Ancestry.com yesterday released U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918. Most are from the Civil War era, with records from some Western states dating into the 20th century. My ancestors don't show up, so they must have been able to hide their yachts, pianos, and billiard tables when the revenuers came around.
A monument was deeded to New Mexico's Palace of the Governors on Thursday commemorating Gov. Albino Pérez. Pérez imposed the first tax on New Mexicans in 1837, which provoked one group of villagers to mount a protest.
The “infuriated mob” killed Pérez, beheaded him and reportedly played soccer with his severed head near Rosario Cemetery and then stuck it on a pole.
[John Aurelio] Garau, a retired real-estate businessman from Laguna Beach, Calif., said he has tried to find out more about his ancestor without success. Historical accounts say Pérez’s headless body eventually was buried near Santa Fe, but there is no record of the burial site, Garau said. [Link]
Charlie Weaver of Rogue River, Oregon, has signed over the one-acre Weaver Pioneer Cemetery to a local historical society.
His only request was that no one else be buried there.
He asked his tax consultant if he could take a deduction for donating the cemetery.
"You mean a plot?" she asked. "No," Charlie said, "I mean the whole dang thing." [Link]
