Twenty-four volunteers helped Forest Service archaeologists
on the Plumas National Forest survey for pioneer graves in Plumas and Sierra
Counties in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. They also helped with
cemetery restorations at the historic Gibsonville and St. Louis Cemeteries
located near the survey areas.
During the survey for pioneer graves volunteers successfully
located two graves sites. The first grave located was that of Ann Eliza
Cullings who died in 1853. After her death her husband returned to New York
with their daughter. The second grave found
was that of a miner John P. Wilson who died in 1858 after an avalanche smashed
his cabin in the middle of the night. After crawling out of the ruined cabin he
died on the way to get help from the nearby Hopkins’ Creek settlement. Volunteers
also help record the condition of graves in the historic cemetery of Port Wine
in Sierra County. Several other pioneer graves were searched for but with no
success.
Volunteers helped clean and construct fences in two Sierra
County town cemeteries. In the Gibsonville Cemetery volunteers helped build and
paint a fence that runs around the cemetery. This cemetery is known to have
been used during the 1860’s with interments continuing into the 1970’s. The new
cemetery fence replaces the historic one which collapsed in the 1970’s; the
replacement fence being the same style used historically. Volunteers also helped
clear duff and brush from around graves and cleaned the headstones within the
cemetery. At the St. Louis Cemetery volunteers helped reconstruct two fences that
had collapsed. This cemetery was in use during the 1850’s with the last
interments occurring in the 1930’s. The first new fence was placed around Evan Jones
who died in 1896. The second fence constructed encompassed Thomas Hayes who
died in 1898 and three of his sons: Charles, Johnnie and Eddie. Volunteers also
helped clear duff and clean headstones at the St. Louis Cemetery.