Charles Alston Pringle (1878–1916): Cal Bears Football Captain & Victim of Santa Isabel Massacre

Charles Pringle as Cal Bear and News of his Death

 

Plot 2

Charles Alston Pringle was an American mining engineer and former University of California football captain who was killed during the Santa Isabel Massacre (also known as the Gringo’s Curve Massacre) on January 10, 1916, in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Pringle was born in California in 1878, the son of Cornelia J. Pringle and the late Edward J. Pringle. He grew up in San Francisco in a prominent family with strong business and civic ties.

At the University of California, Berkeley, Pringle earned distinction as a popular and talented athlete. Known as “Charley” to classmates and "Lol" in athletics, he played football for the Golden Bears and became one of the most celebrated players of his day. 

Pringle's Big Game at Cal

He was a pivotal figure in the early history of Cal football, appearing notably in 1898 and captaining the team in 1900, his senior year. Pringle was instrumental in Cal’s first-ever victory in the historic Big Game (the annual rivalry match against Stanford) in 1898. He held the ceremonial position of “Guardian of the Axe,” a symbol tied to the Big Game trophy. Cal won the game 22-0 with Pringle rushing for 82 yards and scoring two touchdowns. 

He was also a member of Skull and Keys, the Golden Bear senior honor society, as well as the Chi Phi fraternity.

Charles Pringle "Guardian of the Axe" and Massacre Story

After graduating, Pringle entered the mining industry, where he found early success. Around 1906, he moved to northern Mexico, attracted by opportunities in the Chihuahua mining districts. He later became associated with John Hayes, manager of Phoebe Apperson Hearst’s extensive estates in Mexico, and worked with the Cusi Mining Company at Cusihuiriachic.

Despite the growing instability caused by the Mexican Revolution, Pringle frequently traveled between Mexico and San Francisco, visiting his mother and brothers. His last extended stay in San Francisco occurred in the fall of 1914, after which he returned to Chihuahua in early 1915.

Book about Massacre and Cal Alumni Mourn Article

On January 10, 1916, Pringle was among 16 American mining engineers and employees traveling by train from Chihuahua City to the Cusi Mine. The train was stopped at Santa Isabel (known locally as Gringo’s Curve) by about fifty Villista soldiers under General Pablo López, a close associate of Pancho Villa.

The Americans were ordered off the train, stripped of their clothing, and marched a short distance before being executed by firing squad. Reports indicated the act was politically motivated—revenge against the U.S. for recognizing Venustiano Carranza as Mexico’s president. Only one man, M.A. Cornin, survived by feigning death and escaping. He later provided an account of the massacre.

The news of Pringle’s murder devastated his family. His four brothers—William B., Edward J., Covington, and Sydney—sent urgent telegrams to President Woodrow Wilson demanding justice, the capture of the killers, and greater protection for Americans abroad. Their pleas were widely published in U.S. newspapers and became part of the groundswell of public outrage that contributed to the U.S. Punitive Expedition into Mexico under General John J. Pershing.

Charles Pringle at Cal & Racist Headline after Massacre

Pringle’s mother, Cornelia J. Pringle, received his last letter only days after his death, assuring her that conditions in Mexico had stabilized and that it was safe to return.

Charles Alston Pringle was 37 years old at the time of his death. His body was returned to San Francisco and buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California, following services at Grace Cathedral on January 17, 1916.

The Santa Isabel Massacre remains one of the most significant prelude events to the only U.S. military incursion into Mexico since the Mexican-American War. It also created intense racial tension for years afterwards. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Berkeley Gazette, Oakland Tribune, University of Texas archives, Syracuse Herald, Salt Lake Tribune, Mountain View Cemetery archives, Ottumwa Daily News, Family Search Archives, The San Francisco Call, Texas State Historical Archives, El Paso Times 

Melvin Canfield Chapman (1850–1936): Oakland Mayor involved in contentious transition of power

Chapman

Plot 17, Lot 36

Melvin Chapman was an American lawyer, legislator, and civic leader who served as the 28th mayor of Oakland, California, from 1891 to 1893. A central figure in the city’s late nineteenth-century civic development, Chapman is best remembered for his role in securing Lake Merritt as public land and for his contentious transfer of power with successor George Pardee.

Chapman was born in Westfield, Illinois, in 1850 (some sources list 1848). He studied law in California under attorney Henry Vrooman and was admitted to the bar in 1884. Chapman began his practice with Roscoe Havens before forming his own firm, later known as Chapman & Trefethen. Over time, he became a prominent figure in the Alameda County Bar Association, serving as its president.

Chapman entered politics in the late 1880s, winning election to the California State Assembly, where he represented the 50th District in 1887–1888. In 1891, he was briefly nominated for Congress but declined in favor of supporting his colleague Joseph McKenna.

Elected in 1891, Chapman ran on a platform emphasizing public works, infrastructure modernization, and civic beautification. He advocated for street paving, sewer expansion, marsh reclamation in West Oakland, and the improvement of plazas and boulevards.

One of Chapman’s enduring contributions was his role in securing Lake Merritt as public land. The lake, a tidal lagoon that had been designated a wildlife refuge by the state of California in 1870, was surrounded by property controlled by the Oakland Waterfront Company, a private development syndicate. Chapman negotiated with the company to deed portions of the surrounding land to the city, ensuring public access and laying the foundation for the creation of a park encircling the lake. He further advanced plans for dredging, shoreline improvements, and the establishment of a scenic boulevard, anticipating Lake Merritt’s transformation into Oakland’s civic centerpiece.

Chapman’s term ended in 1893 in a controversy that highlighted the factional politics of Oakland at the time. His successor, George C. Pardee (later Governor of California), attempted to assume office at 12:01 a.m. on inauguration day, accompanied by a new city council. Chapman, citing technical issues with the filing of Pardee’s official bond and the timing of the council’s organization, refused to vacate City Hall immediately.

Headline from Oakland Times

 The dispute escalated into a standoff in which, for a brief period, Oakland effectively had two competing municipal governments—one loyal to Chapman and the other recognizing Pardee. The confrontation underscored the growing tension between reform-minded Republicans such as Pardee and the established Democratic and business interests that Chapman represented. Although the matter was ultimately resolved without violence, it was remembered as one of the most contentious mayoral transitions in Oakland’s early history.

After leaving office, Chapman returned to his legal practice and remained active in civic affairs. He served as head of the Oakland Tribune Publishing Company and was a member of the exclusive Athenian Club, a social and political hub for the city’s professional elite. 

Sources: LocalWiki, Oakland Examiner, Oakland Tribune, Find a Grave, LakeMerritt.org, Find a Grave, Oakland Times

 

 

Theodore Doney McCown (1908–1969): Anthropologist and Archaeologist who Reshaped Understanging of Human Evolution

Dr. Theodore McCown

Main Mausoleum, 1st Floor, Section 12, Tier 4, 4th niche from left

Dr. Theodore McCown was an American anthropologist and archaeologist whose work reshaped modern understanding of human evolution. A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, he is best known for his role in the Mount Carmel excavations of the 1930s, his pioneering studies of fossil human remains, and his contributions to forensic anthropology in the United States. His research bridged archaeology, biological anthropology, and forensic science, and he trained a generation of scholars who carried his approaches into diverse fields.

McCown was born in Macomb, Illinois, to Chester Charlton McCown, a biblical scholar, and Harriett Doney. In 1914, the family moved to Berkeley, California, where his father became Dean of the Pacific School of Religion. His father’s subsequent directorship of the Palestine Exploration Fund in the 1920s exposed Theodore to formal archaeological work during extended stays in Palestine. These formative years instilled in him an enduring interest in the material and fossil record of human history.

McCown studied anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, under Alfred L. Kroeber. He was inspired by Henry Morton Stanley’s In Darkest Africa and gained field experience excavating California shell mounds and studying the Kawaiisu Indians. He graduated with a B.A. in anthropology in 1929, receiving highest honors. In 1930, he was appointed assistant at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem, where he participated in excavations at Jerash. He later joined the American School of Prehistoric Research, which gave American students direct access to European and Near Eastern excavations.

McCown’s scientific career was defined early by his role in the Mount Carmel excavations (1931–1935, 1937) in present-day Israel. Working with British archaeologist Dorothy Garrod and others, he was given responsibility for Skhūl Cave. Between 1931 and 1932, McCown uncovered the remains of at least ten individuals (Skhūl I–X), including children and adults. Several skeletons were found in apparent burials, with grave goods such as a wild boar mandible. His discoveries provided some of the earliest evidence for intentional burial practices among archaic humans.

Dr, Theodore McCown and Skulls

 

The Mount Carmel material included fossils from both Skhūl Cave and nearby Tabūn Cave. McCown, collaborating with the British anatomist Sir Arthur Keith, studied and described these remains. Their monumental publication, The Stone Age of Mount Carmel: The Fossil Human Remains from the Levalloiso-Mousterian (Cambridge University Press, 1939), documented the skeletal material in detail. The analysis highlighted morphological differences between the Skhūl and Tabūn specimens, noting that the Skhūl fossils appeared more modern, while the Tabūn skeleton exhibited more Neanderthal-like traits. McCown argued that the fossils represented a population undergoing evolutionary change, foreshadowing debates on the relationship between Neanderthals and early modern humans. His insistence on interpreting variability within populations rather than through rigid racial categories was a major advance in paleoanthropology.

Although McCown and Keith proposed a new species name (Palaeoanthropus palestinensis), this did not gain acceptance. Today, the Skhūl fossils are regarded as early Homo sapiens, and their association with intentional burial is recognized as a milestone in human behavioral evolution.

Returning to California, McCown joined the Berkeley faculty in 1938 while completing his dissertation on Natufian crania from Mount Carmel. He received his Ph.D. in 1939. His academic progression was steady: Assistant Professor in 1941, Associate Professor in 1946, and full Professor of Anthropology in 1951. He chaired the department from 1950 to 1955 and played a central role in establishing Berkeley’s program in physical anthropology. He also served as Curator of Physical Anthropology at the Lowie Museum (later the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology).

McCown was an exceptional teacher, remembered for his organized lectures, wide-ranging knowledge, and ability to inspire students. He supervised more than 18 doctoral dissertations and numerous master’s theses, helping to establish a strong tradition of physical and forensic anthropology at Berkeley.

During World War II, McCown served as a cryptographer and in Graves Registration with the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps (1942–1945), based at the Presidio in San Francisco. His work identifying war dead deepened his interest in forensic anthropology, which he would later teach and develop at Berkeley. At a time when only a handful of scholars—such as Earnest Hooton at Harvard and Wilton Krogman at Penn—were training forensic anthropologists, McCown was instrumental in establishing the field on the West Coast.

He participated in prominent identifications, including the remains of Father Junípero Serra in Carmel (in connection with his beatification), Juan Bautista de Anza in Mexico, and the evaluation of remains once claimed to be those of Amelia Earhart. These cases highlighted his expertise and made him a resource for both academic and governmental agencies.

McCown’s research interests extended globally. In 1941–42, he excavated the Pre-Incaic site of Huamachuco in the Peruvian Andes, publishing his findings in The Pre-Incaic Site of Huamachuco (1945). He identified two distinct periods of occupation and analyzed both architecture and pottery. He also examined skeletal collections gathered by earlier anthropologists such as Alfred Kroeber.

Later, McCown turned to India, conducting fieldwork in the Narmada Valley in 1957–58 and again in 1964–65, often accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth Richards McCown, herself trained in anthropology. There he studied Middle Pleistocene deposits and Acheulean stone tools, situating them within broader contexts of human evolution. His international experience also took him to France, Czechoslovakia, and Mexico.

Dr. Theodore McCown, Dorothy Garrod and Francis Turville-Petre

McCown combined scholarship with service to the university. At Berkeley, he was Associate Dean of the College of Letters and Science (1956–1961) and served on numerous Academic Senate committees. Within the department, he was Chair, Undergraduate Adviser, and Coordinator of the Archaeological Research Facility. His deep knowledge of the campus and his collegial personality made him an invaluable figure in faculty governance.

McCown was widely recognized by his peers. He was active in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for American Archaeology, the American Society of Physical Anthropology, and the American Society for Human Genetics. He was a Fellow of both the American Anthropological Association and the Royal Anthropological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He also presented influential papers on hominid taxonomy and the education of anthropologists, contributing to the integration of evolutionary theory into paleoanthropology.

McCown died suddenly of a heart attack in Berkeley on August 17, 1969, at the age of 61.  

Sources: The Stone Age of Mount Carmel: The Fossil Human Remains from the Levalloiso-Mousterian (McCown & Keith, 1939); The Pre-Incaic Site of Huamachuco (McCown, 1945); University of California In Memoriam (Hammel, Heizer & Washburn, 1970); Online Archive of California biographical sketch; Harvard American School of Prehistoric Research Directory; British Museum Biographical Records; Institute of Andean Research publications; Anthropology iResearchNet profile of Theodore D. McCown; Virginia Tech online profile, Find a Grave

 

 

Francis Harvey Slocombe (1893–1947): Architect of Berkeley's "Little Chapel of Flowers"

Francis Slocombe grave and Little Chapel of Flowers

Section 66 Lot 1168

Francis Harvey Slocombe (1893–1947) was an American architect based in Oakland, California, active in the early to mid-20th century. He was best known for his work in the Storybook and Period Revival styles, and for his partnership in the firm Slocombe & Tuttle.

Slocombe practiced primarily in the East Bay, where he designed both residential and commercial structures. His work reflected eclectic revival styles popular in the 1920s and 1930s, often characterized by whimsical or romantic design elements.

In 1928, Slocombe’s firm was commissioned by mortician William Hull to design a new chapel adjacent to Hull’s Berkeley mortuary. According to local accounts, Hull’s mother provided Slocombe with a picture of a chapel from her home village in England and asked him to replicate it. Whether influenced by that request or not, Slocombe produced one of Berkeley’s most notable examples of Storybook architecture, known as the Little Chapel of the Flowers.

Completed in 1928, the chapel featured thick plaster walls, a curved roofline, and a distinctive bell tower. Its interior design included large arched dormers, stained-glass galleries, vaulted ceilings supported by timber trusses, and plaster walls tinted with terra-cotta pigments to create a warm glow. A stained-glass window behind the altar completed the design. The chapel became a central feature of Hull & Durgin’s marketing during the Great Depression, with advertisements emphasizing that elegant surroundings did not increase the cost of funeral services.

1650 Trestle Glen Road & 4697 Park Blvd in Oakland

The building was later designated a Berkeley Landmark (Landmark #320, 2015) and is regarded as one of the city’s most enduring examples of Storybook-style architecture.

In addition to the chapel, Slocombe designed other buildings in the East Bay, including a Tudor Revival residence for William Hull in Berkeley (1930). His architectural practice contributed to the region’s stock of eclectic revival homes and commercial structures.

Slocombe lived in Alameda, California, and was a member of the Bethany Gospel Hall. He died suddenly on April 26, 1947, after suffering a medical episode while returning from a golf match.

Sources: Oakland Tribune, Berkeley Architectural Heritage, Association, Edificionado, Berkeley Landmarks Commission 

 

Albin Putzker (1848–1923): First Chair of German Department at Cal; Spoke 27 Languages

  

Plot 26, Lot 125

Albin Putzker was a pioneering linguist, educator, and long-time professor of German at the University of California, Berkeley. Born in Austria, Putzker received his early education in Europe before emigrating to the United States at age nineteen. After further study in the East, he became affiliated with Santa Barbara College as president. In 1874, he was appointed as the first official professor of German language at UC Berkeley. Ten years later, with the addition of another faculty member, a distinct German Department was formally established.

For more than four decades, Putzker shaped German studies at Berkeley. He served as department chair and emeritus chair for decades, overseeing the department’s early growth and guiding it through periods of controversy, including World War I, when the department was criticized for “alleged pro-German sentiments” of some faculty. His contributions extended beyond administration: he was widely recognized as an accomplished scholar, a polyglot with knowledge of 27 languages, and a respected lecturer both in the United States and Europe. His lecture on the German poet, writer and philosopher Friedrich Schiller was widely reported on in newspapers and periodicals.

Putzker gained particular prominence as the author of A Practical German Grammar, which became one of the most widely used textbooks for teaching German in American schools and universities. His reputation was such that about twenty years before his death he was offered the post of United States consul to Greece, owing to his fluency in Greek language and culture, though he declined the appointment to remain in academia.

Beyond the classroom, Putzker was active in community and cultural life. He was a member of Durant Lodge of Masons in Berkeley, the German Teachers’ Association, and the German Club in Oakland. He also built one of the earliest residences along Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, at 2600 Telegraph Avenue, which became a landmark in the growing college town.

Bruno Putzker (1880-1899)

Putzker’s family life was touched by both distinction and tragedy. He and his wife Caroline raised several children, including Bruno Lane Putzker, who enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. Bruno was mortally wounded during an assault in Manila on February 12, 1899, and died days later, becoming one of Berkeley’s young war dead. 

In his final years, Putzker retired from Berkeley but remained a noted figure in the academic world. He suffered declining health following the death of his wife in January 1923, and on May 1, 1923, he died at Temple Hospital in Berkeley at the age of 79. His funeral was held under the auspices of the Masons at the Berkeley Masonic Temple.

Sources: Find a Grave, San Francisco Call, Oakland Tribune, University of California at Berkeley website, Berkeley Architectural Heritage Assoc.

Cleveland Valrey (1930-2023): Highly Decorated and Groundbreaking War Hero

Cleveland Valrey (Photo right, East Bay Times)

Mausoleum Sec. 80, Tier 4

Cleveland Valrey’s military career spanned more than three decades and two major wars, marking him as one of the most accomplished and groundbreaking soldiers of his generation. 

Born with a determination to serve, Valrey enlisted in the Army Air Forces as a teenager before joining the U.S. Army in 1949. Early in his career, he became part of a historic unit: the first all-Black, 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), which fought with distinction during the Korean War. On May 20, 1951, Valrey was wounded during heavy fighting on Hill 581, a testament to his bravery under fire. After recovering in Japan, he rejoined his unit and returned to combat.

Valrey’s career later took flight when he transitioned into Army aviation. Over the years, he logged more than 10,500 flight hours, including 2,100 hours in combat and 4,200 hours as an instructor pilot and instrument examiner. His skill carried him through multiple aircraft, from helicopters like the H-21 and H-34 to fixed-wing planes. He served with Special Forces in the Dominican Republic, flew command missions in Vietnam, and supported units across Southeast Asia at the height of the war.

His decorations reflect the breadth of his service: the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Valor, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 50 Air Medals (one with Valor), and countless campaign stars. These honors underscore a career spent not only in combat but also in leadership, mentorship, and innovation within the Army’s aviation branch.

For his extraordinary contributions, Cleveland Valrey earned induction into two of the Army’s most prestigious circles of honor. He was welcomed into the Ranger Hall of Fame, recognizing his ground-combat heroism and trailblazing role with the 2nd Ranger Company. Later, his pioneering achievements in flight and training secured his place in the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.

These honors carry added weight because African American soldiers remain severely underrepresented in both halls. Despite the 2nd Ranger Company’s historic role in Korea and the long service of Black aviators, only a handful have ever been recognized at this level. Valrey’s dual induction is therefore not only a personal triumph but also a milestone in the ongoing effort to honor the contributions of Black soldiers who often served in the shadows of history.

Cleveland Valrey stands as a rare figure who excelled both as an elite ground soldier and as a master aviator, breaking barriers in two of the Army’s most demanding professions. His story, spotlighted on PBS’s National Memorial Day Concert in 2021, ensures that future generations will remember him not just as a soldier, but as a trailblazer whose service bridged eras, branches, and battlefields.

Sources: Warrant Officer History, Veteran Affairs News, Fort Benning, YouTube, Wikipedia, East Bay Times
 

Hubert Augustus Caldwell (1907–1972): Hall of Fame Olympic Rowing Gold Medalist

Hubert Caldwell and his Family Crypt

Main Mausoleum Section 8, M8J 

Oakland-born Hubert Caldwell was an American rower and Olympic champion who rose to prominence as a member of the University of California, Berkeley crew team during the late 1920s. University and Collegiate Rowing 

Caldwell was part of the University of California, Berkeley Class of 1929 and a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. As an oarsman on Cal’s varsity crew, he competed under the legendary coach Ky Ebright, whose program established the Golden Bears as one of the leading rowing powers in the United States. 

In 1928, Caldwell helped lead the California crew to victory in the national championship, cementing their place as the premier collegiate team in the country. That triumph secured their selection to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. 1928 Amsterdam Olympics 

1928 US Men's Rowing Team (NY Times)

At the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Caldwell rowed in the men’s eight as part of the California crew representing the United States. The team won the gold medal, a victory that underscored the dominance of American collegiate crews on the international stage. That same year, they also claimed the U.S. National Championship title. 

His contributions to the sport of rowing were honored with induction into the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame, recognizing his place among the great American oarsmen. The Foundation was created in Los Angeles in 1936 to celebrate and promote amateur athletics and sportsmanship across the United States.

Following his athletic achievements, Caldwell built a professional career with the United States Steel Company, where he worked for 22 years. 

Sources: New York Times, Oakland Tribune, Find a Grave,  

Monte Upshaw (1936–2017): Legendary Cal Bears track star

 

Long Jumper Monte Upshaw

Plot 71

Monte Upshaw’s name became synonymous with track and field excellence from his early days at Piedmont High School through his record-setting career at the University of California, Berkeley. A prodigious talent, he burst onto the national scene in 1954 when, as a high school senior, he broke Jesse Owens’ national prep long jump record with a leap of 25 feet, 4¼ inches—a mark that stood as a high school milestone for years. He was twice named Northern California Prep Athlete of the Year and served as student body president before graduating in 1954.

Grave marker of Monte Upshaw

At Cal, competing under legendary coach Brutus Hamilton, Upshaw quickly established himself as one of the Golden Bears’ brightest stars. As a freshman in 1955, he set the Cal frosh records in the long jump (24’6”) and the 220-yard hurdles (23.8), and joined teammates Leamon King, John Merchant, and Don Bowden to set a national collegiate freshman sprint relay record of 3:20.9. Although a knee injury curtailed his long jump career, Upshaw went on to excel in sprints, hurdles, and relays. In 1958, as a senior, he teamed with Jack Yerman, Willie White, and Bowden to set a world record in the sprint medley relay with a time of 3:18.8.

Beyond his athletic feats, Upshaw embodied the spirit of Cal athletics. He was enshrined in the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, and the "Upshaw Family Long Jump" at the annual Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Edwards Stadium honors his family’s multi-generational contributions to Golden Bear track & field. His daughter, Grace Upshaw, became a three-time U.S. champion, two-time Olympian in the long jump, and a Cal Hall of Fame inductee in 2014. Daughter Joy Upshaw served as an assistant coach for the Bears, while granddaughters Sunny and Windy continued the family legacy as Cal student-athletes.

Monte Upshaw running track

A lifelong supporter of Cal, Upshaw founded and chaired the Friends of Cal Track & Field organization and served as president of the Big C Society. His teammates and friends remembered him as much for his generosity and character as for his world-class performances. Don Bowden, the first American to break the four-minute mile, recalled: “Monte will always have a special place in our tower of memories. Although his athletic accomplishments were numerous and world-class, he will also be remembered as a great human being, a teammate always there for you, and a friend for life.”

Monte Upshaw passed away on July 26, 2017, at the age of 81 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. 

Sources: Univ of CA/Berkeley Sports Hall of Fame, SFGate, East Bay Times, Find a Grave 

Charitie Bancroft deCheney (1841-1923): Irish-American Hymn Writer

Charitie Bancroft and her most famous hymn

Plot 52B, Lot 119

Charitie Lees Smith—better known in hymnals as the author of Before the Throne of God Above—was born in Dublin, Ireland on 21 June 1841, the daughter of Reverend George Sidney Smith and Charlotte Lees. Her father served in several Church of Ireland parishes and as a canon of Derry Cathedral, while also holding a professorship at Trinity College Dublin.

From a young age Charitie displayed a gift for religious verse, and her hymns were soon published in leading collections across the British Isles. Her most enduring contribution is the hymn Before the Throne of God Above (originally titled The Advocate, 1863), which remains widely sung today. In 1867 she published a collection of poetry, Within the Veil and Other Sacred Poems.

The group Selah, a renowned contemporary Christian vocal trio from Nashville, released their version of “Before the Throne of God Above” on their album Hiding Place on May 25, 2004. This hymn features lyrics written by Bancroft, but with a modern melody composed by Vikki Cook—a setting that has gained widespread popularity in contemporary worship.

In 1869, Charitie married Arthur E. Bancroft, a naval officer from Liverpool, at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Edinburgh. The marriage lasted until Arthur’s death in 1881, leaving her widowed at forty. 

A decade later, Charitie remarried in San Francisco on 1 June 1891, taking as her husband Frank de Cheney (also spelled De Chenez), a man thirty years her junior. Their unusual age gap attracted notice, and Frank would later describe the marriage as a “sympathy affair”—claiming that he had been recovering from illness and that Charitie’s kindness during that period led him to wed her.

The marriage proved stormy. According to Frank, Charitie urged him to abandon San Francisco for Moss Beach, hoping to keep him “away from the temptations of a large city.” When he refused, he said, she left him in 1901 for Southern California. By 1912 he had filed for divorce in San Francisco, and by 1915 the case had reached Reno’s district courts. The Reno Gazette-Journal covered the matter with sensational flair, noting her reputation as a “social queen in her younger days” and reveling in gossip about her age difference with Frank, who was known as a gambler and mining speculator in Nevada.

On 28 May 1915, Judge R. C. Stoddard granted Frank’s divorce petition on grounds of desertion. Charitie did not contest the suit and told him there was “no possibility of reconciliation.” Within a month Frank married his third wife, Iris Irene Pawinker, while Charitie returned quietly to her religious and charitable work.

Settling in Oakland, California, Charitie involved herself in prison reform and transitional housing for former inmates. Despite the turbulence of her personal life, she remained committed to ministry and poetry.

She died in Oakland on 20 June 1923, just one day shy of her 82nd birthday. She was by then known as Charitie de Cheney, but her reputation rests on the hymns she composed as Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft—a body of work that continues to inspire Christian worship nearly two centuries later.

Arthur White Greeley (1875–1904): Ichthyologist who died tragically young

Arthur Greeley and a pufferfish named in his honor

Plot 43, Lot 53

Arthur White Greeley, born June 13, 1875, in Oswego, New York, emerged as a promising American physiologist and ichthyologist whose career, though short, left a lasting mark on early marine biology and zoology.

Greeley was the eldest son of Frank Norton Greeley, a Congregational clergyman, and Anna Cheney (Buckhout) Greeley. His younger brother, William, later became Chief Forester of the U.S. Forest Service. 

He graduated from Stanford University in 1898, where he quickly distinguished himself in zoological studies. Pursuing graduate research, he joined two notable expeditions: a fur-seal expedition to Alaska and the Banner‑Agassiz expedition to Brazil, during which he collected a variety of important biological specimens.

Greeley taught briefly at the San Diego Normal School (now San Diego State University) before entering the University of Chicago as a physiology fellow. Under the mentorship of Jacques Loeb, he earned his Ph.D. with a doctoral thesis on the effects of low temperatures on microorganisms. He was then appointed Assistant Professor of Zoology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Grave and Sea Slug named in his honor

During summer sessions, he contributed to the staff of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole in Massachusetts, teaching physiology—a testament to his growing reputation in academic circles.

Greeley described several new sculpin species, including the saddleback, rosy, fluffy, and bald sculpins. His legacy endures through species named in his honor.    

Genus: Greeleya  

Species: Sphoeroides greeleyi (pufferfish), Diaulula greeleyi (sea slug), Crassispira greeleyi (sea snail)

Tragically, Greeley's promising career was cut short when he died in St. Louis on March 15,1904, at just 28 years old, following an operation for appendicitis. 

 

 

Andrew Derby Smith (1863-1915): Helped Establish California Insurance Department

Grave of Andrew D. Smith and headshot

 Plot 6

Andrew Derby Smith was a prominent figure in early 20th-century Oakland, remembered for his civic leadership, business success, and commitment to the community. Born in 1863 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Smith moved west in his youth and eventually made Oakland his permanent home.  

Smith first established himself in the wholesale produce trade and shipping, but he became best known for his work in insurance. He rose to prominence as one of California’s leading insurance executives and advocates, working tirelessly to bring professionalism and regulation to the industry. Recognizing the need for a more accountable and transparent system, Smith played an instrumental role in shaping the creation of the California Insurance Department, which provided oversight and consumer protections in a field that had previously been loosely regulated.

As a respected leader in this emerging sector, Smith was a strong advocate for ethical standards in business, fair treatment of policyholders, and the stability of insurance companies. His work helped build public trust in insurance at a time when California was experiencing both population growth and economic expansion.

California’s insurance oversight was originally organized as the Insurance Department within state government. Its purpose was to regulate insurance companies, ensure solvency, and protect policyholders. The head of this agency became known as the Insurance Commissioner. At first, the position was appointed, but in 1988 voters passed Proposition 103, which made the Insurance Commissioner an elected statewide office beginning in 1991. 

Smith also served as president of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, where he promoted the city as a growing commercial hub on the Pacific Coast. He championed infrastructure improvements, economic development, and civic beautification projects, aligning with Oakland’s aspirations to establish itself as a modern metropolis distinct from San Francisco.

Smith was also active in fraternal and charitable organizations, including the Masons, and lent his time and resources to philanthropic causes. 

Smith married Fanny Derby, with whom he raised a family in Oakland. His sudden death on May 11, 1915, at the age of 52, was widely mourned across the city. The Oakland Tribune and other newspapers remembered him as a man of integrity, generosity, and vision. 

Source: California State Department of Insurance, Find a Grave, Oakland Tribune

 

Natasha Borovsky (1924-2012): Russian-American poet and novelist; American Book Award winner

Grave marker of Natasha Borovsky

Plot 49A

Natasha Borovsky (born Nataliya Alexandrovna Borovskaya) was a Russian-American poet and novelist. She is best known for her two sweeping historical novels, A Daughter of the Nobility (1985) and Lost Heritage (1995), which explore the upheavals of 20th-century Europe. Borovsky’s work often centers on the shattering effects of war on aristocratic families and the decline of the old European nobility. Her writing, informed by her own émigré background, also touches on themes of exile and cultural identity as experienced by displaced European elites.

Borovsky was born in Paris to a family of distinguished heritage. Her father was Alexander Borovsky, a renowned Russian concert pianist, and her mother, Maria Sila-Nowicki, was of Polish and Russian noble descent. As a child, Natasha spent summers and winters at her maternal family’s estate near Kazimierz Dolny in Poland, while also attending schools in Germany, Switzerland, and France. In 1940, at the outset of World War II, the advance of Nazi Germany forced the family to flee France. Borovsky emigrated with her mother to the United States, seeking safety from the war’s destruction. Settling in New York, she pursued higher education at Sarah Lawrence College for two years. Thanks to her extraordinary gift for languages (she was fluent in multiple European tongues), Borovsky was hired during the war as a translator for the CBS “Listening Post,” where she transcribed and translated wartime broadcasts from around the world. She later worked for the U.S. Office of War Information in New York City and for the Hoover Institution’s library in postwar Paris, roles that deepened her engagement with historical research. Borovsky eventually settled in California; she married Stuart Dodds, an editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, and made her home in Berkeley. 

Originally published in 1985, A Daughter of the Nobility is Borovsky’s most acclaimed novel. It is an epic historical saga that follows the life of Tatyana Silomirskaya, a young Russian aristocrat (and goddaughter of Tsar Nicholas II) who witnesses the cataclysmic events that transform Russia in the early 20th century. Through Tatyana’s privileged yet tumultuous vantage point, the novel spans major upheavals from the Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 Revolution to World War I, the fall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917, and the subsequent turmoil of civil war. Borovsky drew heavily on her own family’s imperial Russian background to imbue the narrative with rich historical detail and authenticity. Reviewers praised the panoramic scope and historical accuracy of the novel, although some criticized the characterization as melodramatic or stereotypical.

Upon release, A Daughter of the Nobility enjoyed international success. It was translated into ten languages, including Russian and Polish, and became a best-seller in several countries. The novel’s broad appeal stemmed from its vivid depiction of a bygone aristocratic world swept away by war and revolution, as well as its dramatic personal story of love and loss amid historical chaos. In 1986 Borovsky received an American Book Award for this work, recognizing it as a notable contribution to American literature by an immigrant author. Decades later, A Daughter of the Nobility remains the author’s signature achievement and a significant entry in the genre of historical fiction about Imperial Russia.  

Borovsky’s second novel, Lost Heritage, was published in 1995 as a continuation of the grand historical tapestry she began in her first book. Although not a direct sequel in terms of characters, Lost Heritage completes the saga by carrying the story of Europe’s aristocratic families into the mid-20th century. This expansive novel opens during the Russian Revolution of 1917 and concludes around the time of the Yalta Conference of 1945, thus encompassing the World War II era and its profound impact on European society. Borovsky herself described Lost Heritage as a stand-alone work that could be read independently, yet it clearly echoes the themes of its predecessor. The novel is notable for its unrivaled historical detail – Borovsky, determined to preserve the full scope of her vision, chose to publish it through her own imprint (Sila-Nova Press) rather than abridge the content to suit a commercial publisher. Lost Heritage revisits the decline of Europe’s old nobility under the pressures of war, totalitarianism, and exile, reflecting events that occurred within Borovsky’s own lifetime. While Lost Heritage did not attain the same level of popular renown as her first novel, it stands as an ambitious work of considerable depth and research, rounding out Borovsky’s contribution to historical fiction. 

In addition to her novels, Natasha Borovsky had a distinguished career as a poet. She wrote poetry throughout her life, often exploring philosophical and spiritual themes, and her verse was widely published in literary journals. Borovsky released several poetry collections that showcased her versatility and multicultural perspective. Her early collection Drops of Glass (1981) introduced readers to her poetic voice. This was followed over a decade later by Desert Spring (1993), a volume of poems accompanied by sketches by her daughter, artist Malou Dodds. In the mid-1990s she published Grasp the Subtle Lifeline, a collection of spiritual poems also illustrated by her daughter Malou. Borovsky’s poetry, like her fiction, often grapples with themes of dislocation, memory, and faith, reflecting the sensibilities of an exile straddling different cultures. She remained active in the literary community, giving poetry readings and lectures in her later years.  

Natasha Borovsky is remembered for her unique literary contributions that bridge continents and eras. Her writing earned formal recognition, most notably the 1986 American Book Award for A Daughter of the Nobility, honoring the novel’s achievement in capturing a diverse cultural experience. Throughout her career she received praise for preserving the history and heritage of European aristocracy through compelling narrative. Borovsky’s novels and poems serve as a chronicle of exile – by portraying noble families uprooted by war and revolution, she illuminated the human cost of political upheaval on those who lost their homeland and social position. As a Russian-born author who adopted the United States as her home, Borovsky brought an émigré’s insight into questions of cultural identity and belonging. Her works highlight the tension between the opulent world of pre-revolutionary Europe and the stark realities of the 20th century, often through the lens of characters who must reconcile their aristocratic upbringing with the demands of a changed world. This focus on the fate of displaced aristocrats, combined with her meticulous historical research, has made Borovsky’s literature a valuable source of understanding the personal side of history’s great upheavals. 

Sources: San Francisco Chronicle obituary (2012), Los Angeles Times review by Linda Simon (1985), Wikipedia entry on Natasha Borovsky, Natasha Borovsky’s profile on Goodreads, American Book Awards winners list (1986)

Dr. Paul “Buck” Samson (1905–1982): U.S. Olympic Swimmer and Polo Player; Noted Thoracic Surgeon

Image from Collegiate Water Polo Association

Plot 52D

Paul Curkeet “Buck” Samson was an American competition swimmer and water polo player who represented the United States at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. He was an elite collegiate swimmer for the University of Michigan, winning the NCAA 220-yard and 440-yard freestyle titles in 1927, as well as being a member of two national championship water polo teams. He was a recipient of the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor in 1927 for excellence in scholarship and athletics

In 1928 he earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team, participating in both swimming and water polo. Samson swam in the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He swam for the U.S. team in the semifinal heat, helping set a world-record time of 9:38.8. The American relay went on to win the gold medal in the final with a different quartet (Austin Clapp, Walter Laufer, George Kojac, and Johnny Weissmuller) in a time of 9:36.2. Because Samson did not swim in the final race, he was not eligible to receive a medal under the Olympic rules of the time. In addition to swimming, Samson was also a member of the U.S. men’s water polo squad in Amsterdam. The American water polo team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Hungary and thus finished outside the medals. 

1928 Olympic teammates: Buster Crabbe, George Kojac, Ray Ruddy, and Johnny Weissmuller

Samson was one of the few athletes in 1928 to compete in two different sports, alongside teammate Johnny Weissmuller. Weissmuller, already a multi-gold-medalist from 1924, also played on the 1928 water polo team, and he later became famous as a Hollywood actor portraying Tarzan in a series of films. Another of Samson’s 1928 swimming teammates was Clarence “Buster” Crabbe, who won a bronze medal in 1928 and a gold in 1932 and went on to a successful film career starring as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in 1930s adventure serials. 

Though Buck Samson did not match Weissmuller’s record-setting medal haul, he contributed to the U.S. team’s dominance with strong performances in relay events and national championships. Known for his quiet discipline and technical mastery, Samson often played the role of anchor in team relays and was respected for his tactical awareness in the pool.

After retiring from competitive swimming, Samson pursued medical studies, eventually becoming a surgeon. With the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with distinction as a medical officer in the Pacific Theater, tending to wounded soldiers under harrowing conditions. In 1937, he moved to Oakland where he began a surgical practice. He gained the distinction of performing what was probably the first successful pneumonectomy in the overseas theater using the individual ligation technique.

Grave marker for Dr. Paul "Buck" Samson

Following the war, he returned to northern California to continue his thoracic surgery practice, specializing in the treatment of tuberculosis and empyema.  Samson started and directed the thoracic surgery training program at Highland General Hospital in Oakland, which was the first approved training service in thoracic surgery north of Los Angeles on the West Coast.

To honor him for his service to thoracic surgery, Samson’s close friends and colleagues founded the Samson Thoracic Surgical Society of Western North America in 1974 because they believed that such an honor was due him during his lifetime.  Following his death on February 10, 1982 at the age of 76, the Samson Thoracic Surgical Society was renamed The Western Thoracic Surgical Association in 1983 to achieve representation at the American College of Surgeons Board of Governors, which did not recognize societies named after an individual. Samson’s name, however, is preserved in the Samson Endowment Fund, the Samson prize for the best resident paper, and other activities of The Western Thoracic Surgical Association.

Sources: Collegiate Water Polo Association, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wikipedia, Find a Grave. Olympics.com, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 

 

Edgar Harkness Gray (1813-1894): Officiated at Abraham Lincoln's Funeral

Gravestone of Rev. Edgar Gray

Plot 38, Lot 10

Edgar Harkness Gray was born on November 28, 1813, in Bridport, Vermont. He pursued theological studies and graduated from Waterville College (now Colby College) in 1838.

Gray became a prominent Baptist minister in Washington, D.C., serving as pastor of the E Street Baptist Church. In the wake of the Civil War, he was appointed Chaplain of the United States Senate, a post he held from 1865 to 1869 . In this role, he offered spiritual guidance during a critical era of American history and led prayers and devotional services within the Senate chamber.

Following President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in April 1865, Rev. Gray was among the four clergymen selected to officiate at Lincoln's funeral services in Washington, D.C. His presence reflected the high esteem in which he was held by the nation’s leaders and his influence on public life.  

After completing his term as U.S. Senate chaplain (1865–1869), Gray emigrated west. He became the first pastor of the Baptist church in San Francisco, later serving in Oakland, where he also held roles such as Superintendent of Baptist Churches in California and Dean of Oakland Theological Seminary. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Find A Grave, US Senate 

Giulio Minetti (1866–1958): Italian-American violist and conductor embroiled in scandal

Giulio Minetti and Grave Marker

De Fremery Family - Plot 8

Giulio Minetti was an Italian-American violist, conductor, and prominent figure in the early musical life of San Francisco. He played a key role in the development of orchestral performance in California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Minetti was born on November 22, 1866, in Turin, Italy. Trained in the European classical tradition, he emigrated to the United States in 1891, arriving in New York aboard the vessel La Normandie before settling in San Francisco. His arrival coincided with the city’s growing appetite for professional musical performance and culture. He remained lifelong friends with his Italian classmate and colleague, conductor Arturo Toscanini.

Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, Minetti quickly established himself as a sought-after violist and conductor. He was an early and leading member of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble founded in 1881 by German conductor Fritz Scheel. This orchestra should not be confused with today’s San Francisco Symphony, which was founded in 1911 under Henry Hadley. The earlier organization in which Minetti was involved dissolved around 1906 and served more as a semi-professional or ad hoc orchestral society, often assembled for touring European conductors or civic occasions. 

Concert Ad and Minetti Headshot

Minetti also performed with the Bohemian Club, taught at the California Conservatory of Music, and served as a conductor for various civic music events in the Bay Area, including opera productions and concerts in Berkeley and Oakland.

In 1912, Minetti married Alice Frances de Fremery, a member of one of Oakland’s most prominent families. The de Fremery family was deeply involved in civic and philanthropic affairs, and their estate later became DeFremery Park in West Oakland. The marriage further embedded Minetti in the East Bay’s social and cultural circles.

Minetti’s public career came to an abrupt end in early 1930 when he was accused of misconduct involving a female music student. The incident was reported in local newspapers, including the Berkeley Daily Gazette on January 6, 1930, but the student’s name was not disclosed. Although the case was dismissed for lack of evidence and no formal charges were pursued, the episode tarnished his reputation and effectively ended his work as a public conductor and music teacher. Following the scandal, Minetti withdrew from professional life and lived in relative obscurity until his death.

Giulio Minetti died on March 31, 1958, in Berkeley, California, at the age of 91. His funeral was held at St. Augustine’s Church in Oakland, and he was interred at Mountain View Cemetery in the De Fremery family plot. At the time of his death, he was remembered as a pioneering figure in California’s early symphonic culture and one of the few remaining links to San Francisco’s pre-earthquake musical elite. 

Sources: The San Francisco Call (June 9, 1912; July 19, 1896), the Berkeley Daily Gazette (January 6, 1930), the Oakland Tribune and Bakersfield Californian obituaries (both April 1, 1958), and the San Francisco Public Library Art, Music and Recreation Center’s profile on Giulio Minetti.