Singleton witnessed the dedication of the James Salter monument in 1972

James Salter monument near Burnt Corn, Alabama. 

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Tribute to a man” was originally published in the May 4, 1972 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

The white granite marker gleamed in the morning sun as the two descendants of the late James Salter placed a wreath of flowers at its base, on the white sand just recently scattered there. The dedication ceremony was drawing to a close and the crowd listened attentively to the proclamation being read.

I had heard of this man several months before, from his fourth generation grandson, Mildford Champion. We had, on one occasion, visited the final resting place and old home site of this early settler. All that marked the grave then was a long skinned place on a sweet gum tree.

“This is where he’s buried,” stated Champion. “There’s nothing here now, but the family is working on getting a marker of some kind placed here. He is the only veteran of the Revolutionary War buried in Conecuh County. The highway there is the county line between Monroe and Conecuh counties. He’s buried almost on the line.”

I looked around, and all that was visible was a few briars and brush. No trace of a grave could be seen. The ground was flat, as though it had been cultivated in times past.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m sure. This is the place,” replied Champion. “Buried right on the piece of ground that the President of the United States deeded him. President John Quincy Adams gave him a land grant of 450 acres when he moved down here from North Carolina. This was given to him for his services in the Continental Army against the British. He settled on this land and raised a large family. A large number of his descendants are living in this area today. He served in the Alabama Legislature from 1823 to 1828. He was also one of the charter members of the Baptist Church of Burnt Corn.”

I looked at the bare grave site and thought that someone must have forgotten.

My mind traced back from the graveside, under the sweet gum tree where the conversation had taken place months before; back to the dedication ceremonies at the marker. The words of the proclamation were being read – “…in memory of this man, and to his devotion to God and Country, his eagerness to help his fellow man… At this time the bugler will sound Taps.”

As the ringing notes from the Last Call floated over the green pine thicket that bordered the clearing, I looked up the hill and read the marker: James Salter 1760-1835. I knew then that this soldier, settler and statesman had been remembered, and would be for generations to come.

[The column above was accompanied by a photo by Singleton that bore the following caption: Descendants of Revolutionary War veterans James Salter placed a wreath at the huge monument erected to him near Burnt Corn Wed., April 26.]

[That week’s edition of The Monroe Journal also featured a front-page story and photo about the Salter monument. The headline of the story was “Revolutionary War veteran remembered.” The photo of the monument, taken by Singleton, bore the following caption – “This nine-ton, white granite marker was erected near Burnt Corn to James Salter, Revolutionary War veteran, settler and statesman, Wed., April 26. Another photo and story of the event appear on Page 5A of this issue of The Journal.” The text from the front-page story is given below.]

Revolutionary War veteran remembered: A ceremony was held three miles north of the Burnt Corn community last week to dedicate a nine-ton white granite marker to the memory of James Salter, Revolutionary War veteran, settler and statesman.

The marker is located only a short distance from the old Salter home place and the final resting place of the Revolutionary War soldier, settler and statesman.

Born in North Carolina in 1760, James Salter served in the Continental Army before migrating to this area. President John Quincy Adams deeded the veteran 450 acres of land for his services against the British. Salter was elected to the Alabama Legislature from 1823 to 1828 and lived on the land near Burnt Corn until his dead in 1835.

Among his many descendants are State Rep. Wiley Salter of Conecuh County and Judge Frank T. Salter of Evergreen.

He was one of the charter members of the Baptist Church of Burnt Corn.

Another story and picture appears on Page 5A.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)