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Cooney Cemetery
Alma, Catron County, New Mexico

Lat: 33° 24' 46"N, Lon: 108° 50' 12"W
T10S R19W Sec 30

Contributed by Cheryl Harris, May 15, 2007, Last edited Jun 01, 2007. [rich1223@comcast.net]. Total records = 7.

This very small graveyard is found in an isolated area east of the town of Alma, NM. Located in the southern part of the county, in the Mogollon Mountains. It is approximately 7 miles east of Alma on County Road 7.

This burial site is named for James C. Cooney, Sergeant of the 8th U.S. Cavalry, who came to Fort Bayard in 1870. While on duty as a scout, he discovered silver-bearing rock, but said nothing about it. After his discharge, he came to the area in 1876 with two companions to work the claim. He was killed by Victorio's Apaches. His brother, Captain Mike Cooney, and friends carved a sepulcher out of a rock in the canyon where he was killed and buried him there, sealing the tomb with the silver-bearing ore taken from the mine he discovered.

The main part of the cemetery is located behind the above mentioned tomb and contains the rest of the burials in this transcription.

I have completed transcribing this cemetery on Oct 31, 2006.

- Cheryl Harris

Buhlman, Mr., d. 1880 Apr 30, Killed by Victorio's Apaches, these three men (Cooney, Chick & Buhlman) were riding to warn settlers of an impending Indian attack
Chick, Jack, d. 1880 Apr 29, Killed by Victorio's Apaches, these three men (Cooney, Chick & Buhlman) were riding to warn settlers of an impending Indian attack
Clark, Charley, b. 1868 Oct 26, d. 1910 Aug 20
Clark, Elza May, b. 1896 Jun 29, d. 1905 Sep 5, Daughter of Charley Clark
Cooney, Hugh C., b. 1898 Oct 3, d. 1900 Jan 7
Cooney, James C., b. c.1840, d. 1880 Apr 29, Killed by Victorio's Apaches, these three men (Cooney, Chick & Buhlman) were riding to warn settlers of an impending Indian attack
Cooney, John D., b. 1880 Aug 20, d. 1891 Dec 15