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WELCOME TO Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

This historical cemetery is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax exempt organization

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

WELCOME TO Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

This historical cemetery is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax exempt organization

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

About Us

Our History

Henry Clay Wallace

The slave ports that were used to transport slaves into this country were Virginia, South Carolina, and New Orleans. The slave trade began in 1650 and ended in 1860. The date the slaves arrived at those ports was recorded as their birthdate and birthplace. Slaves were born as human beings on the continent of Africa, transported to Amer

The slave ports that were used to transport slaves into this country were Virginia, South Carolina, and New Orleans. The slave trade began in 1650 and ended in 1860. The date the slaves arrived at those ports was recorded as their birthdate and birthplace. Slaves were born as human beings on the continent of Africa, transported to America, where they were labeled as property. Laws were later passed in this country, stating “slaves are not considered human being, but livestock.” The slave owner gave them a name, date of birth, and a new birthplace; therefore, no accurate records were maintained, until the US Census Bureau of 1870 began to record slaves as humans. Many African Americans are descendants of slaves and their history was either lost, destroyed, or never recorded. In 1812, the Creek Indian Nation lost the war against the United States of America, which was led by Andrew Jackson, who would later become President of this country. After that war, there was a large transfer of land from the Choctaw Indian Nation, to the United States of America, through the “Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty of 1830.” That treaty included property in Sumter County Alabama and more specific; the Harris Place Cemetery, located in Cuba Alabama. The Choctaw Indians once occupied this property, where they lived and buried their dead. After the property was transferred to the United States of America, many slave owners moved to Alabama and purchased large quantities of land, for less money. The slave owners were unable to work the land by themselves; therefore, they brought their slaves with them to work the newly acquired land. Some of those slave owners who came to Alabama included; Richard Harris, R.A. Clay, and Green Grant, who owned more than 100 slaves each. One of those families that were brought as slaves to work the fields, included Mose and Betsy Wallace. R.A. Clay owned the town of Cuba Alabama and his slaves built the Cuba Rail Station. Green W. Grant would later become a confederate soldier in the civil war and he requested a pardon from President Abraham Lincoln for his role in the war against the United States, during the civil war. Richard Harris was married to Green Grant’s sister, Elizabeth Grant, and they had several children. One of their children was Laura Harris who married Thomas Bourdeaux and they had two children; Laura and Catherine. Richard Harris was the founder of the Harris Place Cemetery in 1840; which was his final resting place, along with his wife Elizabeth Harris, Green W. Grant, Laura Harris- Bourdeaux, Thomas Bourdeaux, Laura Bourdeaux, Catherine Bourdeaux, confederate soldiers; whites; native Americans; and many of our slave families.

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Henry Clay Wallace

Our ancestors, Mose and Betsy Wallace, records indicate that they were born in Virginia as slaves in 1810. The slave owner brought them and their family to Sumter County Alabama, to work the slave owner’s land. It is unknown; what year they arrived in Alabama, when they were married, who were their parents and who was Betsy’s family.

Our ancestors, Mose and Betsy Wallace, records indicate that they were born in Virginia as slaves in 1810. The slave owner brought them and their family to Sumter County Alabama, to work the slave owner’s land. It is unknown; what year they arrived in Alabama, when they were married, who were their parents and who was Betsy’s family. Mose had four brothers; Edward, Ben, Henry, and Sam. Mose and Betsy had eight children; Mose, Wash, Edward, Martha, Henry Clay, Thornton, George, and Caroline. The Wallace family became very large, with a combination of blacks, whites, and Indians, during that period. Many families who lived in the community were related and they allowed their children to marry relatives. History revealed that cousins married each other and had normal families. Many members of the Wallace family were slaves that were buried at the Harris Place Cemetery. Mose and Betsy had one son, who really believed in God, family, and the community; his name was Henry Clay Wallace. He was born as a slave in 1861 and he also worked the fields for the slave owner. Henry Clay Wallace married Lou Gibbs in 1882 and they had nine children; Mariah, Annie, John, Robert, Emma, Matthew, Joseph, Chaney, and Henry. They had three sons who served in the military and one of their sons, Matthew died, while serving. Henry Clay’s wife, Lou, died in 1918, but he never remarried. Henry Clay Wallace purchased land and worked on his farm as a self-employed farmer, with his adult children, until his death in 1937, due to a fall from his truck. Henry Clay Wallace left a Will, where he bequeathed his land and money to his children and grandchildren. Although, Henry Clay Wallace was born as a slave, he served his family, community, and country. He was a man who honored God’s Word; Acts 17:24-26; “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,..….and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all face of the earth,…….” “We are all descendants of Abraham.”

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The Cemetery

Henry Clay Wallace

The Cemetery

Henry Clay Wallace, was the founder of the Morning Star Cemetery. He purchased several hundred acres of land between 1889-1927, which contain a cemetery called Harris Place, which was once the property of his slave owner. Henry Clay Wallace purchased this property with the cemetery, because his deceased parents and other family members w

Henry Clay Wallace, was the founder of the Morning Star Cemetery. He purchased several hundred acres of land between 1889-1927, which contain a cemetery called Harris Place, which was once the property of his slave owner. Henry Clay Wallace purchased this property with the cemetery, because his deceased parents and other family members were already buried there. Henry Clay Wallace changed the name of the cemetery to “Morning Star Cemetery,” although many folks in the community called the it “The Wallace Cemetery.” Although, the name was changed, many death records continued to show Harris Place as the burial place. The purpose of renaming the cemetery was to eliminate the memories of the hard times as slaves, where they suffered from their former slave owners. Henry Clay Wallace was a trustee at the Morning Star Baptist Church and he was part of the committee that changed the community name from “Old Dove Town” to “Morning Star.” He helped secured land and assisted in building the “McGowan Grammer School,” where many in the community attended school. Henry Clay Wallace died in 1937 and was buried at Morning Star Cemetery. He bequeathed the property which included the cemetery, to his grandson, Ras Miller; which was intended to be used by the Morning Star community, never to be sold, and remain in the family for generations to come. In 1984 Ras Miller lost half of his land, along with a southern portion of the cemetery; although, he fought in court until he died, but he never regained ownership of that property. The southern portion of the cemetery was purchased by the Morning Star Baptist Church and the northern portion of the cemetery was bequeathed in a Will, by Ras Miller, to his grandchildren, who retains ownership of the property. Throughout the years, the cemetery became overgrown with timber, trees, and vegetation due to lack of upkeep. Later, the northern portion of the Morning Star Cemetery was desecrated during the harvesting of timber, and the location and identity of many families’ graves were lost, due to missing; headstones, monuments, grave markers, flowers, trees, and other objects, that assisted families in locating their love ones’ graves. Therefore, we are relying on the families’ personal memories and records, US Census, and former slave’s documents, to help fill the gaps and identities of the people buried there. If you have any additional information or corrections to this history collected, regarding families buried at Morning Star Cemetery, formerly known as Harris Place.

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WELCOME TO Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

WELCOME TO Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

About Us

Our History

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

The Cemetery

Henry Clay Wallace

The Cemetery

Help Our Cause

VIRTUAL HEADSTONES

Contact Us

morningstarcemetery2@gmail.com

Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

Hours

Drop us a line!

Welcome

WELCOME TO Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

WELCOME TO Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

About Us

Our History

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

Henry Clay Wallace

The Cemetery

Henry Clay Wallace

The Cemetery

Help Our Cause

VIRTUAL HEADSTONES

help is needed

Contact Us

morningstarcemetery2@gmail.com

Harris Place-Morning Star North Cemetery

Hours

Drop us a line!

Welcome