A Former Slave/Union Soldier Later Lived, Worked & Died In Long Beach; Retired Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske Learned His Grave Headstone Was Stolen; Now It Will Be Restored

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A Former Slave/Union Soldier Later Lived, Worked & Died In Long Beach; Former Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske Learned His Grave Headstone Was Stolen; Now It Will Be Restored

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(October 30, 2018, 4:05 p.m.) -- Former Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske (who's written books about Long Beach history) learned that the grave headstone of a former slave and Union Army soldier who later moved to Long Beach, worked for the City of Long Beach and died in Long Beach had been stolen from LB's municipal cemetery.

Ms. Schipske says Abram Cleag was a slave when he joined the Union Army. Mr. Cleag and his wife later moved to Long Beach. He took a job with the City of Long Beach as a janitor, suffered a heart attack while at work in 1908 and was buried in the Long Beach municipal cemetery.

Ms. Schipske noticed that Mr. Cleag's headstone was missing (presumed stolen.) She personally brought this to the attention of City Manager Pat West and to the attention Councilman Dee Andrews' office, and the matter has now also come to the attention Councilman Roberto Uranga's office (whose district includes the cemetery.)

Ms. Schipske says Mr. Cleag was born a slave on a plantation owned by the Cleag family in Tennessee and served in the Civil War in the United States Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Unit. Mr. Cleag and his wife Amanda moved to Texas, where he worked as a laborer, and later moved to Long Beach where he took a job as a janitor at Long Beach City Hall.

Ms. Schipske believes vandals destroyed Mr. Cleag's headstone years ago and the City (which operates the cemetery) never replaced it...until now.

LBREPORT.com expects that with high level city management and two Councilmembers' offices involved, Mr. Cleag's headstone will now be restored, hopefully along with appropriate teachable moments regarding his role in Long Beach's history and as part of of America's history.

Further to follow on this remarkable story to follow on LBREPORT.com.

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