Welcome to Madison County! Madison County is the oldest county in North Alabama having been created by Mississippi Territory Governor Robert Williams on 13 December 1808. The first white settlers entered what is now Madison County in 1804. While we aren't sure which cemetery in Madison County is the oldest, there would have been burials shortly after the arrival of the earliest settlers. The Sivley Cemetery in Huntsville claims a date of 1805 but the earliest marker there is for Jacob Sivley who died in 1816. The Hobbs Cemetery in Huntsville claims the earliest gravestone in Madison County with a date of 1817 which we know now is not the oldest. Certainly Mt. Paran Cemetery in New Market is one of the earliest cemeteries with Maple Hill in Huntsville not far behind. Madison County is the final resting place of approximately 100 soldiers of the Revolutionary War. We know the actual burial site of approximately 35 of these 100 soldiers. These 100 soldiers are out of 700 to 800 total that are buried in the entire state of Alabama. The reason that Madison County has such a large percentage of Revolutionary War graves goes back to its early settlement date.The United State Geological Survey officially recognizes 328 cemeteries in Madison County; however, there are probably at least a hundred that were never listed on a government map. If you know of any "lost" cemeteries I would like to hear from you.

As the ACPA Madison County Representative, it is my job to assist you in your endeavor to restore, preserve and adopt a cemetery in Madison County. I will be happy to guide you and help provide online assistance and information to Madison County citizens and businesses who have the desire to participate in this worthwhile cause. This site offers the convenience of cemetery registration, communications, and an abundance of important "how to's" to help get you started on saving you cemetery. Whether you are an individual, a family, an organization or business, you can adopt a cemetery in need in your area. There are many cemeteries that seem otherwise abandoned that have seen the ravages of time and vandalism. This may be your opportunity to act as responsible community citizens or groups to take up the cause for these places in peril.

Below are some(but certainly not all) of the Madison County Cemeteries that are in need.

Harris Cemetery Jude Cemetery Hobbs Cemetery Cavett Cemetery Davie Cemetery Mt Paran Cemetery A Cemetery Success Story The last picture above is the Mt Paran Cemetery located in New Market. When I first saw this cemetery in September 2001 you could not find the cemetery for the woods and undergrowth. Through the efforts of a dedicated group of individuals, this cemetery is in the process of being restored. The Mt Paran Cemetery Association was given an award by the Historic Huntsville Foundation in 2003 for their efforts.

Please join me and the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance as we "join hands" to preserve an important part of Madison County History. Not only will you be able to find the information and tools that you need to establish perpetual care for your cemetery, restore it's broken monuments, and find out ways to protect your cemetery from vandals, but you will be able to register you cemetery with the ACPA, here on this site, as well as search the ACPA databases for cemetery information and burial listings as others submit them. The ACPA is proud to work with the Alabama Historical Commission as well to see that you get all the information you need to be successful in this endeavor. If you have any questions about using this site, or would like to interact in your community to help spread the word, start a cemetery project, or adopt a cemetery, I will be happy to help.