Where Did All The People Go?

That is a question a local genealogist and historian has been trying to answer.

Here in San Joaquin County, we are so very lucky to have Adine Gnekow. Adine is the type of person every genealogy or historical society dreams of having as a member. Her continuing efforts for the preservation of genealogical records and local history are nothing short of amazing and awe inspiring.

Adine's latest project involves a cemetery that no longer exists. The cemetery was closed to any new burials in the 1930's. Between the years of 1930 and 1960, the remains of those buried there were removed to other local cemeteries. Adine's project involves matching the known burials in the old cemetery to their new locations. By 1960, there were only 4 headstones left on the property:

1) Stone: SARAH A. BALLARD, wife of W. A. Ballard, born Apr. 3, 1823, died Jan. 22, 1875, mother of A. D., J. W., and J. H. Chance. JAMES H. CHANCE died Sept. 27, 1871, aged 29 yrs, 7 mos, 8 days. ALONZO D. CHANCE died Mar. 10, 1872, aged 19 yrs, 28 d. JOHN W. CHANCE died Feb. 11, 1868, aged 19 yrs. 11 mos, 25 days.

2) Stone: ELIZABETH, wife of Rueben L. WARDROBE, died Mar. 11, 187? aged 26 yrs, 11 mos, 27 d.

3) Stone: REV. A. GUERNSEY died May 21, 1891, aged 84 yrs, 7 mos, 6 days.

4) Stone: CHARLES G., son of R. L. & E. WARDROBE, died Apr. 13, 1866, aged 3 yrs, 1 mo, 16 days.

It was known by many names over the years: The First German Baptist Cemetery, The Calaveras Baptist Cemetery, Faith Baptist Cemetery and Lodi Baptist Cemetery. It was located west of Highway 99 ( formerly Cherokee Lane) between Scottsdale Road and Armstrong Road.

Adine has accounted for 43 of the burials using records of surveys done on the cemetery in the 1930's. The surnames of the other confirmed burials:

BAIRD
BAKER
BALLARD
BLEVINS
BOESE
BOHNET
BUCKNER
CHANCE
CHILDS
ELHARD
FLEGEL
FREIWELDT
GUERNSEY
HIEBERT
HILLIOUS
HOFF
KISER
KNIGHT
KRANZLER
MITTLEIDER
RENSCHLER
SCHUBERT
SMITH
STONE
THORN
WALKER
WARDROBE
WEISS
WHITAKER

If anyone ( or if you know of anyone) has a photo of this cemetery, a photo of a marker from the cemetery or have any information about people who were buried in this cemetery please contact me - Sheri Fenley - as soon as possible.

SHERI FENLEY - sherifenley@gmail.com