From the Southern Democrat, 1936

History of Fosters Chapel Community

By: D. L. Murphree
In addition to miscellaneous information gathered here and there, I wish to express my indebtedness for the
following historical facts by Mr. W. P. Tolbert and Mr. Geo. Clemmons, both residents of Fosters Chapel Community
for a period of approximately sixty-five years. I also owe an acknowledgement to a short biography of John L.
Brasher written by his son, Dr. John L. Brasher.
It seems that Fosters Chapel was really in its infancy when the Civil War broke out; the first settler, Garland
Hardwick, having come to the community only a few years previous to 1842. The early pioneers were a united God
fearing, and God loving people.
Their belief in God is clearly shown by the fact that while the community was yet in the making, a church
was organized, and it is of interest to note that Fosters Chapel was the first church formed on Straight Mountain.
The organization having occurred in 1843. Although since that time the church has had a number of ups and
downs, booms and abandonments, its organization and early history are important just as the churches are
important in any community.
A man called Anthony Foster was one of the earliest settlers in the community. His home was a short
distance North of where the church now stands. In 1842 Mr. Fosters small boy, after a short illness, died and since
there was no church or cemetery near Mr. Foster wanted the boy buried near a big oak tree down in the flat. This
same tree still stands a short distance from the church. Because of his sons grave, probably, it was Mr. Foster who
took the first steps toward the formation of the church there. So it was in the year 1843 that the people met to
discuss plans for a church. Very soon a pine log building was erected and a church organized.
The membership of this first church was composed of the following men: Anthony Foster, Tony Armstrong,
Peter Wileman, Pliney Wileman, Elijah Dearman, William Armstrong, William Farley, John Clowdus, William Hullett,
Garland Hardwick (for whom the Beat was named), Jerry Ellis, and possibly others whose names are not available;
and undoubtedly the wives of these men had a great part in moulding the characteristics of this early church in the
log building without even a door shutter.
It is of interest to know that the first song sang at Fosters Chapel church was sung by Uncle Pliney
Wileman. The first woman to shout in this church was Rosa Adkinson, and the first pastor was the Reverend
Ernest Shotwell, who at that time resided in St. Clair County. Rev. Shotwell was succeeded as pastor by Anthony
Foster who proposed building the church and for whom it is named. The third pastor was Rev. John J. Brasher who
was a direct descendant of the Brashers that came to America from Holland about 1620.
John J. Brasher came to Fosters Chapel from St. Clair County near Springville. Besides being a faithful
pastor and an ardent church supporter, he was an outstanding political leader. When the storm of secession was
gathering, he was chosen by his fellowmen as a delegate to the Alabama State Convention. A year before the
actual war broke out, Mr. Brasher in a letter to friends back at home wrote, A very dark cloud is hanging over us.
When asked what he meant, he replied, We are on the verge of war. This was in 1860; and in 1861 it came, the
cloud burst.
Fosters Chapel was intensely union in their sentiment and were opposed to secession. Mr. Brasher
opposed the measure by voice and vote, and when it finally passed he and two others (true to their convictions)
were the only members of the convention who refused to sign the ordinance. This brought Mr. Brasher into combat
with the Confederate officials. He was offered a commission but refused and was forced to flee from his native
state to within the bounds of the Union Army for safety during the war.
Mr. Brashers dauntless spirit conveys in a large measure the spirit of the community which he represented.
Those hardy men of early Fosters Chapel were not afraid of hardships; but when compelled to make a decision
they said, If we must die, we will die at home, meaning on this side of the Tennessee River. Thus a band of nearly
fifty men allied themselves together to form what is known as the Hide-Outs. They left their homes and dwelt

among the cliffs on the banks of the Little Black Warrior River, near the community. We are told that the small
Square Spring hewn out in rock, where they got most of their water can be seen now.
The valor and courage of Aunt Polly Ryan is not to be overlooked. However at this time she was Polly Ann
Hathcock, wife of one of the Hide-Outs. After his death she married an ex-Federal officer of the Civil War, Jim
Ryan. Aunt Polly Ann was the daughter of Uncle Pliney Wileman whom I have already mentioned. Aunt Polly Ann
was possibly the communitys bravest woman. We are told that one very dark night after the cavalry had passed
her house, she saddled her pony and rode about twenty miles through the darkness alone to warn her friends that
the Cavalry was in the community. Upon receiving her warning they went immediately to the bluffs of the Little
Black Warrior.
In a very short time the Cavalry was back through and took Uncle Pliny Wilemons horse. They carried it to
some point in St. Clair County. The Hide-Outs learned of its whereabouts and undertook to recapture it. In the
battle with the Cavalry Frank Shadwick was killed. They failed to accomplish the purpose for which they had gone,
and finally gave up. The body of Frank was brought back over the journey of several miles on a two-wheeled cart.
The men had meant to bury him at Fosters upon arrival; but because the night overtook them, they were compelled
to wait until the next morning. A fellow, Bowman, leader of the band, asked if there were any two men in the crowd
that would watch the body that night. Mark and Little Henry Adkinson agreed to watch. The body was wrapped in a
blanket and laid in the open church house. Mark Adkinson chose to watch from a bunch of nearby bushes. Henry
climbed an oak tree in the edge of the church yard and watched all night. The tree stands now in the yard of the
church.
As early as possible the men met the next day to dig the grave and bury the dead, their friend and coworker. They worked hard and fast; their leader, Bowman, standing over them with constant command, Hurry
men, hurry! They may be here any minute and get some more of us. When the grave was ready the body was laid
in it its only casket being the blanket it had been wrapped in. Aunt Polly Ann was the only woman present at the
funeral of Frank.
The Hide-Outs discovered lead near their hiding place on the Garland Hardwick place, now the George
Clements place, and one way they passed the time was digging lead and manufacturing their own bullets.
When it was necessary for men to go home for food and possibly other supplies, they made such trips only
if there were no white sheets or white towels hanging about the house. The white object hanging at its designated
place was the danger signal that the cavalry were, or just had been in the community.
Tom, John and Andy Wadsworth, all brothers, were captured and carried to Pulaski, Tennessee, for training
in the army. One evening they were told by their Captain to be ready to leave for some point in Texas the next
morning. These men saw their chance to escape sometime during the night and made their escape, with their
clothes they wore and only one gun. Walking home they traveled by night and slept most of the days. When they
came to the Tennessee River they took off their clothes and tied them in a bundle on their heads. Tying the one
gun on one mans back, they swam the river at a point just below where Guntersville, Alabama now stands.
The world war claimed a number of the brave men of this section. Among those going to the war were:
Davis Buckner, Frank Woodard, Elbin Reneau, Wallace Murphree, Sid Bean, and probably others whose names I
do not have. Some of these men volunteered and faced the enemys fire and returned home to become law
abiding citizens. I might mention Eldridge and Eugene Maynor, who spent their boyhood in this community.
Eldridge left home as many other brave soldiers never to return. He gave his life heroically for his home and his
country.
My history is almost entirely of religion and war-fare. But Fosters Chapel has had an educational and
economic life as well. If we could only know the heart secrets of those men down through the ages we would find
that theirs has not been an easy lot. But through their perseverance we know the present Fosters Chapel, a
thriving community; feeding many of the people of Birmingham and other nearby towns with fresh vegetables off the
mountain. These people made up of intelligent, trustworthy individuals, honorably and proudly carry on the
standards of life set for them by their fore-fathers. Fosters Chapel has produced no world famous heroes or
heroines, but they fill their places just as well as our world celebrities fill theirs.