The Schieffer plot

California · United States · Cemetery

A woman in burgundy watches over one family's graves. William Schieffer died in 1861, aged two. He was not the only one.

The old settlers' cemetery above Coloma, California stands on the hill opposite the Vineyard House, eight miles north of Placerville.

A figure in burgundy is seen watching over the Schieffer family plot.

The markers tell you why she is there. William Schieffer died in 1861 at the age of two. Charles Schieffer is beside him, and the dates run close together.

A family losing several small children within a short span was ordinary in gold country. Diphtheria, scarlet fever and cholera moved through the camps, and a mining settlement had no doctor worth the name and no clean water.

Coloma is where James Marshall found gold in the millrace in 1848 and started the rush that made and ruined California.

The cemetery is a state historic park and is open.

FAQ

Where is The Schieffer plot located?

The Schieffer plot is in California, United States.