DALY CITY’S CEMETERIES CITY... · 2020. 7. 18. · Russell R. Brabec, 2015 History Guild of Daly...

DALYCITY’SCEMETERIES

ChineseCemetery

ChineseChristianCemetery

ChongSeenCemetery

NingYungCemetery

RussianCemetery

TungSenCemetery

RussellR.Brabec,2015 HistoryGuildofDalyCity/ColmaSanMateoCountyGenealogicalSociety

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DALYCITYCEMETERIES‐INTRODUCTION

EveryonehasheardofthemultitudeofcemeteriesinColma,butadjacentDalyCityhas fouractivecemeteries,on inactivecemeteryandonecemetery thatwasneverdeveloped.Thelandsforthesepropertieswereacquiredfromthedescendants of two Irish‐American families, Bridget and Patrick MorganBrooksandElizabethandOwenMcMahon. Thesetwopioneer familiesheldlandcomprisingtodayofsouthernColma,northernSouthSanFranciscoandsouthernDalyCity.During the last decade of the nineteenth century, as civilization marchedwestward through theWesternAddition and thenewdistrict knownas theRichmond, the “City Cemetery” and others became a target for closure byresidentsanddevelopers. SituatedaboveLandsEnd,theformercemeteryisnowoccupiedbytheVeteransAdministration,thePalaceofLegionofHonorandLincolnParkanditsgolfcourse.Thecemeterywashometoanumberofethnicgroupsandorganizationsalongwithasectionforpaupers.TheChineseCemeteryboundedbyArguello, California, Euclid andPalm (orJordan)Streetswasalsoaffected. TheNingYungCompanyhadonitsbooksfullyone‐halfofallChineseintheUnitedStates.Theclosingdateforburialsof01March1898wasextendedto01April1898toprovidetimetolocatepropertyelsewhereforburialsinSanMateoCounty.The undertakers feared a backlog of burials on the horizon and immensedisposalproblems.TheHaganbrothersstartedacquiringlotsinablockintheAbbeyHomesteadacrossfromCypressLawnCemetery(SunsetCemetery)ontheeastsideofHillsideBoulevardtobeusedforpaupers.TheSerbian,JewishandothersfollowedtoColma.TheChinese,victimsofdiscrimination,hadnosuchopportunityintheColmacemeteryarea. EllenMariaMcMahonBarry,daughterofpioneersElizabethand OwenMcMahon, sold 40.17 acres on 21 February 1898, for aChineseCemetery foranundisclosedamountofmoney. Thiscemetery,nowslightlyreshapedto32.326acresbythedevelopmentofSerramonteinDalyCity,liesattheintersectionofHickeyBoulevardandCallanBoulevard.Pioneer Patrick Morgan Brooks, former County Supervisor, sold 5 acres oflandfor$2,500on25March1898,totheNingYungBenevolentCemetery


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Associationincludinghisauthorizationforestablishingacemetery.TheNingYung Benevolent Cemetery Association acquired its 5‐acre northern sectionfromJ.A.Christenon18June1948,forandundisclosedamountofmoney.

TheSanFranciscoCallstated“nonewillbeinterredbutthosebelongingtothat[NingYung]society,whileothercemeterymembers will find atemporaryrestingplaceuntiltheirbonesareremovedfortransportationtothehomeoftheirforefathers.

“… The Superintendent of the City Cemetery charged them [Chinese]

$2.50fortheopeningofeverygraveagainst$1.00toallotherswhohadagraveopenedwithintheenclosure.Thedistanceof fifteen miles [tothenewcemetery],however,isamatterthatannoysthemsomewhat,asitwill costmore to convey the bodies and the funeral eatables for thedefunctonhislongjourneytothelandoftherisingsun.

“Eachcemeterywillhaveawhitemanforsuperintendent,astheChinese

donotfavorgravedigging. “TherestofthearticlenotestheprejudiceagainsttheChinese;the two‐ tiered rate structure against the Chinese [noted below] and the grave contractors’ financial and contractual responsibility to bury the dead eventhoughthecemeteryhasclosed.”PatrickfollowedthisbysellingtwoacrestotheChineseChristianCemeteryAssociationon26July1898for$1,000;soldtwoacrestoEdwardKellyon09Dec1898,whichisnowknowasChongSeenCemetery,andappearsinactive,andhisdaughterssold25acrestotheCityandCountyofSanFranciscoon07February1905,for$8,750foraCityCemetery,whichwasneverdeveloped.This landwasonanextremelysteepslopeonthenorthsideofwhat isnowHickey Boulevard. It would have been a pauper’s cemetery, but it is nowoccupiedbyotheruses.The City, in turn, sold 3.35 acres to the Russian Sectarian CemeteryAssociationon30November1932for$3,350,andsold4.9acrestotheTungSenCemeteryAssociationon14January1937for$4,900.These five smaller cemeteries were annexed to the City of Daly City on 01April1974,sotheycouldhaveabackupwaterssupplyatin‐cityrates.


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CHINESECEMETERYINSANFRANCISCO

ItenclosedanareaboundedbyArguello,California,EuclidandPalm(orJordan)streetsasshownontheMapoftheCityandCountyofSanFrancisco,drawnbyV.C.Henkenus,publishbyWarrenHolt,1884.1

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1sfgenealogy.com


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18Dec1890GRANDJURY’SFINALREPORT

The Western Addition and the new district known as Richmond are fastbecoming densely settled, and the close proximity of the cemeteries isbecomingundesirableandobnoxious.Theyalsocrowdtheparkontheotherside.Asthecemeteriesareallofthemfull,ornearlyso,andasitwouldbebutaproperregardforthelivingandtheirhealthtodiscontinueallfutureburialsinthesecemeteries,allburialgroundsshouldhereafterbelocatedoutsidethelimitsofthecityandcountyofSanFrancisco.TheCityCemeteryuseshouldalsobediscontinued, inthevariousplatsof thesameheretoforegivenawayby the city should be bought back, and the 200 acres comprising it shouldeitherbeaddedtotheparkorsold,andtheproceedsappliedtotheremovalofthecemeteriesastheplacetheynowoccupywillbeneededbeforelongbythewantsofourfast‐growingcity.Properforesightwouldfavorthisbeingdonesoon and before such a thing as the purchase of a large tract of land for apermanentresting‐placeforthedeadwillalmost[be]impossibletoobtaininclosevicinityofthecityorbecomehighlyexpensive.2`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

1898MapoftheCityCemeteryatSanFrancisco

2SanFranciscoCall,Thursday,18December1890,page7,columns1,2and3.


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09Apr1895

PROPOSALFORBURIALOFINDIGENTDEAD3In accordance with resolution No. 12,040 (Third Series) of the Board ofSupervisors, SEALED PROPOSALS will be received in open session of theboardonMONDAYAFTERNOONApril15,1895,from3to3:30o’clock,fortheintermentof such indigentdead in theCityCemetery asare required tobeburiedatthechargeoftheCityandCountyofSanFrancisco,includingtheCityandCountySmallpoxHospital,forthetermofoneyear,beginningJuly1,1895andendingJune30,1896.….. The coffins to be made of three‐quarter‐inch surface redwood clearlumber,tobelinedwithmuslinandpillowedinsideandtobeshellackedandvarnished outside, and the tops to be fastened downwith not less than sixscrews.InallsmallpoxcasesthecoffinshallbelinedwithNo.10zincinsteadofmuslin,andhermeticallysealed,andallcoffinsusedmustbesubjecttotheinspectionandapprovaloftheofficerinchargeoftheInstitutionfromwhichthebodyofthedecedentistobeburied…..Note: A consortium of undertakers, known as The Pacific UndertakesCompanywastheusualawardeesofthiscontract. Thesuccessfulcontractoralways faced therealityofdelayedpaymentsby thecityor thecity’s lackofsufficientfundsforpayment.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````29Dec1897

CLOSINGOFTHECITY’SCEMETERY

RichmondResidentsJubilantOvertheCrowningoftheirFightResolutionsPassedThanking“The[SanFrancisco]Call”

forItsValuableAssistanceThemembersoftheRichmondDistrictClubarefeelingparticularlyjubilantatpresentoverthecrowningoftheireffortstohavethecitycemeteryclosed.

3SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,09April1895,page9,column6.


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Theyhada longanduphill fight,manyhavingbeenopposedto themonthetheorythatifonecemeterywereremovedothersmightsufferalikefate.Onthe first of the year [1898] the ordinance passed by the Supervisors somemonthsagowillgointoeffect,andnofurtherburialswillbepermitted.Thecemeterywasoriginally intended foraburial ground for indigentdead,but a number of societies reaped a harvest by the sale of lots and itsbeneficentpurposewasdefeated.Thisstateofaffairswillendonthebeginningoftheyear,andpropertyownersinthedistrictsurroundingthecemeteryarehappy,asitmeansa longstridetowardtheimprovementoftheirportionofthecity.TheRichmonddistrictpeoplehavealwaysfeltthatthecemeterieswithinthecity’slimitsshouldberemovedtoaccommodatethewestwardgrowthofthecity,andthatthedeadshouldnotretardtheprogress.PresidentCharlesH.HubbsoftheRichmondDistrictClub,inspeakingoftheimprovement of his district yesterday, said: “I have been a resident in theRichmonddistrictforagreatmanyyearsandhavewatchedwithpleasurethemany residences thathavebeenerected. Therearestill agreatmanyacreslyingidleowingtotheirbeinglocatednearcemeteries.Peoplehaveanaturalaversion to living near a burying ground, and therefore the land remainsunoccupied.Weworkedhardtohavethecitycemeterycondemnedasitwasamenacetohealthandpreventedtheimprovementofourdistrict. Wehopethatultimatelyallothercemeterieswithinthecitylimitsmayberemoved,andoureffortsshallbeinthatdirection.”4Theofficialdateprohibiting further interments in theCity cemeterywas01March1898.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````16Jan1898

UNDERTAKERSPERPLEXEDTheClosingoftheCityCemeteryBringsAboutDisadvantagesTheChineseWillPurchaseaTractofLandinSanMateoCounty

foratemporaryResting‐Place 4SanFranciscoCall,Wednesday,29December1897,page11,column1.


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Notwithstanding the long notice given by the Supervisors that the CityCemetery would be closed for all interments on and after the first of thepresentyear,nothinghasbeendoneby those societiesand theundertakershaving the responsibility of providing a final resting place tor the indigentdead.ThesameconditionofaffairshasexistedwiththeChinese.…..ThetimenowbeingextendedtothefirstofApril,stepswillbetakenbytheChinese to procure a tract of fifteen acres in San Mateo County for atemporary resting place for their dead [actually a five‐acre tract and a ten‐acretract].5`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````28Feb1898 EllenMariaBarry,daughterofOwenMcMahon,sold40.77 acresofherrecentinheritancetotheChineseCemetery [nowonCallanBoulevard]inanareaknowasHappyValley. Thesalepricewasnotstated.6 TheGranteeswereChunHong;ChewFoy;ChunFongChow; QuanFi_n?;LumLu_?;SheeWaiandWongWai.7`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````08Mar1898

THECHINESEHAVEPURCHASETWOTRACTSOFLANDINSANMATEOCOUNTY–OWNTHEIRCEMETERIES

Henceforth the Chinese will not be compelled to contribute to the SanFranciscotreasuryfortheintermentorexhumationoftheirdead.The closing of the City Cemetery compelled the Mongolians to seek atemporary resting place for their dead countrymen … by purchasing twotracts: TheNingYungCompany,whichhas on its books fully one‐half of all 5SanFranciscoCall,Sunday16January1898,page9,columns5and6.6BecomingChineseAmerican:AHistoryofCommunitiesandInstitutions,H.MarkLai,2004,page117[GoogleBooks].7Volume77ofDeedsatpage206,SanMateoCountyRecords.


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Chinese in the United States, bough five acres from ex‐Supervisor PatrickBuckley[Brooks]ofsanMateoCounty,adjoining[near,notadjoining]thatoftheRomanCatholicCemeteryatHolyCross. Thiswaspurchasedat the lowfigureof$500anacre.Twomiles farther [Callan andHickey] out toward SanMateo the YungWo,Chong Chow, Sam Yep, Shoo Hing and HopWoo companies purchased tenacresatamuchhigherfigurethanthatpaidbytheNingYungCompany.IntheNingYungCompany’scemeterynonewillbeinterredbutthosebelongingtothat society, while other cemetery members will find a temporary restingplace until their bones are removed for transportation to the homeof theirforefathers.….. the Superintendent of the City Cemetery charged them $2.50 for theopening of every grave against $1.00 to all otherswho had a grave openedwithintheenclosure. Thedistanceoffifteenmiles,however,isamatterthatannoys them somewhat, as it will cost more to convey the bodies and thefuneraleatables for thedefunctonhis long journey to the landof therisingsun.Each cemeterywill have awhiteman for superintendent, as theChinesedonotfavorgravedigging.8TherestofthearticlenotestheprejudiceagainsttheChinese;thetwo‐tieredrate structure against the Chinese [noted below] and the grave contractors’financial and contractual responsibility to bury the dead even though thecemeteryhasclosed.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

PATRICKBROOKS’CEMETERYGRANT

07Feb1898 PatrickBrookspetitionedthecountyBoardofSupervisors andwasgrantedpermissiontooperateacemeteryon200 acresofhisnorthernpropertyacrossfromHolyCross Cemetery.Excludedfromtheproposedcemeterywere“the

8SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,08March1898,page5,column5.


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hotel,black’smith[sic]shop,cottages,[and]stoneyard facingthesaidSanJoseCountyRoad.”9 •5acresweresoldtoNingYungBenevolentAssociation Cemetery. •2acresweresoldtotheChineseChristianCemetery. •2acresweresoldtoEdwardKelly’sCemetery. •25acresweresoldtotheCityofSanFranciscofortheir “CityCemetery.”

CASSERLY’SCEMETERY07Feb1898 PatrickCasserlyfiledapetitionwiththeSanMateoCounty BoardofSupervisorsforacemeterytobelocatedatthe ‘TopoftheHill’areainnowDalyCity.10Aftermany postponements,hispetitionwasauthorized02May1898.11 Coincidentally,Patrickreceivedtitletothelandproposed foracemeteryonthesamedayinajudgmentfrom ElizabethAngelo’sestate.12 HethensoldthisrockylandtotheCrockerEstateCompany on31May1898.13ItlaterbecamepartoftheCrocker EstateTractNo.1subdivision.

NINGYUNGBENEOVELENTCEMETERY07Feb1898 PatrickBrooksfiledapetitionforandreceived authorizationfromtheSanMateoCountyBoardof Supervisorstoestablishacemetery.14

9BoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,07February1898,Volume10atpage326and344.10SanMateoCountyBoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpage326.11SanMateoCountyBoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpages392and393.12Volume78ofDeedsatpage348,SanMateoCountyRecords.13Volume77ofDeedsatpage344,SanMateoCountyRecords.14SanMateoCountyBoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpages326and344.


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25Mar1898 PatrickBrookssold5acresoflandfor$2,500totheNing YungBenevolentCemeteryAssociationinanareathatis nowDalyCityincludinghisauthorizationforestablishinga cemetery.1518Jun1948 TheNing Yung Benevolent Association Cemetery acquired

its five‐acre northern parcel from the descendants of J. A.Christenforanundisclosedamountofmoney.16

Feb2010ChineseConsolidatedBenevolentAssociation/HoySunNing

YungBenevolentAssociation:

WiththediminishingamountofburialspacesavailableattheNewNingYungCemetery,NingYungAssociationhasapprovedtheconstructionofabuildingnear the entrance thatwill have for 20,000 1’x1’ spaces of urns. Questionswereraisedthatcremationmaynotbewidelyacceptedandtheamounturnspaces may be too excessive. Architectural drawings of the structure areavailable at ourAssociation for review.Questions andany concernsmaybedirectedtoDirectorDannyYan.17

CHINESECEMETERY

21Feb1898 EllenMariaBarry,daughterofOwenMcMahon,fileda petitionforauthorizationfromtheSanMateoCountyBoard ofSupervisorstoestablishacemeteryof40.17acres.1828Feb1898 EllenMariaBarry,sold40.77acresofherrecentinheritance totheChineseCemetery[nowonCallanBoulevard]inan areaknowasHappyValley.Thesalepricewasnotstated.19

15Volume78ofDeedsatpages174through177,SanMateoCountyRecords.16Volume1466ofOfficialRecordsatpage480,SanMateoCountyRecords. 17Minutesofthe21February2010meeting.18SanMateoCountyBoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpages326.19BecomingChineseAmerican:AHistoryofCommunitiesandInstitutions,H.MarkLai,2004,page117[GoogleBooks].


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TheGranteeswereChunHong;ChewFoy;ChunFongChow; QuanFi_n?;LumLu_?;SheeWaiandWongWai.2007Mar1898 Ellen’spetitiontooperateacemeterywasapprovedbythe BoardofSupervisors.2128Oct1963 ThelargestChineseCemeterywasincludedintheChristen Ranch[Serramontearea]AnnexationtotheCityofDaly City.22Thecemeterywasdownsizedto32.326acresin January1967.23

CHINESECHRISTIANCEMETERY

26Jul1898 PatrickBrookssold2acresoflandfor$1,000tothe ChineseChristianCemeteryAssociationinanareathatis nowDalyCity.24Thereisnorecordofthislanduse appearingbeforetheBoardofSupervisors.07Mar1899 TheChineseAssociationsold0.2acresoflandtotheSpring ValleyWaterWorksfor$210.00.Thepropertywaslocated neartheeasternboundaryofthecemetery.2520May1908 Are‐conveyancewasfilebytheChineseBaptistChurchto theChineseChristianCemetery.Noamountwasstated.2631Jan1940 TheSpringValleyWaterCompanyreturnedthe0.2acresof landtotheChineseChristianCemetery.

KELLY’SCEMETERY/CHONGSEENCEMETERY

20Volume77ofDeedsatpage206,SanMateoCountyRecords.21SanMateoCountyBoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpages363.09Jun191022CityofDalyCity,OrdinanceNo.588.23SerramonteUnitNo.7,Volume66ofMaps,pages8‐11,SanMateoCountyRecords.24Volume77ofDeedsatpages402and403,SanMateoCountyRecords.25Volume908ofOfficialRecordsatpage341,SanMateoCountyRecords.26Volume150ofDeedsatpage216,SanMateoCountyRecords.


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09Dec1898 Brookssold2acresoflandfor$1,000toEdwardKelley,

whichwasusedasacemeteryforindigentandpauperburialsduetotheclosingbytheCityofSanFranciscoofitsCityCemetery.27ThereisnorecordofthislanduseappearingbeforetheBoardofSupervisors.

ThiswouldbecommonlyknownasKelly’sCemetery. Today[2011],itisknownastheChongSeenCemetery.09Jun1910 TheCourtorderedthedistributionoftheestateofEdward Kelly,andVernonE.Kelly,asExecutrixandwidow,was awardedthecustodyofthecemeteryproperty.Noticeof thisactionwasnotfiledinSanMateoCountyuntil09March 1922.2822May1922 VernonE.KellysoldthetwoacrestoH.G.Whelan.2919Sep1925 LOOYEEKERNacquiredthepropertyoftheformerKelly CemeteryfortheRuthT.andH.G.Whelanforan undisclosedsum.30 HarryGabrielWhelanwasthegrandsonofPatrickBrooks. •LooYeeKERNdidnotgrantoragreetoanychangein propertyownershipbetween1925and31December1973, exceptasnotedfor1970. •CHONGSeenTongCemeterywasnottherecipientofany propertyoragreementbetween01January1963and31 December1973exceptasnotedfor1970._________ RenamedChongSeenCemetery.12Mar1970 DECLARATIONOFINTENTION

27Volume81ofDeedsatpages46and47,SanMateoCountyRecords.28Volume32ofOfficialRecordsatpage348,SanMateoCountyRecords.29Volume37ofOfficialRecordsatpage361,SanMateoCountyRecords.30Volume188ofOfficialRecordsatpage242,SanMateoCountyRecords.


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CHONGSEENTONG,anon‐profitassociation,hereby declaresthatitintendstouseallofthefollowingdescribed propertyforcemeterypurposes…describedasfollows: Twoacresmoreorlesslyingonthenorthlineofaprivate roadlyingoppositeBlock14ofWinstonManorNo.2[South SanFrancisco]andboundedonthenorthbytheNingYoung Cemetery. ByJordanN.Peckman,GeneralCounsel,ChongSeen Cemetery.3101Jul1970 DECLARATIONOFINTENTION ChongSeenTong,anon‐profitassociation,herebydeclares thatintendstouseallofthefollowingdescribedproperty forcemeterypurposes. Afoursidedpolygon:257.72feetonthenorth;410feeton thewest,430.00feetdiagonallyonthesouth;and76.56feet ontheeast. LooYeeKern,President.32July2011 LetterofinquirytoMr.DavidLoo,2365BenhamCourt, WalnutCreek,CA94596‐6456,wasunanswered.

RUSSIANSECTARIANCEMETERYASSOCIATION09Nov1932 IncorporationdateoftheRussianSectarianCemetery Association.TheSanMateoCountyAssessor’sofficehas thedateas29November1932forthestartingofthe business.

31Volume5759ofOfficialRecordsatpage1,SanMateoCountyRecords.32Volume5807ofOfficialRecordsatpage528,SanMateoCountyRecords.


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30Nov1932 TheRussianSectarianCemeteryAssociation, incorporatedearlierinthemonthpurchased3.35acresfor $3,350.00fromtheCityandCountyofSanFranciscofora cemetery.3314Jul1964 TheCemeteryandSuburbanrealtyCompanymadeaminor landtradeofequalareas,whichrealignedthewestern boundaryofthecemeterytoanorth‐southdirection.34

TUNGSEENCEMETERYASSOCIATION14Jan1937 TheTungSenCemeteryAssociationacquiredits4.9‐acre parcelfromtheCityandCountyofSanFranciscofor $4,900.00cash.35

SANFRANCISCO–CITYCEMETERY01Aug1901 The San Francisco Board of Supervisor’s ordinance prohibiting andintermentsanywhereinSanFranciscobecameeffective.07Feb1905 Aresolutionwasadoptedacceptingtheofferofthe[Patrick]Brooksestatetoselltothecitytwenty‐fiveacresof landfor$8,750,tobeusedasasiteforacitycemeteryforSanFrancisco.ThesiteadjoinstheChineseCemeteryandthecitycemeteryownedbyEdwardKelly, oneof the contractors for theburialoftheindigentdead.ThefinalacceptanceoftheofferissubjecttotheCityAttorney’sapprovalofthetitle.Anappropriationof$5,000wasmadeinthisyear’sbudgetforthepurpose,andthebalanceof$3,750willberaisedinthenextbudget.36

33Volume582ofOfficialRecordsatpage472,SanMateoCountyRecords.CorrectiontothedeeddescriptionfiledinVolume825atpage482.34Volume4777ofOfficialRecordsatpages387and388,SanMateoCountyRecords.35Volume730ofOfficialRecordsatpage61,SanMateoCountyRecords.36SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,07February1905,page9,column4.


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30Nov1932 SanFranciscosold3.35acresoftheir“cemetery”landtothe RussianSectarianCemetery.3714Jan1937 SanFranciscosold4.9acresoftheir“cemetery”landtothe TungSenCemetery.3814Apr1950 SanFranciscosoldtheremaining16,75acresofits “cemetery”landtoLucilleGrigsby.39`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````18Dec1898

CHINATOWNMOURNEDDee Won Sou, who, next to the Consul General, was considered the mostimportant man in Chinatown, and who on Wednesday last died ofconsumption, was borne to his grave in the Sing Ying Cemetery in SanMateo[county]yesterdayatnoon.Amidceremoniesthatsurpassedanythingof a similar nature everwitnessed in Chinatown. The deceasedwas at theheadofthegreatSeeYouCompany,andeverymember,orCelestialthatowedallegiancetoitturnedouttodohonortotheirdepartedchief.ChinatownwascrowedwithChineseandAmericanseagertowitnessthenovelrites.Alocalbandattemptedtoplayadirgewhiletheceremonieswenton,butweresadlyrouted by the beating of tomtoms and the wailing of priests and hiredmourners.Over150carriageswereinthefuneralprocession.ThescatteringofpapersthroughwhichthedevilwastocrawlbeforehereachedthesoulofSou and the glazed pigs and other fancy roasts – the product of Chinatownchefs – attracted great attention as the funeral cortege moved through thestreetsofthecity.40`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````15Jul1901

SANMATEOTOEXACTREVENUEOFCHINESE

CountyImposesaTaxUponBodiesRemovedFromItsCemeteries

37Volume582ofOfficialRecordsatpage472,SanMateoCountyRecords.38Volume730ofOfficialRecordsatpage61,SanMateoCountyRecords.39Volume1907ofOfficialRecordsatpage144,SanMateoCountyRecords.40SanFranciscoCall,Sunday,18September1898,page11,column2.


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REDWOOD CITY, Jul 15. – An ordinance was adopted by the Board ofSupervisorsofSanMateoCountyto‐daywhichimposesataxof$10uponeachbody disinterred and removed from a cemetery in this county to any placeoutside the county. Theordinance is aimedprincipally at theChinese,whohaveacemeteryinthenorthendofthecountyinwhichtheirdeadareburiedtemporarily. In form the ordinance is a health regulation; in effect it is arevenueproducer.ManyChineseareburied in the countywhose remainsultimately find thereway back to China. Under the ordinance before a bodymay be removed apermitmustbeobtainedfromthehealthofficer,towhomthe$10feeispaid.Itdoesnotapplytobodiesremovedfromplacetoplaceinthecounty.41`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````24Jun1905

DECENTBURIALDENIEDPAUPERSTreatmentofBodiesofthePoorofSanFranciscoOffendsCitizensof

ColmaBUYNEWGRAVEYARD

InvestigationMadebyLocalOfficialsMayResultinReformThatisMuchNeeded

COLMA, June 24 – Twenty‐five acres of land near here have been sold forcemeterypurposes,and it isunderstoodthat theground is tobeutilizedfortheburialof the indigentdeadofSanFrancisco. Theproperty ispartof thePatrickBrooksestate.42Officials from San Francisco have been here making an inquiry into themethodspursuedbytheundertakerswhohaveinchargetheintermentofthepauperdeadofSanFrancisco.Theconductofthesecontractorshaslongbeenamatterofpublic scandalandoffense in thisneighborhood. Complainthasbeenmadewithout result, and suggestions of a remedy have beenwithoutavail.Thecontractorshavesecuredsmallparcelsoflandonthesidehillsandhaveenclosedthemwithcheapwirefences.

41SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,16July1901,page9,column1.42Volume101ofDeedsatpage253,SanMateoCountyRecords.


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Intermentshavebeenmadewithoutandofthesimpleritesorceremoniesthedecencydemands,and thegraveareunmarkedevenbyaheadboardof thecheapestcharacter.Theeffortsof theSanFranciscoauthorities toput a stop to this evilwill befullysecondedby thegoverningbodyofSanMateocounty. It ishoped thatthepurchaseofthetractfortheburialoftheunknownandpauperdeadisthefirststepinamuchneededreform.43`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

SANFRANCISCOCITYCEMETERYINSANMATEOCOUNTY

07Feb1905 CITYTOBUYCEMETERYAresolutionwasadoptedacceptingtheofferofthe[Patrick]Brooksestatetoselltothecitytwenty‐fiveacresoflandinSanMateoCountyfor$8,750,tobeusedasasiteforacitycemeteryforSanFrancisco.ThecemeterysiteadjoinstheChineseCemeteryandthecitycemeteryownedbyEdwardKelly,onofthecontractorsfortheburialoftheindigentdead.ThefinalacceptanceoftheofferissubjecttotheCityAttorney’sapprovalofthetitle.Anappropriationof$5,000wasmadeinthisyear’sbudgetforthepurpose,andthebalanceof$3,750willberaisedinthenextbudget.44

18Jun1905 INTERMENTOFUNFORTUNATES

TheBoardof Supervisorswill at tomorrow’smeetingpassanordinanceproviding for theburial of the indigent deadby the citydirectly insteadof by contractheretofore. Theordinance will provide for the appointment of J.Kelly assuperintendent of interments, together with an assistantand gravedigger, to be selected by him. Kellywill furnishthenecessaryhorsesanddeadwagon,thecitytobeputtonoexpenseforkeepingthem.Thechargeforburialswillbe$6perbodyandthedisintermentchargewillbe$10.KellywilltakeallbodiestothecemeterypurchasedbithecityinSanMateoCountyandwillpayforthepermitsinthecounty

43SanFranciscoCall,Sunday,25June1905,page36,column6.44SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,07February1905,page9,column4.


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named.Hewillalsokeeparecordofallburials,whichwillbemadewithduedecencyandrespect.45

01Sep1905 CITYCEMETERYINSANMATEOCOUNTY TheCityandCountyofSanFranciscopurchasedfromSarah A.WhelanandDellaF.Spellman,Patrick’sdaughters], administratrices(sic)oftheestateofPatrickM.Brooksfor $8.750,25acresoflandadjacenttotheNingYoung[Yung] BenevolentAssociationCemetery.4626Oct1907 NEWROAD The[finance]committeewilltakestepstomakeavailable thecity’scemeteryinSanMateofortheburialofthe indigentdead.Aroadwaywillbebuilttothecemetery.The healthboardwillconducttheburialandinthemeantimeM. Hagan,whohasthecontractforthework,willfurnishthe committeewitharecordofallburials.4718Apr1912 INVESTIGATION Aninvestigationwasmadeintothemannerinwhichthe city’sindigentdeadareburiedbytheundertakers,J.Hagan &Co.,acomplaintbeingmadethatHaganchargedmorefor burialincertaincemeteriesthaninthegraveyardwhichhe ownsintherearoftheCypressLawncemetery.Hagan explainedthathechargedthecity$3.50foreachcase,and thenrelativesorfriendsofthedeaddesiredamore elaboratefuneralhesometimeschargedthemmore,in whichcaseheputnobilltothecity.Hisexplanationswere satisfactory.48

45SanFranciscoCall,Sunday,18June1905,page24,column4.46RealEstateownedbytheCityandCountyofSanFrancisco,bytheBoardofSupervisors,01July1909,atpage196[GoogleBooks,August2010].Volume101ofDeedsatpage253,SanMateoCountyRecords.47SanFranciscoCall,Saturday,26October1907,page11,column6.48SanFranciscoCall,Thursday,18April1912,page5,column2.


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01Apr1974 TheCityofDalyCityannexedtheareaknownasthe“Five Cemeteries”.49`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````08APRIL1913

LAFRANCETOANSWERSANBRUNO.–FrankLaFrancewasheldtoanswerinthesuperiorcourtheretoday to a charge of assaultwith a deadlyweapon, following a duel a shorttimeagowithJamesHagen,aSanFranciscoundertaker,overthediggingofagrave in the Chinese cemetery. La France fired five shots, but declared incourttodaythatHagenfiredbackathim.50`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

EARLYTWENTIETHCENTURYBURIALPROBLEMSATSUNSETCEMETERY[PAUPER’SCEMETERY]

30May1905 THECOSTOFBURIALS Bidsfortheburialoftheindigentdeadwereopenedfrom WilliamHaganwhobid$9foreachbodyinterred;Edward Kelly,$8.50;JosephHagan,$7.49;JosephRiley&company, $8.95thebidswerereferredtotheHealthCommitteeafter D’Anconahadgivennoticethatthecommitteemay recommendthatthecitybuyitsownindigentdead,instead ofawardingacontractforthesame.5113Aug1905 SEEKTOOBTAINCONTRACTFORBURIALOFPAUPER DEAD Kiley&HaganPetitionSuperiorCourtTo CompelSupervisorsToGiveThemTheWork Failingtoobtaintheawardoftheyearlycontractforthe burialofthecity’sindigentdeadfromtheBoardof 49CountyofSanMateo,ResolutionNo.3231550SanFranciscoCall,Wednesday,09April1913,page15,column3,andThursday28September1905,page16,column4.51SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,30May1905,page11,column2.


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SupervisorstheundertakingfirmofKiley&Haganhasfiled apetitionforawritofmandatetocompeltheboardtogive itthecontract. TheaffidavitofJosephKileyallegesthebidof$7perbody madeonMay17lastwasthelowestbidsubmittedtothe boardforthefiscalyearendingJune30,1906.Despitethis, theplaintiffallegesthattheboardrefusestoawardthe contractandhasenteredintoanotheragreementtopay $450amonthtoanotherpartyfortheburialofthe indigent.5216Jan1906 ThepetitionofWilliamHaganthathebegiventhecontract toburytheindigentdeadfor$350permonthwasreferred totheHealthCommittee.Ed.A.Kellyhasthecontractnow at$450permonth.5326Jan1906 CITYWILLPAYDEARLYTOBURYINDIGENTDEAD SupervisorsAscertainThatWorkCanBeMore CheaplyDoneByPrivateContract ThepetitionofWilliamHagantobeawardedthecontractto burytheindigentdeadfor$350permonthwastakenunder advisement.Itwasascertainedthatitwillcostthecity $1,125toequipitsownplanttoburytheindigentdeadand $695permonthformaintenance.Asthecityisnowpaying $450permonthfortheworkthecommitteequestionedthe advisabilityofthecitytoassumecharge,anddecidedto visitthecemeteryrecentlypurchasedbythecityinSan Mateo[County]atacostof$5,000[initialpayment]inorder todeterminethecheapestplan.Itwillcostseveralhundred dollarstogradethesite.5427Aug1907 Actionwaspostponedontheawardofcontractforthe burialoftheindigentdeadtoJamesHaganfor$3.50abody. Sullivansaidthatdecentburialcouldnotbegivenadogfor

52SanFranciscoCall,Sunday,13August1905,page26,column4.53SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,16January1906,page9,column5. 54SanFranciscoCall,Friday,26January1906,page7,column4.


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thatamount,andthehealthcommitteewasdirectedto prepareaplanfortheburialoftheindigentdeadbythe city.5530Apr1908 ASKSHIGHERRATE JamesHagan,whohasthecontractforburyingtheindigent dead,isanxioustoenterintoanewagreementwiththecity. Heclaimsthathispresentprice,$3.50,ininsufficient,ashe hastopayatollof$1foreachbodytakentoSanMateo countyforinterment.Hagan’snewofferistoburythe indigentandthosedyingfromcontagiousdiseasesfor$350 amonth.5606Sep1911 JamesHaganaskedthathiscompensationforburyingthe city’sdeadbeincreasedfrom$3.50perpersonto$5.He saidthe$3.50barelypaidtheexpense.Thematterwas referredtothefinancecommittee.57````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````CEMETERIESDENIEDBYTHEBOARDOFSUPERVISORS

BOYENFONGCHINESECEMETERY “The Petition of Bo Yen Fong for permission to establish and maintain aChinese Cemetery on land belonging to Messrs. Swanberg and Westphalsituated on San Pedro road about four <4>miles from the town of Colma,heretoforepresentedandcontinuedtothistimeforconsideration.”•Petitiondenied20June1898.58

Petitioninitiallypresented06June1898.59

55SanFranciscoCall,Tuesday,27August1907,page5,column1.56SanFranciscoCall,Thursday30April1908,page7,column7.57SanFranciscoCall,Wednesday06September1911,page1,column3.58BoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume11atpage435.59BoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume11atpage414.


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ROBSONCEMETERY

07Jun1897 THEHEARINGONPETITION“ThePetitionofGeo.C.Rossprayingthattherightbeirrevocablygrantedtohim,hisheirs,assignsorsuccessorsininterestforever,Toacquire,establish,maintainanduseforCemeterypurposesallofthatcertainpieceorparcelofland, situate, lying and being in the County of San Mateo, in the State ofCalifornia, all that land known as theRobsonTract, containing 128 acres,moreorless,andmoreparticulardescribedasfollows:“CommencingatapointonthenewSanPedroRoadattheNortheastcornerofsaid landwhere it intersects the Southeast corner of Domingo Zenone’s 24acre tract of land; thenceWest toWilliamBartley’s landwhere it intersectsZenone’s40acretract,20chains[1,320feet];thenceSouthfollowingEastsideofZenone’s40acretract,20chains[1,320feet];thenceWest20chains[1,320feet]toZenone’sSouthwestcornerofhis40acretract;thenceSouthfollowingZenone’sEastlineofhis80acretractoflandtotheBuriBuriRanch[Rancho]North line; thence Easterly following the Buri Buri line to a point where itintersects the new San Pedro Road; thence Northerly following themeanderingsofthesaidnewSanPedroRoadtopointofbeginning.“Together with its tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereuntobelongingorinanymannerappertaining,‐wasprescribedandread“DistrictAttorneyHenryW.WalkerbeingpresentstatedtotheBoardthatheknewofnolegalobjectiontothegrantingofsaidpetitionandprivilege.“OnthemotionofSupervisorTilton,itisorderedthatthesaidpetitionbeandthesame isherebygranted.” ‐‐BoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpages212and213.

Petitioncarriedovertonextmeetingandthendenied.•19July1897‐Petitiondenied.60

60BoardofSupervisor’sMinutes,Volume10atpages212and213.[Transcriber’snotesincomplete]

DALY CITY’S CEMETERIES CITY... · 2020. 7. 18. · Russell R. Brabec, 2015 History Guild of Daly...

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Transcript of DALY CITY’S CEMETERIES CITY... · 2020. 7. 18. · Russell R. Brabec, 2015 History Guild of Daly...