Person:Irena Hayes (1)

The Rasberry Cemetery is located in Chilton County, Alabama - this is how you get there: From Maplesville State 22E to Chilton County 29, left turn 2 miles to Isabella, keep CC29 for 0.3 miles, take left fork for about 0.3 miles, the cemetery is on the left.

"We traveled down to Clanton Alabama and stopped into the library and were shown to the Genealogy Room where I was fortunate to find that the only person there doing research was a distant cousin which made our search for cemeteries lots lots easier.. During our conversations I brought up the Rasberry Cemetery, and I was fortunate enough to find that her mother knew exactly where it was ... ( Off a dirt road in the woods ). It was quite amazing that I was actually able to go out and see my GGGGG Grandparents Gravesites, and also approximately 20 to 30 of the early Rasberry realitives as well. Traveling the 2 lane county roads to get to the unpaved county road which brings you within yelling range of the cemetery was quite a spectacle in itself. Our ancestors were indeed smart to move there because the land is still majestic and beautiful. We went down this country road approximately 4/10's of a mile and stopped next to a gate where heavy machinery was going in to do some logging in the area. Either some member of the family, or the logging company itself marked off the cemetery with red markers on the trees so that it would be left undisturbed. Looking from the logging trail you can see the Tall trees that they left which act as a beacon for where the cemetery is located. You dont really know the cemeteries there until your right upon it.. It's overgrown with no specific boundaries signifying it's limits.. To look around we actually had to go through the brush and move branches and all types of stuff to get to read what little could be read. Some of the Grave Markers were quite legible and plain yet done with ornate designs. To actually clean the area would have taken a good weeks work and a chain-saw to get rid of a fallen tree. I wanted to stay and spend a few hours there and draw a layout of the site and also decipher the information that was there , but since we didnt know our way back and our cousins had other plans we spend only about 20 to 30 minutes there. Driving back my wife went ahead and created a little road map showing how to relocate this little cemetery, only to find out later that it actually shows up on the Chilton County Map (Listed as Rasberry Cemetery) ... I think the main thought going through my mind at the time when I was standing there looking at all these past relatives.. is that they must have lived nearby but all remnants of the past are either gone or hidden amongst trees maybe to be unearthed in some future time. We went on back to Clanton (I recommend the Shoneys Hotel) and my wife and son called it a day while i went back to the Library to browse through many pages of history and also to talk with the librarian's who were very pleasant and quite helpful. Everyone whom I met there in Clanton were very gracious to us and thrilled that we would take time from our travels to stop in to this area and revisit our roots. As it's getting late here I need to end this message. Just Wanted to touch base with you and when I get the film developed I will be e-mailing you the photos that were taken of the Rasberry cemetery. Until Then take care.. and talk with you later Ed sends".

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James "Uncle Jim" Rasberry was born in June 1822 in Mississippi to Green Rasberry and Mary Ann Mullins. He married Irena Hayes April 16, 1842 in Shelby Co., Alabama. Irena Hayes was the daughter of Rev. Enoch Hayes and Rebecca Clark. She was born Jan. 6, 1821, and died Jan 2, 1900.

Uncle Jim and Aunt Beckie had 12 children. William Green Rasberry B Feb 23, 1843; Mary Jane Rasberry B. April 9, 1844; Enoch I (or J) Rasberry B. May 31, 1845; Epsey L. Rasberry B. 1845; Benjamin Thomas Rasberry B. April 9, 1848; James H. (Crayton) Rasberry B. Jan 15, 1850; Melona Rasberry B. 1853; George Rasberry B. 1854; Shelby K. (Shep) Rasberry B. Nov. 22, 1856; Martha Ann (Aunt Matt) Rasberry B. 1858; Josephine Rasberry B. Dec. 1859, John M. Rasberry B. July 4, 1864.

In 1850 they are in the Bibb Co., Al census as Family 888, in 1860 still in Bibb County family 1253, in 1870 in Baker Co., Family 76, in 1880 Chilton Co., Al family 194, 1900 Chilton Co, family #179. Irena dies after the census of 1900 so in 1910 Uncle Jim is living in the household of his son James H. and his wife Amelia. He is 86, a widower born Ms., and father and mother born Ga.

Even though the county names change, Uncle Jim and Aunt Rena lived on the same land all their lives. First as Bibb County, then Baker County and currently Chilton Co. The Rasberry cemetery is on their homeplace.

Mitchelene Shaddix