Researched and compiled by the Kartchner Brothers

First Husband of Sarah Knowlin.

U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015
Name: Jacob I Casteel
Issue Date: 6 Aug 1838
Place: Pike, Illinois, USA
Land Office: Quincy
Meridian: 4th PM - 1815 Illinois
Township: 5-S | Range: 2-W | Section: 18
Accession Number: IL3870__.209
Document Number: 626

'Jacob Casteel, his wife and children remained in San Bernardino after his son-in-law and daughter (William D and Margaret Kartchner) returned to Utah.

There are probably several reasons, including an unfortunate incident prior to emigrating from Utah when one of his oxen strayed and was rounded up with a general drive of unclaimed animals. When he discovered his property among Young's cattle, Casteel called to claim it and was surprized when the church leader queried "[W]hat if my workmen will swear that ox has been here all winter and eats his head off[?]", implying a fee for retrieval. The perplexed man left, and although his son-in-law encouraged him to commence suit in bishop court, Casteel "feared to offend Prest Young and [the matter] remained unsettled." The resentments may have lingered over the years and been a factor in the family remaining in California.

Another consideration worth noting is that some fo those soon to be formed into a branch of the Reorganized Church were actively proselytizing in the Casteel home prior to the Mormon exodus. The family would eventually affiliate with that faction opposed to Brigham Young's leaderhip.'

["San Bernardino - the Rise and Fall of a California Community" Edward L Lyman, pg 416 - quoting William D Kartchner's Journal"]

U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885
Jacob J Casteel
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Place of Birth: Kimessce
[Tennessee]
Estimated birth year: abt 1797
Age: 63
Month of Death: May
Cause Of Death: Cramp Colic
Census Year: 1860
Census Location: San Bernardino, California
Page: 1 | Line: 11
Roll: 31561_204081
Archive Collection Number: 96:17

California, Mortuary and Cemetery Records, 1801-1932
Name: Jacob J Casteel
Birth Place: Tennessee
Age: 63
Birth Date: abt 1797
Death Date: May 1860
Death Place: San Bernardino County, California

Notes:
Cramp Colic - Enteralgia [Pain in the intestine]. An acute, paroxysmal pain in the region of the umbilicus, slightly relieved by pressure, due to an irritation of the sensory nerves, with spasmodic contraction of the intestinal muscle, and not accompanied by fever. Also called: Intestinal colic, tormina, intestinal neuralgia.

(Source - Archaic Medical Terms English, www.antiquusmorbus.com/English/EnglishC.htm)

Mike Kartchner's research into the San Barnardino Colony,
"I had already did some investigation relating the the Early Mormon burial locations, in fact I have been to the Pioneer Cemetery many times as it is located near the site of where Fort San Bernardino once stood, with graves dated back several hundred of years I have spent hours on site and have never been able to locate any name that was familiar to me, but it has always been in a state of disrepair, this Cemetery is divided by thoughfairs and is not fenced and the local kids and others use this area as a place to party and create mischief to say the lease. It is also in a bad run down section of town.

I have been communication with Richard Thompson, Librarian San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society who sent me this information:

"There are no burial records from the Mormon period of San Bernardino history. Even for the period following there are big gaps in burial records because of a fire.

Leo Lyman, great-great grandson of colony founder Amasa Lyman, discusses early S B burials in his book "San Bernardino: The Rise and Fall of a California
Community."

He tells of the 1989 discovery of a burial site on the south side of Seventh Street, just opposite Pioneer Cemetery, which he believes is the site of the earliest burials for the colony. Lyman writes of many of the early deaths in the community, but William Ammon Kartchner is not one of them. If you have not already done so, I suggest you read the footnote at the bottom of page 98.

Leo is rather bitter that he did not win the contract to participate in the Environmental study paid for by Parks and Rec, who owned the land. The firm that did win the contract was not local and did not have an appreciation for the Mormon Heritage. They opened up a few of the burial sites, took note of what they found, and reburied the remains in Pioneer Cemetery (I think in a mass grave). None of the remains were identified. The bulk of the burial plots were not examined and were just covered over with fill dirt and left in place.

About the same time, a student at the University of California, Riverside, did a study on the Cemetery. If I remember correctly, the property for the Cemetery was purchased from the Casteels, or at least part of the property was obtained from them.

(Source: Email from Richard Thompson, Librarian
San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society, to Michael Kartchner)

Speculation: In 1860, Jacob was no doubt buried somewhere on his homestead - as was the practice at the time - although he was not formally buried in the Pioneer Cemetery - since, as noted above, the formal cemetery was formed in whole or a portion on Casteel property. His body may be somewhere in Pioneer cemetery.