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The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 249
Horton's Ford was a place on Horton property where people forded what is currently known as Huntsville Spring Branch. Dixon's Lot was an area in Mullins Flat. Emma said that had been a long time ago, and she couldn't remember why Dixon's Lot was called that or whether it encompassed more land than the Anderson property (C-198), but she was definite that the Anderson land was in the Dixon's Lot community. Emma said the property “wasn't too far” from where Felix Lanier lived. They rented a four-room house from Darphus Love (Mary McCrary [his widow], C-132). Darphus Love's first name was Adolphus, but he was called and is remembered as Darphus. Emma drew a simple diagram showing a road by Fennell Cemetery (C-106), saying as a girl she went south on the road by Fennell Cemetery, down past the Missionary Baptist Church (C-123)*, and past Vertie Ward's place. She said Vertie Ward had 40 acres. They were south and east of church (C-126-A). The church is “cut out of” the southwest corner of the parcel owned by Ed Lankford. Emma said that they didn't live too far from Felix Lanier. According to Felix Lanier (interview), he lived on Milton H. Lanier's (prominent White land owner) land (C-146), which bordered Darphus Love's land on the southeast corner of his property C-132). Emma said she didn't remember the house she lived in that well. When asked if it had a root cellar, she said no. [*Note: C-123, shown on some maps as “Trs.??"Center Grove Church Colored” was identified by Emma Lankford Horton and James Love (son of Moses Love, parcel C-131) as being the Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church.] Daily Life and the Community Church. Emma's mother was a Baptist and her father was a Methodist, so they would go to the Baptist Church every 2nd and 4th Sunday and to the Methodist Church the other two Sundays of the month. The Methodist Church they attended was the Center Grove Methodist Church (B-71). It was also called the Grange (meetings were held there). A Baptist Church near the Center Grove Methodist Church was where Rev. Hezekiah Lanier preached. It was a “Hardshare” Baptist Church. She said the Hardshare Baptists did things like foot washing??"and they would stay at the church all day, singing, preaching, and eating their meal there. Since the researcher had heard the term “Hardshell” Baptist but not “Hardshare,” she asked Emma to repeat the word and verified that word Emma was using was “Hardshare.” [Hezekiah Lanier's grandson (Rev. McKinley Jones) later confirmed this term.] When asked to describe the churches she attended, Emma said they were both about the same, and reminded the researcher that she was trying to remember back over 65 years ago. She said the churches were “alike.” ”Both had one large room and two or three windows on each side. You had to have windows for light and to let the air in.” Pews were on each side and down the middle, separated by aisles. Emma said the pews were like benches with backs, with “about three boards to make up the seat and about 249 - (4282)