TUNSTEAD, ROSS, MILLER

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 05:54:50 :

Sausalito News
14 December 1912
Page 1

Highly Esteemed Pioneer Called
Rev. Father McNally, His Schoolmate, Delivers Eulogy

The death of .lames Tunstead, occurred in a sanitarium in San Francisco on Tuesday morning. The news came as a distinctive shock to a host here and has cast a gloom over the county.

He was born in Ireland nearly 72 years ago, and came to the United States when seven years of age. After following the sea for a time he came around the Horn to San Francisco, arriving in July, 1861. After a trip to the mines he returned to San Francisco and participated as a member of the State militia in quelling the riots consequent upon the assassination of President Lincoln in April, 1865. He took up his residence in San Rafael on San Rafael Day, October 24, 1866. After farming for a time he was elected Sheriff and ex-offlcio Tax Collector in 1876, and was again elected to that office in 1878. His incumbency included very turbulent times, and it was through his coolness and determination that the anti-Chinese riots did not extend to Marin County. Many desperate criminals were captured by him during his term of office, including Manuel Salazar, murderer of Wm. Brown, Salvador the Brave, who confessed to the murder of six men, among whom was Paul Reiger, a San Francisco merchant. Both of these men were hanged for their deeds and many others suffered through Tunstead's bravery and efficiency. In 1878 he was married to Mrs. Mary A. Ross, whose maiden name was Miller, one of the well known Miller family of San Rafael, who settled in the county in the year 1844.

The funeral took place on Friday at 3:30 at his late residence in San Anselmo.

Rev. Father McNally, of West Oakland, delivered the eulogy. Father McNally and the deceased were schoolmates in Ireland as were their father before them. They lived for years in adjoining homes, separating them when the deceased left Ireland for California in 1860. Father McNally left Ireland a year later but arrived on the Pacific Coast before the deceased, although he was many months taking a trip around South America.

Father Egan of San Anselmo and Tozzi of San Rafael, assisted in the services.

The San Rafael Elks Lodge administered the last rites of the order at the grave. Interment was in Mt. Olivet cemetery.