Download
[Page]
[Document]mcc-dj3-173
Cemeteries of Madison County, Vol. III, page 173
Andrew Drake Cemetery
ANDREW DRAKE CEMETERY
Location: Section 8-4-1E. SE SW NE NE SW [May actually be E/2 NE SW]
Bobby L. Drake, a direct descendant of Andrew Drake, gave me the following statement.
“I Bobby L. Drakc, on Fcbruary 18, 1969 rcscarchcd through TVA [topographical] maps, Mrs. Sue Beason's lcttcrs (datcd March 19, 1947 and January 18, 1952), and thc Andrcw Drakc Biblc records and have compiled the following information:
“Thc gravc sitcs arc locatcd approximatcly in thc back of 1307 - 1309 Forbes Dr., SE, Huntsville, Alabama 35802. In part of a locust grove I found a brick that was checked by local brick manufacturers and said to be hand made and very old. It is possibly part of a rock house or border for a cemetery mentioned in the letter as thc burial placc for Andrcw Drakc's first and sccond wivcs. I have taken color pictures of the entire area. Five graves, and possibly eight, could be there; no proof of last thrcc.”
The following is an excerpt from a letter from Mrs. Sue Beason (deceased in 1954) of Gurley, Alabama to the late Mrs. H. C. (Kathleen) Jones dated January 18, 1952:
“... wish I could tcll you just whcrc Jabcz Lcftwich's monumcnt could bc found. Hc was thc fathcr of my grandfathcr. Andrcw Drakc's first wifc livcd with him all his life and was buried in grandfathcr's privatc plot in thc corncr of his gardcn with daughtcr, grandfathcr's sccond wifc, several children, and grandfather. I was there with Mother when I was thirteen years old, and I think there were monuments to all the graves. But a few years after that the place changed hands, all the monuments were moved away, and the place put in cotton. We never did know where they went to. Grandfather had a rock house built over the grave of his first wife, just large enough for two. At the time he built it he intended to be put in it too but when his second wife died he had hcr put in it ...”
The following information was reconstructed and contributed by Catherine (Kelly) Gilliam (Mrs. Richard): Buried in the Andrew Drake Graveyard:
Jabez Leftwich (Sr.)
Born ca 1766
Died after 1850
Andrew Drake
Born July 26, 1785, Botetourt Co., Va
Died Nov. 12, 1858, Madison Co., Al
Pamela Ann Leftwich
First wife of Andrew Drake and daughter of Jabez Leftwich.
Born Oct. 5, 1787, Bedford Co., Va Married first in Va. to George Dixon, Jr. (Dixon died in Virginia)
She died Oct. 19, 1829, Madison Co., Al
Caroline McCartney
Second wife of Andrew Drake
Born ?
Died Oct. 28, 1845, Madison Co., Al
Notc: Andrcw Drakc's third wifc was Frances Campbell who is buried in Tennessee.
Thc ccmctcry was dcstroycd around 1960. Bcsidcs thc abovc pcrsons, it is bclicvcd that four of Andrcw Drakc's children and their spouses are also buried here. Andrew had 12 children by three wives. He left 776 acres of land and an estate valued at $25,000 when he died in 1858. He is believed to have been Baptist.
Historical information: Andrew Drake was the eldest son of Capt. John Drake. He brought his slaves from Virginia and built his home in Madison County. The home had a spiral staircase two stories high which did not have a single nail in it. Before the property was subdivided, it belonged to John Acuff who built another home on the foundation of the original home. A nearby spring has bccn “blockcd in” but it oncc had a buttcrmilk scction and watercress grew around it.
173 - (1156)