Township 4.

  Margaret Lynch purchased a plot (or perhaps it was a gift from her friend Mrs. Parrott) in St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo in 1887. Although no burial has been found,  it seems likely it was for Reuben. Margaret was living with her son-in-law, Dennis Brown in 1900 and was in the house of her daughter in Livermore in 1901 when she died.

James Crowe Mortuary brought her back to San Mateo and she is buried in the Morris plot in St. John's Cemetery along with her son George. (4)

You will find more information on Reuben, Margaret and their descendants in the San Mateo County Genealogical Society Library's First Family Collection.  Read about other early San Mateo County families on the SMCGS First Families Blog.

(1)  Daily Journal article 10/10/2000 by Paul Buchanan.

(2) R.E Schellens Notes:  ‘in having a roadway or public highway established out of Belmont.  The Board of Supervisors agreed to have such a public highway built out of a meandering farm road leading to Lower Lake sometime in august 1859.  This was followed by the inauguration of a regular stage line and express from Belmont to Spanishtown on Monday October 17, 1859.  R.E. Morris, proprietor.  The express part was taken care of by Freeman & Co. Express, with A.T. Castor of Belmont acting as their agent.  RNT 8/1974

(3) Local Historian John Edmonds in the Journal of Local History  Vol 5. No 2 Addition To San Mateo Stagecoaches: Morris should rightly be credited with developing the original stage line from San Mateo to Half Moon Bay and Pescadero.

(4) SMCGS - San Mateo County Death Records - Pam Reynolds

MORRIS

Margaret

73

Ireland

10/25/1901

Livermore, Cal.

Married

F

White

Heart Disease

Dr. J. K. Warner

St. John's, San Mateo

11-2-1901

Fiedler & Graham

San Mateo County Cemeteries: Holy Cross Catholic - Menlo Park

The current Holy Cross Cemetery started as a town cemetery in the late 1860s.  It was purchased by the Church of the Nativity and converted to a Roman Catholic cemetery in 1883. 

When Stanford University moved those interred in St. Denis's Catholic Cemetery, many of the bodies were moved to Holy Cross.  There is a historical plaque near the entrance commemorating those burials.  

Holy Cross is still an active cemetery with up to 100 burials a year.  The interment register includes over 5400 names.

A quick walk through the grounds reveals names with a multitude of origins....Italian, Samoan, Irish,Tongan, Mexican and many more. Like many of the older cemeteries there are some unique plots and tombstones reflecting the mix of cultures.

Interment.net lists burials through 2005 provided by Fred Kemmerle and FindAGrave lists 4191 burials with 90% having photographs, and the burials 


Cemetery Records, which may include:  date of death, place of death, date of burial, date of birth or age, place of birth, parish from which the person was buried, and mortuary, can be obtained by submitting a Genealogy Request Form.The cost is $35. The website reminds us that cemetery information does not include maiden names, children, or death certificates.  The mortuary might, however, have that type of information if it is included in the cemetery records.

Cemetery Map                                         

Holy Cross Cemeteries 

Holy Cross Cemetery on Twitter

The Cemetery Office is located at  Saint Raymond Catholic Church, 1100 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park  650-323-6375

San Mateo County First Families Blog

Russ Brabec actively researches Daly City and Colma Pioneers.  He's compiled family histories using records in the San Mateo County Record Depository, newspapers and other resources. Check out his list of available families the San Mateo County First Families blog.  While you are there check the other pages where you will find links to cemeteries, place histories and more.  This is a slowly growing collection of San Mateo County materials.  Do you have information you'd like to share?  Are you looking for information on early San Mateo County residents.  Contact publications@smcgs.org to contribute to the blog.

San Mateo County Cemeteries: Skylawn Memorial Park

Located at the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the junction of Skyline and Highway 92, Skylawn Memorial Park is just a little different from the normal cemetery,  in that it now has a mortuary on the grounds as well.  The goal is to make things as simple as possible for the family.

Cemetery Website  Map of grounds  Resources

Find A Grave has less than 2500 burials listed, with about 37% of those having photographs. I would guess there are thousands more that are not listed.  Contact the cemetery to have them check their listings.

The staff seemed very helpful.  They gave us an escort to the grave site we were looking for, something we really appreciated.  Even with a map, the memorial park is huge and it would be easy to get lost.  One of the unique features was the scattering garden. Overlooking the mountains and our favorite Christmas tree farm, it is legal to scatter ashes from this point.  The area where the ashes fall is inaccessible to the public.  Those whose remains have been scattered are memorialized on tiles throughout the area.

Besides the Scattering gardern there are a number of columbariums, many unique in design.  There are also "gardens" designated for certain purposes such as Bai Ling Yuan, Gan Hazikaron-Garden of Rememberance Jewish Cemetery, Jardines Del Recuerdo Hispanic Cemetery, Northern California Korean Cemetery, Santo Nino Filipino-American Cemetery and numerous veterans areas.  

There is a small list of burials available on California Genealogy and History Archives these might duplicate those on Find-A-Grave.  With the number of burials in this park, it seems it would benefit by a "project" to add memorials to FindAGrave, Interment.net or BillionGraves.


View Larger Map

Highway 92 and Skyline (650) 349-4411

San Mateo County Cemeteries: St. Johns

All photograph's courtesy of Russ Brabec 2013

Entrance

Tucked away in the hills of San Mateo lies one of the oldest cemeteries in the county.  The land was donated in 1885 by Abby Parrot in memory of her husband who had died the year before.

ST. JOHN’S CEMETERY

GIVEN TO

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

OF SAN MATEO

IN MEMORY

OF JOHN PARROTT

BORN IN VIRGINIA

APRIL 16, 1811

DIED IN CALIFORNIA 

MARCH 29, 1884  

         (inscription west side of Parrot Mausoleum)  

Parrot Mausoleum

The cemetery which is located at 910 Oregon Ave, is open to the public from 9am to 5 pm daily.


The link to the cemetery website was not working on Aug 10 and the notice indicates it has been down for nearly a month.  If it becomes viable again or a new site goes online, the old domain should probably work.  You will find a link on the cemetery page on the San Mateo County First Families Blog.  You will also find a link to a map there to help you find the cemetery.

Among the treasures you will find in the cemetery is the unmarked mausoleum of Agness Poett Howard Bowie.  There are also memorials for many Parrot family members whether they were buried in the cemetery or not.

St. John's Cemetery - Find A Grave lists 2888 burials with about 38% photographed.  Tim Conroy read the entire cemetery in 2004 and the listing is available on Interment.net and USGenWebArchives.

The San Mateo County Community College District is offering a class by Michael Svanevik in September entitled Underground San Mateo - A subterranean look at St. John's Cemetery.

READ MORE:

Cemetery Brochure

• Hidden Treasures in San Mateo County: St. John's Cemetery - San Mateo County Library
• Discovering San Mateo's Hidden Cemetery - Daily Journal (Parrot family history)
• Sally McBurney's  Photos on Flickr (check out her other photo sets from around the Bay Area)
• Spookiest Cemeteries in the Bay Area - SF Gate