Originally part of the Rancho San Antonio, the San Juan cemetery was deeded to the people of San Juan by Manuel Larios, one of the original Spanish Castilian “Dons”. Larios divided the cemetery into two parts, one part Catholic and the other Protestant. Numerous pioneers of varied nationalities are buried here with markers from the late 1700‘s.

Larios was a beloved man who held many large Fiestas that were free to all who  behaved themselves. Pedro Carlos, the son-in law of Larios, owned a barbershop in town and invented the card game “Pedro” which is still played in San Juan by the Native Daughters of the Golden West at their Parlor on Fourth Street.

The cemeteries are located on what was the old “El Camino Real”, the overland route to the southern portion of the state. At the time, stages, after passing the cemeteries, turned into the canyon at what is now the Alameda and ascended the steep grade up the Gabilan mountains.

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