More than 30,000 vehicles — based on city traffic counts for Louise Avenue and Union Road — on an average day drive past East Union Cemetery.
Most likely have no inkling of who is buried there, their life stories, or even how they died.
You can find out at least the unusual ways some pioneers met their demise in what is now the Manteca-Lathrop area by checking out (#historyhunters #manteca #california history) YouTube.
History Hunters is researched and narrated by history buff Jeff Benziger whose “daytime job” is serving as editor of the Ceres Courier.
The 20 minute video posted in May 2023 includes historical tidbits involving those buried at East Union Cemetery including:
*An 18 year-old man that traveled from the East Coast via ship to head for the Gold Country to only die from malaria after landing in San Francisco.
*A young boy who was electrocuted after climbing a power pole.
*A man who is believed to have possibly been an Indian scout for General Custer.
*A farmer killed by his own bull.
*The first female deputy sheriff of San Joaquin County.
There are also Civil War veterans buried in the cemetery that was founded in 1872 along with area pioneers such as Joshua Cowell who was considered “the father of Manteca.”
More about the $200
Memorial tiles
Several readers had questions about the $200 memorial tiles being sold for placement on the side of the cemetery’s columbaria that was recently completed and has 800 niches for urns.
The tiles are being sold to help cover operational and maintenance costs at East Union Cemetery.
To answer the questions, the tiles are available to honor anyone. They do not have to be interred in the columbaria or even buried at the cemetery.
The intent is to remember and honor those who have passed away.
The memorial tiles may contain up to 25 characters per line with a maximum of four lines.
The cemetery office is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The grounds are open seven days a week during daylight hours.
The mailing address is 1035 North Union Road, Manteca, 95336, while the phone is 209-823-8533.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com