Killed in Service to His Country: Clarence H. Ballagh, WWII

CLARENCE H BALLAGH

CALIFORNIA

1 LIEUT 813 AAF BOMB SQ

WORLD WAR II

MAY 16 1921          SEPT 14 1945

On September 14, 1943, after being reassigned to the 813th Bombardment Squadron of the 482nd Bombardment Group USAAF, B17E 41-9051 crashed nose-first into Skiddaw Mountain, near Keswick, in Northern UK, while on a flight from Alconbury in Huntingdonshire to Turnhouse, Edinburgh.

All 10 men on board were killed instantly.

*   *   *

Clarence Henry Ballagh, son of Leland E. Ballagh and Bernice (Keeler) Ballagh, was born in Santa Maria on May 16, 1921. He graduated from Arroyo Grande Union High School in 1938, and from the University of California, Berkeley in May 1942. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Force, and left for service on May 23, 1942.

Following his death, 1st Lieut Ballagh was buried in the Brookwood American National Cemetery until his body could be returned home for burial. He was finally laid to rest in his home town of Arroyo Grande on January 15, 1948. He was survived by his wife Frances and baby daughter Enid.

1st Lieut Ballagh's name is listed on the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial in Atascadero.

* * *

Headstone of Clarence H. Ballagh photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, October 11, 2008, Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Guadalupe Cemetery displays beauty, peace

The beatific stone guardians stand in the tidy, historic Guadalupe Cemetery at the corner of Highway 1 (Guadalupe Street) and Highway 166 (Main Street).

They’re a landmark, even a tourist attraction.

Nearby, Amtrak trains zip by regularly. Yet the cemetery, which celebrates its 136th birthday this year, is a peaceful oasis in the busy industrial-agricultural community.

Here, loved ones aren't forgotten. On a recent day, the extraordinarily well-tended graveyard was filled with bouquets in reds, pinks, whites, even yellow daffodils and purple iris, plus an occasional American flag, giving the cemetery a park-like look.

Read more: Guadalupe Cemetery displays beauty, peace  >  Lompoc Record

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Soldier's remains will stay at Ventura's Cemetery Park

The remains of a decorated war hero are staying put at Ventura's Cemetery Memorial Park. At least until a court orders otherwise.

The Ventura City Council on Monday overwhelmingly rejected a request to exhume the remains of Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. James Sumner, saying the British-born veteran is integral to Ventura’s history and should remain as the city works to better recognize an estimated 3,000 people buried at the hillside cemetery-turned-city park.

"He is an important part of our community," Councilman Carl Morehouse said.

Read more: Soldier's remains will stay at Ventura's Cemetery Park, council says » Ventura County Star

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Upcoming Event: Halloween Walking Tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery

Resignation by Ettore Cadorin (Petry)

"It's Halloween and Dia de los Muertos and All Souls. The veil between the worlds thins, and its time once again, to recall, to visit, to glide through, the Santa Barbara Cemetery."

David Petry, author of the book The Best Last Place: A History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery, will be your guide through this fascinating place in Santa Barbara history.

Saturday, October 30, 2010, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

~ or ~

Sunday, October 31, 2010, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara Cemetery

901 Channel Drive

Santa Barbara, California

$15 per person

Please RSVP to dlpetry@gmail.com

Bring water, a hat, a camera, and your curiosity!

*  *  *

From one of Mr. Petry's previous press releases:

Issac Sparks marker, 1867. His initial   
burial in a broken-down Westside
cemetery is the reason the Santa 
Barbara Cemetery exists today. 
(Petry)

The Santa Barbara Cemetery is unique among cemeteries. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the cemetery is home to actors, industrialists, authors, musicians, sports stars, and many of the town’s founders and leaders. It was, for the duration of the Reagan presidency, the chosen site for the Reagan’s burial plot. The Cemetery Chapel is the only sacred structure designed by famed architect George Washington Smith; inside are the only completed murals of Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Where most cemeteries are corporate-, church-, or government-owned, the Santa Barbara Cemetery is owned and operated by a nonprofit board whose by-laws were originally drafted in 1867.

But more importantly, the Santa Barbara Cemetery has transcended five separate incarnations: as a dusty and geometric town cemetery, as a rudely conceived rural cemetery, as a fitful lawn park cemetery, as an over-achieving memorial park, and as a local columbarium. The Santa Barbara Cemetery has embraced each of these phases and has built upon them, becoming in the end, a modern cemetery that is better than any of the models it followed.

Be sure to sign up for The Best Last Place group on Facebook!

*  *  *

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Mr. Petry's book or business in any way. I do own a copy of the book, and I think it is excellent.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Tuesday's Children: Louisa & Lenna HESS

Children of

M. & S. HESS

LOUISA E. HESS

Died

SEPT. 28, 1881,

Aged

5 years and 10 mos.

LENNA A. HESS

Died

Oct. 4, 1881,

Aged

1 year and 6 days

Louisa and Lenna HESS are buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California.

Click to enlarge.

My guess is that the Hess girls were part of the Henry and Susan HESS family, found here in the 1880 U.S. Census, despite the fact that their headstone says "children of M. & S. HESS." The initial for the mother, Susan, would be correct, the age of Louisa would be correct, and Lenna would not have been born at the time this census was taken.

There are several others with the surname HESS buried in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery; however, none appear to have been from this family.

What a tragedy to lose two small children in such a short time.

*  *  *

Headstone of Louisa and Lenna Hess photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on September 13, 2008, Arroyo Grande Cemetery, San Luis Obispo County, California.

1880 U. S. Census, San Luis Obispo County, California, population schedule, ED 78, page 327C (stamped), dwelling 82, family 122, Henry Hess; digital image, Ancestry.com; from National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 80.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Tuesday's Children: Russell & Morris VAN CLIEF

RUSSELL

VANCLIEF

Sep. 18, 1897

July 28, 1900

MORRIS

VANCLIEF

Jan. 7, 1900

Oct. 13, 1900

Russell and Morris VANCLIEF are buried in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California.

Click to Enlarge

I believe that Russell and Morris were part of the George W. and Alice E. Van Clief family. They are found in Lompoc, California in the 1900 U.S. Census listed as "George R." and "David M." The birth dates given in the census would be correct, and since this census was enumerated on July 9, 1900, both boys would still have been alive at that time.

George W. Van Clief  is also buried in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. He died on October 21, 1936. It does not appear that Alice is buried in this cemetery.

* * *

Headstone of Russell and Morris VanClief photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, November 23, 2007, Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California.

1900 U. S. Census, Santa Barbara County, California, population schedule, ED 158, page 11B, dwelling 247, family 247, George VanClief; digital image, Ancestry.com; from National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 110.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Central Coast Cemetery Scavenger Hunt!

If you're like me, you probably haven't participated in a scavenger hunt since you were a kid. In this cemetery scavenger hunt, 15 items were found at various cemeteries around the Central Coast.

CROSS - Found at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

HEART - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

FRATERNAL SYMBOL (Masons) - Found at Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, California.

MONUMENT - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

FLOWER - Found at Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, California.

HAND - Found at Lompoc Cemetery, Lompoc, California.

ANGEL - Found at Santa Barbara Mission Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

BIRD - Found at Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, California.

TREE - Found at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

STAR - Found at Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, California

OBELISK - Found at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

FOUR-LEGGED ANIMAL (front) - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

FOUR-LEGGED ANIMAL (back)

PHOTO - Found at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, California.

MILITARY GRAVESTONE - Found at Arroyo Grande Cemetery, Arroyo Grande, California.

MAUSOLEUM - Found at Santa Barbara Mission Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

This post was composed for the July 2010 Edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival: Scavenger Hunt.

All photos in this post by Elizabeth or Ben O'Neal, photographed on various dates..

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Tombstone Tuesday: Two Veterans... and Fathers

I recently spent a morning at Santa Maria Cemetery putting flags on the graves of veterans. I was struck by these two graves sitting next to each other: both veterans of different wars, and both fathers.

On the left:

K C

LONG

US AIR FORCE

VIETNAM

JAN 31 1942

JUN 14 1998

BELOVED FATHER

On the right:

ROBERT W

MILLER

US NAVY

MAR 5 1932

APR 18 2005

LOVING FATHER

AND

COMPANION

Both K.C. (Kenneth C.) LONG and Robert W. MILLER are buried in the Santa Maria Cemetery, in Santa Maria, California.

Headstone of K.C. Long and Robert W. Miller photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, May 29, 2010, Santa Maria Cemetery, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Upcoming Event: Historic Walking Tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery

Resignation by Ettore Cadorin (Petry)

I received the following announcement yesterday from David Petry.

* * *

Historic Walking Tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery with Historian, David Petry, author of The Best Last Place: a History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

Sunday, May 30, 2010, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Rain or Shine!)
Meet at the Cemetery Chapel, 901 Channel Drive.
$25 per person. Pay at the door.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Mr. Petry's excellent history of the cemetery, The Best Last Place: A History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery, the book is discounted to $15 (retail $30). Payment in cash or personal check is accepted.

Issac Sparks marker, 1867. His initial
burial in a broken-down Westside
cemetery is the reason the Santa Barbara
Cemetery exists today. (Petry)

The Santa Barbara Cemetery is unique among cemeteries. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the cemetery is home to actors, industrialists, authors, musicians, sports stars, and many of the town’s founders and leaders. It was, for the duration of the Reagan presidency, the chosen site for the Reagan’s burial plot. The Cemetery Chapel is the only sacred structure designed by famed architect George Washington Smith; inside are the only completed murals of Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Where most cemeteries are corporate-, church-, or government-owned, the Santa Barbara Cemetery is owned and operated by a nonprofit board whose by-laws were originally drafted in 1867.

But more importantly, the Santa Barbara Cemetery has transcended five separate incarnations: as a dusty and geometric town cemetery, as a rudely conceived rural cemetery, as a fitful lawn park cemetery, as an over-achieving memorial park, and as a local columbarium. The Santa Barbara Cemetery has embraced each of these phases and has built upon them, becoming in the end, a modern cemetery that is better than any of the models it followed.

The tour provides a brief history of the cemetery and a 1-mile walking tour to the most interesting gravesites and sections of the cemetery. See the burial sites of town leaders Charles Fernald and Thomas More Storke, actors Ronald Colman, Laurence Harvey, and his daughter Domino, murderer Cyrus Barnard, gold magnate Augustus Sahlberg, business founders Jheri Redding, Sam Battistone, David Nancarrow, and George Oscar Mayer. Among many others.

Get a $10 discount on the tour if you sign up for The Best Last Place group on Facebook!

* * *

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Mr. Petry's book or business in any way. I do have the book, and I think it is excellent.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Tuesday's Child: Tobias & Willie JAMISON

Our darlings

TOBIAS DILLAN

Died

June 16, 1883

Aged

6 y'rs, 11 mos, 16 days

WILLIE LOUISA

Died

June 4, 1883

Aged

4 y'rs, 1 mo, 8 days

Children of

T.B. & M.E. Jamison

"Suffer little children to come unto me,

and forbid them not, for of such is

the Kingdom of Heaven."

Tobias and Willie JAMISON are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara County, California. Their parents are also buried in this cemetery.

Headstone of Tobias and Willie Jamison photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, April 2, 2009, Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara County, California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

The Beautiful and Unusual Headstone of Jim STULL

The Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard, California, is a place where a person can express his/her individuality, even in death. There are many beautiful, interesting, and downright unusual tombstones to be found here.

With the success of the movie Sideways, California's Central Coast became known for its excellent wines - particularly of the Pinot Noir variety. Northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County are popular wine-tasting destinations for tourists from all over.

The unique headstone of Jim (and Rachel) Stull.

Detail of Jim's information.

STULL

Jim

2-21-1940

~

12-2-2004

(His wife Rachel is, presumably, still alive.)

I do not know if Mr. Stull was involved in the wine-making business, of if he just liked grapes. However, this unique tombstone is one that is not soon forgotten.

* * *

This post was composed for the June 2010 Edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival: The Interesting, The Odd, The Beautiful.

Headstone of Jim Stull and detail photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on April 2, 2009, Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Alexander Leslie Ellis

In Memory of

Alexander

Leslie Ellis

Fourth son of

Robert Francis Ellis

of Macherymore

Wicklow, Ireland

Born Nov 6, 1856    Died Oct 17, 1914

at Santa Barbara

The Gift of God is

Eternal Life

Alexander Leslie ELLIS is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California, Ocean View section, Grave 1222.

"Headstone of Alexander Leslie Ellis." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, July 19, 2008, Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Tombstone Tuesday: Patti LONG and Bertha DANIELS

Patricia Marie LONG was born on 11 December 1953 in San Mateo County, California. She died on June 4, 1969 at the age of 15 in Santa Barbara County, California.

Bertha Louise (Houx) DANIELS was born in California on 21 November 1902, and died on 19 May 1997 at the age of 94 in Santa Barbara County, California. Her parents were William Frederick HOUX and Eva Alice ROBERTS. She was married to Fred E. Goss, Herbert H. Booth, and (Unk) Daniels.

Bertha was a member of the Mission Canyon Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

I do not know why the date next to Bertha's name reads "11-21-02." Perhaps to commemorate that she would have been 100 years old on that date?

Both are buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California, Section 4 West, Lot 16, Spaces 4 (Bertha) and 5 (Patti).

____________________

Headstone of Patti Long and Bertha Daniels photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Bring a Veterans Cemetery to the Central Coast

In Tuesday's Lompoc Record, there was an article by Denny Anderson, president of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, regarding the possibility of locating a veterans cemetery on the Central Coast.

Why is a veterans cemetery needed on the Central Coast?

Some 1,600 "Greatest Generation" WWII veterans pass away every single day. There are approximately 24 million veterans in the U.S., including 9 million WWII and Korean War vets in need of final resting arrangements, and yet there is no National Cemetery within 100 miles of California's Central Coast cities. Even the recent Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley National Cemeteries are out of range for Central Coast veteran families. In addition, interment at a National Cemetery saves veterans approximately $2,000 in burial fees alone, so the lack of a Central Coast National Cemetery is placing a significant burden on the shoulders of Central Coast veterans and their families.

The proposed Central Coast VA National Cemetery would be located near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and would serve veterans from the Central Coast counties of Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. There are an estimated 137,324 veterans in these counties today (if Los Angeles County is included in the mix, that brings the count up to over 345,000). The Veterans Administration estimates that there will be over 15,000 veteran deaths annually.

And let's not forget our troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be veterans too, someday.

For more information, please visit the web site of the Central Coast National Cemetery. Click on "Get Involved" to download a petition to show your support.

Our Central Coast veterans need and deserve an affordable final resting place close to friends and family. Honor their service by helping to make this a reality with a Central Coast National Cemetery.

"Headstone of Wesley M. Houx." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 19, 2009, Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal