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ABOUT

GRANT COUNTY, N.M.

AND

THIS DATABASE

BY

CARL W. SCHOLL

UPDATED  OCTOBER   2007
Web Site Search on

GRANT COUNTY NEW MEXICO

DEATH AND CEMETERY RECORDS

 This
Death & Cemetery Records Database

is an ongoing project for about 26 years. I owe a debt of gratitude many people (in the hundreds) for the help they have providedHowever, the most credit should probably goCharles Barnum for putting it all up on the internet where all who are interested will have access to it and at no cost to them, I might add.

By
Carl W. Scholl

INDEX
of
About Grant County

PAGE #1                    Cover Page

PAGE #2                    INDEX  (of the following pages)

PAGE #3& 4              RECORD COLLECTIONS,  This Database is composed of the following.

                                    71,000 plus deaths and 11,000 obits

PAGE #5                    Data Source Codes

PAGE #6 & 7             Character codes used to denote source of record 

PAGE #8, 9 & 10       NOTES: (Information about Items in the Database

PAGE #11, 12 & 13   List of Cemeteries included in this Database, (76) cemeteries.

PAGE #14 & 15         Cemeteries of Silver City, NM, (8)cemeteries.

PAGE #16 to 23         Towns of Grant County, NM, (220) towns, (86) PO’s.

PAGE #24                  Mortuaries of Silver City, (10) mortuaries.

PAGE #25 & 26         Hospitals in Grant County, NM, (15) in Grant County.

PAGE #27                  Newspapers of Grant County, (36) newspapers.

PAGE #28 to 30         Tombstone Abbreviations

PAGE #31 to 37         A History Of the Grant County Boundaries down through the years. Created in 1868 and changed 5 times since, (see maps).

   

This Database is composed of the

Following  RECORD COLLECTIONS.

 

     * Denotes that there is aMAP of this Cemetery.

                         ** Denotes that therePICTURES and a MAP of this Cemetery

                         For pictures see note # 19

Cemetery records  (CR), (see the list of cemeteries)

                These records were taken from each Cemetery headstone in most cases.

                (*) Indicates that there is a map for that Cemetery

Catholic Church records

                Holy Family Catholic Church  (HFCC)

                                Located in Hanover – Records are in Bayard

                Infant Jesus Catholic Church  (IJCC)

                                Located in Hurley – Records are in Hurley

                Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church  (LFCC)

                                Located in Bayard – Records are in Bayard

  Santa Clara Catholic Church  (SCCC)

                Located in Santa Clara – Records are in Santa Clara

              Santa Rita Catholic Church  (SRCC), (Church does not exist any longer)

                                Located in Santa Rita – Records are in Bayard

 St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (ST-V), 1889 to 1990,6175 burials

                Located in Silver City – Records are in Silver City 

Execution records  (EX),  (about 9 records 1880 to 1922). Records for Grant County

            taken from a list of  “New Mexico Executions before Lethal Injections “ record. 

Family records  (FR)  (about 312 records in database)

                Some of these records were obtained from families and other collections. 

Fort Bayard National Cemetery  (FT), 1866 to 2004,3656 burials

                These records were taken from the Cemetery records 

Fort Bayard State Cemetery  (FTS), 1965 to 2001,315 burials

                These records were taken from Ft Bayard Hospital records. 

Grant County Health Dept  (GCHD), 1907 to 1923,2466 deaths

                These records were taken from the Grant County Health Records. 

Masonic Lodge records*  (ML), 1804 to 2003,1548 burials

                These records were taken from the Masonic Lodge # 8, AF & AM. 

Mine records  (MR)

                These records were obtained from the various mine offices in Grant County.

Empire Zinc Cemetery *, 1928 to 1981, 309 burials

Santa Rita # 3 Cemetery*, 1845 to 1986,308 burials

Santa Rita # 4 Cemetery*, 1916 to 1958,87 burials

Santa Rita # 5 Cemetery*, 1845, 1912 and 1927 to 1986,671 burials

Savanna Cemetery, 1916 to 1948, 308 burials

Miscellaneous Records  (MISC)  51 burials

                These records are all from Memory Lane Cemetery. Mostly old Soldiers. 

Mortuary Records  (listed by mortuary)

Cox Mortuary   (COX), 1901 to 1960, 5696 deaths

Bright Mortuary  (BR), 25Apr.1997 to present,161 deaths

Baca Funeral Chapels (BAD), Located in Deming, NM.  

                Deming was in Grant County until 1901.  1898 to 1993,44 deaths

Baca’s Funeral Chapels  (BA), 1987 to 2000 plus,485 deaths

Curtis Mortuary  (CU), 1961 to 1969, 1762 deaths

Curtis – Bright Mortuary  (CB), 1970 to 1997,22,175 deaths

Curtis – Bright – Wheeler Mortuary (CBW), 23 May 1980 to 25 Apr. 1991

Hinman Mortuary  (HM), 1884 to 1938,  1448 deaths

Mahoney Mortuary  (MA), Located in Deming, NM, 1887 to 1901, 101deaths

                                Deming was in Grant County until 1901.

Terrazas Funeral Chapels  (TFC), MAY 2005 to present (new mortuary)

Wheeler Mortuary  (WH), 1980 to 1990, 38 deahts

 New Mexico State death records  (SDR), 1907 to 1938,7011 deaths

                These records are on file at the Silver City Museum.

 Obituaries  (OB), (1872 to 1882) and (1946 to 2003),12,107 obits

                These records are on file at the Silver City library.

 Used by compiler  (UBC) 359 records 

These records are from various cemeteries in Grant County and there is no record of where they came from. They are in the database so they don’t get lost.

 Voter purge records  (VPR), 1976 to 1996,4535 records

 

   DATA SOURCES

1. New Mexico death records (see note # 11)

6. Miscellaneous Records (see note # 13)

2. Voter Purge Records

7. Obituaries

3. Mortuary Records (see note # 10)

8. Previously compiled records

4. Grant County Health Department Records   (see note # 17)

9. Cemetery Headstones (see note # 12)

5. Mine Records  (see note # 9)

10. Church Records

 

NOTE:

This database includes all known Mortuary Records from all Mortuaries in Grant County, (Hinman, Curtis-Bright, Wheeler and Baca funeral  homes) that existed, up until about 1988 plus some others up until 2000. The records may not include records form Luna & Hidalgo Counties while they were in Grant County.

 Character codes used for the

Record Source in theNOTE field.

NEW FORMAT
Used after Jun 2007

 

BA      = Baca’s Funeral Chapels

LFCC  = Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Located in Bayard
  Records in Bayard, NM

BAD    = Baca Funeral Chapels (see note # 16)

MA     = Mahoney Mortuary (Located in Deming, NM.)

BR      = Bright Mortuary

MISC  = Misc. records (see note # 5) 
CB      = Curtis – Bright Mortuary ML      = Masonic Lodge records
COX    = Cox Mortuary

MR     = Mine records  (see notes # 7 and # 9)

CR      = Cemetery records (see note #7 & #13)

OB      = Obituary  (see note # 6  & #24)

CU      = Curtis Mortuary

SDR    = New Mexico State death records (see note # 3)

FUMC = First United Methodist Church

 

EX       = Executions in Grant County before Lethal Injections SCCC = Santa Clara Catholic Church  Located in Santa Clara

EP        = Enterprise condensed books at public library. 5 Volumes

SCE    = Enterprise articles (see note #23)

FPC     = First Presbyterian Church, SC

SFNC =  St. Francis Newman Center Catholic Church,  Silver City

FR       = Family records  (see note  # 12)

SRCC = Santa Rita Catholic Church  (Records at Bayard),(see note #21)

FT       = Fort Bayard National Cemetery ST-V   = St. Vincent Catholic Church
FTS     = Fort Bayard State Cemetery

ST-V/OS = Burials outside of SVDP (see note#25)

GCHD =Grant County Health Dept.   (see notes # 11 and 17)

TFC    = Terrazas Funeral Chapels (new mortuary as of May 2005)

HFCC  =Holy Family Catholic Church Hanover (Records at Bayard)

UBC   = Used by compiler  (see note # 12)

HM      = Hinman Mortuary   VPR    = Voter purge records (see note # 11)
IJCC   = Infant Jesus Catholic Church   (Located in Hurley, NM.)        WH     = Wheeler Mortuary

Codes used in the rest of the "NOTE" field.

b.          = Born date d.         = Died date lv.        = Residence at time of death
f.          = Father m.        = Mother w.        = wife of spouse
SC.      = Silver City h.         = Husband NM.     = New Mexico
nk        = Next of Kin ()          = Inscription on headstone (in some cases)  

 

NOTES

These notes are used to clarify information in theABOUT GRANT COUNTY section. 

NOTE  # 1.     An entry of a "?" following an entry of data is sometimes based on conflicting information in other records.           

NOTE  # 2.     A "?" in the Cemname field assumes that the person is buried in that cemetery and not just buried locally. This is done for the purposes of computing. 

NOTE  # 3.     In the New Mexico State death records, theCity field in most cases denotes place of death.
                        New Mexico State Death records include at least the years of 1907 to 1938.
                        Maybe more 

NOTE  # 4.     The town of Vanadium was once calledSan Jose del Oro orSan Jose and later changed to Vanadium. 

NOTE  # 5.     See the Book of Rev. Cliff Henderson's Titled "Directory of  Silver City Memory
                        Lane Cemetery" and "Grant County Obituaries". This code may also include information
                        from  other records or works.

NOTE  # 6.     The Newspapers that the Obituaries were extracted from. are at the library were;

                        (See note #24)

1.  ML   = Mining Life (1873 – 1875) 4.  DP    = Daily Press (1938 – present) 7.  ENR = Lordsburg Liberal (1919 – present)
2.  GCH = Grant County Herald (1879 – 1881) 5.  SN    = Sun News (1999 – present) 8.  SWS  = Southwest Sentinel (1883 – 1885)
3.  NSW= The New Southwest (part of SWS ?) 6.  ENT  = Enterprise (1904 - ?) 9.  DSW =The Daily Southwest (1880 - ?)

 NOTE  # 7.     The Hanover Cemetery is made-up of the following cemeteries:

                                    NOTE: (MR)   is the code for Mine Record, also (MR-Z) is for Empire Zinc.

1.      Empire Zinc Company Cemetery

2.      Santa Rita # 5 Cemetery

3.      Hanover Cemetery,  (At this time there is no record of there ever having been a

       “Hanover” Cemetery ) .

                                     There could be more towns included, like Wimsattville or Turnerville etc. 

NOTE  # 8.     The Silver City Cemetery was located with Santa Rita St. on the East and West St. on the West side, with 10th St. on the South side and 12th St. on the North side. On 13 Mar. 1882 the Town of Silver City commissioned the Cemetery to be moved out to what is now the Memory  Lane Cemetery. 

NOTE  # 9.     Mine records tend to be accurate on the birth dates, but tend to sometimes show the
                       BURIED DATED
instead of the Died Dates. 

NOTE  # 10.   Mortuary records start about 1884 to 1988 and are fairly complete;

                        These records are indicated by the several letter codes at the beginning of the NOTE field.

NOTE  # 11.   TheCity field in most cases denotes place of death in the following sources.

Voter purge records start 1976 through 1996

Grant County Health Records start 1907 through 1923. 

NOTE  # 12.   Some of these records were obtained from families, churches or other collections. 

NOTE  # 13    The (CR) the beginning of the “NOTE” field indicates this record is a Cemetery Head Stone reading.

                        This code may also include information from families of the buried person. 

NOTE  # 14     (Also known as the Mexican Cemetery) no longer used after 20 Apr. 1877.  

NOTE  # 15    Before the creation of Memory Lane Cemetery, part of the land that was to make up Memory Lane Cemetery housed three older cemeteries (about 1 acre each). Each dated before 1904 until 1945 when they were deeded over to the Town of Silver City to become part of the City Cemetery. 

The oldest appeared to be I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). First record shows died date of 1881.

                        Most of the graves are in section “B” of Memory Lane Cemetery.  

The second oldest was A.O.U.W. (Ancient Order of United Workmen). First record shows died date of 1901.

                        Most of the graves are in section “C” of Memory Lane Cemetery.  

The third cemetery was the Knights of Pythias Cemetery. First record shows died date of 1902.

                        Most of the graves are in section “A” of Memory Lane Cemetery. 

NOTE  # 16    The source code “BAD” is used to denote the records that come from the Baca Funeral Chapels in Deming, NM.

NOTE  # 17    The source code “GCHD” is used to denote the Death Register of the Grant County Health Department from 28 May 1907 to 31 Dec 1923.

                        The  “CITY” fields show only where the person died.

The  ”CEMNAME” in some cases shows the town or location where the deceased person was sent to. In the remainder of the instances “CAMNAME” reflects the same town as the “CITY” field shows.                                                                                           

NOTE  # 18    The Leopold Cemetery was located just south of the old Tyrone Mine. When Tyrone became an open pit mine the Cemetery was moved to a mass grave in the Savanna Cemetery in about 1968 or 1969. The excavation was contracted by Harry Bright. It was said that 36 holes were dug and only 18 remains were found and moved. Due to an epidemic in the early times, as many as five children may have been buried in the same grave. This could bring the total buried to 60 or more.

NOTE   #19    In the “LIST OF CEMETERIES INCLUDED IN THIS DATABASE”

                        You will find:

                        * Denotes that there is aMAP of this Cemetery.

                      ** Denotes that there arePICTURES and aMAP of this Cemetery

                        For pictures email 1cws13@signalpeak.net   

    NOTE: THERE IS A CHARGE FOR PICTURES!  

NOTE #20      The Blackhawk Cemetery is just down from the Blackhawk Mine. There are no visible graves. The
                        location was given by Jim Fleming. The only distinguishing thing is a corral at that location. There is no map.  

NOTE #21      SRCC is the source code for the Santa Rita Catholic Church Death Records. These records cover the years from 1925 to 1967, however they are not complete. The records from 1937 to 1944 were lost and these records reflect an effort to gather the records from other sources . 

NOTE #22      Fort Bayard was commissioned 21 Aug. 1866. The troops were all transferred to other posts in 1899. In 1899 the Post was transferred from the Department of the Army to the Surgeon General.

                        In 1922 the Post was transferred from the Surgeon General to the Veterans Hospital.

                        In 1965 it was transferred to the State of New Mexico.  

NOTE #23      SCE (Enterprise articles verbatim from the Silver City Enterprise newspaper) from the “This is Silver City” series of Five Volumes by William H. Mullane written 1965 to 1971.

Vol. I 1882-1883-1884, Vol. II 1885-1886-1887, Vol. III 1888-1889-1890,

Vol. IV 1891, Vol. V 1892-1892.  Some death records may reflect the printing date, however dates reflect as close to the death date as possible.  

NOTE #24      These records may reflect the records for the time after Luna and Hidalgo Counties were formed. 

NOTE #25      ST-V/OS code depicts records of the St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church for burials outside of the St.
                        Vincent De Paul Catholic Church. (mostly for the Catholic Cemetery in Silver City)

 

LIST OF CEMETERIES
INCLUDED IN THIS DATABASE

Updated October 2007

(NEW CEMETERIES ARE ADDED TO THIS LIST FREQUENTLY)
 * Denotes that there is aMAP of this Cemetery.
** Denotes that therePICTURES and a MAP of this Cemetery

For pictures see note # 19

             CEMETERY                                                            LOCATION

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apodoca Cemetery *.............................................Whitewater (GPS, N32.57287, W108.13290)

Bear Canyon Dam Cemetery ** (NO MAP)...........Bear Canyon Dam Road (off of State Rd. 35)                                                                                   GPS (N32.88646, W107.99252)

Biebelle Cemetery.................................................. Mimbres River    (off of State Rd. 61)

Billings (Gila River) Cemetery** (NO MAP)..........Lower Gila (GPS, N32.81299, W108.59897)

Billings (White Signal) Cemetery............................White Signal area off state Hwy 90

Blackman Cemetery...............................................So. Hwy 90 S. off of Whitewater Road
                                                                                   GPS, N32.50522, W108.30370, ELEV. 5616ft.

Blackhawk Cemetery  (see note # 20)...................(At Blackhawk mine)  Location off US-180
                                                                                   (GPS, N32.73445, W108.50478)

Brock Cemetery ** (NO MAP).............................Thompson Canyon, (GPS N32.56873, W108.54913)

Central Cemetery*..................................................Located in Santa Clara, NM.

Clark Cemetery *...................................................Gila River  (GPS, N32.88286, W108.59940)

Cliff – Gila Catholic Cemetery.................................Gila River  (GPS, N32.94931, W108.58338)

Delk Cemetery **...................................................East of Santa Rita

Dwyer Cemetery, also known as San Jose..............Mimbres River   (behind Catholic Church)
                                                                                    GPS (N32.62305, W107.87950)

Dinwiddie Cemetery *.............................................Cliff  (on State Rd. 180), (GPS, N32.98502, W108.65000)

Eby Cemetery.........................................................Mimbres River, GPS (N32.6398O, W107.87021, ELEV 5268ft.)

Empire Zinc Cemetery*  (see note # 7)...................Hanover  (turn off of State Rd. 152 at Turnerville exit)
                                                                                  GPS (N32.80698, W108.08952, ELEV. 6270 ft.)

Fierro Cemetery*....................................................State Hi-Way # 356, GPS, N32.84363, W108.07644, ELEV. 6655’

Ford Cemetery **...................................................Moon Ranch, (GPS, N32.15916, W108.79343)

Fort Bayard National Cemetery *............................Ft. Bayard, Started in 1866 by the U.S. Army

Fort Bayard State Cemetery *.................................Ft. Bayard, Operated by New Mexico Health Dept.

Foster Cemetery.....................................................Lower Mimbres River on Luna Co. Rd. # A009
                                                                                  GPS  (N32.58662, W107.90623, ELEV 5082ft.)

Fuller Cemetery......................................................Lower Gila River, NM, near Redrock, NM.

Garcia / Rodriguez Cemetery..................................NM State Road # 153, (North of Gila store)
                                                                                 GPS N32.98896, W108.55353,

Georgetown Cemetery...........................................Georgetown Road

Glaze Cemetery......................................................S. of White Signal, NM.,  (GPS, N32.35695,W108.35695)

Glenn Cemetery......................................................S. of Grant County Airport, (GPS, N32.62269, W108.16863)

Gold Hill Cemetery *..............................................Gold Hill (Off of State Rd. # 90)

Gordon Cemetery **..............................................NE of Buckhorn, NM., (GPS, N33.04783, W108.70355) 

Grijalva Cemetery..................................................Mimbres River   (off of State Rd. 61)
                                                                                 GPS (N32.84559, W107.97156)

Hanover Cemetery *  (see note # 7).....................Hanover  (turn off of State Rd. 152 at Turnerville exit)

Hicks Cemetery **..............................................Mimbres River   (State Road # 35 , mile post # 9.5)
                                                                               GPS (N32.91032, W108.00537)

Hightower Cemetery............................................Mimbres Valley, Hightower Canyon, GPS, N32.9213, W108.0712

Hurley Cemetery *   (old).....................................Hurley    (south end of 1st. street)

Hurley Cemetery      (new)...................................Hurley    (southwest of town ¾  mile)

Jackson Cemetery *............................................North of Buckhorn, NM., (GPS, N.33.10713, W.108.78864)

Kingston Cemetery..............................................West of the town of Kingston, NM.

Laws Cemetery **..............................................1/8 Mi.So.Hwy.90 Juniper Tree on LEFT
                                                                                 (GPS, N.32.55190, W.108.36328, ALT. 3937 ft.)

Latham Cemetery **............................................NW of Buckhorn, NM., (GPS, N33.07691, W108.69464)

Leopold Cemetery...............................................Just south of Tyrone Mine. (see note # 18)

Magurder Cemetery **.........................................Mimbres River (behind the Masonic Lodge)
                                                                                GPS, N32.85118, W107.97824, ELEV. 6134 ft.

Maldonado Cemetery...........................................NM State Road # 153, County address # 348
                                                                             GPS N33.00493, W108.54655, (North of Gila store)

McCauley Cemetery............................................(GPS, N.32.57820, W.108.36804, ALT. 6154 ft.),
                                                                                   Left fork of road

McDonald Cemetery.............................................SE 1/3 of NW ½ Sec 6 TW 21 R 14W

Mesa Cemetery*...................................................Gila  (on State Rd. 211), (South of Gila store)
                                                                                 GPS N32.94930, W108.58735

Miller Cemetery ** (NO MAP).............................Mimbres River,  GPS (N32.60244, W107.88123)

Montoya Cemetery **...........................................Mimbres River, GPS, N32.85574, W107.97973, ELEV. 6131ft.

Morrell Cemetery...................................................NE ¼ of NW ½ Sec1 Twnshp 21 Rng 15W

Mulecreek Cemetery *..........................................Mulecreek   (at Mulecreek on State Rd. 78, behind Post Office)

Osmer Cemetery *................................................Burro Mountains (N.32.61135,W.108.46102)

Parker Cemetery *................................................On the Hotchkiss Place, SC.  GPS (N.32.79120, W.108.28364)

Pena Cemetery **.................................................Mimbres River,   GPS (N32.65696, W107.84999)

Perrault Cemetery.................................................Mimbres River   (across from the south Mimbres fire station)
                                                                                GPS (N32.74942, W107.89342)

Pine Cienega Cemetery *....................................South of Mulecreek   (south off of State Rd. 78)
                                                                                GPS  N.33.011,  W.108.975

Pinos Altos Cemetery..........................................Pinos Altos  (State Rd. # 15)

Power Cemetery...................................................NM State road #153, about mile marker # 0.5.
        GPS N32.97217, W108.57470, (North of Gila store)

Provencio Cemetery.............................................Bear Creek @ Gila, NM, (GPS, 32.94880, W108.56541)

Red Rock Cemetery *...........................................Red Rock, NM.

San Jose Catholic Cemetery..................................San Jose, GPS (N32.62088, W107.87689, ELEV 5259ft.)

San Juan-Sherman Cemetery.................................San Juan (Mimbres River)  (turn off State Rd. 61 at old bar)
                                                                                 GPS (N32.76469, W107.90975)

San Lorenzo Cemetery...........................................975) San Lorenzo (Mimbres River), (top of hill, east side of Town)
                                                                                  GPS (N32.80955, W 107.91726)

Santa Rita # 3 Cemetery *......................................Santa Rita   (intersection of  State Rd. 152 & Georgetown Rd.)

Santa Rita # 4 Cemetery *......................................Santa Rita  (Georgetown Rd. about 1 mile on left.) 

 

Santa Rita # 5 Cemetery **  (see note # 7)............Hanover   (off of State Rd. 152 at Turnerville exit)
                                                                                 GPS (N32.80606, W108.08919, ELEV. 6268Ft.)

Savanna Cemetery *..............................................Tyrone   (Cemetery on P. D. mine (requires escort)

Sawyer Cemetery...................................................Hwy # 90 by Tyrone mine, (GPS N32.63224, W108.34349)

Shakespeare Cemetery..........................................South of Lordsburg, NM.

Silver City Cemeteries

            A.O.U.W Cemetery *.............................Memory Lane Cemetery  (see note # 15)

            Catholic Cemetery *................................Far south end of Cooper St.

            Knights of Pythias Cemetery *.................Memory Lane Cemetery  (see note # 15)

            I.O.O.F. Cemetery *...............................Memory Lane Cemetery  (see note # 15)

            City Valley Cemetery...............................Located southwest corner of Spring St. and Corbin St
                                                                                (see note #14).

            City Flats Cemetery...................................(In use until 1882 - see Note # 8)

            Masonic Cemetery *................................ (far south end of Cooper St.)

            Memory Lane Cemetery *........................(off State Rd. 180 on Memory Lane )

            Smith Cemetery ** (NO MAP).................Royal John Mine Road
                                                                                GPS (N32.74942, W107.89342)

Snider Cemetery **...............................................Hi-way 180, S. side of Big Dry, (GPS, N33.20495, W108.83383)

Stout Cemetery *...................................................North of Cliff, NM. About 2mi., (N.32.96886, W.108.62748)

Thwaits Cemetery.................................................White Singal, NM,  GPS, N32.53922,W108.40719, ELEV.6187ft.

Toney Cemetery **...............................................Gila River (GPS, N.32.86811, W.108.59532)

Trujillo Cemetery *................................................Mimbres River, HI-WAY 61, GPS N32.58818, W107.92376

Vanadium Cemetery - San Jose Del Oro..........North of Bayard  (see note #4)

Watson Cemetery.................................................GPS, N32.52714,W108.37904, ELEV.5950ft. @White Singal, NM

Whitworth Cemetery..............................................Ashes at GPS  N32.90156, W108.19710, Little Cherry Creek

 NOTE:    * Denotes that there is aMAP of this Cemetery.
 ** Denotes that therePICTURES and a MAP of this Cemetery
For pictures see note # 19

Cemeteries
of
 Silver City

Down through the years there have been EIGHT cemeteries in Silver City, NM, three of which still exist and are in use today.

The Old City Cemeteries

The two oldest cemeteries are no longer in use and they were:

The Valley City Cemetery: it was located about the corner of Spring St. and Bennett St.. It was referred to by several names back then, the Mexican Cemetery, the Catholic Cemetery, the Pauper Cemetery and also the Chinese Cemetery. The other one was called The Flats City Cemetery: It was bordered by Santa Rita St. on the east side, West St. on the west side, 10th  St on the south side., and 12th St. on the north side. The first known burial was John M. Bullard on 23 Feb. 1871.

In Feb. 1876 the legislature passed a law stating that there would be no more burials within town limits. It wasn’t until around 8 March 1883 when County Commissioners decided to do something about it. They sent a letter to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the town of Silver City. The Chinese were also notified at this time.

The Chinese were evidently so unhappy that they formed a working party and dug up all of the bones of their people and sent them back to China.

From 7 Jan.1882 until 13 Mar. 1882, John A. Miller contracted with the city to move all of the graves to “The New City Cemetery” at what in now known as Memory Lane Cemetery.

The New City Cemeteries

Now known as Memory Lane on Memory Lane and the Catholic Cemetery on Cooper St.

The Catholic Cemetery is located on the far South end of Cooper St. (on the west side) and was started when the order was given to abandon the Cemetery on the corner of Spring and Bennett St (about 1883). This Cemetery is still in use today. I have found no record of anyone being moved from the Valley Cemetery to the new Catholic Cemetery.

The New City Cemetery is located off of Hi-way 180 on Memory Lane on the east side of Silver City.

Evidently around 1881 – 1882 there was an agreement between P.H. Harsh and Mr. Pollock of Cox Mortuary to move the remains from the old City Cemetery to the new City Cemetery (now Memory Lane).

In Nov. 1904 there were three separate parcels of land deeded to three organizations.

However on 12 Dec. 1881 James K. Farrell was buried in the IOOF section, which would seem like at least some of these organizations were having burials as of 1881 or before.

1.  Ancient Order of United Woodmen

2. Knights of Pythias

3. Order of the Odd Fellows

In Mar. 1945 Mrs. Fiske Harsh made a gift of 13 acres to the Town of Silver City.

About the same time Hubert O. Robertson on behalf of the American Legion Post # 18 obtained deeds for the three organization cemeteries. All four deeds are recorded in book # 103 of the Grant County Deed Records. Evidently at this time is when the official name became The Silver City Cemetery.

 On 9 Feb. 1960 the Town and Garden Club was formed. And through their efforts the cemetery was renamed “Memory Lane Cemetery”.

 In 1981 the plans for a Rose Garden were finalized. On 8 Oct 1981 Mildred R. Pinkerton’s ashes were the first to be scattered in the Rose Garden.

The Masonic Cemetery is located on the far end of Cooper St. on the East side. The oldest known burial is recorded in 1875.  There have been indications that there were burials well before this. This Cemetery is still in use.

 Compiled by Carl W Scholl on  March 24, 2006  

TOWNS OF GRANT COUNTY, NM.

(Towns, Camps, railroad stops and Post Offices)
Compiled October 2007
By
Carl W. Scholl

NOTE:
*Luna County was Grant County before 1901
**Hidalgo County was Grant County before 1919

Name

Post Office

Disposition

Notes

Akela*, (settlement) PO 1921-1940, 1941-1943 1880 to 1901 Grant Co. Location 22 mi. E. of Deming
Alamo Hueco ** (Forks) No Post Office Dates unknown West side of Alamo Hueco Mountains
Alhambra  (PO) Jun 16, 1890 - Mar 31, 1902   Mail sent to Silver City Changed to Blackhawk 1890, GPS N32.72545, W108.50326
Allison  (PO) Aug 25, 1893 - Apr 30, 1894 Mail sent to Faywood 10 mi. NE. Faywood Hot Spg.
Alum Camp PO 1890 - 1894 Mail sent to Pinos Altos 3mi. S. of Gila Hot Springs on the Gila River
Alumina  (PO) Apr 3, 1890 - Apr 30, 1894 Mail sent to Pinos Altos 25 mi. N. of Silver City
Animas **  (RR stop) PO 1909 - present About 1902 Junction NM 9 & NM 338
Ansonio  (PO) Apr 27, 1890 - Jun 1, 1892 Mail sent to Hanover North of Teel on Mimbres
Antelope ** (RR stop) No Post Office About 1902 Location 7 mi. E. of Animas
Antelope Wells ** No Post Office Settled in 1847 Location NM 81, just N. of Mexico
Apache Hills ** No Post Office Mining 1880’s Location 6 mi. SE of Hachita
Apache Tejo  (water wells) No Post Office   GPS, N32.64626, W108.12805
4 miles south of Hurley
Arenas Valley  (PO) Jan 1, 1947 - Apr 20, 1987 Neighborhood Delivery 7 miles E.  of Silver City
Ash Creek Camp No Post Office West of Gila River 5.5 mi. W. SE of Dale McCauley’s ranch
Azure  (PO) Jan 7, 1895 - Apr 27, 1895 Mail sent to Silver City 10 m. sw S. C. in Burro Mtns.
GPS, N32.6520, W108.3858
Bacaville  (settlement)   1940’s – 1950’s GPS, N32.72308, W108.13318 North of Hurley
Baker  (PO) UNKNOWN   No information
Bamaer  (PO) UNKNOWN   No information
Barney ** (Stage stop) No Post Office 1800’s, Butterfield trail 5 mi. NE of Lordsburg
  May 17, 1902 - to present   US 180
Beck  ** No Post Office 1800’s Maybe not far from Steins Pass
Birchville, Camp No Post Office About 1860 Later changed to Pinos Altos, NM
Black Hawk  (PO) Jul 30, 1884 - Apr 6, 1887 Mail sent to Fleming Burro Mtns near Saddlerock,
GPS, N32.72545, W108.50326
Black Mountain Camp  (PO) UNKNOWN   No information
Bonanza City No Post Office   Later became Fleming, NM
Bramlett ** (settlement) (PO) 1911 to 1912   Located in the Animas Valley
Bryan  (PO) Sep 26, 1912 - Aug 31, 1913 Mail sent to Cliff 7 mi. south of Cliff
Brockman ** A&NM RR   Early 1900’s North of Hachita
Buckhorn  (PO) Aug 29, 1913 - to present   Orig. name was Nogales
Butterfield No Post Office UNKNOWN No information
Cambray *  RR,  (settlement)     (PO) 1893-1952   Location 5 mi. E. SE of Akela
Cameron      
Camp Ruby Mining camp On current US 90 GPS, N32.80125, W107.96319
Carbonate City, Camp No Post Office Around 1882 Burro Mountains
Carlisle  (PO) Aug 12, 1884 - Nov 16, 1896   Name changed to Steeplerock
Carne *, (settlement) (PO) 1909-1916 Mail sent to Deming Location 14 mi. E. of Deming
Carpenter No Post Office About 1882 Located on W. side of Mimbres mountains
Carrizilillo Minning    
Central  (PO) Jan 8, 1887 - to present   Name chg 1996 to Santa Clara
Central City  (PO) Mar 20, 1870 - Jan 11, 1871 Previously Fullerton Name chg back to Fort Bayard
Chance City * (settlement) (PO) 1885-1886 Also Victorio Location 3 mi. S. of Gage
China Town  (settlement) GPS reading taken in front of  3-Aces Bar   GPS, N32.72969, W108.13283 North of Hurley
Chloride Flat  (PO) UNKNOWN Early 1870’s 1 mile west of Silver City,  GPS, N32.78519, W108.30440
Cloverdale  ** (settlement) (PO) 1912 to 1943 Founded 1880’s Located on NM 338
Cliff  (PO) Aug 4, 1894 - to present   30 mi. W. of Silver City
Cobre  Siding  (PO) UNKNOWN Used in the 1950’s GPS, N32.77937, W108.10929
Close to Vanadium or San Jose
Cody, Camp * (Military) (PO)  1917-1919 North of Deming, NM (GPS, N32.42276, W107.76464)
Cody, Camp * (Hospital) (PO)  1916-1917 Just W. of Military Camp Located 2 mi. W. of Deming
Cody, Camp * (Sanatorium) (PO) 1935-1936 Later Holy Cross Sanat. Located 2 mi. W. of Deming
Columbus *  RR, (settlement) PO 1891-1893, 1896-Present Settled Location 32 mi. S. of Deming, NM 11
Contintal, (settlement) No Post Office Before 1900 Location 5 mi. E. of Hachita
Conrad  **  (RR stop) No Post Office   Location 9 mi. W. of Lordsburg
Cookes, Cooks * (settlement) (PO) 889-1914, 1915-1916 Settled about 1876 Located 20 mi. N. of Deming
Copper Rose     East of Santa Rita
Cotton City **,  (settlement) No Post Office Founded unknown Location 13mi S. of I-10 on NM 338
Cow Camp No Post Office Dates unknown Location 2 mi. W. of Antelope Ridge
Cow Springs Note: Butterfield stage stop   GPS, N32.24.42, W108.10.40
Crawford, (RR Stop) No Post Office Dates unknown Later changed to Spaulding
Cummings * (settlement) No Post Office Previously Porter Station 14 mi. NE of Deming, Later Florida
Cybar * (RR settlement) (PO) 1900-1904   Half way between Nutt & Deming
Deming * (PO)  1881- Present Settled 1881 Located on I-10
Dinsmore Station   1859 ? Later CowSprings  
Dwyer  (PO) Feb 5, 1895 - Jun 30, 1917 Mail sent to Swartz NM State road # 61
East Camp  (PO) Oct 11, 1940 - Mar 31, 1942 Mail sent to Duncan, AZ Near Carlisle & Steeplerock
East Garrison ** No Post Office Maybe 1800’s Maybe located close to Steins Pass
Ernest (RR settlement)   Early 1900’s Just south of Santa Rita
Faywood, (Hotel),1890’s (PO)  moved to Dwyer in 1950   NM State road # 61, 3mi from US 180
Faywood  (PO) Jan 28, 1901 - to present   PO Moved to Dwyer in 1950
Faywood Station (RR)   Early 1900’s South of Whitewater Station
Fierro  (PO) Nov 16, 1899 - May 30, 1969 Mail sent to Hanover 3mi NE of Hanover, State Rd. # 356
Fleming, Camp  (PO) Jun 20, 1883 - Aug 30, 1887 Mail sent to Silver City 10 mi. West NW of Silver City.
Florida *, (settlement) (PO)  1928-1940 Previously Cummings Location 14 mi. NE of Deming
Fort Bayard  (PO) Oct 4, 1867 - Mar 2, 1870   N. of Central City
Fort Bayard  (PO)  (see note # 22) Jan 11, 1871 - Aug 27, 1965 Mail sent to Silver City Changed to  Rural Branch 1966
Fort Cummings * (PO)  1866-1891 Mail to Hadley Located near mouth of Cookes Canyon
Fort Floyd No Post Office About 1860 Changed to Fort Mclane
Fort Mclane Was Ft. Floyd ? About 1861
5mi S. of Hurley, NM
GPS, N32.62952, W108.13178
Reading taken 200yd. W. of  FT.
Fort Webster (old)     Santa Rita (Cantonment Dawson)
Fort Webster No Post Office About 1852 On State road 152 near San Lorenzo, NM
Fort West No Post Office About 1863 E. side of Gila River, S. of Gila, NM
Fullerton * (settlement) (PO)  1882-1883 Later Chance City Located 3 mi. S. of Gage
Furlong, Camp * (Military) No Post Office About 1914 Just E. of Columbus
Gage * (RR, settlement) (PO)  1882 to 1965 Converted to rural branch I-10, 20mi. W. of Deming
Garcia ** (Border Crossing) No Post Office Crossing to Mexico Location 3 mi. W. Cienega Springs
Gary  (PO), (RR stop) UNKNOWN   Location 5 mi. W. of Lordsburg
Georgetown  (PO) May 21, 1875 - Dec 1, 1903 Mail sent to Mimbres 3mi. W. of Mimbres, NM
Gila  (PO) Apr 5, 1875 - to present   State road # 211, at Gila, NM
Gila Hot Springs  (PO) Jun 1, 1969 - 1971 Converted to rural branch NM, Rd. # 15
Gila Hotsprings  (PO) Jul 9, 1966 - Jun 1, 1969   Changed to Gila Hot Springs, NM Rd 15
Gillespie ** (settlement) No Post Office Maybe late 1800’s Location NE slope of Animas Mountains
Goldgulch  (PO) Oct 28, 1902 - never in operation   OFF HI-WAY 90,
(GPS, N32.55164, W108.50371)
Gold Hill  (PO) Jun 26, 1886 - Jun 15, 1906   In Burro Mts. near Malone
Gold Lake E. of  White Signal, NM   GPS, N32.54943, W108.31348
Grahoria  (PO) UNKNOWN   No information
Grant ** (Shakespear) No Post Office, Before 1870 1870 chg. to Ralston Location (Shakespear)
Grant Count, (settlement) No Post Office Unknown dates Mangus Creek & Gila River
Hachita  (PO) 1900 - to present – from Old ? Moved when RR came ? Junction of  NM 9 & NM 81
Hachita, Old  ** Mar 27 1900 – New Hachita Founded about 1875 Location 9 mi. W. of Hachita
Hadley * (settlement) (PO)  1890-1895 Mail sent to Cookes Location NE side of Cooks Peak