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John Brownson Bisland Jr.

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John Brownson Bisland Jr.

Birth	:	10 May 1889 Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, USA
Death	:	20 May 1916 Eagle County, Colorado, USA
Burial	:	Pine Hill Cemetery, West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.0317001, -71.0102997
Description	:	Magazine tells about death to Houma native Bill Ellzey Correspondent Published: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. He was almost certainly a member of the prominent sugar-planting Bisland family recalled in the name of Bisland Cemetery, and a relative of the late Ralph Bisland, known for his service as secretary to the Terrebonne Police Jury. Born in Houma in 1889, John Brownson Bisland Jr. was memorialized after his untimely 1916 death, in the alumni magazine of the Colorado School of Mines where he received his engineering training. But John Brownson Bisland Jr. was... Read More	Magazine tells about death to Houma native Bill Ellzey Correspondent Published: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. He was almost certainly a member of the prominent sugar-planting Bisland family recalled in the name of Bisland Cemetery, and a relative of the late Ralph Bisland, known for his service as secretary to the Terrebonne Police Jury. Born in Houma in 1889, John Brownson Bisland Jr. was memorialized after his untimely 1916 death, in the alumni magazine of the Colorado School of Mines where he received his engineering training. But John Brownson Bisland Jr. was educated as a mining engineer, not a sugar chemist — Ralph Bisland's original training. A few details of John Bisland's relatively short life turned up in 1916 issues of Mines Magazine, an alumni publication of the Colorado School of Mines. The June 1916 issue reported his accidental death and his obituary: "John Brownson Bisland Jr., is dead," it began. "Born in the sunny southland, where the sweet-scented air hums constantly with the delicious notes of the mocking bird and life flows on in an untroubled stream, he died while performing his duty in the bleak, sterile and rock-ribbed hills near Nederland." (Probably Nederland, Colo.). "While he was at the top of a pole at Dry Lake adjusting a transformer last Saturday morning, Bisland was instantly killed when 13,000 volts of electricity passed thru his body. "His death followed closely his recent thrilling escape in a box car from Mexico, where he had been employed by a large syndicate. He went to Boulder county about a month ago to become superintendent of the Victor Tungsten Company's mine at Dry Lake. "Not the mere flight of years, but accomplishment forms the standard from which the estimate of life's worth is drawn. John Bisland had lived only twenty-seven years of the allotted scriptural span of three score years and ten. His career, full of promise, terminated before its zenith had been reached, life's shadows all were falling towards the west. He was very successful in his profession, to which his life was devoted, and he was endowed with attributes of character that would have rendered him a man of mark in any vocation or any scope of life. Men loved him and no mere words can gild the grief of his loss to those near and dear to him. "John Brownson Bisland was born at Houma, Louisiana, May 10, 1889, and there he spent his youth. He graduated from the Louisiana State University and then came to Golden and entered the School of Mines, graduating in 1913. His first position was in a mill at Idaho Springs, under A. H. Roller, superintendent. "Later in the year of 1913 he took a position at Lead, South Dakota, working there until 1914, when a splendid position was tendered him by the American Mines Company as engineer in their mines at El Rayo, Santa Barbara, Mexico, south of Chihuahua. "Mr. Bisland came back to Golden last June, 1915, and was married to Miss Merle Arasmith, who accompanied him back to the mines at El Rayo. After another brief period of work the employees of the mine were forced to leave under difficult transportation facilities, Mr. Bisland's wife accompanying him home to Golden. "Later Mr. Bisland went again to Mexico, where he was employed to place a power transmission line between Sonora and Santa Barbara and prepare the El Rayo camp to resume operations, life and property having been declared safe by the Carranza government. He had hardly got started when the Watson party was massacred, several miles north of him. "After several days of anxiety, with his wife at El Paso, in fear of what might happen, awaiting tidings, he again came out of this war-ridden country and, with his wife, visited his parents at Houma, Louisiana, and then coming to Golden about a month ago." Details of the Watson party massacre had been published in the February 1916 issue of Mines Magazine: "We had been assured by the Mexican officials (the faction recognized by our Government) that everything was well in hand and that we would have full protection for life and property, etc. Arrangements were made for a special car to be taken on the regular train which was to leave Juarez (opposite El Paso) for Chihuahua. "Two ‘party' passports were given for us miners ... and we were known as ‘Watson's party and Quigley's party.' Besides us there were a few merchants and women, making about fifty-five in all." A day or two later, "Watson's party, numbering nineteen men, went west on a train." The same night "word was received that the train going west had been stopped forty miles out and the boys all massacred in cold blood. We did the best we could under the circumstances in getting the bodies, making boxes, and getting them to the border. One of the boys who was on the fatal train escaped and arrived in Chihuahua next day disguised as a peon." The same February 1916, issue of the magazine had reported: "Mrs. J. B. Bisland left Golden early in January to join her husband at Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, Mexico, but owing to the murder of the Watson party, Bisland left Mexico for El Paso before she arrived. Bisland is at present at his home at Houma, Louisiana, though his mail address is 714 Mills Building, El Paso, Texas." The May issue of the magazine reported another Bisland move: "J. B. Bisland arrived in Golden from Houma, Louisiana, about the middle of April and left immediately for Nederland, where he is in charge of a tungsten property." It was there that the accident which took his life occurred. "The details of this tragedy are brief. ... There was trouble on the line and the transmission box upon which Mr. Bisland was working contained three switches, two of which had been disconnected, it is said. "With the foreman of the mine standing close by, Mr. Bisland put his hand on the transformer, without pulling out the third switch, believing this wire to be also dead, when he was hurled to the ground. "Whether this third switch was accidently left closed or a bolt of lightning from the storm then raging struck the wires and severed soul from body is immaterial to John Bisland. He lies careless alike to sunshine and storm. "The impressive funeral rites of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity were performed Wednesday afternoon at the house by the members and the Alumni of the active chapter of the Colorado School of Mines, of which Mr. Bisland was a member, afterwards the solemn Episcopal church services were held at Calvary church, the Rev. Don Fenn officiating, and the body laid to rest in the beautiful Mount Olivet cemetery." The cemetery is in Golden, Colo.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Brownson Bisland Jr.'s memorial?
John Brownson Bisland Jr.'s memorial is located at: Pine Hill Cemetery, West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA.
When did John Brownson Bisland Jr. death?
John Brownson Bisland Jr. death on 20 May 1916 in Eagle County, Colorado, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Brownson Bisland Jr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 42.0317001
Longitude: -71.0102997

Family Members:

Spouse

Edith Merle “Merle” Arasmith Bisland

(1890 - 1916)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pine Hill Cemetery
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0317001, -71.0102997

2. Powder House Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0305140, -71.0077060

3. Thayer Cemetery
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0276985, -70.9844894

4. Old Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0113678, -71.0100021

5. Ames Family Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0063480, -71.0042500

6. Union Cemetery
East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0355200, -70.9754100

7. Beaver Cemetery
East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0471992, -70.9792023

8. Cochesett Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0152016, -71.0412979

9. Alger Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0068000, -71.0289700

10. Thompson Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0603380, -71.0054430

11. Dunbar Family Cemetery
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0510900, -71.0443700

12. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0124400, -71.0454700

13. Jerusalem Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0327780, -71.0561110

14. Trinity Church Cemetery
Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0015600, -70.9867800

15. Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery
Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9974900, -70.9897800

16. First Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery
Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9978700, -70.9883400

17. First Parish Burying Ground
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0704190, -71.0181560

18. Central Cemetery
East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0302800, -70.9562400

19. Old Graveyard
East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0296700, -70.9549500

20. Nehemiah Howard Graveyard
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0262240, -71.0658250

21. Old Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery
Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9933320, -70.9878050

22. Hayward Family Graveyard
West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0374830, -71.0667180

23. Elmwood Cemetery
East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0097008, -70.9597015

24. Isaac Lothrop Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0247080, -71.0684940