Woodbury Sinclair’s tombstone is marking no grave.
The sad story begins with his sudden death in 1872, just after Woodbury and his wife Mary Low had platted the eastern section of the town site newly named “Snohomish.” Their two small children, Clarence and Mabel, inherited the Sinclair land holdings, with their mother acting as the executor.
So, acting on behalf of the children, Mary donated three acres alongside the Pilchuck River for a cemetery, since the young town had no place for public burials. The Snohomish Cemetery Association was legally established in 1876. After four years, Mary finally had a registered resting place for her husband’s remains. She ordered a marker of white stone from Seattle, and Woodbury’s tombstone (pictured here) is considered to be the first one in Snohomish City.
Along with her husband, Mary included the remains of their firstborn, Alvin, who died within a month of Mary’s arrival in Snohomish, he was barely two months old in 1865.
Accounts of Snohomish’s first cemetery describe a picturesque, park-like setting with a white metal picket fence and a gateway with swinging gates. A black arch above read “Snohomish Cemetery” in white letters.
With the establishment of the G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic) cemetery west of town in 1898, the small cemetery alongside the river was no longer used, then neglected and forgotten. In the 1940s it was divided for the extension of Second Street to connect with Highway 2. Supposedly, the remains were moved to the G. A. R cemetery, but not the Sinclairs, according to the records. Even Woodbury’s tombstone was left behind, as it was vandalized in the thirties and eventually rescued by the Historical Society.
One day, I hope to take a “now” picture of the stone in its new setting, alongside a monument to Mary Low, and the other founding pioneers that shaped early Snohomish.
On Saturday, October 24th, I will be leading a tour of the pioneer tombstones in the G. A. R Cemetery, beginning at 10 AM and lasting for about an hour and a half. We will meet at the caretaker’s garage, where parking is available. The Society is asking for a donation of $5 for members and $10 for others, to continue its care of the Blackman House Museum.
Our own Clifford Blackman, who was raised in the historic home, has two stone markers there – join us to find out why.
About the NOW photograph: The tombstone was purchased by Masry Low Sinclair for her husband Woodbury probably around 12876 when the Snohomish Cemetery Association was formally established. It’s considered to be the first tombstone in Snohomish but was found abandoned by historical society members. There is no record of what happened to Woodbury Sinclair’s remains.
Published in the Snohomish County Tribune, October 21, 2009