They didn't put a period after the P. they put it at the end on the headstone.


MANUEL P. ARMES (Armas) and his wife, the former FRANCES NOIA said goodbye to the Azores in 1875 and sailed from the island of Flores to the United States to join their sons, Fred and Joseph, who had preceded them to Placer County, and who had written to their parents about the opportunities and the vast lands waiting to be farmed in California. The ship took Manuel, Frances and daughters Minnie, Mary, and Pauline to New York, and from there they made the overland trek to California.

When they arrived in California the Armes family, including the two sons who had preceded them, took up farming and bought an 80-acre ranch a couple of miles northeast of Newcastle. The family eventually grew to seven. Daughter Mary married Frank Peters, and Pauline married Joseph Enos. Frances and Manuel Armes are buried in the family plot in the Auburn cemetery.

Son MANUEL P. ARMES, Jr. was born in 1857 in Flores, and was 17 when he came to the United States. His wife's name was Nancy. Young Manuel worked as a brakeman on the old Central Pacific Railroad between Sacramento and Truckee for several years, and was badly hurt in a train wreck in Bloomer Cut in 1885. He then went to work in the railroad shops in Sacramento for several years before returning to Placer County where he purchased a home and raised fruit at Dutch Ravine. Manuel Jr. died at his home on January 30, 1914 at age 57, after a lingering illness.

Son FRED P. ARMES was born in Flores on February 12, 1857, coming to California with his brother Manuel at age 16. After spending two years at mining in Siskiyou County, together they went to Newcastle where they engaged in fruit-raising, in time purchasing 160 acres which they cleared and set out to orchard. They obtained their start by peddling the fruit and produce in the settlements on the Forest Hill Divide as far as Michigan Bluff. Later Fred Armes purchased an additional 80 acres, which was also set out to fruit.

Freds first marriage was to MINNIE SANTOS, also a native of Flores. She died four years after their marriage, and then Fred spent about a year at Greenwood, Mendocino County, with the White & Company mills as a boss of the logging department. He then returned to his ranch. The brothers then dissolved their partnership and divided the property.

Fred then married ANNIE CASTRO of Oakland on October 26, 1890. She was the daughter of Frank and Annie (Caton) Castro, also from Flores. Frank Castro was a 49er and a pioneer in California.

When Fred sold his ranch at Newcastle, he purchased another one, the Shirland tract, where he lived for about ten years. He then sold it and in 1920 bought 24 acres on the old Sacramento road three-quarters of a mile from Auburn, where he raised fruit.

Fred and Annie Armes had ten children, including George, Fred, Louis, Julia (Holt), Arthur, and Margaret.

[History of Placer and Nevada Counties, 1924; Placer Herald, February 7, 1914]



1880 United States Federal Census
about Manuel P. Armes
Age: 58

Birth Year: abt 1822
Birthplace: Portugal
Home in 1880: Lincoln, Placer, Ca
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head-Self
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Francis Armes
Father's Birthplace: Portugal
Mother's Birthplace: Portugal
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members: Name Age
Manuel P. Armes 58
Francis Armes 60
Joseph R. Armes 33
Manuel P. Armes 25
Fred P. Armes 23
Minnie Armes 18
Mary Armes 13
Pauline Armes 10

Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943
Name: Manuel Pimental Armas
Arrival Date: 15 May 1872
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Azores, Portugal
Ship Name: Kate Williams - Steerage
Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts