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On 13 November 1996, Governor of Alabama Fob James, Jr. signed the certification designating the cemetery a Historical Site. The document reads,
"This is to certify that the Abner McGehee Burying Ground has been deemed a significant landmark by the Alabama Historical Commission and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage."
F. Lawrence Oaks, Executive Director, Alabama Historical Commission signed it.
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These burial grounds were enclosed with an ornamental wrought iron fence. It was filled with flowers that bloomed in the Spring. Families through the years took care of the cemetery by having a cemetery cleaning day in the Spring and Fall. In 1880 two acres each were deeded by a great granddaughter, Sallie McGehee Clark, to the Church and to the cemetery. As the land was passed between descendants and was sold and resold, the cemetery became inaccessible to those who remembered it. RECLAMATION OF A TREASURE After years and years of neglect, the Pintlala Historical Association though the heroic efforts of Ethel Tankersley Todd (not a descendant or related) reclaimed the Abner McGehee Burying Ground. The Industrial Development Board of the City of Montgomery that bought the surrounding property set aside two acres in their deed and surrounded it with a chain link fence. Matching funds were not available at that time to purchase a wrought iron fence. |
Abner McGehee who owned over 10,000 acres in Montgomery County in 1822 was a devout Christian. On his plantation he built the first Methodist Church about a mile southwest from the present church on Wasden Road placing it near the location known as the Abner McGehee Burying Ground. He named the church the Hope Hull Methodist Episcopal Church in honor of Mr. Hope Hull, a distinguished revivalist. The L&N Railroad named the depot "McGehee's Switch" in honor of Abner McGehee but his name for the church as "Hope Hull" is what the community is called today.
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"It is in beautiful condition with blooming flowers and graves kept in order. There are between 30 and 40 graves unmarked with mounds or small unlettered stones at head and foot.” (Information obtained by Miriam Brewer and Frank Richardson March 9, 1936 copied from Archives and History and given to the Pintlala Historical Society by Lula Davidson. Information obtained October 28, 1996 by Lorraine Barnett and Miriam Williams.)
By September 1994, the McGehee Cemetery was in terrible shape: so over grown and covered with trees and brambles it seemed beyond recovery. Through the Pintlala Historical Society and Mrs. Ethel Tankersley Todd who spearheaded the effort to tackle an almost insurmountable task, descendants were contacted to raise funds to reclaim the cemetery. Through her untiring efforts, money was raised to clean the cemetery and erect a chain link fence. The Industrial Park that owns the land deeded four acres to the cemetery, and built an access road.
Commission. On 13 November 1996, Governor of Alabama, Fob James, Jr. signed the certification designating the cemetery an Historical Site which says,
"This is to certify that Abner McGehee Burying Ground has been deemed a significant landmark by the Alabama Historical Commission and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. Signed by F. Lawrence Oaks, Executive Director Alabama Historical Commission.
On 6 July 1999, Diane L. Brown, Phyllis Armstrong, and Lorena Joyce Marshall Nicoll resurveyed the cemetery and photographed the markers to include in The Montgomery County Heritage Book and to enter the cemetery on the Internet. On 30 July 1999, Phyllis Armstrong again completely checked the cemetery and made pictures.
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Additional comments (markers, unmarked graves, miscellaneous notes)
b. ?
d. Jul 1899
( Located in southern part where there are 2 overly large slabs) Barginner
A stone in southern part:
In loving remembrance of Jesse Barginner
By his wife May Barginner
Bibb, Charlotte Caroline
b. Mar 5, 1814 Born in Georgia, wife of George Bibb
d. Jan 10 1837 Daughter of Abner & Charlotte Mildred McGehee
Bibb, Mary Charlotte
b. Mar 17, 1834 Daughter of George B. & Mary Charlotte Bibb
d. Apr 10, 1835
Bibb,Twin Boys
b. Dec 24, 1832 Sons of George B. & Mary Charlotte Bibb
d. Dec 25, 1832
Briggs, E.E.
- Sacred to the memory of Doct E. E. Briggs who was born Nov 4, 1814 and died in the .......ps of Faith.
Nov 15,1850
Chamber
A stone with inscription: J. Washington Chamber
2.4.93 E. Birmingham, Ala
(This stone has a large star-like undecipherable symbol at the top. It is in the southern part of the cemetery.)
Marker
( Two pieces-head and foot made of small pieces of marble imbedded in cement beside and off-center of the next grave.) Crenshaw, E. W.
b. 1879
d.1931
Monuments ( Bases of 2 with top stone gone in row after these graves) Crenshaw, J. M.
b. Jan 1834
d. Aug 12, 1909
Aged 75 years
Crenshaw, Virginia
b. 1846
d. 1872
Ferguson, Mary L.
b. Dec 5, 1847
d. Feb 16, 1907
Fowler, Bessie
b. Feb 7, 1850
d. July 4, 1925
Fowler, Elizabeth W.
b. Jan 29, 1846
d. Aug. 27, 1926
Fowler, Thomas
b. 1879
d. 1916
Fowler, Thomas A.
b. Nov 8, 1846
d. Dec 10, 1921
Gardner, Flora E.
b. 1880
d. 1935
Garner, George H.
(Located in Southern part)
b. Aug 8, 1893
d. Sep 2, 1936
Gilchrist, E. J. (Mrs)
b. May 20, 1828
d. Feb 2, 1891
Gilchist, James G.
b. Oct 21, 1814
d. May 18, 1900
Gilchrist, James N.
b. Nov 15, 1860
d. Jun, 12, 1891
Gilchrist, Sallie H.
b. May 27, 1873
d. Sept 18, 1896
Gilchrist, Susan L.
Aged 3 months
Daughter of James and Elizabeth Gilchrist
Gilchrist, J. T.
b. May 5, 1864
d. Jan 22, 1886
Graves, Sallie M.
b. Aug 21, 1830
d. May 11, 1854
Wife of P.S. Graves
Married Dec 1, 1852
Harrison, Frances (Garner)
(In Southern part)
b. ?
d. July 17, 1935
Harrison, Clifford
(In Southern part)
b. Dec 29, 1882 ( Son of S. and F. Harrison)
d. Sep 10, 1900
Harrison, James J.
(In Southern part)
Stone about one foot high inscribed J.J.H
b. Jan 25, 1871
d. Mar 20, 1920
Harrison, W. T.
(In Southern part)
b. Feb 22, 1867
d. May 27, 1921
Hodges, Bessie
(Slab or Marker under dirt)
b. 1858
d. 1928
Jarratt, Martha Ann
b. Oct 10, 1831
d. Aug 25, 1832 Age 8 mos ;& 5 days
Jarratt, Thomas Key
- In memory of Thomas Key Jarratt who was born June 27, 1801 and departed this life Mar 1st 1850
Jarratt, Harriet Louisa
- In Memory of Harriet Louisa wife of Thomas Key Jarratt who was born. Nov 30, 1805 and departed this life June 20, 1862
Mcgehee, Abner
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ABNER MCGEHEE
Who Died Feb 19, 1855
Age 76 years and 1 day
HIS RARE ENTERPRISE, ENERGY, AND INDUSTRY UNITED WITH INTEGRITY MADE HIM A MODEL MAN
(A tall marble monument marks his grave in the middle of the Northern part of the cemetery.)
On the side of the monument is: In all relations of life and ensured him great wealth which he distributed cheerfully and with a noble heart liberality for the glory of God and the good of man. A Christian in heart and life, he lived and died in communion of the Methodist Protestant Church. He departed in great peace and comfort of soul and sleeps in Jesus.
McGehee, Abnerb. 1882
d. 1910
McGehee, Abner F.
b. Jan 9 1818 Married Elizabeth A. Smith, Sep 18, 1839
d. Apr 8, 1849 Aged 31 years, 2 months & 29 days
McGehee, Abner F.
b. ?
d. June 7 1850 Aged 5 months
McGehee, Elizabeth A.
Wife of Abner F. McGehee
b. May 29, 1823
d. Jan 16, 1850 Age 27 yr, 7 Mo, 17 Da
(Note - Dates do not agree)
McGehee, Ellen O.
b. Nov 9, 1829 Daughter of Abram and Mary McGehee
d. Sep 6, 1834
McGehee, 4 Infant Children of
Abner F. and Elizbeth A. McGehee
Erected 1850
McGehee, Harriet Ann Jane
Aged 11 months
Daughter of Edward and Harriet Ann R. McGehee
McGehee, Harriet Ann Richards of Mississippi
Aged 27 years, wife of Edward McGehee
d. Oct 20, 1827
McGehee, James
b. June 23, 1820
d. July 24, 1874
McGehee, Jane M.
b. June 4, 1792
d. Sept 2, 1839
McGehee, John J.
b. March 13, 1848
d. Nov 18, 1875
McGehee, John H.
b. 1888
d. 1936
McGehee, Lamar
b. 1910
d. 1912
McGehee, Lucinda S. E.
(Daughter of Abram and Mary McGehee)
b. Oct 22, 1833
d. Mar 23, 1835
McGehee, Nettie M.
b. 1882
d. 1922
McGehee, Rachel S.
(This is Rachel Savannah Dailey)
b. Oct 22, 1823
d. Nov 9, 1899
McGehee, Samuel
b. 1858
d. 1910
McGehee, Sam. L. A.
b. ?
d. Sept 16, 1847 Aged 4 years and 5 months
McGehee, Sara Frances
b. Jan 12, 1886
d. Sep 28, 1932
McGehee, Savilla A. Cooper
(Wife of William P. McGehee)
b. 1852
d. 1936
McGehee, Thomas N.
b. Feb 13, 1833
d. July 25, 1853
McGehee, William P.
(Husband of Savilla A. Cooper)
b. Jan 4, 1853
d. Aug 30, 1919
McGehee, William S.
b. May 18, 1812
d. Aug 17, 1829
Mills, Fannie
( In Southern part)
b. Stone broken at date
d. Jan, 9 1886 - 22 years old
Murphy, Bessie Fowler
d. Aug 22, 1881 Wife of James K. Murphy
d. Nov 14, 1909
Marker
(Four cement stones with undecipherable initials. A small marker with the initials E.E.M. and one with W.D.M - May be foot stones for the next two graves.)
Murphy, Edna Earle
b. Aug 3, 1905
d. Aug 7, 1906
Murphy, William Duncan
b. Feb 7, 1907
d. Jun 3, 1908
Nolley, Lacy L.
b. Dec 18, 1877
d. Feb 21, 1932
Nolley, Rufus Lafayette (Daddy)
b. 1880
d. 1937
Oliver, Mary C. S.
(Daughter of S.C. & M.S. Oliver)
b. Feb 15, 1829
d. Oct 15, 1829
Taylor, Abner McGehee
-Sacred to the memory of Abner McGehee son of William & and Ann Taylor who was born Feb 22, 1846 and departed this life July 24th, 1848
Taylor, Ann Scott
(Wife of William Taylor)
b. Mar 6, 1807
d. June 1, 1866
Taylor, Ann Scott
(Daughter of William & Ann Taylor)
b. Oct 25, 1844
d. Aug 17, 1845
Taylor, George Benjamin
( Son of William & Ann Taylor)
b. Feb 16, 1837
d. Mar 2, 1837
Taylor, Susan A.L. (Sue)
b. Feb11, 1811
d. July 10, 1856
"Dearest Susan, Thou hath left us
Here Thy loss we deeply feel
But it is God who hath blessed us
He can all our sorrows heal
Yet again we hope to meet thee
When the day of life is fled
Then in Heaven with joy to greet thee
Where no farewell tear is shed."
Taylor, Richard Patrick
(Son of William & Ann Taylor)
b. May 11, 1839
d. Aug, 28, 1841
Taylor, William
b. Aug 14, 1798
d. May 21, 1882
Thompson, Allen
(Husband of Maggie Bell Brand and brother of Charles Hugh Thompson)
b. 1860
d. 1933
Thompson, Maggie Bell Brand
(Unmarked Grave)
b. 23 Jan 1874 (Sister of Harriet Lorena Brand Thompson)
d. 24 Dec 1957
Information from Grandson Homer Thompson, Jr who brought Maggie here through the fields to an overgrown cemetery because this is where she wanted to be buried. He has said he paid for a marker which has never been placed.)
Thompson, Charles (Charles Hugh Thompson)
b. 1852
d. 1935
(Charles (Charlie) Hugh Thompson married Harriett (Hattie) Lorena Brand 15 Dec 1892) b. 31 Aug 1855, d. 21 Apr 1935.
(Additional information from granddaughter Lorena Joyce Marshall Nicoll who knew her grandfather and remembers the day he died because it was an Easter Sunday in 1935. According to the 1900 Census, Charles was 44 and born in 1855. The census taker was G.H. Shackelford, a prominent name in the community.)
Wilkerson, Milton
b. Aug 2, 1854
d. Oct 11, 1910
Markers
Approximately 30 paces to the right of the main part of the cemetery are 4 unmarked small markers/stones and 1 smaller stone marker. Tradition is that these were slave graves.
38 small imbedded stones/brick which lined an edging approximately 36 feet by 16 feet ( L shaped)…a pathway? Or the marking off of a plot?
Six plain unmarked markers, 1 flat marble marker (no name)
Estimate that there are over 40 unmarked graves
Saving Graves
A Website that focuses on saving endangered cemeteries.The Montgomery Genealogical Society
MGS promotes research on families with Montgomery County connections.
For more information about the Abner McGehee Cemetery Fund, email Lorena Joyce Nicoll
at [email protected].
This Website was designed by Julia Armstrong. For problems or suggestions concerning this Website please email Michael or Susan Nunnally at [email protected].
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