Karolyn Terpstra St. Charles County Historical Society January 2017 Quarterly
-Smith for sharing ó their research into known burials at Sage Chapel ó Jim Frain and the O’Fallon Historic Preservation Commission for their support of Sage Chapel and dedication to preserving its story ó The O'Fallon Historical Society and Mary Stephenson for graciously sharing photographs and documents
ó Why Sage? ó The Property ó Who’s Buried There ó Ties to the Community ó What’s Next
By the 1950s the pace of burials at Sage Chapel slowed significantly the cemetery was being forgotten
ó A handful of local descendents still knew and cared for the property ó In 2012 a reported act of vandalism brought Sage Chapel to the attention of the city ó The O’Fallon Historic Preservation Commission became involved with Sage Chapel
ó 114 known burials ó Only 32 graves have markers surviving today ó First Burial in 1898 ó Most recent burial in 2015 Simon & Cora White with their ó All buried at Sage Chapel grandchildren Arlene and Betty are African American White. Grandson Michael the shadow on the porch. except 2 Simon and Cora are buried at Sage Chapel (photo: Mary Stephenson, OHS)
ó owner of record for Sage Chapel ó Only known deed record including this land is in 1871 ó Sheriff’s Partition from 5 Sept 1871 includes “Lot 9 being the graveyard it being part of the SQ ¼ of Section 26 TWP 47N, RE3… containing .11 acres… it being the family graveyard”
ó Yard” as an adjoining property ó Includes a 1899 deed record showing an adjoining lot as being transferred from “George and Martha Murray to W. C. Long, George Washington, and Daniel Frost (Trustees of the Baptist Church) ó There is an African Baptist Church on Sondern Street ó A Daniel Frost is known to be buried at Sage Chapel ó W.C. Long’s name appears in church records
Sage Chapel Cemetery
ó African Methodist Episcopalian Church – south of Elm ó Records indicate the Abington family was active in this congregation Abington and Edwards families owned adjoining properties ó African Methodist Episcopalian Church – north of Elm ó Church records have been lost to time Believed to be the African ó Know Claiborn family owned Methodist Episcopalian adjacent property Church (photo: Mary Stephenson, OHS) ó African Baptist Church ó Believe this is Hopewell Baptist Church ó Trustees of this church are connected to Sage Chapel deed records
Dorothy Edwards Clarence Claiborn (1904-1952) (1909-1945) (photo: Mary Stephenson, OHS) (photo: Mary Stephenson, OHS) Mishey Edwards (1881-1957) (photo: Mary Stephenson, OHS)
First row: Clarence Claiborn, son of Maggie Hughes, Claiborn Luckett, Edmonia Robinson, Grant Jordan, Frank son of Tom and Lou Williams, Buster. Second Row: Hazel Williams, daughter of Tom & Lou Williams, sister of Frank Williams, Clara St. Clair, daughter of Lucy White, Maude Hutchinson, daughter of Emma Hutchinson, Rhoda daughter of Lucy White, Miss Pearl Sparks, teacher, Jane Hutchinson, daughter of Emma Hutchinson, Maria Lula Williams, daughter of Tom & Lou Williams. Picture was taken at the school for black children at the corner of Elm St. and Sonderen in O’Fallon in 1914 or 1915.
ó Nobody knows with certainty ó No records to indicate there was ever a church called “Sage Chapel” ó Perhaps a nod to the fields of wild sage that grew on the Sonderen Plantation ó Believed to be an area where slaves worshiped around the time of abolition
ó 20 individuals buried at Sage Chapel were born before the abolition of slavery ó Unknown who of these were born into slavery ó Pricilla Ball was the earliest born of those buried at Sage Chapel Francis Rafferty Dryden ó Born in 1812 – She was (1860 – 1938) about 52 when the Civil (photo: Mary Stephenson, OHS) War ended
ó Commitment in O’Fallon to ensure this property is maintained and not forgotten ó Discussions ongoing to determine best way to address ownership ó Exploring the possibility of a monument with the names of those known to be in unmarked graves
Karolyn Terpstra (612) 325 – 9181 Karolyn.terpstra@gmail.com
Recommend
More recommend
