Revolutionary War Soldier Remembered with Official Marker on Grave by Old Autauga Historical Society

FROM LARRY CAVER, PRESIDENT

OLD AUTAUGA HISTORICAL SOCIETY (OAHS)

On Saturday, April 9, 2022 the Old Autauga Historical Society (OAHS) installed a VA marker for William KIRKLAND, at Pea Ridge Cemetery. William and his family were early settlers of Western Autauga County. William was one of 30 known veterans of the American Revolutionary War who chose to settle in Old Autauga County.

In the early days, churches were scarce in some areas. William and his family would travel over Big Mulberry Creek into Dallas County to attend church services at Pea Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church. Several families from Autauga County in those days did the same. William died in 1838 and was buried at his church along with another patriot, James Porter, of Dallas County. The cemetery has graves dating back to at least 1825.

The church is long gone but the graves of many of the early settlers of northwestern Autauga County and northeastern Dallas County remain. OAHS is committed to seeing that one day all 30 of our revolutionary veterans here in old Autauga have proper grave markers. Photos courtesy of Beth DeBusk.

For more information, or to become a member of OAHS, email Larry Caver at Larrycaverjr@yahoo.com.