Peoria County, IL Genealogy Trails
Transcribed by: Candi Horton ©2008

Old St. Mary's Cemetery
1855- 1882

Old St. Mary's contained 5 and 1/2 acres. It was purchased June 22,1855 from Patrick and Mary HARMON, for $1.00 by Anthony O'Regan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Chicago. It was located between the Rock Island Railway and North Adams St., opposite Tiker, Woodlawn and Spitzznagle Streets.

In July of 1877 it was transferred from the Bishop of Chicago by Thomas FOLEY to John Lancaster SPALDING, the first catholic Bishop of Peoria, who sold it to J.B. Bartholomew. Finally in 1903 the land was sold to Avery Manufacturing Plant. -the location of LaTourneau-Westinghouse Plant - Nov. 1955

The old cemetery was in poor condition, fences were broken down and it is said that cattle wandered over the graves.
It was sold because it was soon apparent that the cemetery was not large enough for the Catholic dead of Peoria.
So in 1882, 40 acres were purchased for the new St. Mary's Cemetery on Sterling Ave.
The bodies in Old St. Mary's were removed to Springdale and the New St. Mary's cemetery.
 

Graves Moved to Springdale
 

CASTILO, Daniel	April 29, 1890 all in one grave. Moved again Nov. 27, 1934 to the New St. Mary's
CASTILO, John
LOEFFEL, Anna	Reburied all in one grave March 22, 1890
LOEFFEL, Maurice
MEEHAN, Anna
MEEHAN, Maggie	Reburied all in one grave March 19, 1890
MEEHAN, Thomas
MURPHY, Ellen
MURPHY, Mary
MURPHY, Stephen	Reburied all in grave April 16, 1894
NICHOLAS, Paul	Reburied all in one grave March 22, 1890
NICHOLAS, Richinor

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Peoria  County, IL Genealogy Trails
County Coordinator: Candi Horton © 2008
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