Marysville Cemetery's Pauper's field; The murder of Robert "Wild" Weimer
This entry is to give credit to the work that volunteers do at the Historic Marysville City Cemetery in Marysville, CA-
Atop the levee, approaching the road leading down into the cemetery, you will see immediately see how impressive this place is. Beautiful monuments commemorating the dead standout in stark contrast are striking against the green (or brown, depending on the season) landscape.
As you peak the levee you are met with a fairly large grassy area that looks rather unremarkable. Many don't realize that this large open area is actually a burial area stock full of the nameless, and the forgotten.
The section you are looking down on, is known as "Pauper's field".
In the 1800's, and even the early 1900's- many were dying at a rapid rate for numerous reasons. Illness, injury, or worse...murder. Many, if not all, came here with pipe dreams of finding success from the Gold Rush that was the Yuba River. What many found was, poverty and a very rough territory to survive. Many, by the time they arrived, were in poor health. Work in creating our railroad system and the city as we know it, was arduous. Many men were getting injured, or worse while putting in many hours of manual labor.
Drinking was rampant at this time. Saloons littered the area. The sheer number of saloons and brothels outnumbered the number of Dr's offices or other esteemed establishments. Thievery and brutal assault was a common thing in Marysville. This was a town where people had everything to lose in their fortunes, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
This was the wild, wild west in every sense of the term.
Marysville was a dangerous place to be. Given the tight quarters and the lack of medical technology, disease spread rampantly. The dead were many.
At 15 acres, and at least 10,000 souls buried here. Marysville City Cemetery is a testament to the conditions here. Of all these people, many were poor and arrived here alone, leaving their families far behind back east in an attempt to make a fortune and create a better hope for their loved ones.
Marysville was left with the conundrum of how to handle these dead, whom had no money and no one to claim them. This explains why Pauper's field is no vast and wide spread here.
Among those buried here in this rather unprofound field, there are many stories that simple numbered markers do no justice for.
We will tell you one of those stories today, or at least the parts we know.
This info has been gathered and transcribed by Victoria Tudor, Marysville Cemetery Volunteer and Marysville Cemetery Commission member.
This here is part of the work volunteers do. These markers were below the surface of earth, after being buried under layers of silt, after more than a decade of repeated flooding.
Today, this man will be remembered. He will not be forgotten.
Robert "Wild" Weimer
Birth: 1883
Death: Dec. 1, 1908 in Marysville -Yuba County California, USA
Robert Weimer - aliases: "Slim", "Wild" & "Eppa Bartlett"
SACRAMENTO UNION, Saturday 28 November 1908 Volume 16, Number 97, Page 6, Column 7
NEWS BREVITIES FROM NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TOWNS – YUBA COUNTY.
Badly Hurt. — R. Wild, commonly called “Slim” at the levee camp in Sutter where he was working. Was found late Thursday night lying in an unconscious condition at the Southern Pacific track near the Marysville depot. He was bleeding from the ears and mouth and apparently suffering concussion of the brain. It is thought he was accidentally hurt by stumbling and striking his head on a tie.
SACRAMENTO UNION, Thursday, 3 December 1908 Volume 16, Number 102, Page 4, Column 4 –
Yuba County. Injured Man Dies. —Robert Weimer, alias Eppa E. Bartlett, alias Wilds, who was found lying near the Southern Pacific depot last Thursdays night in an unconscious condition, and bleeding from the mouth, nose and ears, died at the county hospital. He never fully regained consciousness, but on three occasions he partially regained his senses and was able to state that he had been knocked down by two white men at the depot, where he was found by Robert Chandler, night fireman of the switch engine. Shortly before he passed away he opened his eyes and told the hospital attendant that his name was Robert Weimer, and that he had a father residing at Joliet, Illinois. He said that his age was 25 years.
SACRAMENTO UNION, Sunday, 6 December 1908 Volume 16, Number 105, Page 15, Column 6 –
Yuba County. Murdered.—That Eppa A. Bartlett, alias Robert Weimer, alias Wild, died at Marysville from the effects of injuries inflicted upon him by murderers, is now generally believed, and the coroner’s jury that inquired into the cause of his death returned a verdict to that effect. The jury also recommends that the city marshal of Marysville police do all in their power to run the murders to earth and unravel the mystery. The true name of the victim, who was found bleeding, with his head fractured, lying alongside the Southern Pacific track in Marysville on Thanksgiving night, and who died at the county hospital on Tuesday, is not known. The coroner’s jury used the name Robert Weimer in its deliberations.
Information below was obtained from "Book I, Record of Burials - City of Marysville - From 1870 To 1939", on page 110.
(Maintained at Marysville City Hall)
Name: Weimer, Robert Date
Interred: December 5, 1908
Age: 25 years
Sex: Male
Color/Race: White
Single/Married: No Record
Nativity: No Record
Place of Death: No Record 12/1/08
Cause of Death: Hemorrhage of Brain
Physician/Coroner: Dr. C E Stone
Number of Grave: 338
Location of Grave: City Cemetery
If anyone wants to donate to the Historic Marysville City “Cemetery Headstone Restoration Fund” they can send a donation to the address below. This account is maintained by the city. All monies in the Headstone Restoration Fund goes directly towards the repair bills.
Thank you all!
City of Marysville,
“Cemetery Headstone Restoration Fund”
c/o Jeri Schneider
P.O. Box 150
Marysville, CA 95901
Atop the levee, approaching the road leading down into the cemetery, you will see immediately see how impressive this place is. Beautiful monuments commemorating the dead standout in stark contrast are striking against the green (or brown, depending on the season) landscape.
As you peak the levee you are met with a fairly large grassy area that looks rather unremarkable. Many don't realize that this large open area is actually a burial area stock full of the nameless, and the forgotten.
The section you are looking down on, is known as "Pauper's field".
 |
| Pauper's field at the Historic Marysville City Cemetery in Marysville, CA |
In the 1800's, and even the early 1900's- many were dying at a rapid rate for numerous reasons. Illness, injury, or worse...murder. Many, if not all, came here with pipe dreams of finding success from the Gold Rush that was the Yuba River. What many found was, poverty and a very rough territory to survive. Many, by the time they arrived, were in poor health. Work in creating our railroad system and the city as we know it, was arduous. Many men were getting injured, or worse while putting in many hours of manual labor.
Drinking was rampant at this time. Saloons littered the area. The sheer number of saloons and brothels outnumbered the number of Dr's offices or other esteemed establishments. Thievery and brutal assault was a common thing in Marysville. This was a town where people had everything to lose in their fortunes, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
This was the wild, wild west in every sense of the term.
Marysville was a dangerous place to be. Given the tight quarters and the lack of medical technology, disease spread rampantly. The dead were many.
At 15 acres, and at least 10,000 souls buried here. Marysville City Cemetery is a testament to the conditions here. Of all these people, many were poor and arrived here alone, leaving their families far behind back east in an attempt to make a fortune and create a better hope for their loved ones.
Marysville was left with the conundrum of how to handle these dead, whom had no money and no one to claim them. This explains why Pauper's field is no vast and wide spread here.
Among those buried here in this rather unprofound field, there are many stories that simple numbered markers do no justice for.
We will tell you one of those stories today, or at least the parts we know.
This info has been gathered and transcribed by Victoria Tudor, Marysville Cemetery Volunteer and Marysville Cemetery Commission member.
This here is part of the work volunteers do. These markers were below the surface of earth, after being buried under layers of silt, after more than a decade of repeated flooding.
Today, this man will be remembered. He will not be forgotten.
Robert "Wild" Weimer Birth: 1883
Death: Dec. 1, 1908 in Marysville -Yuba County California, USA
Robert Weimer - aliases: "Slim", "Wild" & "Eppa Bartlett"
SACRAMENTO UNION, Saturday 28 November 1908 Volume 16, Number 97, Page 6, Column 7
NEWS BREVITIES FROM NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TOWNS – YUBA COUNTY.
Badly Hurt. — R. Wild, commonly called “Slim” at the levee camp in Sutter where he was working. Was found late Thursday night lying in an unconscious condition at the Southern Pacific track near the Marysville depot. He was bleeding from the ears and mouth and apparently suffering concussion of the brain. It is thought he was accidentally hurt by stumbling and striking his head on a tie.
SACRAMENTO UNION, Thursday, 3 December 1908 Volume 16, Number 102, Page 4, Column 4 –
Yuba County. Injured Man Dies. —Robert Weimer, alias Eppa E. Bartlett, alias Wilds, who was found lying near the Southern Pacific depot last Thursdays night in an unconscious condition, and bleeding from the mouth, nose and ears, died at the county hospital. He never fully regained consciousness, but on three occasions he partially regained his senses and was able to state that he had been knocked down by two white men at the depot, where he was found by Robert Chandler, night fireman of the switch engine. Shortly before he passed away he opened his eyes and told the hospital attendant that his name was Robert Weimer, and that he had a father residing at Joliet, Illinois. He said that his age was 25 years.
SACRAMENTO UNION, Sunday, 6 December 1908 Volume 16, Number 105, Page 15, Column 6 –
Yuba County. Murdered.—That Eppa A. Bartlett, alias Robert Weimer, alias Wild, died at Marysville from the effects of injuries inflicted upon him by murderers, is now generally believed, and the coroner’s jury that inquired into the cause of his death returned a verdict to that effect. The jury also recommends that the city marshal of Marysville police do all in their power to run the murders to earth and unravel the mystery. The true name of the victim, who was found bleeding, with his head fractured, lying alongside the Southern Pacific track in Marysville on Thanksgiving night, and who died at the county hospital on Tuesday, is not known. The coroner’s jury used the name Robert Weimer in its deliberations.
Information below was obtained from "Book I, Record of Burials - City of Marysville - From 1870 To 1939", on page 110.
(Maintained at Marysville City Hall)
Name: Weimer, Robert Date
Interred: December 5, 1908
Age: 25 years
Sex: Male
Color/Race: White
Single/Married: No Record
Nativity: No Record
Place of Death: No Record 12/1/08
Cause of Death: Hemorrhage of Brain
Physician/Coroner: Dr. C E Stone
Number of Grave: 338
Location of Grave: City Cemetery
 |
| Looking at the map of Marysville City Cemetery, you can see how many individuals are located in Paupers field, although there are also numbered graves along the fence lines of the cemetery indicated by yellow to the right of this map, near the pink section. |
If anyone wants to donate to the Historic Marysville City “Cemetery Headstone Restoration Fund” they can send a donation to the address below. This account is maintained by the city. All monies in the Headstone Restoration Fund goes directly towards the repair bills.
Thank you all!
City of Marysville,
“Cemetery Headstone Restoration Fund”
c/o Jeri Schneider
P.O. Box 150
Marysville, CA 95901
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