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Pioneer Cemetery (Nevada City, California)

Coordinates: 39°15′56″N 121°01′27″W / 39.26556°N 121.02417°W / 39.26556; -121.02417
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Pioneer Cemetery
Map
Details
Establishedc. 1851
Location
West Broad Street, Nevada City, Nevada County, California
CountryUnited States
Coordinates39°15′56″N 121°01′27″W / 39.26556°N 121.02417°W / 39.26556; -121.02417
TypeChurch
Find a GravePioneer Cemetery
The Political GraveyardPioneer Cemetery

The Pioneer Cemetery is a cemetery established in c. 1851 behind the Nevada City United Methodist Church, in Nevada City, California.[1][2] This was the first cemetery in Nevada City, formed during the California Gold Rush.[3]

History

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The Pioneer Cemetery was established in 1851 on a hill behind the Nevada City United Methodist Church.[1] The Nevada City United Methodist Church was the first denominational church in Nevada County.[4] Some sources cite the cemetery establishment date as 1849;[5] this was the first cemetery in Nevada City.[3] Many of the early grave markers were made of wood and no longer existing due to time and decay.[3] It is estimated there are 400 unmarked graves at Pioneer Cemetery.[3]

One of the notable burials is Henry Meredith (1826–1860) who was killed at the Battle of Lake Pyramid in Utah Territory (now Nixon, Nevada); his burial drew crowds to the cemetery.[3] Aaron Augustus Sargent (1827–1887), politician nicknamed, "the Senator for the Southern Pacific Railroad", has a grave marker at this cemetery.[6][7]

Other historic cemeteries in Nevada City include: the North Bloomfield Cemetery in the Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park; the Moores Flat cemetery in Moores Flat, a former mining site; the St. Canice Historical Cemetery; the Pine Grove Cemetery; and the Meadow Lake cemetery in the mining town of Meadow Lake.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Point of Historic Interest in Nevada City, California: Pioneer Cemetery". noehill.com. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  2. ^ Varney, Philip (2012-07-15). Ghost Towns of California: Your Guide to the Hidden History and Old West Haunts of California. Voyageur Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-61058-563-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e Brower, Maria E. (2005). Nevada City. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0-7385-3062-8.
  4. ^ "Nevada City United Methodist Church to host annual Craft Faire". The Union. November 19, 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  5. ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (February 2008). American Cowboy. Active Interest Media, Inc. p. 87. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Ward, Christopher A. (2016-09-12). Cemeteries of the Western Sierra. Arcadia Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-4396-5752-2.
  7. ^ Enss, Chris (2007-07-01). Tales Behind the Tombstones: The Deaths and Burials of the Old West's Most Nefarious Outlaws, Notorious Women, and Celebrated Lawmen. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7627-5186-0.
  8. ^ Brown, Laura (19 October 2005). "Gold Rush graves". The Union newspaper. Retrieved 2022-10-14.