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| The grave of Amy Campbell near Columbia, Tenn. |
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| Campbell Ridley, a direct descendant of Confederate Brigadier General Gideon Pillow, stands in a remote cemetery in the woods. |
“Used to play out here when I was a kid,” says Ridley, the 80-year-old direct descendant of Confederate Brigadier General Gideon Pillow.
We walk a path a short distance into the woods. A carpet of brown leaves and twigs crunches beneath our feet. Then we find what we came for. Scattered in woods are gravestones and footstones in a remote, unmarked cemetery.
Graves of the enslaved, formerly enslaved and their kin, we believe.
“Amy Campbell. Wife of Ben Polk,” reads the inscription on a marker, tilted toward a deep-blue sky. “Died Oct. 24, 1862. An affectionate husband is left to mourn.” “B.W.L.,” reads the inscription on another stone. It lay flat in the Middle Tennessee earth.
Ragged footstones — or are they ancient headstones? — peek from a covering of leaves. The ground has subsided in places, perhaps the signs of old burials. After a short visit, we depart. Our destination is an impressive, brick plantation house nearby.
“They used to call the hill back there Ginger Hill,” Ridley tells us.
We all wonder about the forgotten place we leave behind.
Who else lies buried in the woods near the base of Ginger Hill?
To be continued.
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| Gravestone of Daniel Webb, aged 15. |
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| Campbell Ridley in the graveyard near the base of Ginger Hill. |
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| The gravestone of Willie Pillow, who died in 1887, a little more than a year old. |
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| A gravestone inscribed with "B.D.L." |
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| A close-up of Amy Campbell's grave. |
mary todd lincoln her son tadd and robt lived.1)1865tremont house chicago.2)1865Hyde park Hotel 3.)1866mary purchase house 375(1238 )w washington blvd.4)1867-69robt street1marine bank bldg 5.)1870-1890sRobt Lincoln 204 dearborn 6)1900-1922Robt 184 Lassalle 7)1875Robt 653 wasbash ave 8)Mary 1877176 s Halsted 9) Robt 14 congress 10)1871robt 154 lake or 1234 lake shore dr chicago.11.)1875-1877 robt vs mom mary insanity trial 12.) robt with pullman exec 1900-1911 13) Robt gave infamous Lincoln home away 1877/1887? 8th/7th street 14)Robt Multimillionaire 82 yr 1926? 15)claim didn't run politics/prez but he live home georgetown Also administrations with politicians/prez?16) Robt/wife Mary didn't want Abe wife to visit them but want $$$ estate?17) Mary Lincoln lived with sister Edwards in Springfield 1880s-82???
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