ST. LEO CEMETERY

(Two other cemeteries have been historically administered to by the priests of St. Vincent’s church:   St. Leo’s and St. Michael’s cemeteries.)

St. Leo Cemetery:   This approximately three quarter acre cemetery is located on Amstutz Road in Leo, Indiana, directly across the street from the Leo High School.   It is marked with a wooden sign and is outlined with a woven wire fence that lacks good repair.   Several large trees cover the terrain and the gravesites are dispersed unevenly over the grounds.  Sixty eight graves are identified and three unreadable headstones.   Those persons buried in this cemetery are given below.  

The history of the St. Leo Church shows it was built in Cedar Creek Township, Allen county, Indiana, in 1856.   It was first attended by Fr.             JULIAN BENOIT and other priests from Fort Wayne, followed by Holy Cross fathers, possibly traveling from South Bend, Indiana.   These would have been mission priests.  Father MATTHIAS ZUMBUELTE built the rectory in 1870 for St. Leo’s Parish and he was the first resident pastor in 1868 with the following missions attached to Leo:   Waterloo (St. Francis Xavier Church); Auburn and Summit (St. Michael’s Church).   Father Zumbuelte had attended it previously while assistant at Avilla to which it had been attached as a mission for a short time.   There was a resident pastor at Leo until 1878.   From 1878 to 1893 the status fluctuated between being a resident pastorate to being a mission of St. Vincent’s Church (Auburn Road).   One pastor was in residence for 8 years – Fr. THOMAS VAGNIER, S. S. C. – 1880-1888.   From 1893 until it was closed it was a mission of St. Vincent’s Church (Auburn Road).  In 1907 it was visited the third Sunday of each month.   As yet we have not located the date when it was closed.   The St. Leo church was sold and stood in Leo until it was destroyed by fire. 

St. Leo’s Catholic Cemetery was donated by PETER SULLIVAN, a parishioner, in 1863, although a deed was not drawn until 1865.   Peter Sullivan’s gravesite, along with his wife, JANE, is prominent in the middle of the cemetery.   Markers record deaths as far back as 1861 although these remains may have been moved to this cemetery later.   The cemetery was not blessed until 1883.   The official location of the cemetery is given historically as ¼ mile southwest of Leo and 1/8 mile northeast of Cedarville on the Amstutz Road.   When one looks at its location, these directions are not correct, probably due to differing city limits and plotplans from when the history was originally written.   As noted above, the cemetery lies on the west side of Amstutz Road across the road from Leo High School. 

During the period that parish existed it was maintained by the Sullivan family and other parishioners.   After the parish closed, the cemetery became unattended largely, but it appears that someone does mow the grass and attempts to maintain its dignity with a fenced perimeter.   The monuments are beautiful and historical to view – certainly worthy of attention and remembrance.  

The following is a list of identified headstones in the St. Leo’s Cemetery:

This history is prepared by the Knights of Columbus, Council #11353, St. Vincent’s Church by James M. Cox, Trustee, in May, 1995, in preparation for the sesquicentennial celebration of St. Vincent’s Church in 1996.