St. Peter Cemetery
St. Peter Cemetery Walk, June 2009
Twenty-one taphophiles gathered at the beautiful Wisconsin River setting of St. Peter Cemetery, Town of Hull, on June 3, 2009, for the annual SPAGS Cemetery Walk. Donna Hanson led the group on a walk that featured Polish immigrants who settled in and near Stevens Point in Portage County.
The fourth ward of Stevens Point had a large number of Polish immigrants. It was here that St. Peter Polish Catholic Church was founded in 1876. Fifty-three families were involved in the planning. St. Peter Cemetery holds many of these Polish immigrants.
The Rev. Victor Lebiecki died 27 April 1898, as a result of a carriage accident. He had been visiting the priest at St. Mary's Church of the Scapular Virgin, Town of Stockton. The accident occurred as he was being driven to the railroad station at Amherst Junction to catch a train back to Stevens Point. He was an assistant pastor at St. Peter's Church at the time. He was known to be well-to-do.
John Firkus died June 1923. He came from Poland when he was 19 years old. He was "one of Stevens Point's best-known Civil War veterans and a resident of the city for 60 years."
It was not unusual to see large families on the north side of Stevens Point. Susannah Czech and Anton Korda met on the boat on their way to America. They married 1 month later, were married 64 years, and had 10 children. Stanislaus (Edward) Shippy and Frances Adamski Shippy had 19 children.
These are a few of the stories we heard while enjoying the peaceful setting of this country cemetery.
Recommended reading: " Your Guide to Cemetery Research " by Sharon Debartolo Carmack, located at the Portage County Public Library.
Carol Gardner, SPAGS Secretary
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