Poway in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Dearborn Memorial Park

Est. 1886 - Dedicated 1950

— By the Pomerado Cemetery District —

Dearborn Memorial Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 17, 2014

1. Dearborn Memorial Park Marker

Inscription.
Land donated by Dr. Hilleary for use as the first town cemetery. John T. Dearborn was the first person buried in the cemetery in 1886.

Erected 1950 by Pomerado Cemetery District. (Marker Number 6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 32° 58.468′ N, 117° 1.655′ W. Marker is in Poway, California, in San Diego County. It is on Tierra Bonita Road, on the right when traveling north. Located at the north gate. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14361 Tierra Bonita Road, Poway CA 92064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: DJ Ranch (approx. ¼ mile away); Flint Farm (approx. half a mile away); City of Poway Veterans Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Baldwin Locomotive No. 3 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Porter House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Nelson House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Templars Hall (approx. 0.6 miles away); Community Church of Poway (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Poway.

Regarding Dearborn Memorial Park. In 1884, Dr. Louis N. Hilleary, Poway's first resident physician, donated three acres of land to the community to

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use as a cemetery. The burial of John Dearborn in 1886 - the first person to be interred in the tract - gave the cemetery its name, and in 1950 it was dedicated as Dearborn Memorial Park. The cemetery district expanded to 40 acres in 1967and today encompasses 90 square miles, with boundaries corresponding almost exactly to those of the Poway Unified School District. The cemetery's beautiful catalpa trees were planted by Dr. Hilleary. John Dearborn's headstone is located on the righthand side, near the park's entrance.
Source: Brochure entitled, "Old Poway Historical Sites: The historical marker Project." Designed to safeguard the City's historical heritage and to foster civic pride in the character and accomplishments of Poway's past. Published by the City of Poway Community Srvices Department and the Poway Heritage Museum.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 17, 2014

2. Dearborn Memorial Park Marker

John Dearborn Headstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 17, 2014

3. John Dearborn Headstone

First person to be buried at Dearborn Cemetery named in his honor.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 17, 2014

4. John Dearborn Headstone

View of Cemetery with Dearborn Headstone in Distance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 17, 2014

5. View of Cemetery with Dearborn Headstone in Distance

Cemetery with Catalpa Trees image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 17, 2014

6. Cemetery with Catalpa Trees

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. This page has been viewed 679 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on June 6, 2026, by T.L. Zagraniski of Reston, Va, Usa. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 22, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.