The
slave cemetery, sometimes referred to as the Gallaher-Stone Cemetery, is
located 3/10 of a mile southwest of the K-25 Overlook. It is about 300
ft. south of the Oak Ridge Turnpike. In 1979 Mrs. Dorathy
Moneymaker counted between 90 and 100 graves. Most were sunken, and
there were no inscribed markers.
We
will never know the names of all those buried there. It is presumed that
slaves who once belonged to the Welckers and Gallahers, and the descendants of
these slaves were lain to rest in this cemetery. It is also quite
possible, even likely, that many other slaves and their descendants who lived
on farms nearby were buried here in what was sometimes referred to as the
Negro Cemetery. Some of the other families that owned slaves and lived
in the vicinity were the Burums, Carmichaels, Staples, Henleys, Ellis’,
Rathers, and others.
Emancipation
came in 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 freed only slaves in
states, or parts of states, that were in rebellion against the United
States government. Since East Tennessee was under Union control at that
time, the Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to slaves in this region.
Negroes in the area probably continued to use what later came to be called AEC
#2.
An
African American school, also used as a church, existed in the Wheat area at
least as early as 1895. On December 28, 1894 D.H. Gallaher made a
warranty deed for $1.00 to W.P. Ellis, Richard, and K.G. Gallaher, who were
the Trustees of the church. This church/school was “approximately 300
yards east of the Administration Building in K-25 area,” according to Mrs.
Moneymaker. Members of this church may have used this cemetery.
When
the federal government assumed ownership of the Wheat area in 1942, many small
cemeteries were consolidated into larger ones. There were numerous
cemeteries recorded when the Army Corps of Engineers took over; The Department
of Energy now maintains 68. It is possible that some smaller Negro
cemeteries were consolidated into this one; however, I have seen no evidence
that this occurred.
In Memory of...
Much
remains to be discovered regarding African-American history in Wheat. Many
questions have yet to be answered, and each answer leads to 10 more questions!
We cannot, as yet, state with certainty the names of those who are buried
here; but we will continue to honor their memory in reverence and with
dignity. Below is a list of names of some of the slaves and their
approximate ages who once were owned by the Welckers, Gallahers, and Burums.
Perhaps some of them, or their relatives now rest in AEC #2, Slave Cemetery.
Welckers:
A woman named Lida; George about 20 yrs. old in 1814; man named Loam; Abraham
(40), his wife Milly (35) and 5 of their children, Alexandra (9),a 7 yr. old,
Hanah (5), Caleb (3), Abraham (18 or 20 mo.); girl named Lucky or Tucky; Milly
(10); Ceno (sp?) Ellick (26); Be(s?) (14); Becky’s son Jo or Ja (4 in
1856).
Gallahers:
In 1837 Primus (11 or 12 ), Jude (4), Tom & Sal, Lun & her child
Malinda, Ben, David, Wash. In 1838 John. Others were Frank;
Marinda; Richard (Dick); Primus; Martha; Easter; Franklin; Louvena; Martha;
Jude (Juda?).
Burums:
Julia; Jepp (a child in 1864).
The following names appear as Colored parents of students between the ages of
6 and 20 in the 15th District of Roane County, 1867. Some
have been previously listed as former slaves of the Welckers, Gallahers, or
Burums.
Richard
Roberts; Prime Gallaher; Isaac Oliver; Franklin Gallaher; Wesley Burum; Nathan
Staples; Richard Gallaher; Susan Macrossky; Henry Jordan.
Some additional names appear on the 1869 list:
Martha Gallaher; Louvena Gallaher; Nelson Bradley; Seyrey Dale; Dick Roberts;
John Rather; Frank Galbraith; fanny Rather; Thos. Potter, Sr.
This
list is far from complete. If you or someone you know has an ancestor
that is possibly buried in AEC #2, please let us know.
