The papers of Mrs. Smith Binkley (Bertha May Hadley)

Recently, while cleaning out my husband's grandparents' home, his relatives came across some papers in an envelope labeled as both "mother's papers" and "Mrs. Smith Binkley's personal papers."  Because of my interest in genealogy, these papers were given to me.  I was told the papers had belonged to my husband's great grandfather's second wife Lou Pierson Ford.

These papers have become an interesting puzzle to me for two reasons.  First,  I can not find any family connection between Lou Pierson Ford and Bertha May Hadley Smith (Mrs. Smith Binkley).  According to Lou Ford's marriage records and her death certificate, her mother was named Maggie Sloan.  Second, this envelope contains what appear to be original documents dating from the early 1800s to the 1940s.  While the contents are mostly Warren County, Ohio land documents, included with them is an official handwritten copy of the will of a man named Abraham Kinder dated 1809!  I would be incredibly excited if someone just happened to find a will of someone connected to my family from the early 1800s.

So, what to do with these papers?  I'd love to figure out how "Aunt" Lou came to be in possession of this envelope.  I've briefly researched her tree and found trees of the Smith Binkley family on Ancestry.com.  I know that Lou Pierson was married twice before marrying my husband's great grandfather Ford in 1952.  She and her second husband William Johnson lived in Warren County, Ohio in the 1930s and 40s.  Some papers belonging to William Johnson are in the envelope also.  Is he connected to the Binkley family somehow?  And how do I share this information with Warren County Ohio researchers?  These papers include several family names:  Kinder, Reeder, Robinson, Drake,Chambers, Parker.

I'm trying to sort and label them now and will probably try to scan some of the documents for posting here.  However, I've noticed that just being around these old papers
for too long begins to bother my breathing, so I'll need to be careful how much time I spend.  In the meantime,  if you have suggestions or information on any of the families mentioned, please let me know!  If you are a descendant of  Mrs. Smith Binkley, I'd love to hear from you too.

Here's a list of some of the earliest papers relating to Warren County, Ohio:

The Will of Abraham Kinder 1809
Jacob Reeder to Abraham Kinder, Deed 1809
Abraham Kinder to George Kinder, Deed 1809
J Robinson to George Kinder, Deed 1814
John Kinder and wife to George Kinder, Deed 1835
Nancy Drake to John Kinder, Deed of Release 1835
George Kinder, Eliza Kinder, Mary Kinder, Jacob Chambers, Nancy Chambers to John Kinder, 1835
George Kinder and Eliza to John Kinder, 1841

Group of children in Clanton, Alabama late 1920s

Among my husband's grandmother's photos, I found a photocopy of this picture and another page with a list of possible identifications.  I created the labeled scan of the photo above.  My husand's grandmother Frances Smith is seated on the second row next to her sister Annie.  Frances was born in 1924 and Annie was born in 1922.  This picture was most likely taken in Clanton, Alabama where they lived.  If you see someone you recognize who was not identified in the photo, please let me know!

These are the identification guesses noted for the above photo.
Top row:  Celia Gerald?, unk, unk, Atkinson?, Peggy Page? (Could one of these girls in the top row be Theda Wyatt?)
Second row:  unk, Neal Ousley, unk, Frances Smith, Annie Smith, unk, James C Martin, Nell Rocket?, unk
Front row:  Jimmy Wyatt, Flem Higgins, Joe Frank Higgins, Wilbur Prince (standing), Ann Callen?, Billy Callen, unk, Martha Higgins?, Oscar Jones, Eric Hart?

Burials in High Log Cemetery, Bullock County, Alabama

While going through old photos and documents that belonged to my husband's grandparents, I came across a photocopy of seven typed pages entitled "Burials in High Log Cemetery, Bullock County, Alabama" compiled by James W. May, August 24, 1978.

Notes that were written on the title page before it was photocopied say, "In 1979, Dr. May was professor at Emory, and possibly a Methodist Minister.  His mother was an Eidson and lived at Fitzpatrick.  He & his cousin, Bill Eidson, were searching for some relative of theirs."

The handwritten notes also say that this cemetery was known as Crow Cemetery and many of the graves are probably African-Americans.  Dr. May indicates there are a large number of unmarked graves as well.

I discovered the University of Alabama website has a section of Alabama maps and a listing of cemeteries by county that includes location information.  I found a pdf here:  Bullock County Cemeteries
 
High Log is included with the following information:
High Log -  Locale: 119 -NW -  Location: T14N, R21E, Sec 26 - Church Affiliation and Remarks: approximately 50 marked and many unmarked graves; first known interment: Michael Barnett, Jr.(1796-1836); last known interment: Napoleon Jackson(1905-1947); Barnett, Black,Foxhall, Hill, Moss, Orum and Tompkins are also found here (13) (22) (23)
 
This is a listing of the names included but not the entire tombstone transcription. 
Many of the inscriptions included more information that I am happy to share with you if interested.

1. Allen, Martha C. d. 1875
2. Barnett, Andrew L.  d. 1871
3. Barnett, Carrol Reid 1832-1863
4. Barnett, Carrol Reid 1860-1863
5. Barnett, F. Decalb Charles Montgomery 1824-1837
6. Barnett, Mary E.  1828-1876
7. Barnett, Michael 1796-1836
8. Baskin, Luvenia  d.1889
9. Black, Martha A 1850-1853
10. Black, Philo B.
11. Black, R. E. 1829-1853
12. Black, William d. 1851
13. Foxhall, Robert H.  d.1857
14. Hill, Archibald 1824-1894
15. Hill, Luther 1883-1885
16. Hill, Susan Archer 1864-1864
17. Hill, Susan Tabitha 1839-1906
18. Hodge, Jeremiah d. 1858
19. Huckabee, Emily Virginia d.1851
20. Jackson, Bennie L.  1911-1946
21. Jackson, Gustavus
22. Jackson, Malinda 1867-1917
23. Jackson, Napoleon 1905-1947
24. Jackson, Rebecca d. 1900
25. Jackson, Wiley 1868-1933
26. Jackson, Willie Ann d. 1914
27. Jones, William W. d. 1858
28. Locke, Susanna d. 1842
29. Mackey, Henry 1893-1917
30. Moss, Charles Townsend 1892-1903
31. Moss, Lula G. Barnett 1858-1884
32. Orum, Emma Gertrude 1866-1888
33. Orum, James 1829-1900
34.Orum, Jonathan d. 1865
35. Orum, Martha Corbitt 1807-1865
36. Rutland, Ida 1914-1919
37. Rutland, Willie Lee 1885-1888
38. Smith, Mary Ann d. 1865
39. Todd, Lula Jackson
40. Tompkins, Phoebe b. 1889
41. Tompkins, Rachael
42. Tompkins, Sarah 1846-1895
43. Tompkins, Sarah Rebecca 1840-1843
44. Turnipseed, Morgiana Catherine 1828-1895
45. V          FV  (Footstone only with initials)
46. Watkins, Mattie 1910-1918
47. Yates, Susan H. 1853-1879

Moon relatives of Macomb, McDonough County, Illinois

The civil war split the Moon family of Sevier County TN. 

My husband's ancestor William Mitchel Moon served in Co I 2nd TN Cavalry USA.  William Mitchel's brother John served in Co A 3rd TN Cavalry USA.  John's service was cut short when he was accidentally shot and killed when a pistol went off in camp.  His death is recounted in the book "Loyal Mountain Troopers."

Their brother James Moon, however,  served in Co B 4th TN Cavalry CSA.  After the war, James settled in McDonough County, Illinois.  Many of his descendants still live there.

James's grandson John Moon served his country in WWII and lived to be  over 100 years old.  He was interviewed in 2014 for the Library of Congress's Veteran's History project.  You can read the transcript of his interview online.  Interview with John L Moon

James's daughter-in-law Sadie Moon, wife of his son Frank, became a local hero in her community by helping those who were sick or in need.  She was known as Mother Moon.  Today she is remembered by a scholarship in her honor and a local  memorial to women who have made significant contributions to the community. Women's Memorial - Sadie Moon