Michael Hill's Genealogy Forums

Hi Michael – I was delighted to come across your site and find that information on Micajah Hill and see a picture of Aunt Nicey. This summer my sister (Beverly Johnson) and I came from Texas to take our 80 yr. young Mom (Joyce Chaffin Pennington) to Eva, Ala. for her Eva High School class reunion and the Chaffin family reunion. While we were there I had her take me to several cemeteries and home sites. We visited what she said was called “The Little Indian cemetery”. Coming from Somerville, Ala. you turn off of AL 67 S onto Gum Pond Rd. until you get to Martin Rd. on the right - across Gum Pond Rd. from Martin Rd. on private property in the middle of a cow pasture is where the cemetery is located. You can’t see it from the road. I took some pictures of it that I thought might be nice to add. My Uncle David Chaffin (called Billy) – (and other relatives whose names I’m sorry I don’t know) put tombstones to mark some of the graves. The tombstones marked the graves of Micajah Hill , Unicey Hill, and Alexander Smith. I remember my Grandmother ( Mamie Smith Chaffin ) also Uncle David’s Mother, talk about the graves – she said some of our people who were Indians were buried there.
For those who might want to know, the first house on the left (it is up the road a bit) when you turn on Martin Rd. sits on the land where David Z. Smith’s home was – where my Grandmother (Mamie) was raised. David Z. Smith was the grandson of Mary Hill,daughter of Micajah Hill, Sr.There is a spring and a cave off on the left side before you can even see the house up the hill. My Grandmother said they stored their milk and eggs there. The wind coming from the small opening of the cave is as cool as an air conditioner. It is overgrown a lot but if you watch you see the leaves blowing from the wind coming out of the cave. Back in the 1970s my husband climbed in the cave, there was just enough room for him to stand up. My younger sisters drank from the spring because Granny Smith (Joyce L. Smith) lived to be 96 and she had drank from that spring. Hmm mm- We'll see.
Grandmother said sometimes when people were traveling in the area, ran out of daylight and were in need of lodging that others would send them to David Smith’s to spend the night because he was known to help people out. That’s a nice legacy to have. Another story she told me was that during the Civil War one of Aunt Nicey’s brothers did not want to fight for the Confederacy. Aunt Nicey would ride through the woods real fast on her horse to warn him the soldiers were near. It is said that they finally caught him and took him. I do not know his name.
There was also an error on the 1900 census of Morgan County which I saw on your site. David Zachariah Smith is my great grandfather and his wife was Joyce L. not Gacie L. – maybe the information was hard to read? I included a picture of David Z. and Joyce L. Smith’s tombstone to show you her name. It is written as Joyce W. – for her maiden name of Williams. I asked my Mom what her middle name was and she said it was Lenore (sp?) I grew up hearing about my great uncles whose names were also listed on the census. Later David and Joyce would have other children: Oscar, F.D., Rosa, Fanny (Penny), Mamie, Christine, and Polly, also 2 baby boys who died.
I now live in Abilene, TX. We moved from Ala. to Houston, TX in 1955 when I was three. I enjoy learning as much as possible about our families as I can. We are so far away and we know so little. I can probably get copies of pictures of David Z.Smith and Shirrel Smith Jr. to add later.
Thank you for your work. Andra
The man and woman in the picture below are my Uncle ,Larry Chaffin and my Mother, Joyce Pennington standing in front of the little Indian cemetary.

Thanks for sharing your recollections, information, and pictures, Andra. I'll take a look at that census page you mentioned and either correct or annotate the web page.

Those are nice pics and I was just inspired with you people working out on your genealogy and giving honor to your ancestors. I just find it great...well i hope to see more threads and try to look at your site...

Andra Watson wrote:Hi Michael – I was delighted to come across your site and find that information on Micajah Hill and see a picture of Aunt Nicey. This summer my sister (Beverly Johnson) and I came from Texas to take our 80 yr. young Mom (Joyce Chaffin Pennington) to Eva, Ala. for her Eva High School class reunion and the Chaffin family reunion. While we were there I had her take me to several cemeteries and home sites. We visited what she said was called “The Little Indian cemetery”. Coming from Somerville, Ala. you turn off of AL 67 S onto Gum Pond Rd. until you get to Martin Rd. on the right - across Gum Pond Rd. from Martin Rd. on private property in the middle of a cow pasture is where the cemetery is located. You can’t see it from the road. I took some pictures of it that I thought might be nice to add. My Uncle David Chaffin (called Billy) – (and other relatives whose names I’m sorry I don’t know) put tombstones to mark some of the graves. The tombstones marked the graves of Micajah Hill , Unicey Hill, and Alexander Smith. I remember my Grandmother ( Mamie Smith Chaffin ) also Uncle David’s Mother, talk about the graves – she said some of our people who were Indians were buried there.
For those who might want to know, the first house on the left (it is up the road a bit) when you turn on Martin Rd. sits on the land where David Z. Smith’s home was – where my Grandmother (Mamie) was raised. David Z. Smith was the grandson of Mary Hill,daughter of Micajah Hill, Sr.There is a spring and a cave off on the left side before you can even see the house up the hill. My Grandmother said they stored their milk and eggs there. The wind coming from the small opening of the cave is as cool as an air conditioner. It is overgrown a lot but if you watch you see the leaves blowing from the wind coming out of the cave. Back in the 1970s my husband climbed in the cave, there was just enough room for him to stand up. My younger sisters drank from the spring because Granny Smith (Joyce L. Smith) lived to be 96 and she had drank from that spring. Hmm mm- We'll see.
Grandmother said sometimes when people were traveling in the area, ran out of daylight and were in need of lodging that others would send them to David Smith’s to spend the night because he was known to help people out. That’s a nice legacy to have. Another story she told me was that during the Civil War one of Aunt Nicey’s brothers did not want to fight for the Confederacy. Aunt Nicey would ride through the woods real fast on her horse to warn him the soldiers were near. It is said that they finally caught him and took him. I do not know his name.
There was also an error on the 1900 census of Morgan County which I saw on your site. David Zachariah Smith is my great grandfather and his wife was Joyce L. not Gacie L. – maybe the information was hard to read? I included a picture of David Z. and Joyce L. Smith’s tombstone to show you her name. It is written as Joyce W. – for her maiden name of Williams. I asked my Mom what her middle name was and she said it was Lenore (sp?) I grew up hearing about my great uncles whose names were also listed on the census. Later David and Joyce would have other children: Oscar, F.D., Rosa, Fanny (Penny), Mamie, Christine, and Polly, also 2 baby boys who died.
I now live in Abilene, TX. We moved from Ala. to Houston, TX in 1955 when I was three. I enjoy learning as much as possible about our families as I can. We are so far away and we know so little. I can probably get copies of pictures of David Z.Smith and Shirrel Smith Jr. to add later.
Thank you for your work. Andra
The man and woman in the picture below are my Uncle ,Larry Chaffin and my Mother, Joyce Pennington standing in front of the little Indian cemetary.

How very nice to read your letter. I am the son of Guy Smith who's grandfather was DZ Smith. Their are many members of the smith family scattered thru out the country who find this forum to be not only informative but quite refreshing. You bear a striking resemblance of Ruth (smith) Maddox.

Robert Smith

Short note about the Alexander & Patsy Smith marker. I was told by Guy Smith that this marker, when it was placed approximately 15 years ago, was put there not because it was known that Alexander and Patsy Smith are buried there, but more as a placeholder on an assumption. In fact, there is good evidence that Alexander and Patsy Smith left Morgan Co AL between 1850 and 1860 to go to Titus Co, TX. Martha (Patsy), 60 years old, is found in the household, in 1860 of her daughter Sarah Smith Ryan . (1860 Dangerfield/Precinct 9/Titus, TX-Harris Ryan) Have heard of but not verified that Harris Ryan, Alexander's son in law, paid for property taxes for Alexander in Texas.