Hello everyone, Below is a list of obituaries from the Nashville Tennessean, Sunday, April 15, 2001, that are from counties within the ROOTWALKER region. If you wish to view the entire obituary or obituaries from counties not in the ROOTWALKER area, you can see them on the Tennessean web site at: www.tennessean.com We offer the condolences of the entire ROOTWALKER family to those people who have lost these loved ones. Sincerely, Stan Magnesen ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ George E. ALLWEIN Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 Laura Miller BAIN Smithville, TN April 13, 2001 Patricia BOMAR Nashville, TN April 8, 2001 Peggy J. BOWLING Nashville, TN April 13, 2001 Lila Shipp BRISCOE Brentwood, TN April 11, 2001 Charles Robert 'Bob' DAY Franklin, TN April 11, 2001 Kelly Lynn FINCH Ashland City, TN April 13, 2001 Lovie Earline Boyd (Wrapper Lady) FLOYD Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Irvin Bryant GWINN Nashville, TN April 13, 2001 Pauline Smith HARVEY Watertown, TN April 11, 2001 Mrs. Bessie Marie HESS Dickson, Tennessee April 13, 2001 Jerry Ezru HILL Hermitage, TN April 12, 2001 Claude I. JOHNSON Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Pearlie JONES Nashville, TN April 13, 2001 Ethel E. 'Nana' KEITH Hendersonville, TN April 9, 2001 Giles Wendell (Hoss) KENNEDY Murfreesboro, TN April 12, 2001 Mrs. Jeanne Lee LAMPLEY Franklin, TN April 12, 2001 Ila Mai Felts LINDER Joelton, TN April 11, 2001 Ethel F. LUSTY Nashville, TN April 13, 2001 Mr. Wefel A. MATTHEWS Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Fred C. MITCHELL Centerville, TN April 13, 2001 June Bostick MOORE Brentwood, TN April 12, 2001 Maggie Black NICKENS Murfreesboro, TN April 13, 2001 Paul Edward PAULIN Hermitage TN April 13, 2001 Pauline RADLEY Franklin, TN April 7, 2001 Ruth Tidwell SCARLETT McEwen, TN April 12, 2001 Mary J. SIVELS Palmyra, TN April 12, 2001 JR., Harvey Lee 'Junior' THOMPSON Joelton April 13, 2001 Benjamin Marcel 'Ben' TURPIN Hermitage, TN April 13, 2001 Sr. Paul E. VINSON GOODLETTSVLLE, TN April 12, 2001 Charlie Miran WHITE Portland, TN April 12, 2001 Edith WILLIAMS Nashville, TN April 12, 2001

Joyce, I do not have anything on the Swift's & Bruce's. They could possibly be cousins. Jeff

Stan, Do you have more on this company? Jeff

Stan... What great help...I really appreciate this information. My grandfather (born 1916) told me a story about the capture years ago, but did not know the entire deal. When he was loading his gun, the rod that stuffs the ball jammed & he could not remove it. Mark was his GreatGrandfather & died in 1929. Once again, thanks for the info. Jeff

In a message dated 04/14/2001 4:06:43 AM Central Daylight Time, Yelowstone@aol.com writes: > Mark W. Swift enlisted on > May 27, 1861 in Clarksville Would this Swift family be related by chance to the following two brides? John Bruce to Elizabeth Swift - 1875 Robertson Co. Thomas Bruce to Martha Swift - 1878 Robertson Co. I would appreciate any information concerning these couples. Joyce

Hi Elsie, I will gladly send this information to you. Thanks for being part of the ROOTWALKER family. Sincerely, Stan ~~~~~ In a message dated 4/13/01 8:43:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time, ESmith99@aol.com writes: > Subj: Re: [ROOTWALKER] Obituaries from the Tennessean, Friday, April 13, > 2001. > Date: 4/13/01 8:43:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time > From: ESmith99@aol.com > Reply-to: TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com > To: TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com > > Stan, > I looked for Roger Nesbitt from Carthage in the Tennessean for today and did > > not find him listed. I believe this is my second cousin and would really > like to get an obit, if possible. > Thanks, > Elsie > I

Hi Jeff, Mark W. Swift was a Private with Co. K, 14th Tennessee Infantry. This is the same company my great-great Grandfather was in. Mark W. Swift enlisted on May 27, 1861 in Clarksville and was captured at Gettysburg, Pa. on July 1, 1863. He was held prisoner at Fort Delaware, Delaware. On June 15, 1865, after the war was over, he was freed. I hope this is what you were looking for. Thanks for being part of the ROOTWALKER family. Sincerely, Stan ~~~~~ In a message dated 4/13/01 8:09:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time, JBurton218@aol.com writes: > Subj: [ROOTWALKER] Swift > Date: 4/13/01 8:09:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time > From: JBurton218@aol.com > Reply-to: TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com > To: TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com > > How could I find what platoon/regiment Mark Wilson Swift was in during the > > Civil War? He is from Montomery County, TN. His parents Evin T. Swift & > Matilda Wilker were from Dickson County, TN > > Thanks, > Jeff >

Hello everyone, Below is a list of obituaries from the Nashville Tennessean, Saturday, April 14, 2001, from counties within the ROOTWALKER region. If you wish to view the entire obituary or obituaries from counties not in the ROOTWALKER area, you can see them on the Tennessean web site at: www.tennessean.com We offer the condolences of the entire ROOTWALKER family to those people who have lost these loved ones. Sincerely, Stan Magnesen ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James A. Jr. ADAMS Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Kyle F. BIERBAUM Fosterville, TN April 11, 2001 Mr. Richard Ray BOHER Dickson, Tennessee April 11, 2001 Patricia Waller BOMAR Madison, TN April 8, 2001 Lila Shipp BRISCOE Brentwood, TN April 11, 2001 Harriett (Jean) BROOKS Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Mary Lampley BROWN Tuscumbia, AL April 11, 2001 Mary Gillespie BROWN Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 Audie Lee BUMBALOUGH Portland, IN April 10, 2001 Patricia Ann CARTER Ashland City, TN April 11, 2001 Harvey Evans Sr. CLARK Nashville, TN Age 107 April 11, 2001 Cecil Ray DOWLEN Springfield/Antioch Tn. April 10, 2001 Jean Morgan DUNN Cookeville, TN April 11, 2001 Wilma E. Gloth GLOTH Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 Jesse James HARRELL Murfreesboro, TN April 12, 2001 Earnell B. HARRIS Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 Pauline Smith HARVEY Watertown, TN April 11, 2001 Zelbert Lee "Zeb" WEAKLEY Hendersonville, TN April 10, 2001 Effie HEWITT Hermitage, TN April 7, 2001 Glen HINTON Westmoreland, TN April 12, 2001 Bertha Milan HUNT Centerville, TN April 11, 2001 Frank James Lt. Col. Irwin Cookeville/Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Oscar T. JOBE Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 A.L. LANKFORD Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 Dan Jr. LEAGUE Smithville, TN April 11, 2001 Ila Mai Felts LINDER Joelton, TN April 11, 2001 William Eugene LONDON Nashville TN April 10, 2001 Fred LUSTER Hartsville, TN April 8, 2001 James Otis Sr. MITCHELL Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 June Bostick MOORE Brentwood, TN April 12, 2001 Barbara Jane NEBLETT Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Mother Mable Emmett Washington OFFUTT Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 Bernadean PAYNE Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 Christopher Ryan POOLE Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 William Eugene RADLEY Franklin, TN April 7, 2001 Larry E. RAGLAND Hermitage/Nashville,TN April 10, 2001 Thomas Robert RICKERT Dickson, TN April 9, 2001 Malcolm Franklin, Sr. ROSE Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 Denise Renee Davis RUMSEY McEwen, TN April 11, 2001 Samuel Douglas SANDERS Nashville/New York March 22, 2001 F. Clark SAWDEY Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 Joyce Marie SHUMATE Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Billy Edward SMITH Waverly, TN April 12, 2001 David Lloyd SMITH Murfreesboro, TN April 11, 2001 Hazel Mason SMITH Nashville,TN April 9, 2001 Ora Lee Nazarie Moore SUGGS Nashville, TN April 9, 2001 Clarence Wilbur TAYLOR Smithville TN April 12, 2001 Betty Rhinehart TIPTON Hermitage, TN April 11, 2001 Steve P. VERDAVOIR Algood, TN April 10, 2001 Edith WILLIAMS Nashville, TN April 12, 2001 Frank Remington WYATT Nashville/Waverly, TN April 12, 2001

I went to google.com, entered my brother's name and found his obit. Bev.

Stan, I looked for Roger Nesbitt from Carthage in the Tennessean for today and did not find him listed. I believe this is my second cousin and would really like to get an obit, if possible. Thanks, Elsie In a message dated 4/13/01 3:12:49 AM Central Daylight Time, Yelowstone@aol.com writes: Roger NESBITT Carthage, TN Four Way Inn Community No Death Date Given >>

How could I find what platoon/regiment Mark Wilson Swift was in during the Civil War? He is from Montomery County, TN. His parents Evin T. Swift & Matilda Wilker were from Dickson County, TN Thanks, Jeff

Thanks for posting the information about the Chism Bible ---probably not my line but I was happy to get it and file it away for future reference. I am wondering if any Chism researcher on this List has a connection to or is researching"Blind" John Chisam, "Hickory Nut Mountain" John Chisam who died in Walling, Tn 1855, and his children Preston Chisam, Overton D. Chisam and others? Deborah Jorgensen On Fri, 13 Apr 2001 01:15:47 -0700 TN-ROOTWALKER-D-request@rootsweb.com writes:

--- Pamela Vick <thecatlady@mindspring.com> wrote: > If any of your ancestor came from or went thru East > Tn then > this website might interest you. Pam Vick > > Index to Surnames in > Goodspeed's History of Tennessee (1887) > > Jefferson, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, and Sevier > Counties > > http://web.utk.edu/~kizzer/goodspeed/default.html > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

Hello Barbara, I don't have the Bible records, Mr. Phil Rhoton does. He could possibly know the answer to your question about marriages. Thanks for being part of the ROOTWALKER family. Sincerely, Stan Magnesen ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a message dated 4/12/01 2:07:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time, bkcoffey@infi.net writes: > Subj: Re: [ROOTWALKER] CHISM Bible > Date: 4/12/01 2:07:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time > From: bkcoffey@infi.net (Barbara Coffey) > Reply-to: TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com > To: TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com > > Did any of those Chism's marry into the KEETON family? barbara > -

Hello everyone, Below is a list of obituaries from the Nashville Tennessean, Friday, April 13, 2001, that are from counties within the ROOTWALKER region. If you wish to view the entire obituary or obituaries from counties not in the ROOTWALKER area, you can see them on the Tennessean web site at: www.tennessean.com We offer the condolences of the entire ROOTWALKER family to those people who have lost these loved ones. Sincerely, Stan Magnesen ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruby Hughes ALLEN Madison, TN April 10, 2001 Cecil Ray DOWLEN Springfield/Antioch Tn. April 10, 2001 Patricia Waller BOMAR Madison, TN April 8, 2001 Mary Lou Ballenger BUSSELL Carthage, TN. April 10, 2001 Jr., Michael Paul BUTTERWORTH NASHVILLE, TN April 10, 2001 Patricia Ann CARTER Ashland City, TN April 11, 2001 Neal CLARK Lebanon, TN April 10, 2001 Mrs. Una ERICKSON Nashville, Tn. April 11, 2001 Jessie M. FOUNTAIN Carthage, TN No Death Date Given Rex Edwin Sr. GARTON Nashville, TN April 9, 2001 Christine Blucher GERMINO Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 Barbara GOSSETT Clarksville, TN April 10, 2001 William R. GREGORY Murfreesboro, TN, April 10, 2001 August Mallory GROSS Murfreesboro, TN April 11, 2001 Leonard N. HARRIS Sundusky, OH April 8, 2001 Dale HERGERT Mt. Julict, TN April 10, 2001 Effie HEWITT Hermitage, Tn. April 7, 2001 Fred J., Sr. HOOBERRY Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 ALSIE T. HOOVER Goodlettsville, TN April 10, 2001 Malcolm R. JENKINS Lafayette, TN April 10, 2001 Ila Mai Felts LINDER Joelton, TN April 11, 2001 JR., Robert 'Bob' LIPSCOMB Murfreesboro, TN April 8, 2001 Thomas Wayne 'Bonnie' MCDANIEL Nashville TN April 8, 2001 Charles Eugene McLERRAN Celina, TN April 10, 2001 Roger NESBITT Carthage, TN Four Way Inn Community No Death Date Given Samuel Douglas SANDERS New York March 22, 2001 Mabel OFFUTT Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 LESTER W. "BUDDY" PARKER GALLATIN, TN April 11, 2001 Larry E. RAGLAND Hermitage/Nashville, TN April 10, 2001 M. Geraldine REESE Donelson, TN April 9, 2001 F. Clark SAWDEY Nashville, TN April 11, 2001 LaVaun Jarnagin SMITH Nashville TN April 10, 2001 Ethel Ruth STROTHER Goodlettsville, TN April 11, 2001 Ruby A." STURGIS Goodlettsville, TN. April 10, 2001 Bessie Joyce THOMPSON Nashville, TN April 8, 2001 Betty Rhinehart TIPTON Hermitage, TN March 28, 1926 Zelbert Lee "Zeb" WEAKLEY Hendersonville, TN April 10, 2001 John R. Jr. WISE Nashville, Tn. April 10, 2001 Joyce V. WOODWARD Hendersonville, TN April 9, 2001 Betty Gregory WOOLEY Madison, Tn. April 8, 2001

Thanks Bev, I will get a newer version soon. Appreciate the help. Ann

Hi List, Does anyone have informatin on a Lindrey Norris who served in the Civil War. He was listed with a Johgn Norris in the Tenn Artillery Light Brigade. Thanks Pat Scherzinger

Did any of those Chism's marry into the KEETON family? barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: <Yelowstone@aol.com> To: <TN-ROOTWALKER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 2:04 PM Subject: [ROOTWALKER] CHISM Bible > Hello CHISM researchers, > > A gentleman named Phil Rhoton posted this information about a CHISM Bible. > > If you wish more information, you can contact Phil at: prhoton@bellsouth.net > > This was forwarded to me off the Monroe Co. Ky. list and Phil has given me > his blessing in posting it for the ROOTWALKER family. > > Thanks, all of you, for being the ROOTWALKER family. > > Sincerely, > > > > Stan Magnesen > ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > All, > THe following is a copy of transcript located in the Chism Family File at > the Filson Club in Louisville. I have reproduced it here exactly as it was > typed with the exception of items appearing in brackets which were > determined from examining the Old Mulkey Cemetery records or are my own > comments. > > I guess my main question is who was Mary Josselyn? I was under the > impression Nathan Breede married Mary Harlan. > > Phil > > > > > Copy of old Bible belonging to Mrs. Hugh Wright - of Hixon Spring Tenn. > which was sent to my client's mother about 1925 > > Talbert Thomas born Jan. 15, 1779 > James Chism Aug. 20, 1779 > Nathan B. Chism May 14, 1804 > Mary Chism Sept. 24, 1805 > Elizabeth Chism Dec. 17, 1807 > James Chism June 3, 1810 [handwritten note to the side}Had > son Benj. T. Chism m. Sarah Duncan > Nathan Breede Aug. 10, 1755 > Mary Breede Aug. 10, 1758 > Sarah Breede Jan. 17, 1779 > Pheby Breede June 6, 1784 > Priscilla Breede Dec. 2, 1787 > Elizabeth Breede Feb. 7, 1801 > Johnson Chism May 26, 1813 > Priscilla Chism Apl. 16, 1815 > Phebe Chism Apl. 16, 1818 > > DEATHS > > Mary Breede Sept. 2, 1831 > Nathan Breede Oct. 28, 1825 > Sarah Harrison June 21, 1818 > Clifton R. Harrison June 16, 1818 > James Chism June 9, 1819 > Phebe Chism Jan. 30, 1835 [The 3 in the date was typed over > a 2] > Josepg [Olive] July 22, 1839 > Elizabeth [Olive] July 21, 1839 > Pheby Black Aug. 23, 1839 > James Chism June 1840 > Nathan B. Chism March 6, 1844 > > Nathan Breede was wedded to Mary Josselyn Apl. 15, 1778 [handwritten note to > the side] Where? > > > ==== TN-ROOTWALKER Mailing List ==== > If you have gotten help from others on your family tree, please pass the favor on to others. > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library >

Hello folks, This is the second article found in the Huntsville Times. Permission to post these two articles on the Internet was given to Kymm, who passed that permission on to the ROOTWALKER list. MS Meagan N. WALDE is the author of these two articles and we thank her also for their use. We hope you enjoy these two articles. Sincerely, Stan Magnesen ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ******************** Article Two: Old cemeteries often emerge from the mists of history when development moves in By Megan N. WALDE In fast-growing Madison, surveyors and utility workers are often the first to discover old burial grounds as they prepare land for development. State law says they can't simply bulldoze the site once a cemetery is identified. It's a misdemeanor in Alabama to move or deface tombstones or graves. But sometimes the identification comes too late. "Where (the cemeteries are) poorly marked or partially washed away, they can sometimes be dug up before you realize you're in them," said Whitey BRESSETTE, Madison Water & Wastewater Board general manager. Utility workers often run water and sewer lines across otherwise vacant land, to encourage development in those areas. In the process, they sometimes run across whole tombstones, granite chunks or contents of graves themselves. "All the operators know to stop at the first sign of a grave," BRESSETTE said. "What we're doing is the best we can to be as aware as we can." While city workers were building a pipeline for the Keene Water Treatment Plant on Gillespie Road two and a half years ago, they found a cemetery. "When we recognized what it was, we simply redid the easements, built a fence and went around it," BRESSETTE said. Phillip WILBANKS, president of the Tennessee Valley Professional Land Surveyors Association, has come across 10 to 12 cemeteries in his 30-year career. He tries to find a deed for each one. "Sometimes there's not a deed to it," WILBANKS said. "It's just sitting in the middle of nowhere." Then it's up to the developer to leave the cemetery alone or to follow strict state guidelines for moving it. The developer must file a public notice in a local newspaper for two months, alerting residents that he wants to move the graves. He has to make a "reasonable attempt" to locate and notify descendants of those buried in the cemetery. Finally, he has to follow Health Department guidelines for removal of human remains, and those remains must be reburied and marked in another cemetery.

Howdy folks! Two articles that were published by the Huntsville Times, of Huntsville, Alabama, have been posted on several mail lists recently. A lady named Kymm from Huntsville obtained permission to post these articles on the web, and we thank her for giving us permission to post them on the ROOTWALKER mail list. This is the first article, the second will follow in the next mail I send in a few moments. Once again, we thank Kymm for making these articles available from the Huntsville Times. Her web site is found at: http://hometown.aol.com/kymmdenise/genealogy.html We would also like to thank MS Megan N. WALDE for giving Kymm permission to use her stories. Thanks also to all of you for being the ROOTWALKER family. Sincerely, Stan Magnesen ROOTWALKER site/list coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ******************** Both articles can be found in The Huntsville Times Life Pages F1 and F5 on Sunday April 8, 2001. Both written by Megan N. Walde. Along with the articles are 3 photos and a map of the Madison area of Madison County, Alabama. Seeing as how I can't give you those due to Rootsweb's rules, I will try to get them on my website by the end of the day. Article one: The quick and the dead Historians hasten to preserve granite legacies in old cemeteries on paper and film By Megan N. Walde Times Staff Writer MADISON - An industrial clanging echoes along County Line Road. John RANKIN grabs his faded blue duffle bag, and Percy KEEL shoulders a homemade poker from the back of a hulking, go-anywhere van. The men head directly to the heart of this emerald-moss-lined wood. They know it is here, somewhere - a stone grave marker for a Civil War soldier named William WARD. A work crew near the site the day before had hit some granite and thought it might be part of an old cemetery. A worker had called a researcher to the public library. She had called RANKIN, on of the foremost cemetery historians in this area. RANKIN had called KEEL, a fellow historian, and within days the two were off on another search. So many old cemeteries are found this way - too many, according to RANKIN and other history buffs. As Madison continues to grow, abandoned graveyards are discovered amid the symbols of progress, such as video stores and subdivisions. As bulldozers clear more land for townhomes, restaurants and gas stations, developers and residents in Madison - and other cities - are literally stumbling over these crumbling links to the past. That's where RANKIN, a retired engineer, and KEEL, a longtime mail carrier, come in. The two are trying to preserve Madison's past on paper and film before it's gone. They make regular visits to known abandoned cemeteries in and around the city to monitor the conditions of stones and graves, photographing each stone and making digital copies. They add each one to a database at www.virtualcemetery.org. "They're going to disappear someday no matter what you do," RANKIN says of cemeteries. "This is the only thing we can do to make sure people can always view them." RANKIN's interest in cemeteries grew out of genealogical work. As he searched for friends' ancestors and his own, he came across burial information. When possible, he found the graves and photographed them. He enjoyed the work, but he spent many afternoons in the local library trying to match his finds with the historical records of an area he didn't know much about. The Gooch Cemetery On a brisk, gray day in January, Richard BROWN awaits a quick haircut from his sister, who works at the Big Tease hair salon on Hughes Road. BROWN walks his dog around the back of the salon and follows him into an isolated grove of trees on a slight hill. For what may be the third time in a dozen years, the GOOCH Cemetery is "discovered." Mary Anne HAMM knew the gravestones were there. One marks the grave of her great-grandfather Nathaniel Matson GOOCH, son of early Madison landowner Roland GOOCH. Land records show Roland GOOCH bought 160 acres on Feb. 2, 1818, the same day legendary settler John CARTWRIGHT bought his first Madison parcel. February 1818 was the first time the U.S. government allowed settlers to buy land belonging to the Indians, although many settlers had been faming and living on the land long before that. HAMM also knows the GOOCH Cemetery used to look different. She and her husband used to visit and clean the graves in the '70s. "It was 10 times bigger then," HAMM says. Today the cemetery is surrounded by houses, stores and banks. There are seven marked graves in all, including other GOOCHES and a DUBLIN. At least 15 more are marked by small fieldstones and the rectangular depressions RANKIN and KEEL know to look for. One grave seems out of place. A marker for 7-year-old Katie S. STEWART sits next to those of Nathaniel Matson and his wife, Susan. RANKIN and KEEL puzzled for years over how Katie figured into the GOOCH family's history. The answer came from HAMM, who heard stories about the GOOCHES in "the old days" from her grandmother. "I would crawl up in her lap, and she would show me pictures and all tat of my family way back," HAMM says. HAMM remembered Katie's story. Katie was born deformed with a growth in her head. When her parents gave her up, the GOOCHES took her in. "There are so many parts to these stories," RANKIN says, "it's like putting a puzzle together." On the west side of town, behind a storage center on Balch Road, there's another cemetery mystery. Beneath a blanket of dead winter leaves, mounds of slave made clay brick cover the graves of members of many old Madison families - GRAY, BLACKBURN, BURNS, MAXWELL, SANDERSON, and WOOD, among others. The GRAY Cemetery is also the resting place of at least two and maybe three Revolutionary War soldiers. The two soldiers known to be buried there are James TRIBBLE and William GRAY. RANKIN and library archivist Ranee PRUITT want to find the grave of the third soldier, Moses BAILEY. "It's more than just the history," says PRUITT, a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. "It's the place, the history of our community. You can tell a lot about someone by their tombstone. 'Corp'l. WM. WARD, Co. H' Sometimes, the puzzle pieces fall into place, like last week when RANKIN got a call that construction workers had found what might be a Civil War burial ground off County Line Road near the airport. Some county maps note a cemetery at that location; others don't. But as soon as RANKIN and KEEL get to the site, they know. All the tell-tale signs of an old cemetery are there. Sunken rectangles. Moss everywhere. Yucca plants. Tall, slender cedar trees. As the two men walk the site, they notice another clue. The area is the highest around, sloping gently toward a swampy creek leading to the Tennessee River. Then they find it. William WARD's headstone leans precariously toward a tree trunk, the bottom half well-covered by dirt and moss. RANKIN drops the blue duffle bag within arm's reach, drops to knees and prepares the stone for cleaning and photographing. Using a drywall sponge, he lightly scrubs surface dirt from the stone and blows the dust away. His fingers reverently trace the letters on the stone as he reads it, then he fishes out a piece of blue chalk from a plastic baggie to highlight the text. "Corp'l WM. WARD, Co. H. 15th U.S.C.T." If what RANKIN suggests about the site is true, he believes it should be a major historical attraction. He points to two letters on the WARD headstone - C.T. According to his military records WARD was a corporal in Company H, a "colored troop" in the Union Army's 15th Regiment. RANKIN is fascinated. "How did he get here? Why was he buried so far from home? Why is his the only grave marked with a stone? Who put it there, the military or his family? Was this a black cemetery?" He counts the other graves and points out the rigidly straight rows, 11 in all, each with 11 graves. To one side of the cemetery is a leaf-covered, man-made trench. "Did they cut this as protection during a battle, something to sort of hide behind?" RANKIN wonders aloud. KEEL, meanwhile, is trudging among the trees, stepping hard to find hidden stones. He occasionally pokes beneath the earth with the sharp metal end of his homemade poker. He finds half of another stone, but it's a good foot or more below the surface and too far to dig out. RANKIN and KEEL think WARD's marker is the only one left in what might have been a cemetery for black soldiers. Typically, the original markers would have been wooden crosses replaced later by family members. The construction workers who found the cemetery are putting in a communication tower. That likely won't disturb the cemetery, RANKIN says. But even if development doesn't destroy or encroach upon abandoned cemetery sites, nature will do its best. When trees fall, they can shatter gravestones. The roots of trees can create a sunken bowl that envelops and eventually buries graves and stones. Time and weather erase parts of names and dates, making it critical that stones are identified as soon as they are found. That's what RANKIN and KEEL do last before they leave the WARD stone. They will add the photographs, a site description and WARD's background to the collection they've amassed since 1998. RANKIN would like to see all of Madison's abandoned cemeteries donated to the city, fenced and maintained. Only one is now. It is the DILLARD-BIBB Cemetery, which sits off Sullivan Street inside Governors Estates. The subdivision was built around the cemetery because it was once thought to the burial place for the ancestors of Alabama's first two governors, brothers William and Thomas BIBB. "People need to be more aware, or we're going to lose this whole historical part of our existence as we build more shopping centers," PRUITT says. RANKIN encourages people to record their own family gravesites or those in their area with a simple point-and-shoot camera and upload the images to a genealogical web site. He also has found another way residents can help prevent the disappearance of old cemeteries. Five or more people - they don't have to be descendants of anyone buried in the cemetery - can petition the county clerk to take the cemetery out of private property. The clerk then assesses the cemetery property, and if those people can come up with that dollar amount, the cemetery is theirs to maintain in the public domain. "Really all you can do is delay the inevitable," RANKIN says, "but what it comes down to is who cares."