Saint Martin Cemetery

St. Martin's Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery, maintained by the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois. Established in 1884, the cemetery primarily served the Irish immigrants. As of December, 2002 there were 870 burials. Taken from: "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Montgomery County" by A. T. Strange 1918 "The history of Montgomery County can never be accurately written without a correct appreciation of the work of the Irish settlers of the panhandle. They have contributed a large share in the development of that county and a knowledge of their lives, characters, and the work performed by them must be carefully reviewed by the historian for a full comprehension of their worth to the state and nation. "It must be first said of them that they loved and cherished the home of their adoption. As believers in and upholders of the constitution and laws of the land they were surpassed by none and equaled by few. No heart beat with more patriotic pride than that of the Irish settler at the sight of 'Old Glory.' And in his children he instilled the love of country and respect and devotion to her institutions. No one loves liberty, true liberty, more than the Irishman, and no one respects lawful constituted authority more than he." The Irish settlers of the panhandle were scoffed at because of their rough appearance and lack of education, but those who scoffed were ignorant of the character of those people. Little did they know about the Irish, and they took no trouble to find out anything about their past. But character will always tell, and those who scoffed soon found out how foolish they were, for the Irish people from the beginning adapted themselves to their new condition. Those men and women had suffered for liberty and justice as their fathers before them. They had come to America to enjoy those natural rights which God ordained that all men should enjoy and which are so clearly enunciated in the Declaration of Independence. They found in the panhandle that haven where under the Stars and Stripes they could practice and enjoy true liberty and contribute their share in the upbuilding of the state and nation."