Jurisdiction: Bainbridge Township Section 9
Status: BCGS Cemetery Records updated October 24, 2011.
Established: 1851
Location: Hill Road, approximately one-fourth (1/4) mile west of Bainbridge Center Road, south side of the road
Size: ½ acre
St. Mary’s Cemetery is approximately 1/2 acre in size and is religious owned.
St. Mary’s Church was erected in 1860 but was organized in 1851, meeting in homes and schoolhouses. When the church was organized, it had a membership of 15 families and by 1868 the attendance grew to 29 families. Jacob Herman and John Aner/Auer were chosen as trustees in 1860. Priests were supplied from the St. Joseph Catholic Church of St. Joseph with Rev. Joseph Theisen being the pastor in 1868.
There are no records for this church and when checking with St. Joseph Catholic Church of St. Joseph in back in 1972, they knew nothing of this early day church, so tombstone records are the only available records. Gradually the members went to the growing churches in either St. Joseph or Watervliet and St. Mary’s Church was torn down in 1919.
An infant, Frank Krietner’s grave is the oldest, bearing the date April 27, 1851. The last burial date is 1911 – Jacob Macher. There are 34 children’s graves and 46 adult graves.
Written By Marge (Hess) Yetzke
