Location: On the south side of Rt 303, two miles east of Peninsula, at the Happy Days Visitor Center. The cemetery runs along the left side of the drive into the Visitor Center.
Status: Now part of, and maintained by, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park system.
Copied: September 9, 1997 by Marlene Diefendorf
History: This abandoned Irish Catholic Cemetery is believed to have originated as a family plot for Irish farmers John & Mary Ann DOUD. In the 1860's a Catholic parish was established in Hudson which also served Peninsula's Mother of Sorrows congregation. Per church records the DOUDS sold 1 acre to the first Bishop of Cleveland in March 1869. The Bishop in turn gave it to the Mother of Sorrows congregation for a cemetery. Church burial records indicate 23 persons were interred.

McANN, Tommy 13 Jul 1874 - 20 Jan 1877; "Little Tommy McAnn"

KELEY, Michael         1803 - 1864
            Bridged         1805 - 1885; his wife [spelled Bridged on stone]
            Michael         1832 - 1892
            Mary             1838 - 1898
            Thomas         1840 - 1902

COADY, Richard       14 Feb 1894; 83yr; "Rest in Peace"

COADY, Margaret          7 Aug 1878; 70yr; w/o Richard COADY; "Gone but not forgotten"

COADY, Thomas C;       27 Apr 1865; 21yr 4 mo; Member of Co C., 115th Regt, OVI
             "He gave his life for his country" [please see the note following these inscriptions.]

O'KEEFE, Charles     26 Jul 1876; 50yr

O'KEEFE, Johana      29 1874; d/o C & J O'KEEFE

O'KEEFE, Daniel        4 Feb 1875; 20yr 8mo 8 da; s/o C & J O'KEEFE

DOHERTY, Ann           3 May 1894; 80yr
                 Michael     23 Oct 1893; 93yr; "May their souls rest in peace"
 

CASSIDY, Patrick       17 Oct 1885; 81yr
                Margaret      4 Nov 1885; 79yr; "May their souls rest in peace".
[A rectangular 3' black wrought iron fence indicates a family plot. Small stone on ground, up against larger one, CASSIDY on the front, Father & Mother across the top.]

RALEIGH, Michael         4 Jun 1873; 55yr; A native of ?? County, Ireland

REARDIN, Lawrence      5 Sep 1875; 54yr

RYAN, Catharine 1799 - 1869

There is also a group of broken stones. A crude 1899 is scratched on one stone, but looks like it was done by hand.

NOTE: Regarding Thomas C COADY:
Thomas may not actually be buried here. The ship Sultana, overloaded with Union soldiers who were recently freed from Confederate prison camps, exploded and sank April 27, 1865 in the Mississippi River. More than 1800 persons were killed and most historical accounts say their bodies were never recovered. There was an article in the 'Summit County Beacon' newspaper, 18 May 1865, that gave an account of the Sultana. Thomas was listed as one of those who were killed. [Co C, 115th O.V.I., Thos Coady, Priv. Boston] This newspaper article was in the October 1993 issue of our Chapter newsletter "The Highpoint", pp 91-92.

Due to the weathered condition of the gravestones this data should be used as a guide. Data should be verified through birth - death - marriage records, wills, and/or death notices.

The Summit County Chapter, OGS is always looking for new information on our county's lost or forgotten cemeteries. If you have any information on this cemetery please send e-mail to the Chapter at: summitogs@yahoo.com

Computerized by Marlene Diefendorf - Publications Chair

© January 2000 Summit County Chapter, OGS. All rights reserved.