YUCCA CEMETERY
YUCCA, MOHAVE COUNTY, ARIZONA
Although it appears that the plot of
ground known as the YUCCA CEMETERY has been used for burial
purposes since the 1880’s, it was in 1918 that the location was
officially designated as a cemetery,
The original Plat of YUCCA TOWNSITE filed in the office of
the recorder of Mohave County, Arizona, in 1918, lists the following
Property
as a cemetery:
Lots Five (5), Six (6), Seven (7) and
the south one-half of Lot eight (8), of Block Seven (7) of the original
Townsite.
This official classification of the
property for exclusive use as a burial location appears to have
protected the site from private acquisition until about 1969 or 1970,
when, following
a statewide re-assessment program
regarding a real property in Arizona, the above indicated lots appeared
on the delinquent tax rolls, and, presumably, were to be offered for
sale,
In order to prevent such sale, a
group of interested persons, residents of YUCCA, both past and present,
many of whom had family members buried in YUCCA CEMETERY, upon the
advice and with the cooperation of
then Judge of the Superior Court, the Hon. Frank X. Gordon, Jr., formed
the YUCCA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, and qualified as a non-profit
organization under the requirements
and control of the CORPORATION COMMISSION OF ARIZONA. Judge Gordon, in
1970, recognizing, the group as a legal entity under law,
issued a TRUSTEE'S DEED to the
property to the YUCCA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED. Thus, any
attempt to seize and sell the lots was legally and effectively
avoided,
Following is a list of persons known
to have been buried in YUCCA CEMETERY:
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (or Thomas).
Mr. Thompson died or was killed at either the San Francisco mine, or
the Cedar mine. Date of burial unknown.
Infant Evans, names of parents arid
dales unknown
Lena (?) Piper, infant Died 1906
Gravestone in place.
Isaac Piper, brother of Lena. Died
about 1917. Gravestone in place. (These graves are enclosed in a fenced
area)
Infant son of Louis and Minnie Jones.
Age and date of death unknown. Grave not marked.
Five members of the family of William
C. and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Potter:
William. C. Potter. Died about 1917.
Elizabeth Potter Smith. Died 1956,
aged 80 years.
Frank B. Potter, second son of
William C., died about 1932.
Bert Hillman, son-in-law of William
C. Potter, died during flu epidemic of l918.
Ethelyn Jeane Mills, granddaughter of
William C, Potter, died October, 1933
Graves of the family members enclosed
in fenced area.
Mr. Van Assen, died. in the 1960’s
An Indian Man, name and age unknown,
buried in the 1960’s.
A 29 year old man, name and family
can be ascertained, died l974
Bill Berry, a pioneer resident of
Yucca, died 1974. It is believed that one or more members of the
Alvarado family, now of Kingman, Arizona, also buried there in Yucca.
This a partial list, due to the scarcity of records available,
Application for designation of’ YUCCA CEMETERY as an historic site has
been made by Roman Malach, Chairman of the Mohave County Bicentennial
Commission. The ASSOCIATION is currently working on a preservation
program, including fencing of the entire cemetery area.
Source: Mohave County Museum and
History
Additional records at the Museum on Yucca Cemetery show the following
information
Potter, William C. died Jan. 15, 1917
Montez, R. born 1875 died Dec. 20, 1917 (Coffin sent to Yucca paid for
by A.B. Longaker)
Piper, C.J. born Oct. 27, 1893 died Dec. 5, 1918
Hillman, Bert Charles born Aug. 1, 1871 died Dec. 5, 1918
Evans, Emmett Llewellen born Feb. 10, 1920 died Feb. 20 1920
Potter, Benjamin F. 28 years old died Jan. 29, 1933
Casket to Jerry Janc Oct. 16, 1910
Casket to Merchantile July 7, 1913