Near Danville in Morgan County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community
⎯⎯⎯
Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904

McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 21, 2020

1. McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community Marker

Inscription.
McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community In the fall of 1840. Augustine and Emily Hewlett reserved one acre of land to be used for the church then known as McKendree Chapel. A log building was constructed and services were held on this property until a new church was constructed to the east in 1887. The property is now McKendree Cemetery. The oldest marked grave is 1842. McKendree Chapel was a Methodist church named for Bishop William McKendree.

The Massey Community is much older than its name, the area having been settled in the early 1800's. The first site was three miles south of the present location and was originally called Gibson. It was later named for the W. D. Massey family, who settled there in 1886. Mr. Massey petitioned for a post office and this petition was granted, thus giving the community the name Massey. Around 1894 the center of the Massey Community was moved to this location near McKendree United Methodist Church.

Charles Christopher Sheats
1839-1904 As Winston County's representative to Alabama's Secession Convention in January 1861, Charles Christopher Sheats ardently opposed secession and

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joined with others at Looney's Tavern to declare Winston County neutral in the War Between the States. Winston County soon became known as “The Free State of Winston.” In 1861, he was elected to the State Legislature from Winston County, but refused to attend the session as all representatives had to swear an oath to support the Confederacy. He openly supported the Union and was jailed for treason by the Confederates. His allegiance was rewarded during Reconstruction when he was selected to Alabama's 1865 Constitutional Convention, appointed U.S. Consul to Denmark in 1869 and elected to Congress in 1872. He studied law and was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1867. He practiced law in Decatur, Alabama, and served as mayor in 1868. Charles Christopher Sheats married Mary Dickson Anderson January 27, 1886 and they resided in Decatur. Alabama.

Charles Christopher Sheats was born April 10, 1839 in Winston County and died May 27, 1904 in Decatur. He is buried in McKendree Cemetery with other family members.

Erected by Alabama Tourism Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites

Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 21, 2020

2. Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904 Marker

• Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 34° 22.211′ N, 87° 1.338′ W. Marker is near Danville, Alabama, in Morgan County. It is at the intersection of Evergreen Road and County Road 55, on the right when traveling south on Evergreen Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2795 County Road 55, Danville AL 35619, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cedar Plains Christian Church (approx. 1½ miles away); The "Katy-Did" Crash

McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community / Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 21, 2020

3. McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community / Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904 Marker

(approx. 3.4 miles away); a different marker also named Dave Albritton (approx. 4½ miles away); Battleground (approx. 4.8 miles away); Skirmish at Woodall's Bridge (approx. 5½ miles away); Original Falkville Town Hall Building / Falkville Water Tower (approx. 6.6 miles away); The Great Hartselle Bank Robbery / Three Hours Required to Accomplish Heist (approx. 7.2 miles away); City of Hartselle, Alabama / Hartselle Facts (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Dave Albritton (was approx. 4½ miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Christopher Sheats. From the Encyclopedia of Alabama. (Submitted on November 23, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

McKendree Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 21, 2020

4. McKendree Methodist Church

The church is across County Road 55 from the cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,531 times since then and 165 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 23, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community⎯⎯⎯Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904

McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community
⎯⎯⎯
Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904