DEATH: California, Death Index, 1905-1939 about Matthew W Argall:
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
The name "M.W. Argall" was engraved on some curbing at the Masonic Cemetery more than one hundred years ago upon his passing in the Summer of 1913. There may have been a marker, but none now exists. Thanks to the miracle of information-sharing on the internet, a gentleman "across the pond" in Cornwall, England, sent some information about "M.W. Argall" and we now have a lovely portrait of one of Grass Valley's early pioneers who hailed from Cornwall, England. His name was Matthew Wilkin Argall; he was born 28 May 1847 in St Newlyn East, Cornwall, England, and was baptised there on 18 November 1847. He emigrated to America as a young man and just weeks before his 25th birthday, he married Elizabeth James Cocking in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, USA on 5 April 1872; the following year, the young couple moved to Grass Valley where they remained for the next forty years until his passing on August 10, 1913. Matthew, as was noted in his lengthy obit below, "had rare accomplishments, being the master of nearly every instrument known to the musical profession." He was among the first in the West to practice the custom of singing carols during the Christmas season, and composed some of the carols sung by his church choir. Many of the "Cornish Christmas" traditions are still celebrated in Grass Valley, including the singing of carols in the town. Many thanks to Matthew Wilkin Argall for his contributions to keeping the Cornish musical traditions alive in that little town in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Researched and written by: "Little Orange in the Big Apple" (Valarie)
---------------------
Obituary in The Morning Union, Tuesday August 12th, 1913:
AS A MUSICIAN, MR. ARGALL HAD RARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BEING THE MASTER OF NEARLY EVERY INSTRUMENT KNOWN TO THE MUSICAL PROFESSION. HE ORGANIZED THE OLD TEMPLE OF HONOR AND OTHER BANDS AND MANY OF THE PRESENT DAY MUSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR MUSICAL TRAINING UNDER HIS TUTELEDGE. HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE MERRITT CAROL CHOIR, BEING AMONGST THE FIRST TO PRACTICE THE CUSTOM OF SINGING CAROLS AT CHRISTMASTIDE IN THE WEST. HE COMPOSED SOME OF THE CAROLS SUNG BY HIS CHOIR. FOR THIRTY YEARS MR. ARGALL PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR, JOINING THE CHOIR IN 1864, USING A LEFT-HANDED INSTRUMENT WHICH WAS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR HIM, HE HAVING LOST THE END OF ONE OF HIS FINGERS. MR. ARGALL WAS A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, AND WAS ACTIVE IN CHURCH CIRCLES/ HE WAS THE TEACHER OF A TEACHER'S TRAINING CLASS IN THE METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS. M. W. ARGALL'S ACTIVITY WAS NOT CONFINED TO ANY PARTICULAR WAY OF LIFE. IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS WELL AS IN MUSICAL AND FRATERNAL AND CIVIC LIFE, HE TOOK AN ACTIVE INTEREST. FOR EIGHT YEARS HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THIS CITY. HE TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN ALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND IN HIS EARLIER LIFE TOOK AN UNFLAGGING INTEREST IN POLITICS, BEING ONE OF THE OLD LINE REPUBLICANS. LOFTY IDEALS DOMINATED M. W. ARGALL'S ENTIRE LIFE AND AS "TRUE AS STEEL" MEANS VOLUMES WHEN APPLIED TO HIS CAREER, GENUINESS STANDING OUT VERY PROMINENTLY IN HIS STERLING MANHOOD. HIS CITIZENSHIP WAS AN HONOR TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SINCERITY WAS THE DOMINANT SPIRIT OF HIS LIFE. MR ARGALL WAS IDENTIFIED WITH ALL BRANCHES OF MASONRY BEING A PAST MASTER OF MADISON LODGE #23, F & A.M., GRASS VALLEY CHAPTER #18, R.A.M NEVADA COMMANDERY #6, KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, AURORA CHAPTER #40, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF G.V. LODGE A.O.U.W., AND ALPHA LODGE, KNIGHTS OF HONOR. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIDOW, ONE DAUGHTER - MRS. WILLIAM BROAD OF LOS ANGELES; TWO SONS: WILLIAM ARGALL OF SACRAMENTO, AND M. HENRY ARGALL OF THIS CITY, ONE SISTER - BESSIE LORING OF BUTTE CITY, MONTANA; HARRY ARGALL OF UTAH AND JOHN ARGALL WHO IS NOW CROSSING THE ATLANTIC FROM AFRICA TO VISIT HIS BROTHER IN THIS CITY. THE LATTER IS NOT AWARE OF HIS BROTHER'S DEATH. THE FUNERAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON MILL STREET AT 2 O'CLOCK. THE FUNERAL WILL BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MASONIC ORDER. THE CAROL SINGERS, COMBINED WITH THE METHODIST CHOIR, WILL RENDER THE MUSIC. INTERMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FAMILY PLOT IN THE MASONIC CEMETERY.
(Obit (in CAPS) courtesy of Ian Argall of Cornwall, England Feb 2013)
---
Matthew Wilkin Argall, known as MATT. Middle name incorrectly spelled as 'Wilkins' at times. Birth is recorded in the GRO indexes for the St Columb Registration District, under reference 9.62 for June quarter of 1847. He is listed as Matthew Wilkins (sic) Argall.
BAPTISM: Baptism Circuit: Newlyn East, Wesleyan Methodist
Name: Mattw. ARGALL
Sex: son of
Father Forename: Wm.
Mother Forename: Charlotte
Residence: Newlyn
Parish Or Reg District: Cornwall
Father Rank Profession: -
Date: 18-Nov 1847
Age: born May 28 1847
Where Baptised: Newlyn
Register Notes: John A. James.
MIGRATION: Emigrated to the USA in 1869 and then, as the mines of Mount Hope petered out and, after marrying in Dover, NJ, he moved Austin, Nevada, USA in 1873 with his mother, wife and family. The intention appears to have been to work in the Goldfields.
MARRIAGE: Groom's Name: Matthew Argall
Groom's Birth Date: 1846
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age: 25
Bride's Name: Elizabeth Cocking
Bride's Birth Date: 1848
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age: 23
Marriage Date: 05 Apr 1871
Marriage Place: Randolph, Morris, New Jersey
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02510-6
System Origin: New Jersey-EASy
Source Film Number: 494150
Reference Number: pg 668 #2
Collection: New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985.
Almost immediately, he left his parents and went with his wife to Grass Valley. He became Head Mechanic in the North Star Mine, Grass Valley, almost at once. He bought a home on Kate Hayes Street, where his three children were born. Later he bought a larger house with a shop attached, and left the mines and went into business for himself - apparently as some sort of Ironmongery. He also sold insurance. He was a devoted Christian.
The Austin Newspaper dated 11 Aug 1873 records his arrival.
DEATH: Death is recorded in the California State death indexes.
California, Death Index, 1905-1939 about Matthew W Argall:
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
Contributor: Ian Argall (47809099) •Jan 2021
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
The name "M.W. Argall" was engraved on some curbing at the Masonic Cemetery more than one hundred years ago upon his passing in the Summer of 1913. There may have been a marker, but none now exists. Thanks to the miracle of information-sharing on the internet, a gentleman "across the pond" in Cornwall, England, sent some information about "M.W. Argall" and we now have a lovely portrait of one of Grass Valley's early pioneers who hailed from Cornwall, England. His name was Matthew Wilkin Argall; he was born 28 May 1847 in St Newlyn East, Cornwall, England, and was baptised there on 18 November 1847. He emigrated to America as a young man and just weeks before his 25th birthday, he married Elizabeth James Cocking in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, USA on 5 April 1872; the following year, the young couple moved to Grass Valley where they remained for the next forty years until his passing on August 10, 1913. Matthew, as was noted in his lengthy obit below, "had rare accomplishments, being the master of nearly every instrument known to the musical profession." He was among the first in the West to practice the custom of singing carols during the Christmas season, and composed some of the carols sung by his church choir. Many of the "Cornish Christmas" traditions are still celebrated in Grass Valley, including the singing of carols in the town. Many thanks to Matthew Wilkin Argall for his contributions to keeping the Cornish musical traditions alive in that little town in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Researched and written by: "Little Orange in the Big Apple" (Valarie)
---------------------
Obituary in The Morning Union, Tuesday August 12th, 1913:
AS A MUSICIAN, MR. ARGALL HAD RARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BEING THE MASTER OF NEARLY EVERY INSTRUMENT KNOWN TO THE MUSICAL PROFESSION. HE ORGANIZED THE OLD TEMPLE OF HONOR AND OTHER BANDS AND MANY OF THE PRESENT DAY MUSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR MUSICAL TRAINING UNDER HIS TUTELEDGE. HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE MERRITT CAROL CHOIR, BEING AMONGST THE FIRST TO PRACTICE THE CUSTOM OF SINGING CAROLS AT CHRISTMASTIDE IN THE WEST. HE COMPOSED SOME OF THE CAROLS SUNG BY HIS CHOIR. FOR THIRTY YEARS MR. ARGALL PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR, JOINING THE CHOIR IN 1864, USING A LEFT-HANDED INSTRUMENT WHICH WAS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR HIM, HE HAVING LOST THE END OF ONE OF HIS FINGERS. MR. ARGALL WAS A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, AND WAS ACTIVE IN CHURCH CIRCLES/ HE WAS THE TEACHER OF A TEACHER'S TRAINING CLASS IN THE METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS. M. W. ARGALL'S ACTIVITY WAS NOT CONFINED TO ANY PARTICULAR WAY OF LIFE. IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS WELL AS IN MUSICAL AND FRATERNAL AND CIVIC LIFE, HE TOOK AN ACTIVE INTEREST. FOR EIGHT YEARS HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THIS CITY. HE TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN ALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND IN HIS EARLIER LIFE TOOK AN UNFLAGGING INTEREST IN POLITICS, BEING ONE OF THE OLD LINE REPUBLICANS. LOFTY IDEALS DOMINATED M. W. ARGALL'S ENTIRE LIFE AND AS "TRUE AS STEEL" MEANS VOLUMES WHEN APPLIED TO HIS CAREER, GENUINESS STANDING OUT VERY PROMINENTLY IN HIS STERLING MANHOOD. HIS CITIZENSHIP WAS AN HONOR TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SINCERITY WAS THE DOMINANT SPIRIT OF HIS LIFE. MR ARGALL WAS IDENTIFIED WITH ALL BRANCHES OF MASONRY BEING A PAST MASTER OF MADISON LODGE #23, F & A.M., GRASS VALLEY CHAPTER #18, R.A.M NEVADA COMMANDERY #6, KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, AURORA CHAPTER #40, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF G.V. LODGE A.O.U.W., AND ALPHA LODGE, KNIGHTS OF HONOR. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIDOW, ONE DAUGHTER - MRS. WILLIAM BROAD OF LOS ANGELES; TWO SONS: WILLIAM ARGALL OF SACRAMENTO, AND M. HENRY ARGALL OF THIS CITY, ONE SISTER - BESSIE LORING OF BUTTE CITY, MONTANA; HARRY ARGALL OF UTAH AND JOHN ARGALL WHO IS NOW CROSSING THE ATLANTIC FROM AFRICA TO VISIT HIS BROTHER IN THIS CITY. THE LATTER IS NOT AWARE OF HIS BROTHER'S DEATH. THE FUNERAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON MILL STREET AT 2 O'CLOCK. THE FUNERAL WILL BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MASONIC ORDER. THE CAROL SINGERS, COMBINED WITH THE METHODIST CHOIR, WILL RENDER THE MUSIC. INTERMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FAMILY PLOT IN THE MASONIC CEMETERY.
(Obit (in CAPS) courtesy of Ian Argall of Cornwall, England Feb 2013)
---
Matthew Wilkin Argall, known as MATT. Middle name incorrectly spelled as 'Wilkins' at times. Birth is recorded in the GRO indexes for the St Columb Registration District, under reference 9.62 for June quarter of 1847. He is listed as Matthew Wilkins (sic) Argall.
BAPTISM: Baptism Circuit: Newlyn East, Wesleyan Methodist
Name: Mattw. ARGALL
Sex: son of
Father Forename: Wm.
Mother Forename: Charlotte
Residence: Newlyn
Parish Or Reg District: Cornwall
Father Rank Profession: -
Date: 18-Nov 1847
Age: born May 28 1847
Where Baptised: Newlyn
Register Notes: John A. James.
MIGRATION: Emigrated to the USA in 1869 and then, as the mines of Mount Hope petered out and, after marrying in Dover, NJ, he moved Austin, Nevada, USA in 1873 with his mother, wife and family. The intention appears to have been to work in the Goldfields.
MARRIAGE: Groom's Name: Matthew Argall
Groom's Birth Date: 1846
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age: 25
Bride's Name: Elizabeth Cocking
Bride's Birth Date: 1848
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age: 23
Marriage Date: 05 Apr 1871
Marriage Place: Randolph, Morris, New Jersey
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02510-6
System Origin: New Jersey-EASy
Source Film Number: 494150
Reference Number: pg 668 #2
Collection: New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985.
Almost immediately, he left his parents and went with his wife to Grass Valley. He became Head Mechanic in the North Star Mine, Grass Valley, almost at once. He bought a home on Kate Hayes Street, where his three children were born. Later he bought a larger house with a shop attached, and left the mines and went into business for himself - apparently as some sort of Ironmongery. He also sold insurance. He was a devoted Christian.
The Austin Newspaper dated 11 Aug 1873 records his arrival.
DEATH: Death is recorded in the California State death indexes.
California, Death Index, 1905-1939 about Matthew W Argall:
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
Contributor: Ian Argall (47809099) •Jan 2021
DEATH: California, Death Index, 1905-1939 about Matthew W Argall:
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
The name "M.W. Argall" was engraved on some curbing at the Masonic Cemetery more than one hundred years ago upon his passing in the Summer of 1913. There may have been a marker, but none now exists. Thanks to the miracle of information-sharing on the internet, a gentleman "across the pond" in Cornwall, England, sent some information about "M.W. Argall" and we now have a lovely portrait of one of Grass Valley's early pioneers who hailed from Cornwall, England. His name was Matthew Wilkin Argall; he was born 28 May 1847 in St Newlyn East, Cornwall, England, and was baptised there on 18 November 1847. He emigrated to America as a young man and just weeks before his 25th birthday, he married Elizabeth James Cocking in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, USA on 5 April 1872; the following year, the young couple moved to Grass Valley where they remained for the next forty years until his passing on August 10, 1913. Matthew, as was noted in his lengthy obit below, "had rare accomplishments, being the master of nearly every instrument known to the musical profession." He was among the first in the West to practice the custom of singing carols during the Christmas season, and composed some of the carols sung by his church choir. Many of the "Cornish Christmas" traditions are still celebrated in Grass Valley, including the singing of carols in the town. Many thanks to Matthew Wilkin Argall for his contributions to keeping the Cornish musical traditions alive in that little town in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Researched and written by: "Little Orange in the Big Apple" (Valarie)
---------------------
Obituary in The Morning Union, Tuesday August 12th, 1913:
AS A MUSICIAN, MR. ARGALL HAD RARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BEING THE MASTER OF NEARLY EVERY INSTRUMENT KNOWN TO THE MUSICAL PROFESSION. HE ORGANIZED THE OLD TEMPLE OF HONOR AND OTHER BANDS AND MANY OF THE PRESENT DAY MUSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR MUSICAL TRAINING UNDER HIS TUTELEDGE. HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE MERRITT CAROL CHOIR, BEING AMONGST THE FIRST TO PRACTICE THE CUSTOM OF SINGING CAROLS AT CHRISTMASTIDE IN THE WEST. HE COMPOSED SOME OF THE CAROLS SUNG BY HIS CHOIR. FOR THIRTY YEARS MR. ARGALL PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR, JOINING THE CHOIR IN 1864, USING A LEFT-HANDED INSTRUMENT WHICH WAS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR HIM, HE HAVING LOST THE END OF ONE OF HIS FINGERS. MR. ARGALL WAS A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, AND WAS ACTIVE IN CHURCH CIRCLES/ HE WAS THE TEACHER OF A TEACHER'S TRAINING CLASS IN THE METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS. M. W. ARGALL'S ACTIVITY WAS NOT CONFINED TO ANY PARTICULAR WAY OF LIFE. IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS WELL AS IN MUSICAL AND FRATERNAL AND CIVIC LIFE, HE TOOK AN ACTIVE INTEREST. FOR EIGHT YEARS HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THIS CITY. HE TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN ALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND IN HIS EARLIER LIFE TOOK AN UNFLAGGING INTEREST IN POLITICS, BEING ONE OF THE OLD LINE REPUBLICANS. LOFTY IDEALS DOMINATED M. W. ARGALL'S ENTIRE LIFE AND AS "TRUE AS STEEL" MEANS VOLUMES WHEN APPLIED TO HIS CAREER, GENUINESS STANDING OUT VERY PROMINENTLY IN HIS STERLING MANHOOD. HIS CITIZENSHIP WAS AN HONOR TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SINCERITY WAS THE DOMINANT SPIRIT OF HIS LIFE. MR ARGALL WAS IDENTIFIED WITH ALL BRANCHES OF MASONRY BEING A PAST MASTER OF MADISON LODGE #23, F & A.M., GRASS VALLEY CHAPTER #18, R.A.M NEVADA COMMANDERY #6, KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, AURORA CHAPTER #40, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF G.V. LODGE A.O.U.W., AND ALPHA LODGE, KNIGHTS OF HONOR. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIDOW, ONE DAUGHTER - MRS. WILLIAM BROAD OF LOS ANGELES; TWO SONS: WILLIAM ARGALL OF SACRAMENTO, AND M. HENRY ARGALL OF THIS CITY, ONE SISTER - BESSIE LORING OF BUTTE CITY, MONTANA; HARRY ARGALL OF UTAH AND JOHN ARGALL WHO IS NOW CROSSING THE ATLANTIC FROM AFRICA TO VISIT HIS BROTHER IN THIS CITY. THE LATTER IS NOT AWARE OF HIS BROTHER'S DEATH. THE FUNERAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON MILL STREET AT 2 O'CLOCK. THE FUNERAL WILL BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MASONIC ORDER. THE CAROL SINGERS, COMBINED WITH THE METHODIST CHOIR, WILL RENDER THE MUSIC. INTERMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FAMILY PLOT IN THE MASONIC CEMETERY.
(Obit (in CAPS) courtesy of Ian Argall of Cornwall, England Feb 2013)
---
Matthew Wilkin Argall, known as MATT. Middle name incorrectly spelled as 'Wilkins' at times. Birth is recorded in the GRO indexes for the St Columb Registration District, under reference 9.62 for June quarter of 1847. He is listed as Matthew Wilkins (sic) Argall.
BAPTISM: Baptism Circuit: Newlyn East, Wesleyan Methodist
Name: Mattw. ARGALL
Sex: son of
Father Forename: Wm.
Mother Forename: Charlotte
Residence: Newlyn
Parish Or Reg District: Cornwall
Father Rank Profession: -
Date: 18-Nov 1847
Age: born May 28 1847
Where Baptised: Newlyn
Register Notes: John A. James.
MIGRATION: Emigrated to the USA in 1869 and then, as the mines of Mount Hope petered out and, after marrying in Dover, NJ, he moved Austin, Nevada, USA in 1873 with his mother, wife and family. The intention appears to have been to work in the Goldfields.
MARRIAGE: Groom's Name: Matthew Argall
Groom's Birth Date: 1846
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age: 25
Bride's Name: Elizabeth Cocking
Bride's Birth Date: 1848
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age: 23
Marriage Date: 05 Apr 1871
Marriage Place: Randolph, Morris, New Jersey
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02510-6
System Origin: New Jersey-EASy
Source Film Number: 494150
Reference Number: pg 668 #2
Collection: New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985.
Almost immediately, he left his parents and went with his wife to Grass Valley. He became Head Mechanic in the North Star Mine, Grass Valley, almost at once. He bought a home on Kate Hayes Street, where his three children were born. Later he bought a larger house with a shop attached, and left the mines and went into business for himself - apparently as some sort of Ironmongery. He also sold insurance. He was a devoted Christian.
The Austin Newspaper dated 11 Aug 1873 records his arrival.
DEATH: Death is recorded in the California State death indexes.
California, Death Index, 1905-1939 about Matthew W Argall:
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
Contributor: Ian Argall (47809099) •Jan 2021
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
The name "M.W. Argall" was engraved on some curbing at the Masonic Cemetery more than one hundred years ago upon his passing in the Summer of 1913. There may have been a marker, but none now exists. Thanks to the miracle of information-sharing on the internet, a gentleman "across the pond" in Cornwall, England, sent some information about "M.W. Argall" and we now have a lovely portrait of one of Grass Valley's early pioneers who hailed from Cornwall, England. His name was Matthew Wilkin Argall; he was born 28 May 1847 in St Newlyn East, Cornwall, England, and was baptised there on 18 November 1847. He emigrated to America as a young man and just weeks before his 25th birthday, he married Elizabeth James Cocking in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, USA on 5 April 1872; the following year, the young couple moved to Grass Valley where they remained for the next forty years until his passing on August 10, 1913. Matthew, as was noted in his lengthy obit below, "had rare accomplishments, being the master of nearly every instrument known to the musical profession." He was among the first in the West to practice the custom of singing carols during the Christmas season, and composed some of the carols sung by his church choir. Many of the "Cornish Christmas" traditions are still celebrated in Grass Valley, including the singing of carols in the town. Many thanks to Matthew Wilkin Argall for his contributions to keeping the Cornish musical traditions alive in that little town in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Researched and written by: "Little Orange in the Big Apple" (Valarie)
---------------------
Obituary in The Morning Union, Tuesday August 12th, 1913:
AS A MUSICIAN, MR. ARGALL HAD RARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BEING THE MASTER OF NEARLY EVERY INSTRUMENT KNOWN TO THE MUSICAL PROFESSION. HE ORGANIZED THE OLD TEMPLE OF HONOR AND OTHER BANDS AND MANY OF THE PRESENT DAY MUSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR MUSICAL TRAINING UNDER HIS TUTELEDGE. HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE MERRITT CAROL CHOIR, BEING AMONGST THE FIRST TO PRACTICE THE CUSTOM OF SINGING CAROLS AT CHRISTMASTIDE IN THE WEST. HE COMPOSED SOME OF THE CAROLS SUNG BY HIS CHOIR. FOR THIRTY YEARS MR. ARGALL PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR, JOINING THE CHOIR IN 1864, USING A LEFT-HANDED INSTRUMENT WHICH WAS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR HIM, HE HAVING LOST THE END OF ONE OF HIS FINGERS. MR. ARGALL WAS A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, AND WAS ACTIVE IN CHURCH CIRCLES/ HE WAS THE TEACHER OF A TEACHER'S TRAINING CLASS IN THE METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS. M. W. ARGALL'S ACTIVITY WAS NOT CONFINED TO ANY PARTICULAR WAY OF LIFE. IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS WELL AS IN MUSICAL AND FRATERNAL AND CIVIC LIFE, HE TOOK AN ACTIVE INTEREST. FOR EIGHT YEARS HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THIS CITY. HE TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN ALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND IN HIS EARLIER LIFE TOOK AN UNFLAGGING INTEREST IN POLITICS, BEING ONE OF THE OLD LINE REPUBLICANS. LOFTY IDEALS DOMINATED M. W. ARGALL'S ENTIRE LIFE AND AS "TRUE AS STEEL" MEANS VOLUMES WHEN APPLIED TO HIS CAREER, GENUINESS STANDING OUT VERY PROMINENTLY IN HIS STERLING MANHOOD. HIS CITIZENSHIP WAS AN HONOR TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SINCERITY WAS THE DOMINANT SPIRIT OF HIS LIFE. MR ARGALL WAS IDENTIFIED WITH ALL BRANCHES OF MASONRY BEING A PAST MASTER OF MADISON LODGE #23, F & A.M., GRASS VALLEY CHAPTER #18, R.A.M NEVADA COMMANDERY #6, KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, AURORA CHAPTER #40, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF G.V. LODGE A.O.U.W., AND ALPHA LODGE, KNIGHTS OF HONOR. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIDOW, ONE DAUGHTER - MRS. WILLIAM BROAD OF LOS ANGELES; TWO SONS: WILLIAM ARGALL OF SACRAMENTO, AND M. HENRY ARGALL OF THIS CITY, ONE SISTER - BESSIE LORING OF BUTTE CITY, MONTANA; HARRY ARGALL OF UTAH AND JOHN ARGALL WHO IS NOW CROSSING THE ATLANTIC FROM AFRICA TO VISIT HIS BROTHER IN THIS CITY. THE LATTER IS NOT AWARE OF HIS BROTHER'S DEATH. THE FUNERAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON MILL STREET AT 2 O'CLOCK. THE FUNERAL WILL BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MASONIC ORDER. THE CAROL SINGERS, COMBINED WITH THE METHODIST CHOIR, WILL RENDER THE MUSIC. INTERMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FAMILY PLOT IN THE MASONIC CEMETERY.
(Obit (in CAPS) courtesy of Ian Argall of Cornwall, England Feb 2013)
---
Matthew Wilkin Argall, known as MATT. Middle name incorrectly spelled as 'Wilkins' at times. Birth is recorded in the GRO indexes for the St Columb Registration District, under reference 9.62 for June quarter of 1847. He is listed as Matthew Wilkins (sic) Argall.
BAPTISM: Baptism Circuit: Newlyn East, Wesleyan Methodist
Name: Mattw. ARGALL
Sex: son of
Father Forename: Wm.
Mother Forename: Charlotte
Residence: Newlyn
Parish Or Reg District: Cornwall
Father Rank Profession: -
Date: 18-Nov 1847
Age: born May 28 1847
Where Baptised: Newlyn
Register Notes: John A. James.
MIGRATION: Emigrated to the USA in 1869 and then, as the mines of Mount Hope petered out and, after marrying in Dover, NJ, he moved Austin, Nevada, USA in 1873 with his mother, wife and family. The intention appears to have been to work in the Goldfields.
MARRIAGE: Groom's Name: Matthew Argall
Groom's Birth Date: 1846
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age: 25
Bride's Name: Elizabeth Cocking
Bride's Birth Date: 1848
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age: 23
Marriage Date: 05 Apr 1871
Marriage Place: Randolph, Morris, New Jersey
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02510-6
System Origin: New Jersey-EASy
Source Film Number: 494150
Reference Number: pg 668 #2
Collection: New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985.
Almost immediately, he left his parents and went with his wife to Grass Valley. He became Head Mechanic in the North Star Mine, Grass Valley, almost at once. He bought a home on Kate Hayes Street, where his three children were born. Later he bought a larger house with a shop attached, and left the mines and went into business for himself - apparently as some sort of Ironmongery. He also sold insurance. He was a devoted Christian.
The Austin Newspaper dated 11 Aug 1873 records his arrival.
DEATH: Death is recorded in the California State death indexes.
California, Death Index, 1905-1939 about Matthew W Argall:
Name: Matthew W Argall
Birth Year: abt 1847
Death Date: 10 Aug 1913
Age at Death: 66
Death Place: Nevada, California, USA.
Contributor: Ian Argall (47809099) •Jan 2021
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