In the fall of 1880 the Catholic families decided to build a church in Bazile Mills. The foundation was started, but winter set in and problems with the deed halted work on the church. The railroad was built to Creighton and in the fall of 1882 the Catholic Church was started in Creighton and completed in 1883. It was named St. Ludgerus.

Before the completion of the church, there was already a need for a cemetery for the Catholic families. Mrs. R. Y. Bruce (one of the original Bruce Colony) platted and gave to the St. Ludgerus Catholic Church the Rose Hill Cemetery. There are about 60 burials in this small cemetery and at least one-half of them date prior to 1900. As usual, the majority are young women and children.

November 16, 1886 a raging blizzard hit Knox County. Little Willie Bonge, the seven year old son of Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Bonge, was lost in this blizzard. He froze to death on the way home from the post office where he had stopped to get the mail after school. His body wasn’t found until December when the snow began to melt. A farmer, picking corn, was attracted to the shiny dinner pail that was grasped in the frozen fingers. Willie is one of the burials in the Rose Hill Cemetery.

Over the years Rose Hill has been forgotten. Many of the stones have deteriorated and are extremely fragile. Some years ago some area youth vandalized the cemetery. Many of the stones lay like fallen soldiers on a battlefield, never to rise again.

Last summer, inspired by the restoration of the Olcott Cemetery west of Creighton, a group of volunteers from Creighton tackled the job of reviving the stones in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Surrounded by cedar trees on three sides, and overlooking the Bazile Creek on the other side, this cemetery excels in serenity.

Many of you have visited the Greenwood Cemetery and St. Ludgers Cemetery on the north edge of Creighton. How many of you knew that across the road to the east, completely hidden by the cedar trees, is the Rose Hill Cemetery? Next time you are over that way, take a peek.