Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
For many residents in our area, so much history has been lost to time. The Old Autauga Historical Society (OAHS) has been working diligently for the past few years to try and correct that, by restoring structures, cleaning up cemeteries, having informational meetings and so much more. A portion of Elmore County is in their coverage area as well, as that land was once a part of Autauga County.
One of their projects will be unveiled Saturday, March 8, at Old Harmony Cemetery. It is very possible you may not have heard of this cemetery, located on County Road 45, which is a dirt road. This is located between AL Hwy. 14 and County Road 15 near the old town of Independence and present-day communities of Winslow and Evergreen. Today the only surviving evidence for the existence of a former church on the property is the old Harmony Cemetery.
OAHS members will install a roadside historic marker on (next) Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 10 AM at Old Harmony Cemetery.
OAHS President Larry Caver said, “OAHS invites all members, guests, and the public to attend this event. This is one of the oldest cemeteries in Western Autauga County. Families buried here include Adair, Apperson, Bates, Bishop, Caffey, Caver, Cox, Durden, Golsan/Golson, Overstreet, Smith, Taylor, Wallace, and many more.” He said this cemetery includes pre-Civil War resting places of area residents, both white and black.
Caver said there are so many stories behind the names of those laid to rest on the property. They include those who served in the Civil War, and the grandparents of Ladybird Johnson.
The marker reads in part:
Old Harmony Cemetery, Autauga County
Old Harmony Cemetery is the final resting place of some of Western Autauga County’s earliest settlers. The cemetery includes burials of members of both Harmony Baptist Church and Caver’s Methodist Protestant Church.
Harmony Baptist Church was established April 27, 1827, by Rev. Lewis C. (Clubaxe) Davis on land owned by Sarah Briggs.
Harmony Baptist Church was very active during the 19th century and included both white and enslaved black members prior to the Civil War.
In 1842, Henry Caver (1789-1856), who came from Orangeburg District, South Carolina, bought land surrounding Harmony Baptist Church from Sarah Briggs’ estate.
A new church was established on Caver’s plantation and was known as Caver’s Methodist Protestant Church. In 1849, the churches combined and built a new church building on the site of Harmony Cemetery.
Both denominations shared the building for several decades. Many members came to Autauga County from South Carolina in the early 1820s and are buried around the building.
After the Civil War, Caver’s Methodist Protestant Church disbanded. Harmony Baptist Church continued operating until the early 1900s. A fire destroyed the church structure on April 3, 1925.
Listed in the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register on Oct 25, 2023. Marker erected in 2024 by the Old Autauga Historical Society.”
In a 2019 article written by Caver concerning the history of Old Harmony Baptist Church, it reads, “What may seem surprising to many, Old Harmony Church had a membership made up of both Caucasian and black (slave) members who attended the same services together for several years. The church maintained separate membership rolls by races. On the slave membership roll, slave owners were listed next to each member. Among the list of black members, we find two people listed as ‘Ned D. & Leah G.’ who appear to be listed as ‘free’.”
It continues, “Members were listed in the church minutes equally without any regard to race, whether it was a positive event in the person’s life such as conversion or joining the church, or whether it was an event of being publicly rebuked for ‘profanity’ or ‘intoxication.’ The Minutes contain many accounts for whites and blacks for “Un-Christian” behavior.”
Caver said this is one of the first projects coming this year, but there are many more to follow. We will update with more articles on those projects including one in present day Elmore County, with Robinson Springs Church of Millbrook.
OAHS is always interested in new members. They have a private page just for members, that includes amazing historical information. If you are interested in learning more about OAHS, Old Harmony Cemetery, or coming projects, please attend the event March 8.
For an in-depth article written several years ago by Caver concerning Old Harmony Cemetery, see https://alabamagenealogy.org/autauga/history-of-old-harmony-baptist-church.htm
