About This Project
Huntsville Times Article: "Officer
Researches Post Cemeteries"
Letters
About This
Project
This project is being conducted by Max C.
Bennett, a native of Indianapolis, IN, and currently living in Madison County
where my wife and I have resided for the past 4 years. I am a US Army Warrant
Officer assigned to Redstone Arsenal, AL.
I hold a Masters Degree from the University
of Phoenix in Technology Management and a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Sociology from the University of the State of New York (SUNY). I have been a
genealogist for approximately 10 years. My Sociology work dealt specifically
with the American Family.
In 1991, I opened a small business, Bennett's
Genealogical Services, here in Huntsville, AL. Since then, I was assigned
to many places before returning back to Redstone Arsenal. Although I had no
intention of opening another Genealogical business, my thirst for research
continued.
In early 2001, while researching a family in
Stokes County, NC, a genealogist in NC asked me what projects I had done where I
lived. Sadly, my answer was, "Well... not too much." I realized that
my research was rewarding but, just compiling data and making it available was
not enough, I needed to begin a project a document it to other genealogists.
This would be my way of paying back all those researchers who have helped me
over the years.
I have no family who lived on Redstone
Arsenal and I have no ties to these lands except as a researcher and data
collector. All my data is collected with no preconceived notions regarding who
may or may not have lived here.
My project will include the following data
elements:
1. Document all known cemeteries and attempt to
document the unknown.
2. Confirm the names of the cemeteries and
attempt to name the unnamed cemeteries.
3. Locate and photograph each cemetery.
4. Photograph each headstone.
5. Record the inscriptions of each readable
headstone
6. Record all my data to the
Huntsville - Madison County Library - Heritage Room (3rd Floor).
7. Record all my data to the Redstone
Arsenal, Library
8. Record all my data to the GEDCOM,
Internet Cemetery and Genealogical Website Network for Worldwide access.
My project will not necessarily include the following data
elements.
1. The family genealogy of the
person buried in any particular site. If this data presents itself, or if it is
provided, I will include it, but it is not the intention of this project to do
this research at this time.
2. The occupation, holdings, land, or
deeds of any interned person. If this data presents itself, or if it is
provided, I will include it, but it is not the intention of this project to do
this research at this time.
3. The race, religion, creed, sexual
orientation, etc., of any person interred is not under scrutiny or being
researched at this time. If this data presents itself, or if it is provided, I
will include it, but it is not the intention of this project to do this research
at this time.
All data
provided to me will be published "as is" with full credit to the
collector or researcher. Data presented without a source will be so noted. Any
comments I may have or conflicting data that I may uncover will be clearly
marked as an addendum and I will in no way attempt to alter or correct someone
else's work or research. I reserve the right to exclude data from my website
which is found to be not credible, is confusing, does not make sense, etc.
The Article
Click the little article above to see the
April 21, 2001 article in the Huntsville Times regarding the cemeteries of
Redstone Arsenal, AL.
Letter Regarding the Article
Nancy Owen Baker regarding
Madison County Owens'
Cindy
Matkin Stiene regarding the Matkin's of Madison County
Dorothy
Scott Johnson regarding many sites on Redstone Arsenal, AL
Nancy Owen Baker
4/22/2001 9:20:09 AM Central Daylight Time
From: nobakers@worldnet.att.net
Hi, Max --
My name is Nancy Owen Baker. I live in Huntsville (atop Monte Sano) and
have just read the article in the Huntsville Times about your research on
Redstone Cemeteries. I think it is great that you will record the
Cemeteries on the Internet.
I am a descendant of Harrison OWEN (gggg grandfather) who first bought land in
SW Madison County in 1828. Over the years the OWENs added to their land
holdings and at one time owned the land that was around Green Grove Landing and
the little town of Green Grove and around the Martin Road West Gate (Zierdt
Road). My gg grandfather (Richard J. OWEN) was the first postmaster of
Green Grove (1869-1886). Since the OWENs moved to Marshall & Morgan
Counties before the land was bought by the Government, the Public Affairs Office
has no information concerning the OWEN family. We have asked to be
escorted to the Cemeteries in the restricted area of the Arsenal, but we have
not been contacted by the Public Affairs Office yet.
I have been to several cemeteries on Redstone Arsenal in the vicinity of the
land my ancestors owned that are not in restricted areas. I can find no
gravestones for them. I did find my ggg grandfather (Thomas J. OWEN) in
the JAMAR Cemetery just west of the arsenal off Zierdt Road. He is buried
there with my ggg grandmother, Mary C. JAMAR OWEN (no headstone remains).
Her father's stone is there. He is Richard JAMAR. My cousins
and I are currently trying to save that cemetery ... developers are encroaching
fast. We only located this cemetery last year ... didn't even know the names of
these ancestors until we became interested in genealogy in June of the year
before. The Internet is wonderful!
Have you been to the following Internet site: http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/chron5/elko.html
?
In this article you will find that the Government's original plan was to remove
all the graves to one cemetery in the Northwest Corner of Redstone
Arsenal. The graveyard in the northwest corner is Green Grove cemetery.
I have not been to that cemetery yet because it is in a restricted area.
David Glover has been to that cemetery ... he says there is only one gravestone
in that site ... I believe he said it is a Martin, who died in
the 1920's. I have always been curious as to why the Cemetery for Green
Grove was so far away from the town of Green Grove. I strongly suspect
that graves were moved to the Green Grove Cemetery before the Government found
out that it could not be done. But, what happened to the headstones?
By the way, David Glover's webpage is at http://members.nbci.com/DCGlover/
He has performed extensive research in the Madison County area, including
Redstone. He might be a good one to consult about the Cemeteries on
Redstone.
Well, I've bent your ear long enough! If you do find a Cemetery for the
OWEN family (as well as JAMARs, LOONEYs, & GRANTLANDs ... all ancestors), I
would appreciate it if you would let me know.
Thank you for your time.
Nancy Owen Baker
My Response:
Nancy,
Thank you for your e-mail. First let me say that I will
contact the Public Affairs Office next week to ensure that I have permission to
escort you to Cemeteries. I already have overall permission to be on those lands
granted by the PO Office (which, of course, I don't want to lose). However, some
test sites and ranges, even I cannot get on without a gate being opened, etc.,
which requires permission from the tenant (NASA, OMMCS, etc.) I will identify
which cemeteries you may be interested in and I would be happy to arrange your
entry on that land and be your escort. I can make no promises because it IS
government land but I promise I will try.
Due to my research, I am almost guaranteed entry to do my research.
To have some "helpers" I am sure will not be a problem. I will be in
touch by e-mail next week.
Any further genealogical info you provide will be included in my
research (with due credit to you, of course).
Once again, thank you for your interest in my work.
Max Bennett
maxcbennet@aol.com
http://bennettweb.20m.com
http://forney.20m.com
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from
you. While we do no hold out much hope the headstones are there, it will
give us a chance to close that chapter on our genealogy quest.
Nancy
Cindy Matkin
Stiene
4/22/2001 12:14:03 PM Central Daylight Time
cstiene@hiwaay.net
Hello, CWO III Bennett
I saw your article today in the Sunday paper and
wondered if you were also interested in obtaining any of the background
information for the any of the people who are buried in some of those
cemeteries on the Arsenal? Several people have researched the Matkin and
McDonnell families and are on the Internet if you wish to contact them.
I am related to the Matkins of Madison Co.
although they are a collateral line to my own. I'm sure you probably
already know that the Redstone Rocket ran an article 4-5 years ago about the
descendents of that family who still reside in Madison Co. and actually work
on the Arsenal, as I do myself. I will be happy to send you what I have
on this family and put you in contact with the McDonnell researchers if you
wish.
Thank you for your work in recording the Redstone
Arsenal Cemeteries. I know some of that info has been captured in the
Madison County cemetery records housed at the Huntsville Library, but I don't
think anyone has grouped them together for deposit like you intend. Do
you intend to also capture any pictures of those headstones with inscriptions
for your project? I happen to have some pictures another researcher
provided to me of the Matkin headstones and the McDonnell headstones (I need
to double check this.) They are in .jpg format. You are welcome to
them if you want them.
Regards,
Cindy Matkin Stiene
cstiene@hiwaay.net
P.S. You may be interested to know that part
of my family also married into the Bennett family of Morgan Co., AL during the
mid-1800's. This couple was Lucinda Matkin and Richard T. Bennett, s/o
Reubin & Elizabeth Bennett. Coincidently, I too am a Lucinda,
although I was not named after Lucinda Bennett. Fact is stranger than
fiction.
MY RESPONSE
Lucinda,
Wow, what a windfall... yes, I am very interested in any information
you could provide. I have been researching genealogy for many years and I always
find that the inside of the genie bottle is larger than the outside! Whatever
you send will be included in my project (with proper credits, of course). It
will eventually find its way to GenWEB (genealogical websites) and Cemetery
databases.
Thank you for your interest in my project. You may e-mail your data of we
can have lunch some afternoon, whichever is more convenient for you.
Max Bennett
maxcbennet@aol.com
http://bennettweb.20m.com
http://forney.20m.com
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4/22/2001 12:54:04 PM Central Daylight Time
From: iwade@infi.net
To: maxcbennet@aol.com
Hey Max, I think your website is just great. It is really lively,
with all the "blue" conversations and the "red" thinkies.
I like it a lot!!
Hope you made it through tax time unscathed...See you soon, Jane
Dorothy Scott Johnson
dsjohnso@HiWAAY.net
(Dorothy Scott Johnson)
4/22/2001 5:44:12 PM Central Daylight Time
It was a wonderful article about your
activities in the paper today. The cemeteries have been copied and
published them in my "Cemeteries of Madison County, Alabama, Vol. I"
in 1971. Please do not let this stop you as you may find something I
overlooked. The chairman of the county commission made arrangements for
me to be on the Arsenal. I was given a driver, jeep and escort for three
days. The escort was from the information office and he had spent
several days locating the old cemeteries from old maps. My books are in
the Heritage Room of Huntsville Library. I thought I sent a copy to the
Redstone library but perhaps I didn't.
The Matkin Cemetery has apparently been
restored. The stones have been cleaned and Maragaret Matkin's stone has
been set upright since I was there.
I have always worried about the Lacy
Cemetery in Section 14, Township 5, Range 1W, NW quarter.
Before I copied this cemetery a tornado had gone through and done damage on 19
Dec 1967. Only the top of Janes [James?] Davies stone was protruding
from the ground. You might want to see if the name is really Janes or
James.
There is another graveyard called the
Yarbrough Cemetery that we have been unable to locate. It had stones in
it that were legible from the road during the 1940's. We have no idea
where it was.
The graveyards on the Arsenal will
survive but the ones outside the Arsenal are going by wayside due to the $$
dancing before the eyes of developers.
Thank you for doing this and good luck.
Dorothy Scott Johnson
RESPONSE
Ms.
Johnson,
Thank you for your nice letter. Indeed, I had no idea that any
extensive research had been done. As a matter of fact, the Land Management
Office said nothing had been done and phone calls to Huntsville Library also
gave me that impression.
I am glad you told me of your publication as I will compare my document
to yours to ensure accuracy. Any use of your publication will most certainly
credit the author, researcher, etc.
The intent of my research, as stated in the article is to share this
info, specifically by putting the data on the internet.
I would appreciate your insights and advice as you have already traveled
down this road.
As soon as I get permission, I will be putting all my data on my
website at http://bennettweb.20m.com
By the way, the Matkin Cemetery does look better but that is only
superficial. It looks as though during the repairs, they actually resurfaced
an obelisk totally obliterating all writing. My research will request that a
genealogist be present whenever markers are "repaired". This should
have never happened.
I look forward to speaking and perhaps meeting with you.
Max Bennett
maxcbennet@aol.com
http://bennettweb.20m.com
http://forney.20m.com
4/22/2001 7:26:04 PM Central Daylight Time
From: jprankin@mindspring.com
To: maxcbennet@aol.com
Max --
You made my day! The story in the Sunday
Times answers prayers for me. I have been exploring and documenting the
old, untended (mostly "lost") cemeteries in and around Madison for a
couple of years now. I clean and photograph all of the legible stones
and provide a copy of the labeled photo to Rane Pruitt at the Archives of the
Heritage Room. I also made a simple "book" (3-ring binder with
pages inserted into glassene envelopes) that contain the photos [enhanced
after scanning] and a short write-up of each person in the cemetery, so
far as I can get the story on each. I plan to someday put them all on
the virtual cemetery websites on the 'net, but I haven't gotten to that yet.
Another thing I do is supply info to the Department
of Geography at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa for the Madison County
portion of their cartography project of mapping every identifiable
cemetery in Alabama. If you are not already making inputs to
them for the RSA cemeteries, would you like to have their e-mail
address? I think Ranee has a copy of their last year's book for Madison
County. If not, I can send scans the maps and explanations by
e-mail, so that you can see what they already have for the RSA sites.
Then you could provide updates as appropriate.
I am just so pleased that I won't have to try to do
the RSA sites, as it was low on my priority, and I probably wouldn't have
gotten to it for years. Thanks for doing what you're doing, and may
there be many more like you!!! [By the way, have you encountered Jeff
Thomson in the RSA cemeteries? He is doing something similar, I think.
John P. Rankin
jprankin@mindspring.com
RESPONSE
Mr.
Rankin,
Thank you for you kind letter. Especially thank you for the information
where to send data. I currently have a list of places to send my final data but
your places were not on my list.. they are now!
I have also been toying with the notion of photographing the
stones.. your letter has convinced me that, since I am out there anyway, I had
better get the photos too. I will keep you on my mailing list.
I look forward to conversing with you. Any data you can
provide to make this data more easily available and useful to the public... let
me know.
Once I receive permission, I will start putting the data on my
website at http://bennettweb.20m.com
Max Bennett
maxcbennet@aol.com
http://bennettweb.20m.com
http://forney.20m.com
