The stone had toppled and had been lying on the ground for well over 70 years, according to his descendant Bill Sanders, who was there to witness the restoration by Prouhet. Sanders is the caretaker of the Cemetery and has many relatives in the cemetery. The students are learning genealogy techniques as well; but information is scarce for African American families.
Category Archives: Cemetery
Student Recognition Day
In Foristell, Missouri, the Smith Chapel Cemetery, was begun by nine Trustees for the Smith Chapel AME Church established in 1871, was listed on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2024. Now, students from St. Charles Community College, studying with Professor Grace Wade Moser are working to uncover the history of this small African American cemetery in western St. Charles County.
Smith Chapel Cemetery
In 1871, several freedom seekers who had fought in the U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War had returned home. These resilient men, would pool their funds, and establish an African Methodist Episcopal Chapel, with a Circuit rider preacher, that spread the gospel between St. Charles and Jonesburg at that time, and name it Smith Chapel at Snow Hill.
Smith Ball
Buried at Smith Chapel A.M.E. Cemetery in Foristell is Smith Ball, one of the nine Trustees who helped start the A.M.E. church in 1871. On Sunday, February 28, 1864, thirty-one-year-old Smith Ball had made his way from one end of St. Charles County to the other, a distance of about 25 miles, to reach freedom.Continue reading “Smith Ball”
Freedom Seeker Martin Boyd
Freedom Seeker Martin Boyd was a trustee that established Smith Chapel A.M.E. Cemetery…. Read more
Benjamin Oglesby and the U.S. Colored Troops
His children, grandchildren, and future generations would attend Douglass School, a segregated African American schoolhouse, which has been removed to Ogelsby Park, part of St. Charles County Parks & Recreation.
Smith Chapel Cemetery 