Cooney Tomb and Cemetery, Catron County, New Mexico
Sgt. James Cooney, while serving in the 8th U.S. Calvary stationed at Fort Bayard, discovered a mineral deposit in this canyon. He kept his find a secret until he mustered out of the army in 1876.
By 1880 he had developed a profitable silver and gold mine. In April 1880 he and one other miner rode to Alma to warn the settlers in the valley of the danger of an Indian attack. Returning to the mine, the two were killed by Indians near this site.
His brother and fellow miners interred him in this boulder. Two of his brother’s children are also buried in this rock “crypt.” This small graveyard is on private property, so please pay proper respect.
The following is a list of 7 burials occurring at the Cooney Tomb and Cemetery in Catron County, New Mexico.
Cemetery: | Cooney Tomb and Cemetery |
GPS: | N 33.41331 W 108.83777 |
County: | Catron |
Directions: | From just S of the Alma Store in Alma on US 180, E approximately 4.8 mi on Mineral Creek Rd (which becomes McKean), SE side. |
Cooney Tomb and Cemetery, Catron County, New Mexico
Surname | Given | Birth | Death | Age | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buhlman | Mr. | 1880 Apr 30 | Killed by Victorio's Apache's; these three men (Cooney, Chick & Buhlman) were riding to warn settlers of an impending indian attack. | ||
Chick | Jack | 1880 Apr 29 | Killed by Victorio's Apache's; these three men (Cooney, Chick & Buhlman) were riding to warn settlers of an impending indian attack. | ||
Clark | Charley | 1868 Oct 26 | 1910 Aug 20 | 41 | |
Clark | Elza May | 1896 Jun 29 | 1905 Sep 5 | 6 | Daughter of Charley Clark |
Cooney | Hugh C. | 1898 Oct 3 | 1900 Jan 7 | 1 | |
Cooney | J.C. | c.1840 | 1880 Apr 29 | 40 | Killed by Victorio's Apache's; these three men (Cooney, Chick & Buhlman) were riding to warn settlers of an impending indian attack. |
Cooney | John D. | 1880 Aug 20 | 1891 Dec 15 | 11 |
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