Elsinore Valley Cemetery, Elsinore, Riverside County, CA

Submitted by Red and Bonnie Mulvanny 2 Mar 2008

HISTORY OF ELSINORE VALLEY CEMETERY
 
In 1891 Peter Wall purchased 12 acres of land for the Greenwood Cemetery.  He laid out the 
cemetery, and with the help of the GAR Relief Corps and others, planted trees and hauled water 
to the site to establish them.
 
The hilly site known as the “old cemetery” was on Minthorn Street, east of Highway 71 (now I-15). 
Our records show that the following pioneers, buried between 1876 and 1890, were disinterred and 
moved to Greenwood: Emma A. Rand, George B. Wall, Freeman A. Drake, Joseph F. Drake, Lena W. 
Willsey, Joseph Keith, Allen T. Gilman and Mary L. Walker.
 
The first recorded burial in the new graveyard was January 4, 1891 for Frank Cameron, age 18 years, 
10 months, 6 days. He was born in Walworth County, Wisconsin. The death certificate signed by 
Dr. S. H. Washburn lists cause of death as inflammation of the brain. 
 
The members of the first Board of Directors were S. H. Washburn, Lafayette Gill, William H. Townsend, 
Leonard Buckingham Peck, James Balfour, W. W. Wilson, Samuel Adams Stewart, Peter Wall and 
Thompson Frame. The first Superintendent of the association was Charles Sumner Merrifield 
(known as Carl), son-in-law of Peter Wall. He was followed by his son, Leslie Merrifield,
who held that post until 1970 when he retired at age 70.
 
Many years of either too much or too little rain made the job of maintaining the cemetery very 
difficult for C. S. Merrifield. Each year before Memorial Day, the community was asked to help clean 
up the cemetery. In January of 1916 a major flood almost obliterated some of the graves. That year 
volunteers were asked to help reset the fallen headstones.
 
During the early years the cemetery ground was bare except for weeds. They grew so high that 
burning was used for their control.

This caused damage to the trees and also the marble, wood, and limestone grave markers, so the 
burning was discontinued.

In the 1920’s a well was dug in hopes of getting enough water for more landscaping. An adequate 
water supply during hot summers continued to be a problem for many years.
 
In 1923 the Elsinore Woman’s Club, under the leadership of Mrs. Guy (Mary Lorena) Willsey, took as 
their project the protection and care of the cemetery. Through their efforts, and with the assistance 
of other organizations in the valley, the cemetery was purchased in May of 1926. Mr. Wall sold the 
property for $500 plus some additional funds for the improvements and equipment.
 
The name was changed to “Elsinore Valley Cemetery” and the Elsinore Valley Cemetery Association 
was formed as part of the Riverside Cemetery District. The Trustees appointed by the County Board 
of Supervisors were Willis L. Everett, Henry Clay Scott and Terrell L. Rush. 
 
Also in 1926, a special veterans’ section was secured through the efforts of the Spanish American 
War Veterans and the American Legion. Even in the early years of the century, the Grand Army of 
the Republic held formal dedications and celebrations each Decoration Day in which the entire 
community participated. Elsinore’s last survivor of the Civil War was Abijiah W. “Daddy” Davis who 
died in 1955. Ceremonies marking Memorial Day and Veterans Day continue each year under the 
auspices of the various veterans’ organizations in the valley.
 
Under the supervision of Mr. C. S. Merrifield, Leslie Merrifield, Clair Williams and the continuing Board 
of Directors many improvements have been made at our cemetery. Fencing, retaining walls, curbing, 
road paving, plus the building of an office and warehouse. Each year more landscaping in the way of 
trees, flowers, shrubbery and grass has been added. Our cemetery is now a place of beauty and one 
of which we can all be proud.
 
Recently, the Elsinore Valley Cemetery Association finalized the purchase of the Home of Peace - 
Jewish Cemetery, which adjoins the north side of Elsinore Valley Cemetery. The only known records 
of burials in this cemetery have been taken from the existing headstones and are included on page 169. 
 
“The above history was written by Shirley Brooks with the aid of Jeanie Corral and Lilah Merrifield Knight.”