Ea. “La California” Page last modified:
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July, 2013
(Photo: P. Benitz)

Benitz Family Cemetery
Through the Ages

The cemetery at estancia “La California” (Las Rosas/SFé) was established in 1876 with the death of William Benitz (Wilhelm Böniz).  Family members, friends, and employees have been buried there ever since.  More recently, ashes of those who died far from “La California” have been buried there.  In addition, there are commemorative stones, crosses, and plaques for some who are buried elsewhere.  Surnames include: Bell, Benitz, Bruns, Frend, Jeans, MacDonald, Macintosh, Martin, Saavedra, Sympson, Watt.

The headstones and railings have suffered over the years particularly from falling eucalyptus tree branches.  The headstones have been repaired but almost all the railings have been removed.  The offending eucalyptus have been replaced with other species, planted along the border of the cemetery.

Click here to see a List of Gravestones – current through August, 2014.

Text within quotes beneath a photo was written on it's back or next to it in an album.
Abbreviations: Bz-Benitz, K-Kolmer, Mac-MacIntosh, S.-Schreiber.

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“Cemetery – La California”
before 1893 (late 1892?)
(Source: Silvia Ucko)

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“California   Rd to Cemetery”
ca.1900
(Photo: John E. Benitz, album 7, p.7e)

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“California Cemetery
Donald Macintosh (Marjory’s brother)
died of appendix.”

(per new grave, late 1892?)
(Photo: John E. Benitz, album 7, p.27a)

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“Grave Yard La California
Bernice Marion”
15 May 1902

(It is: Marion & Bernice)
Easily visible headstones:
Franz X. Benitz (d.1880)
Charles T. Benitz (d.1877)
(Photo: JEBenitz, source: JCBenitz)

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Avenue to the Cemetery
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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Approaching Cemetery, center left
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

Headstones

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South-East quarter of Cemetery
Looking east – Left-to-Right:
Donald Macintosh, plinth, Alfred D. Bz (hides: Herman V. Bz), John A. Frend,
Franz X. Bz, Marjory D. Bz, John V. Martin, Charles T. Bz,
John E. Bz, William Bz, Alfred A. Bz, Josephine Kolmer-Bz (hides: Olga B. Horner-Bz),
Marjorie M. Mackintosh-Bz (plaque on grave: Elsie J. Bz-Sympson)
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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William Benitz
(Wilhelm Böniz)

Sacred to the memory of
WILLIAM BENITZ
Born in Endingen, Baden, Germany
Feb. 9th 1815
Died June 27th 1876

(Error: born Feb.8, baptised Feb.9
Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Josephine Benitz
(Josefa Kolmerer)

Sacred to the memory of
JOSEPHINE BENITZ
Born in Endingen, Baden
January 6th 1830
Died at Villa Josefina, La Cumbre
August 20th 1912
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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To Our Mother
Most of all the other / beautiful things in
life come by twos and / threes, by dozens and
hundreds! Plenty of / roses stars sunsets,
rainbows; brothers / and sisters aunts and
cousins; but only one /mother in all the wide
world!
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

—————— † ——————

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Charles Theodore Benitz
Charlie

Sacred to the Memory of
CHARLES THEODORE BENITZ
Born at Fort Ross, Sonoma County
California, U.S.A.
July 2nd 1856.
Died Apr. 12th 1877.
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Franz Xavier Benitz
Uncle Frank

Sacred to the Memory of
FRANZ XAVIER BENITZ
Born in Endingen, Baden, Germany
Oct. 16th 1816.
Died Oct. 14th 1880.
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Herman Vitalis Benitz
Herman

Sacred to the memory of
HERMAN VITALIS BENITZ
Born April 28 – 1863
Died January 31 – 1893
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

—————— † ——————

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Alfred Alexander Benitz
Alfred / Uncle Alfred

ALFRED ALEXANDER BENITZ
Beloved husband of Olga B. Horner
Son of William & Josephine Benitz
Born June 15 1859 at Fort Ross, California
Died Sept 17 1937 at Las Tres Lagunas
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Olga Blanche Horner–Benitz, OBE
Olga / Auntie Olga

OLGA BLANCHE HORNER
Beloved wife of
Alfred Alexander Benitz
Born May 19th 1875
at Cheshunt, England
Died February 4th 1963 at El Rincon
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

—————— † ——————

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John Edward Benitz
John / Johnnie

In Memory of
JOHN BENITZ
Son of William & Josephine Benitz
Born at Fort Ross California, U.S.A.
Drowned at Cruz Grande
by a river flood
20th of March 1916
Aged 55 years

(Born: 24 August, 1861
Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Marjorie Morris Macintosh–Benitz
Marjorie

In loving memory of
MARJORIE MACINTOSH
Beloved wife of John Benitz
Born in Glasgow Scotland
Died at estancia “Los Algarrobos”
26th December 1945
Aged 83 years

(Born: 21 March 1858, Helenburgh, Glasgow
Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Marjory Daw Benitz
Marjory

In Memory of
MARJORY BENITZ
Daughter of Marjory
and John Benitz
Born in Rosario
Drowned by river flood
at Cruz Grande
20th of March 1916
Aged 18 years

(Born: 17 August, 1897
Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Alfred Donald Benitz
Alfred / Alfredito

In loving memory of
ALFRED DONALD BENITZ
Born at Cruz Grande La Cumbre
on August 22nd 1903
Died at Villa Josefina
on April 1st 1933
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Donald Macintosh
Donald

In Memory of
DONALD
who died here
July 6 1892
Youngest son of the
late Thomas Macintosh
Glasgow

(Born: 24 May 1874, Glasgow High Church,
Lanarkshire, Scotland
Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Elspeth Josephine Benitz–Sympson
Elsie

In loving memory of

ELSPETH JOSEPHINE BENITZ de SYMPSON
Born Nov-3-1893   Died May 17th 1985
Daughter of John Benitz and
Marjory Macintosh
wife of Thomas M. Sympson and
mother of Rodney, Marjory, Hilary, Rosemary,
Nancy, Peter and Michael

Buried at Nono, Sierras
Grandes de Cordoba

(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

—————— † ——————

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North-West quarter of Cemetery
Looking North-West
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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North side, NW quarter of Cemetery
Looking north – Left-to-Right:
Clara E. Allyn-Bz, W. Stuart Bz, Flora King-Bz, William A. Bz,
Charles A. Bz, F. Malcolm Bz, A. Gertie M. Traill-Bz
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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Clara Electa Allyn–Benitz
Clara

In Loving Memory of
CLARA ALLYN BENITZ
Born 23rd Nov 1858 Rochester
Died 12th Oct 1930 Bs Aires
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

Clara’s husband, William Otto Benitz,
is buried in the Allyn Family plot of the
Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana
Texas, U.S.A.

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William Agar Benitz
Willie

In Loving Memory of
WILLIAM AGAR BENITZ
A beloved and loving
husband and father
Born March 8th 1888
Died September 20th 1956
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Flora King–Benitz
Flora

In Loving Memory of
FLORA KING
Beloved wife of
Willie Benitz
Born 18th April 1887
Died 2nd September 1917
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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William Stuart Benitz
Stuart

In Loving Memory of
W STUART BENITZ
Beloved son of
Flora & Willie Benitz
Born 12th November 1915
Died 26th June 1919
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Frank Malcolm Benitz
Malcolm

In Loving Memmory
FRANK MALCOLM BENITZ, D.F.C.
Born 26th April 1917
Died 13th December 1986
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Audrey Gertrude Muriel Traill–Benitz
Gertie

In Loving Memory of
AUDREY GERTRUDE
TRAILL de BENITZ

Born 17th December 1916
Died 13th February 2001
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Charles Alfred Benitz
Charles

Charles Alfred Benitz
Born in B.A. 9/6/26
Died in Rosario 22/8/14
“With all our love to a great man.”
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

 
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West side, NW quarter of Cemetery
Looking west – Left-to-Right:
Frank A. Watt, Bernice W. Bz-Bell, James M. Bell (plaque on grave: Jean A. Bell),
J. Frank M. Bell, Frank A. Bz (cross).
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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James MacDonald Bell
Jim

In loving memory of
JAMES MACDONALD BELL
Born 28-11-1879   Died 27-5-1945
Beloved husband of
Bernice Benitz
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Bernice Wilhelmina Benitz–Bell
Bernice

BERNICE W. B. de McDONALD BELL
Buenos Aires, 15-04-1895
Camberley, Inglaterra, 22-01-1998
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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Jean Allyn Bell–Bodwell
Jean

JEAN ALLYN BELL
Beloved wife of
Geoffrey Lionel Bodwell
Born August 24th. 1919
Died September 1st. 1950
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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James Frank MacDonald Bell
Frank / Frankie

Group Captain
JAMES FRANK MACDONALD BELL
DFC   AFC   CD
Royal Canadian Air Force
Born 2nd November 1918
Died 8th November 1965
(Photo: J. Bell)

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Frank Allyn Benitz
Frank

In Loving Memory of
Lieut. Frank Allyn Benitz
Aug. 5th 1918.
Killed in air raid.
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov 2011)

Frank is buried in England, in the
General Cemetery at Gainsborough,
the home-town of his RAF Squadron.

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Frank Alexander Watt
Frank / Watto

FRANK A. WATT, DFC
Buenos Aires, 14-03-1920
Vancouver, Canada, 07-01-2011
“Quiero vale cuatro”
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

Half his ashes, the other half are in the
Veterans Section, Capilano View Cemetery
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Silvia “Dizzy” Cooper/Watt is buried next to him.

—————— † ——————

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North-East quarter of Cemetery
Looking north-east – Left-to-Right:
Juan Saavedra, George Bruns, John MacDonald,
Donald Macintosh, plinth, Herman V. Bz, Alfred D. Bz.
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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John Alfred Frend

In Loving Memory of
JOHN ALFRED FREND, M.D.
Born at BOHER, LIMERICK, 10th February, 1856.
Died 16th May, 1929
“FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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John V. Martin
Johnnie

John V. Martin
Born in B.A. 18/1/26
Died in G.B. 7/11/12
“A life-long friend.”
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)

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Juan Saavedra

JUAN SAAVEDRA
FALLECIO 9 DICIEMBRE 1890
(Photo: P. Benitz, Nov. 2016)
— La California diary —
“Old Juan Savedra died last night suddenly.
he has worked about 7 years on the place.”

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George Bruns

GEORGE BRUNS
April 25 – 1828
November 7 – 1922
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)

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John MacDonald

JOHN MACDONALD
August 14–1857
May 17–1944
(Photo: P. Benitz, July 2013)


© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)