San Mateo County
Gazette
May 7, 1859

Union Cemetery Association

This institution, although one whose benefits must necessarily be confined to this locality, is nevertheless on in which many of our readers are to some extent interested and for this reason we have deemed it best now to comply with our promise, and give a brief history of the necessity which called it into existence and the plan of its organization.

Until recently, there has really been no public cemetery anywhere in the vicinity of our county seat. A piece of ground on the farm of Mr. Hawes has been occupied for that purpose, and there lie buried the few persons who have died in this vicinity.

Most of them were placed there with the understanding that this was public ground, an impression based upon the fact that Wm. Carey Jones had dedicated it to that purpose and truly promised to convey it to the public at the time when he was owner of the soil.

But when the present owner came to succeed Mr. Jones, he showed an unwillingness to ratify the praiseworthy promise of his predecessor, and suggested to some of our citizens a change. Others, who felt an interest in the matter, began to look into it and endeavor to find some title.

The result was that a public meeting was held at the courthouse on the 15th of January last. At this meeting, considerable feeling was exhibited; to many of the people comprising it, the ground was sacred - they were unwilling to give up the little spot of earth wherein rested the remains of their wives and children.

Finally, a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Gough, Fox, and Lathrop, to look up evidence and report as to whether the people had any title. Several meetings were subsequently held, at one of which the committee reported and recommended the abandonment of the ground, not only on account of the want of title, but also on account of the impracticability of the location.

This recommendation was finally adopted, an association was formed; six acres of land, conveniently located on the plain, in a beautiful oak grove, was purchased and ere long, the remains of many of those who have been buried in the old ground will be removed to this.

In the organization of this association, articles were adopted which provide that the deed shall be taken in the name of the Governor of California, and his successors in office, in trust for the Association - that no part of it shall ever be conveyed away in fee, but that the Association shall have the power to sell burial lots therein.

The ground is to be plotted and the rights in lots appraised, after having set apart a portion of it as a public burial ground. Every member of the Association, as everyone who has contributed ten dollars or upwards towards its purchase, has the right to select on lot, not exceeding the appraised value the amount of his contribution, and in that lot he is to be thereafter entitled exclusively to the burial rights.

The remaining rights are then to be sold off, and the proceeds of such sales devoted wholly to the improvement of the grounds. In this way, it is believed, a rural cemetery can be established which, while it will remain permanent and be open to all, will be an ornament and an honor to the community.

The land has been wholly paid for, and the Association is now endeavoring to raise a sufficient sum to fence it, for which they already have one hundred and thirty dollars on hand or promised. Still other sums have been orally promised by parties particularly interested in the enterprise, and it is confidently expected that, very soon, the Association will be in sufficient fund to put the ground under a good fence.

At least, such ought to be the case for, in matters of this kind, none ought to be backward and those who have promised ought to know "no such word as fail." There are as yet but twenty one members of this organization, and their contributions range from ten to one hundred dollars each. No money is ever returned to individuals - everything remains as a permanent investment - and certainly no one can invest a small amount for a better purpose.

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