Historical Preservation Society of Cherokee County, Alabama

06/12/2026

The Sports Room will not be presenting their Star Awards this year. They are reorganizing. We be back next June 2027. We are having our meeting at 6 pm on the 25. I urge all members to come. We have some very important updates on the Trail of Tears sites. Also news on connecting Turkeytown to Fort Payne going through Cherokee County. See you at the meeting. Jeff Sauls

06/11/2026

Revolutionary War Patriot Joseph Downey was born in Farm Hill, Ireland. He moved to the colonies and settled in Abbeville, S.C. and was listed in the 1790 census. He married Elizabeth Whitfield about 1786 and lived in SC until 1810. He was awarded land in Gwinnett County, Ga for his service in the war. They moved with their children to Cherokee County, Al by the 1840 census. They came to Alabama with preacher Whitfield Anthony to spread religion.
Their children were: William S., Julia, Margaret, Sarah, Joseph, Elizabeth, Jane, James Augustus, Archibald, and Whitfield.
34 descendants of Joseph and Elizabeth Whitfield Downey are buried in Howell's cemetery near Ebenezer Church.
Information provided by Barry Springs, DAR.

06/10/2026

June 25th HPS meeting will be the Sports Room sponsored event. This is always an exciting night. Snacks will be provided.
Meet at the Museum on Main St. Centre, Al. 6 pm.

05/31/2026

May post on Turkeytown, Ballplay, Little Brother of War.

1 Ballplay The game is played with a ball, a stick with netting, and a basket to throw the ball into. This sporting event was played by the Indians. The Cherokee played this game. Tradition states …

05/26/2026

Alabama has over 2000 historical markers - Cherokee County has 46 marked sites. You can find these in the Historical Markers database.

A list of Historical Markers and War Memorials in .

05/10/2026

Revolutionary War patriot Lewis Carlton was born Sept 12, 1758 in the British Colony of Virginia to John and Elizabeth Wallace Carlton.
He enlisted in the Continental Army on Feb 5, 1777 for three years. He served in the 10th Virginia 6th Regiment.
He was wounded in the Battle of Brandywine on Sept 11, 1777. He served at Valley Forge, White Plains, Middle Brook, Morristown and Brandywine during the time General George Washington was there.
He was discharged Feb 1, 1780.

He married Elizabeth Eve on Jan 18, 1781 in Wilkes County, NC. They had ten children: Ambrose, 1781; Lewis, 1786; John & Thomas, 1787; David, 1793; William, 1796; Elizabeth, 1798; Nancy, 1800; Amelia, 1806; and Mary, 1815. Lewis Died March 13, 1827 and is buried at Old Dutch Cemetery in Wilkes County, NC.

Lewis's 9th child Amelia Caroline married James Tucker. Their children moved to Cherokee County, Al. Descendants still live here today.
Barry Springs, DAR

05/07/2026

Revolutionary War patriot William Bryant was born in Virginia 1757 and moved to Campbell Co., Ga. after the war. He died in 1833. He married Mary Barnett. His granddaughter Theresa married William Ed Sewell. His descendants moved through Franklin County, Ga., Coweta County, Ga., and Cherokee County, Al. following bounty land grants.
May descendants live in Cherokee County today.
Barry Springs Chapter, DAR.

04/27/2026

It has been a time-consuming month. Sorry for only one post on Turkeytown.https://turkeystown.com/2026/04/27/trail-of-tears/

04/14/2026

Our next meeting will be April 30, 6 pm in the Historical Museum of Cherokee County . David Lee will speak about his ancestors who were in the American Revolution.