Jim's Grave

GPS Coordinates: 46.312251, -124.033961
PLSS Coordinates: SW¼ NW¼ Sec. 34 T10N R11W
County: Pacific
Record count: 1

Directions:

Editor's Note: The GPS coordinates provided above are only an educated guess. Based on the story provided below, and on other published sources, it's our belief that Jim was buried at the present-day Whealdon Family Cemetery, being that his death predated all other burials at this cemetery, and also predated all other Ilwaco-area cemeteries.

Background:

Ilwaco, Washington was a tiny town way back then, the day a negro man, "Jim, by name" wandered into town. "A kinder soul never lived." Jim was an industrious sort who had a good nature to him and was temperate of nature. The settlers and their children took to him easily. One day Jim was boating with a white couple when an ocean storm suddenly capsized the boat they were in. Jim kept them all together and when help finally arrived, Jim insisted that the rescuer take the couple and come back for him the next trip. Jim couldn't make it through the cold water and drowned. The town assembled to pay Jim tribute of respect. His body was buried in the old Whealdon Cemetery, near the present day reservoir. A question remains as to whether Jim was ever moved to the new Ilwaco Cemetery, or if it occupies a lonely, neglected grave at Whealdon Hill.

- T. Sheldon, August 23, 2000

Burial Records

• Transcription of Testimony, by T. Sheldon, May 30, 2000, (1 records)

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