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Joseph P. Armes

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Joseph P. Armes

Birth	:	2 Aug 1847 Portugal
Death	:	25 Feb 1909 California, USA
Burial	:	Greenway Cemetery, Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.6180992, -78.2285995
Description	:	A native of Azores Island Member of the U.P.E.C. and I.D.E.S. Joseph P. ARMES pose Armas) was born in Santa Cruz, Flores, in 1847, and immigrated to the Newcastle area of Placer County, Calif., in 1863. On December 19, 1880 in Auburn he married MARY A. FRATES (Freitas), who was born in Faial on May 9, 1859, the daughter of Francisco Jose Silveira de Freitas and Maria Luisa Coracao de Jesus. Her mother was the daughter of Jose Antonio and Marianna Luisa Santos. Jose Santos had been a tax collector in 1810. Mary Frates had come to the U.S. to visit an... Read More	A native of Azores Island Member of the U.P.E.C. and I.D.E.S. Joseph P. ARMES pose Armas) was born in Santa Cruz, Flores, in 1847, and immigrated to the Newcastle area of Placer County, Calif., in 1863. On December 19, 1880 in Auburn he married MARY A. FRATES (Freitas), who was born in Faial on May 9, 1859, the daughter of Francisco Jose Silveira de Freitas and Maria Luisa Coracao de Jesus. Her mother was the daughter of Jose Antonio and Marianna Luisa Santos. Jose Santos had been a tax collector in 1810. Mary Frates had come to the U.S. to visit an aunt, and stayed to marry Joseph Armes Joseph, a fruit farmer in the Newcastle area for nearly 40 years, had been the organizer for the Republican Party for Placer County. He died on February 25, 1909, in Newcastle. He had left for town driving his horse and buggy, and had a stroke before he reached town. The horse continued on to town, and waited at the customary place in front of the Lowell store. It was not determined how long he had been dead when he was discovered about eight o'clock at night; apparently passersby thought he was asleep. Mary ran the ranch after the death of her husband, and in the 1930s received an award for having one of the few unmortgaged ranches in the area. One night while she was away visiting her daughter Grace in Auburn, the ranch house burned to the ground, unable to be saved because of a problem with the water pressure. The hired men saved some furniture, a few pictures, and the washing machine. The fruit house across from the main house also burned. The death of her husband, and the burning of her ranch house, were not the only tragedies Mary Frates Armes had to face: Less than four months later, her youngest son, Joe, was murdered by Mary's housekeeper, Alma Bell, who lived with the Armes family, and with whom Joe was having an affair. According to the story in the Sacramento Union, an Auburn saloon owner, Manuel Neves, was spreading stories about Alma, who sought to explain them away to Joe Armes, whom Alma claimed was her fiance. Also, she was jealous of Minnie Foster, who also lived with the Armes family in the fruit season, although there was apparently no reason for the jealousy. But Joe wouldnt listen to Alma. An account in the Placer Herald of Auburn on June 12, 1909, stated that Alma Bell shot Joe because he refused to marry her. She went to the Armes home around 6:00 p.m. where she got Joes pistol, and then went to the cabin where Joe and his brothers were sleeping, saying she wanted to talk to him. About 10:30 that night Joe got up and started to accompany her to a neighbors house. A short while later Joe's brothers Manuel and Frank heard two shots. Going outside, they found Joe with a bullet hole through his heart and Alma gone. Alma Bell threatened to kill the entire family, and hid in the bushes around the farmhouse. Mary and her daughters stayed in the house, avoiding doors and windows until Alma was found after a three-day hunt. She surrendered to a deputy sheriff, saying she had meant to kill herself, too. She was sentenced and served a term in prison. Mary Emily Armes died May 9, 1947, at age 87, after an illness of six weeks. She had a sister, Mrs. Joseph Ferry, in Newcastle. The children of Joseph and Mary Armes, in addition to Joe: Manuel, who died in Auburn in 1948, married Mary Serpa; Frank, who had fought in World War I, died in 1940; John, who never married, died of a concussion; Mary married Manuel Brown, and then Richard Negley, and died in 1968; Julia T. (1895-1972), a charter member of UPPEC, married Carroll R. Couture, son of Dr. Alfred N. and Dr. Ella R. Couture of Auburn; Evelyn married Edward Eyering; and Grace, who died in 1976, married Harold Harrington of Auburn. [Elizabeth Couture Slater] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find A Grave contributor LovesGraving has made a suggestion ****************** On the night of June 5th Alma Bell went to the cabin and after a scene In which her lover tried to make her leave, he finally went with her. A shot was heard, then another. When the Sheriff found Armes' body, shot through the heart, the girl was crouched in the bushes near by. She said she had Intended to kill herself and appeared dazed. The girl's child was dead when born in the county Jail a few weeks after. This is the story which will be placed before the Jury in the defense of Alma Bell, and which the prosecution will bitterly attack. Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz, California Sunday, November 7, 1909 Page 1

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Joseph P. Armes's memorial?
Joseph P. Armes's memorial is located at: Greenway Cemetery, Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, USA.
When did Joseph P. Armes death?
Joseph P. Armes death on 25 Feb 1909 in California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Joseph P. Armes's memorial?
Latitude: 39.6180992
Longitude: -78.2285995

Family Members:

Parent

Manuel Pimentel Armes

(1826 - 1889)

Mrs Francis L Noia Arms

(1822 - 1890)

Spouse

Mary Emily Freitas Armes

(1860 - 1947)

Siblings

Frederick P. “Fred” Armes

(1857 - 1941)

Manuel Pemetell Armes

(1857 - 1914)

Mary Peters Armes Avilla

(1862 - 1937)

Philomina “Minnie” Armes Marshall

(1864 - 1902)

Pauline Enos Armes Duvall

(1869 - 1935)

Meny Armes

(1869 - 1889)

Children

(1885 - 1909)

(1886 - 1937)

(1886 - 1949)

(1889 - 1915)

Grace Armes Harrington

(1904 - 1976)

Flowers:

Left by Anonymous on 30 Oct 2009

So many family tragedies!

Left by Anonymous on 20 Mar 2016

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Greenway Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.6180992, -78.2285995

2. Old English Cemetery
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12. Mount Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.6343994, -78.1474991

13. Bethel Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5560989, -78.2664032

14. Fleece Family Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5539400, -78.2792500

15. Mahnes Cemetery
Ridersville, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6618996, -78.1483002

16. Alba Regia Memorial Chapel Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5425700, -78.2479800

17. Alpine United Methodist Church Cemetery
Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6808014, -78.1616974

18. Mount Tabor UMC Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5405998, -78.2628021

19. Highland Cemetery
Duckwall, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5393982, -78.1988983

20. House of Jacob Cemetery
Hancock, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6957900, -78.1899400

21. Ambrose Chapel Cemetery
Stotlers Crossroads, Morgan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5285988, -78.2311020

22. Hancock Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Hancock, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6985400, -78.1768500

23. Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Cemetery
Hancock, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6998900, -78.1775100

24. Mount Olivet Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Hancock, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7009300, -78.2783500