Can anyone advise as to what cemetery ancestors may have been buried in if they lived in the Columbia area in Henry Co, AL in 1900? Much thanks for any clues. Donna Wall

Donna, The first place would be the Columbia City Cemetery that is now next to Houston County High School. It began to be used as the town's burial ground in 1836 when the newly formed Missionary Baptist Church was built here breaking away from the original Baptist Church that became a Primitive Baptist congregation down in Old Columbia in what is recorded in Deed Book A-B as an "unholy dispute". I have a copy of CEMETERY SURVEY--COLUMBIA, ALABAMA, by Janie E. Wood, 1994. It would give me great pleasure to do look ups in it for you. Just send me your names. Feel free to contact me on my private email: jselliott37@yahoo.com. The location of the church here is what gives us the name of "Church Street" for that section of Alabama Highway 52 as it passes through the town. The Methodist Church was built on this street many, many years later. This church built in today's cemetery was what is today the First Baptist Church of Columbia located on North Main Street since the late 1880s. Two interesting charter members of this new Missionary Baptist Chruch were Gen. Bartlett Smith as one and his coach driver, January Smith, a Negro slave, as another. Separate African American churches rarely if ever existed before the end of the War for Southern independence in 1865. Indeed, most plantation owners encouraged membership in the local white churches because a Christian slave was more domicile. And, the churches of the time extolled the virtures of a slave obeying his master creating the illusion that slavery was annointed by God and the slaves should accept their roles in this life. The slaves did not always join their master's church, but could join anywhere with written permission. If your ancestors were settlers in the "piney woods"--deeper into the interior of Old Henry County, there are other cemeteries to explore once you give me a general location of their settlement. Ebenezer in just to the west of Columbia. If they were from north of Columbia the next large cemetery is at Camp Springs or Haleburg which I have survey's for these two cemeteries as well. And, should fortune smile on us, you will be looking for someone whom I have already met somewhere back in time and I can share what I know about them or put you in touch with someone else who can help you in your research. If these ancestors are African American, I do not have survey booklets, but can give you directions to several in the area. Very Henry Countily Yours, Steve Hello my good friend, Hugh!! We need to shake the trees in Randolph County, Georgia again one of these days!!! I am most humbled by your flattering words. I guess when you love something, its hard not to show it!! Donna Wall <dfshine@comcast.net> wrote: Can anyone advise as to what cemetery ancestors may have been buried in if they lived in the Columbia area in Henry Co, AL in 1900? Much thanks for any clues. Donna Wall ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ALHENRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it now.