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Ogilby Cemetery
Ogilby, Imperial County, California

Contributed by Steve Paul Johnson [stevepjohnson@mchsi.com].

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The town of Ogilby is now a ghost town. Ogilby had been a small town of workers for the American Girl Mine and a loading area for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

All that remains of Ogilby is the foundation of the school house and the cemetery. The two lie only about 50 feet apart. According to the book, "Southern California's Best Ghost Towns" by Philip Varney, this cemetery was established in 1878. The proprietor of the Gold Rock Ranch R.V. Resort, which lies about 5 miles north, says that Ogilby Cemetery is mostly made up of Chinese who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. I did, however, notice some graves with candles depicting the Virgin Mary, and another with a rosary around it, indicating Catholics, perhaps Mexicans.

There are no inscriptions on the grave markers. 26 graves were identified.

To reach the cemetery, take Interstate 8 to County Highway S34. S34 lies about 15 miles west of the Arizona border. Go north along S34 for about 3.8 miles. You will come to the railroad tracks. Just before the tracks, there is a road that veers to the west. Jump on this road, and you will immediately see the cemetery on your left.