Very informative article on the history of Baker County. My ancestors – Jones, Woolley, Attaway, Smitherman, and Williams. When I first started my family history research, Bakery County had me totally confused. It only showed up once in the Census (1870) and then disappeared. It was one of my first experiences when I found out that genealogy research was all not easy and straight forward. I love your website. I have found much information about my Alabama families from the site and ebooks.
Warren Jordan
James Jones, do you have an A.T. Woolley that married an Elizabeth Jordan in 1866? I do not know what A.T.s actual name was. Elizabeth was the first child born to Samuel and Sarah Jordan in Virginia.
Clem Clapp
Although there may have been no incorporated towns in Baker County in 1872, there were some goodly sized active communities well before this time.One of them, Old Maplesville came into being in the 1820’s as a stage stop at the crossroads of the Ft. Jackson Road and the Selma Road when that area was in Bibb Co. A number of businesses existed before the town moved to Maplesville Depot at the town of Cuba in 1853 were it remains to this day. The cemetery at Old Maplesville has the county’s oldest marked gave, Elizabeth Rucker who died in 1834.
John Baker was the oldest of four brothers that came to Alabama from Darlington District, South Carolina in 1825. They settled around the Walnut Creek area. He was my great great granddaddy.
The article here about John Baker says he was a 2nd
Lt. In the Autauga Ranger a Home Guard. According to information found in the booke Chilton County Heritage John Baker refused to enlist. He may have objectived to “fighting a rich man’s war”. He was also a very religious man and may have objected on religious grounds.
Vonda Dixon
His service record reads Corp, Com D, 4th Ala. Vol Militia, enlisted 3-18-1862 for 90 days service, he was discharged 6-16-1862, he was paid $39 and signed with an X. He was 36 yrs. old, a farmer from Prattsville, Autauga, Ala, born in Darlington Dist., SC. He was 5’11”, hazel eyes, dark hair, red complexion.
Carlton Jones
Alfred Baker was my ggg uncle. His brother, Anderson Baker was my ggg grandfather. Anderson was married to Elizabeth Mims. Their daughter was Martha Baker, my gg grandmother, who married Sylvester “Buddie” Headley, who was my gg grandfather. They had a daughter, Dora Jane Headley, my great grandmother, who married my great grandfather Joe Duncan. They had a daughter Katie Duncan, my grandmother. Katie married my grandfather J.C. Jones, who had a son, my dad, Carl Jones.
Goosepond was the first railroad stop in Baker County and the beginning of Clanton, named by my ggg uncle Alfred Baker. He had the first general store in Clanton. Alfred was born in Darlington District, South Carolina . His brothers were
John, Stephen, and Anderson. Anderson was in the Confederate Cavalry.
Clem Clapp
Goosepond may have been the first stop on the L & N but the Goodwin’s donated the land for a depot at “New” Maplesville in 1853 when the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers Railroad was laid through from Selma when west Chilton was part of Bibb County.
Pam Christofides
We are kin for sure
Patti Buckner
My Grandmother is from Clanton…….Irene Willis Wiggins……she is buried there…..
Alfred was married to the daughter of James G. Mims, a prominent landowner. Her name was Rebecca Ann Mims. Her Mother was Feraba Winniford Reynolds. Mr. Mims donated the land for Walnut Methodist Church .
Good article, Donna. I’m sure it tore down a few brick walls.
Donna R Causey
Thanks Peggy, I hope it did.
James Jones
I’m eager to learn more about the Jones families from the area.
James Jones
My great grandpa, Luke Washington Jones
Rollin L. Johnson
This story creates a mystery for me. I have information that shows that this Alfred Baker married one of my Great Grand Aunts on 12 April 1877. Her name was Mary Ann Johnson from Shelby County. She seems to have been born 4 Sep 1834 in Shelby County and died on 14 March 1925 in Tarrant City, Jefferson County. My records show that she developed mental problems and spent some time in and out of the state mental institution at Tuscaloosa. I show sons Cary and Amos B. Can anyone provide additional information?
Ron Johnson
Alfred was also later married Mary Ann Johnson (1830- 1925) on April 12 1877 in Chilton County, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jacob and Saritha Johnson of the Cahaba Valley area of Shelby County. She apparently developed mental problems in her later years and spent some time in the Alabama Mental Hospital.
Alice "Kay" Watts
Hello, Ron! Alfred Baker was my great-great grandfather. I have tried to find the parents of Mary Ann Johnson Moatts Baker for many years. Are you sure that it was Jacob and Saritha? I have the medical records from Mary Ann (aka Polly) time in Bryces.
Very interesting history on Baker/Chilton County. I have a map published in 1868 with Baker as name of the Chilton County area.
I grew up in Clanton and remember visiting with a very old lady in the early fifties, who lived in a very old house located one block north of the FBC, on the same side of the street. She remembered the day that Yankee soldiers marched in front of the house into the little town to take control of the area….a story I often repeated to my history students.
Some facts about towns in Baker County before Chilton was formed are questionable. A 1868 Johnson map shows Clanton, in bold letters, sitting on the t N, S railroad. Also Jemison, Lomax, and Verbena are shown on this map.
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Very informative article on the history of Baker County. My ancestors – Jones, Woolley, Attaway, Smitherman, and Williams. When I first started my family history research, Bakery County had me totally confused. It only showed up once in the Census (1870) and then disappeared. It was one of my first experiences when I found out that genealogy research was all not easy and straight forward. I love your website. I have found much information about my Alabama families from the site and ebooks.
James Jones, do you have an A.T. Woolley that married an Elizabeth Jordan in 1866? I do not know what A.T.s actual name was. Elizabeth was the first child born to Samuel and Sarah Jordan in Virginia.
Although there may have been no incorporated towns in Baker County in 1872, there were some goodly sized active communities well before this time.One of them, Old Maplesville came into being in the 1820’s as a stage stop at the crossroads of the Ft. Jackson Road and the Selma Road when that area was in Bibb Co. A number of businesses existed before the town moved to Maplesville Depot at the town of Cuba in 1853 were it remains to this day. The cemetery at Old Maplesville has the county’s oldest marked gave, Elizabeth Rucker who died in 1834.
That should read “Baker County and Its People”.
You are right. Thanks
Robert Register
I understand that Baker County became Chilton County.
Alfred was my step great great grandfather.
John Baker was the oldest of four brothers that came to Alabama from Darlington District, South Carolina in 1825. They settled around the Walnut Creek area. He was my great great granddaddy.
The article here about John Baker says he was a 2nd
Lt. In the Autauga Ranger a Home Guard. According to information found in the booke Chilton County Heritage John Baker refused to enlist. He may have objectived to “fighting a rich man’s war”. He was also a very religious man and may have objected on religious grounds.
His service record reads Corp, Com D, 4th Ala. Vol Militia, enlisted 3-18-1862 for 90 days service, he was discharged 6-16-1862, he was paid $39 and signed with an X. He was 36 yrs. old, a farmer from Prattsville, Autauga, Ala, born in Darlington Dist., SC. He was 5’11”, hazel eyes, dark hair, red complexion.
Alfred Baker was my ggg uncle. His brother, Anderson Baker was my ggg grandfather. Anderson was married to Elizabeth Mims. Their daughter was Martha Baker, my gg grandmother, who married Sylvester “Buddie” Headley, who was my gg grandfather. They had a daughter, Dora Jane Headley, my great grandmother, who married my great grandfather Joe Duncan. They had a daughter Katie Duncan, my grandmother. Katie married my grandfather J.C. Jones, who had a son, my dad, Carl Jones.
Goosepond was the first railroad stop in Baker County and the beginning of Clanton, named by my ggg uncle Alfred Baker. He had the first general store in Clanton. Alfred was born in Darlington District, South Carolina . His brothers were
John, Stephen, and Anderson. Anderson was in the Confederate Cavalry.
Goosepond may have been the first stop on the L & N but the Goodwin’s donated the land for a depot at “New” Maplesville in 1853 when the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers Railroad was laid through from Selma when west Chilton was part of Bibb County.
We are kin for sure
My Grandmother is from Clanton…….Irene Willis Wiggins……she is buried there…..
Where do I find Baker county and its people?
It is part of Chilton and Autauga County now.
Alfred was married to the daughter of James G. Mims, a prominent landowner. Her name was Rebecca Ann Mims. Her Mother was Feraba Winniford Reynolds. Mr. Mims donated the land for Walnut Methodist Church .
Good article, Donna. I’m sure it tore down a few brick walls.
Thanks Peggy, I hope it did.
I’m eager to learn more about the Jones families from the area.
My great grandpa, Luke Washington Jones
This story creates a mystery for me. I have information that shows that this Alfred Baker married one of my Great Grand Aunts on 12 April 1877. Her name was Mary Ann Johnson from Shelby County. She seems to have been born 4 Sep 1834 in Shelby County and died on 14 March 1925 in Tarrant City, Jefferson County. My records show that she developed mental problems and spent some time in and out of the state mental institution at Tuscaloosa. I show sons Cary and Amos B. Can anyone provide additional information?
Alfred was also later married Mary Ann Johnson (1830- 1925) on April 12 1877 in Chilton County, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jacob and Saritha Johnson of the Cahaba Valley area of Shelby County. She apparently developed mental problems in her later years and spent some time in the Alabama Mental Hospital.
Hello, Ron! Alfred Baker was my great-great grandfather. I have tried to find the parents of Mary Ann Johnson Moatts Baker for many years. Are you sure that it was Jacob and Saritha? I have the medical records from Mary Ann (aka Polly) time in Bryces.
Nonw
Very interesting history on Baker/Chilton County. I have a map published in 1868 with Baker as name of the Chilton County area.
I grew up in Clanton and remember visiting with a very old lady in the early fifties, who lived in a very old house located one block north of the FBC, on the same side of the street. She remembered the day that Yankee soldiers marched in front of the house into the little town to take control of the area….a story I often repeated to my history students.
Alfred Baker is my 6th great grandfather.
Shane Bates
Taylor Giddiens
Some facts about towns in Baker County before Chilton was formed are questionable. A 1868 Johnson map shows Clanton, in bold letters, sitting on the t N, S railroad. Also Jemison, Lomax, and Verbena are shown on this map.
Taylor Giddiens
my family way back lived here