I am continuing the series on people involved with the Miller Hill Cemetery, whether you want to read it or not! The names will appear in their order of death, if known. I am interweaving newspaper headlines as a backdrop to what was happening here in Northwest Colorado and the world.
On Feb. 15, 1898, the USS Maine blew up and sank in the Havana Harbor. Spain was blamed and American newspapers demanded action. President McKinley declared war on the Spanish Empire April 21, 1898, and signed a peace treaty in December of 1898. Theodore Roosevelt distinguished himself as commander of the “Rough Riders.” T.R. had resigned as McKinley’s Secretary of War to recruit and lead men into action directly. In a rather rude setback for women’s rights, on Dec. 27, 1898, the president of the Union Pacific Railroad ordered that all women employees be fired and replaced by men. I wonder how long he was living in the dog house when his wife found out.
On Nov. 15, 1898, Burnetta Beatrice Bainbrich died at her home on Piceance. She was buried in Miller Hill Cemetery. She was born Burnetta Beatrice Moore on 15 June 1835 in Grundy County, Missouri. She was the youngest child of Levi Moore (1874-1875) and Rachel Haines (1790-1863). The Levi Moore family were pioneers of Grundy County, Missouri. Burnetta was the first white child to be born in that county. She married James Washinton Bainbrich on 16 June 1853 in Grundy County, Missouri. They came to Colorado in December of 1889 or 1888, depending the source. Her obituary was published in the Meeker Herald issue Dec. 3, 1898.
In 1899, Congress authorized the first voting machine to be used in federal elections. Bayer trademarked the name aspirin. America’s first speeding ticket was issued to New York City taxi driver Jacob German. Henry Bliss was the first American killed in an automobile accident. Jake was probably run over by another New York taxi driver on Broadway. I don’t think an aspirin would have helped him.
Charles Parkes has an old gravestone in Miller Hill Cemetery which reads “Charles E. Parkes 1869-1899”. Ed’s research: I found a birth date of about November 1869 in the 1870 Census, Independence, Nodaway, Missouri, taken June 1870. Charles E. Parks age 8 months born in Iowa. I did not find an obituary or any news articles. He appears in the 1880 Census with his parents in Independence, Nodaway, Missouri, age 10 born in Iowa. How he wound up on Piceance is a mystery to me. If our readers have information, let me know.
My thanks to the Rio Blanco Historical Society and the book series This Is What I Remember, also all those researchers who have gone before me in gathering information on RBC cemeteries.
By ED PECK