I have bits of informtion concerning an ALFRED CANTRELL and two daughters.
About three years ago while reading a western magazine there was a picture of
a few graves in Boothill Cemetery, Tombstone, Arizona. One grave marker read
"Alfred Cantrell, shot, 1881." My mother's maiden name was Cantrell so I
became interested. I immediately thought we had a gunfighter in the family.
Later wife and I visited Boothill Cemetery, took several pictures. Several
answered queries revealed he was shot in the head with his own shotgun during
a robbery at his home in Tempe, AZ, July 9, 1881. He was believed to be in
his late 50's, and had lived in that area about five years. An earlier
census in Mendocino County, Calif. listed Alfred Cantrell as a resident of
Westport area. I got copies of the murder investigation, court transcripts,
prison records of the murderer, etc., amounting to over 100 pages from
Maricopa County, AZ. Those records revealed he had two married daughters
Susan Francis Cantrell Nesmith married to William H. Nesmith of Alameda
County, California, and Eliza Ann Cantrell Walker married to David K. Walker
of Mendocino County, Calif. So far I have found nothing on Nesmith.
Queries revealed "Aliza" Cantrell Walker b.1854 d.1898 buried in Westport
Cemetery, Westport, Calif., with a plaque dedicated 24 May, 1986, reading in
part:Walker, Aliza Cantrell, Pioneer wife and mother. Another query revealed
her husband David K. Walker b.1849 d,1937, buried in Willits Cemetery,
Willits, Calif. I will go to Mendocino County in a few days/weeks to check
for records of offspring. If if anyone has info on Alfred or daughters
please let me know. If you want copies of info I have let me know, I'll be
happy to share.
I have not had a chance to check names in your emails, but will do so within
a few days. I have many pages of info on Cantrells but they are not
organized, one of my traits....
Bob Irvin
Reno, Nevada