Calvary Cemetary

This time-consuming and distressing state of affairs was finally remedied when La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles, the Catholic church commonly known as La Placita, was consecrated in the pueblo plaza, in modern-day Downtown, in 1822. The first burials, in 1823, occurred along the northern church wall. After a few years, a new graveyard, referred to as Campo Santo and the Old Cemetery, was started on the southern side of the church.About 695 Angeleno settlers were buried in the churchyard between 1823 and 1844, according to historian Steven W. Hackel. Church records of those interred offer a fascinating look at the early inhabitants of Los Angeles—eternal residents hailed from places including Mexico City, Portugal, Ireland, New Mexico, and Baja. Hackel writes: Among the cemetery dead are some of our city’s most infamous and notorious early residents. They are Gervasio Alipas and his lover, María del Rosario Villa, both of whom were executed in 1836 by vigilantes for the murder of María’s husband, who is also buried in the cemetery. Then there is Antonio Valencia, shot in 1838 for the murder of Antonio Águila. Also interred in the cemetery were the criminals José de Jesús Duarte, Ascensión Valencia, and Santiago Linares. Found guilty of having robbed and broken the skull of the German shoemaker and shopkeeper Nicholas Fink, all three were executed and buried in the cemetery in 1841, perhaps not far from their victim.More than half of those buried in the cemetery were indigenous Californians who had been forced to work for the Spanish missionaries ("Mission Indians" largely built La Placita), convert to Catholicism, and give up their ways of life. They came from diverse tribes, including the Gabrielino-Tongva, Serrano, and Luiseño. According to Hackel, 44 percent of the California Indians buried were small children.It wasn’t long before the small graveyard was ...

A large number of famous folks are buried in NYC's cemeteries, such as Green-Wood in Brooklyn or Woodlawn in the Bronx. And while cemetery-creeping isn't an activity that everyone enjoys, many of these graveyards are open to the public, should you want to make a pilgrimage. Here, then, are 25 of the most famous residents of New York City's cemeteries, including New York City politicos and power brokers (Ed Koch, Fiorello La Guardia, Robert Moses), musicians, artists, socialites, and more. Did we leave your favorite person off? Let us know in the comments or on the tipline. Read More...

Rufus Ketchum had been missing in active duty since December 1950. August 7, 2018 SUPERIOR, Wis.- A U.S. serviceman who served in the Korean War and was reported missing more than 60 years ago is now accounted for. Army Sergeant First Class Rufus Ketchum’s remains are being returned to his family in Superior for a full military honors burial.Sgt. Ketchum will return home to Superior on August 14th he was reported missing in action December 6th, 1950 and declared dead during the Korean War. Sgt. Ketchum was a member of the medical detachment and last seen helping a fellow military member on the battlefield administering morphine. His homecoming is a relief to loved ones.“Now bear in mind this is the first time in years that his daughter has seen her father so at that point, there’s going to be a lot of emotions, a lot of excitement that he’s finally coming home,” Sgt. Jeremy Wallworth said.Ketchum’s return to Superior started back in 2001 when a U.S. and Korean people’s army recovery team conducted a joint operation in North Korea and recovered remains from several people. Ketchum’s remains were positively identified through DNA analysis. His funeral service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Superior next Tuesday, August 14th.It will be a full honors service. This is called a re-patriot case, bringing a serviceman back home. Still, more than 7,500 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War but the Northland will be able to welcome one of them back next week.Related Post ...