W.P.A. Cemetery Survey - Old Cement Mill Graveyard/Wilhelm or McCollister Cemetery, Defiance Township

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)

The Old Cement Mill Graveyard

(Wilhelm Cemetery, McCollister Cemetery, abandoned)

1. Name of cemetery:

The Old Cement Mill Graveyard, also called Wilhelm Cemetery

2. Location, how reached:

Located on the old Adam Wilhelm farm, now farmed by people by the name of Marsh.  On the east bank of the Auglaize River in section 3, Defiance township, and a half mile south of the Old Cement Mill and from Camels Back Hill, at the mouth of Powels Creek.

The only way to get there today is to take route #111 south from the Court House at Defiance to the fork of the road two miles south of the Court House and take the left fork cross the English bridge a mile farther on and then turn left at the first crossroad which will wind around the lane leading into the Marsh farmyard.  From here, one must go on foot for a mile up the river on the west side, a ravine on the north is the old graveyard.  It is impossible to find without a guide.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

None, nothing left to take care of.  It is on the Wilhelm farm which is now owned by the Marshes.

4. General description, Size, appearance, denomination, fencing, etc.:

There is one stone left here of a once famous graveyard of good size.  However, for sixty years, it has been abandoned.  At the time of the flourishing cement mill a half mile away, several people lived and had houses along the river here.  The graveyard was their chief burying ground.  When the mill was closed around 1900, most of the graves (were) moved to Riverside Cemetery, two miles to the north and on the opposite side of the river.  

It sets on a high river bluff, the Auglaize on the west and a ravine on the north.  It is overgrown with brush and second growth timber; however, there is still to be seen grave mounds and evergreen shrubbery growing wild. One stone is left, but broken, and the reading cannot be ascertained.  It is told me that it was formerly a Catholic graveyard, however, this is not exactly proven.  Mr. Abram Smith, one of our most known Hobbists on old graveyards, Indian mounds, etc., says it was not Catholic and he says it dates back to years before the Civil War and believes that it was one of the first graveyards or at least a burial ground during the War of 1812 when Winchester and his men had a fort at Defiance.

However, in my time, I can remember of there being many old tombstones here about fifteen years ago.  These have all since been taken away by someone.  In our survey the other day, Sept. 10, 1936, it looked as if there had been recent digging in and around the spot.  About a year ago, the ground was loose and new mounds were thrown up.  Mr. Marsh, who farms this land, did not know anything about it, however.

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:  See description under #4 above.

6. Names of important persons buried there; for what noted:

Names of persons buried here cannot be found.  No one remembers exactly who they were; however, no doubt some of the Wilhelm family was buried here at one time.  Their graves are now in Riverside.  They were all of the Catholic faith which gives rise to the saying that it was a Catholic cemetery.  The only stone found is so broken and defaced, it cannot be read.

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The one and only broken stone is the only one to be found.

8. Unusual epitaphs:  Only stone is defaced so is unreadable.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?  Has not been used for at least forty years.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters
Consultant: Abram Smith, 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.)