Helena in Shelby County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Harmony Graveyard
Shelby County
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
1. Harmony Graveyard Marker
This site began as the burying ground for Harmony Presbyterian Church, the first church built in the area that would become Helena. The earliest marked grave is Jones Griffin (died 1836), one of Andrew Jackson's Tennessee volunteers who was credited as the first soldier to mount the breastworks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The cemetery contains the graves of Helena's earliest physicians, ministers, educators, and public officials including C. I. Hinds, the city's first mayor. Early family names found here include Davidson, Lee, Dunnam, Roy, Ruffin, Lambert, Lovelady, Wyatt, Squire, and Tucker. Notable graves include C. T. Davidson, who built Buck Creek dam and opened Helena's first telephone exchange and electrical power plant, and Joseph Squire, an engineer from England who first surveyed Helena into lots and streets in 1873 and who authored the 1890 Cahaba Coal Field study. Among the most poignant burials are Ora Hanbury and her children Guy and Ione, and Sarah J. Glendale who were killed in the Cahaba River train wreck on December 27, 1896. Victims of the 1926 Mossboro coal mine explosion and the devastating May 1933 tornado are also
this page online
Erected 2012 by the Friends of Harmony Graveyard.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Disasters • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.
Location. 33° 17.338′ N, 86° 50.705′ W. Marker is in Helena, Alabama, in Shelby County. Marker is at the intersection of Helena Road (County Road 261) and Cemetery Circle, on the right when traveling north on Helena Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3396 Helena Road, Helena AL 35080, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Helena, Alabama (approx. 0.4 miles away); Central Iron Works (approx. half a mile away); Helena Freight House & Depot (approx. half a mile away); Shelbyville, A. T. (approx. 2 miles away); Cedar Grove Cemetery (approx. 3.4 miles away); Brock’s Gap / Historic Gateway To Birmingham (approx. 3.8 miles away); The Founding of Alabaster / Siluria (approx. 4.1 miles away); David Lindsay (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
2. Harmony Graveyard Marker Area
Also see . . .
1. Church History. (Submitted on August 14, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Helena City News article about train wreck. (Submitted on August 14, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
3. Find-A-Grave Memorial notes. (Submitted on August 14, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
3. Harmony Graveyard & Helena Cemetery
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
4. Helena Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
5. Grave of Guy Hanbury
Killed in 1896 train wreck & buried here.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
6. Ione Hanbury
Killed in 1896 train wreck & buried here.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 14, 2014
7. Grave of Ora Hanbury
Killed in 1896 train wreck & buried here.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 793 times since then and 137 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 14, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
