SAINT MARY'S CEMETERY HISTORY
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"St. Mary's Church 1867-1967"
Compiled by William L. Smith
Edited by Michael W. Smith
A REQUEST IS MADE
...Father Pelamourgues, on May 20, 1867, announced the appointment of a
building committee to take charge and start the ground work for the new
church, to be located at the corner of Sixth and Hennepin (Fillmore)
Streets, and the northeast corner of St. Mary's Cemetery. When completed,
"probably within the next two years," it was intended that it should
be the
finest edifice in the state. This would be the pioneer priest's last major
project and a fitting monument to his twenty-nine years of service to his
adopted flock. So the request for a new church led to action and on June 18,
1867, the workmen commenced breaking ground for the newest Catholic
church...
THE ST. MARY'S CEMETERY STORY
It should not seem strange to anyone that a church was to be built on
cemetery land, for this was sacred ground only to be glorified with the
building of a house of God. Cemeteries and churches were at tone time close
to one another because the people who loved God wanted their final resting
place near their house of worship.
St. Mary's Cemetery was the first Catholic cemetery in Davenport. It was
purchased for a Catholic burial ground by the Rt. Rev. Mathias Loras, Bishop
of Iowa,from Judge Gilbert C.R. Mitchell on January 17, 1849, for the sum of
one hundred and twenty dollars. This parcel of land contained about three
acres. It was part of an original eighty-acre land purchase by Judge
Mitchell from the United States government on May 5, 1840. It was recorded
at the land office at Dubuque on November 10, 1841, and at the Scott County
Court House in 1901.
At one time the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad wanted their right of way
through the center of St. Mary's Cemetery. After much discussion between the
heads of the railroad and the city fathers, permission was granted for a
right of way through the southernmost part of the cemetery. As necessary
graves in this small section were relocated.
Through the efforts of Father Pelamourges, Judge G.C. R. Mitchell and Anoine
LeClaire, a serious loss to the Catholics of Davenport was peacefully
settled. This was a sacred matter to the good priest for he was well aware
that the people of this country had less regard for cemeteries than perhaps
any other civilized people in the world. It was not unusual in early days
for roads and streets to be forced through graveyards. in this instance a
reprieve for the deceased Catholic members of the community was won.
Although St. Mary's Church and rectory are built on a part of the cemetery,
they were built in the eastern part, with the permission of the Bishop of
Iowa and the former heirs of this land. No interments had been made in this
part of the cemetery.
For addition history See
also "St Mary's Parish" by John G. Hinrichs, 1949
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