W.P.A. Cemetery Survey - St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written on the original W.P.A. reports, with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.

For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html)

St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery

1. Name of Cemetery: Saint Michael's Catholic Cemetery

2. Location, how reached:

St. Michael's Cemetery is located at St. Michael's, a small unincorporated village, eleven miles northeast of Defiance on the Ridgeville road and a quarter of a mile north of the Defiance - Okolona Road.  Travel north on #66 to the second schoolhouse, turn east on the Okolona Road and go for five miles.  The church can be seen from this road and the cemetery is back of it.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

The janitor of the church (St. Michael's Catholic) is caretaker.

St. Michael Catholic Cemetery on www.findagrave.com

4. Description, size, etc.:

This cemetery is the finest rural one in Defiance County, contains over five acres of well kept graves and is dotted with numerous shade trees and evergreen shrubs.  It is laid out symetrically in plots, has three driveways, the largest and newest having been built in 1932 in memory of Herman Rowe.

In this cemetery is a shrine built in memory of three resident priests who died when they were pastors of this parish.  This memorial or shrine is built of rough stone and has steps leading up to the icon which stands under a large oak tree.  The whole cemetery is enclosed by an iron fence and has huge stone gate posts or portals at the main entrance.  The denomination is Holy Roman Catholic (German).

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:  Name unknown, 1902.

6. Names of important people buried here; for what each was noted:

Father John Heiland and Father Lawrence Heiland, two brothers who were priests of this parish and Father Albert Andlauer, also priest of this parish.

Rev. Johan Baptist Heiland, died April 18, 1905, in his 65th year.

Rev. Laurentius Heiland died December 1, 1909 - on www.findagrave.com

Rev. Albert Andlauer, died May 1916, at www.findagrave.com

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The Memorial and shrine to the three priests who died in service for this parish.

8. Unusual epitaphs:  Many are inscribed in German and Latin.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?  Yes.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters

Rev. Father Bishop, R.R. #3, Defiance, Ohio

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)