Eliza Jo BURT (Elijah¹) was born on January 8, 1832 in Alabama in Jackson or DeKalb County. She grew up in the Wills Valley area from a very young age. Eliza married, her sister-in-law's cousin, Jesse Willis BAXTER. They were joined in Holy Matrimony on October 24, 1853 in DeKalb County, Alabama by Jesse's father. Jesse was born on September 23, 1832 near Lebanon in DeKalb County. Jesse is the son of Willis and Sarah Ann "Sallie" Frazier BAXTER. They had the following children: Sarah Jane "Hade" BAXTER, Thomas C.(icero?) BAXTER, Mary Pallestine BAXTER, Willis BAXTER, II, Lucy BAXTER, Ellen BAXTER and Georgia BAXTER.

The 1860 Census of DeKalb County list Jesse as a Farmer. He was not listed as owner of any land. During the Civil War Jesse served as Lieutenant in "K" Company, 3^rd Confederate Cavalry Regiment. "K" Company was commanded by Captain Daniel "Dan" CLAYTON. This Regiment was commanded first by Lieutenant Colonel James R. HOWARD. The Regiment was organized in May 1862 from units of the 11^th Alabama Cavalry and the 2^nd Tennessee Cavalry. This Regiment was part of General Joseph WHEELER'S Calvary Corp in the Army of the Tennessee.

The regiment was used repeatedly for picket duty and for scouting and distinguished itself for gallantry and endurance. Jesse was noted as a great teamster, owning a pair of excellent horses, "Tige" and "Clinker". The Third was in the Battle of Stone's River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee between December 30, 1862 through January 03, 1863. They were also engaged at the Battle of Chickamauga between September 19 through 21, 1863. They were part of the raid on Union General Rosecran's communucation lines above Chattanooga, Tennessee between September 30 and October 17, 1863. They were engaged in many skirmishs between May 01 and September 08, 1864 during the Union Atlanta campaign. They were part of the force to defend Savannah, Georgia from Sherman. They evacuated from Savannah on December 21, 1864. The Third must have surrendered with the Army in North Carolina April 1865.

After the War Jesse returned to DeKalb County. He and Eliza raised their family in Wills Valley near Log Cabin school. Eliza died on February 22, 1901 near Lebanon in DeKalb County. She is buried at the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery near Lebanon. Jesse died on February 13, 1909 near Lebanon. He is also buried at the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.

James "Jim" BURT (Elijah¹) was born in September 1834 in Alabama in Jackson or DeKalb County. Jim grew up in the Wills Valley area from a very young age, may be from birth. Jim married his sister-in-law's, Delitha, sister. He married Elizabeth"Betty" BAXTER. They were joined in Holy Matrimony on September 2, 1852 in DeKalb County, Alabama by Justice of the Peace Willis BAXTER. Betty was born in June 1838 near Lebanon in DeKalb County, Alabama. She is the daughter of James "Jimbo" and Susan Lucinda Satterfield BAXTER. They had the following children: Francis Marion BURT, James William "Billy" BURT, Mary Lucinda BURT, Thomas Reuben BURT, Lillie Daily BURT, Polly Jo BURT and Desdemonia "Des" BURT.

According to the 1860 census Jim and Betty were Farmers. The census indicates that they owned or were buying their farm it was valued at $ 200.00. I have not been able to find any record that Jim served on either side during the Civil War. There is one story relating actions taken during the War that concern Jim and Betty. During the Chattanooga Campaign, August 16 through November 25, 1863, two corps of Union troops were stationed near Bridgeport in Jackson County, Alabama. During the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863, troops were dispatched from Bridgeport to support forces near Lafayette in Walker County, Georgia. The troops passed through DeKalb County, some went to the County seat in Lebanaon. While there they arrested the Probate Judge John N. Franklin. Before they had arrived, Judge Franklin had anticipated their arrival. He took that opportunity to hide the probate records in the old smokehouse on Jim and Betty's farm. It has been said that the reason he hid the records on their farm was due to Jim serving in a Union Regiment.

Some of Jim and Betty's children moved to Texas. They stayed in the Valley near Lebanon and farmed. They both died in 1904 near Lebanon in DeKalb County, Alabama. They are both buried at the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.

Henry BURT (Elijah¹) was born on December 12, 1836 in Alabama probably in Jackson or DeKalb County. Like the rest of his brothers and sisters he grew up in Wills Valley near Lebanon. He married his brother-in-law's, Jesse W. BAXTER, sister. He married Eliza M. BAXTER. They were joined in Holy Matrimony on December 15, 1859 in DeKalb County, Alabama by Eliza's father. Eliza was born on March 29, 1836 near Lebanon in DeKalb County, Alabama. She is the daughter of Willis and Sarah Ann Frazier BAXTER. They had the following children: Ryal Alexander BURT, Wallace Clay BURT, Willis Baxter BURT, Susannah Josephine "Josie" BURT and Cernaley Pallestine BURT.

During the Civil War Henry served in "K" Company, 3^rd Confederate Cavalry Regiment. This Company was commanded by Captain Daniel "Dan" CLAYTON. The Regiment was organized in May 1862 from units of the 11^th Alabama Cavalry and the 2^nd Tennessee Cavalry. This Regiment was commanded first by Colonel James R. HOWARD. This Regiment was part of General Joseph WHEELER'S Calvary Corp in the Army of the Tennessee. The Third surrendered with the Army in North Carolina April 1865.

Henry and Eliza continued to live in the Valley after the War and farmed. Eliza died on September 11, 1897 near Collbran in DeKalb County, Alabama. She is buried at the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. Henry lived with his daughter Josie's family near Collbran until his death on November 8, 1914. He was also buried at the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.

Calvin BURT (Elijah¹) was born on October 10, 1839 near Lebanon in DeKalb County, Alabama. He grew up in Wills Valley and met Sarah E. HARWICK there. They were joined in Holy Matrimony on August 10, 1859 in DeKalb County, Alabama. Sarah was born on April 8, 1843 in Alabama. They had the following child: John Thomas BURT.

Like his brothers and most of the young men he went to War. I do not know the Regiment he served in but he died on December 10, 1863. He must of served in the Army of the Tennesse because he was layed to rest at the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery near Lebanon. Sarah remarried (Ira F. DOBBS) and had other children (Nancy Jane "Nan" DOBBS, Lodowick Adam "Lod" DOBBS, Benjamin L. DOBBS and Robert L. DOBBS).

Thomas "Tom" BURT(Elijah¹) was born on January 31, 1841 near Lebanon in DeKalb County, Alabama. Tom grew up in the Wills Valley area with all of his brothers and sister. Tom was a single man of 20 years when the War broke out, I imagine like most young men of the time he felt invincible and ready for an adventure. When Robert W. HIGGINS came to Lebanon and posted a recruiting sign to join the "DeKalb Invincibles" it was more then any young man could resist. Tom signed up on June 13, 1861 for 3 years or the War. Tom and the other young men did not have very long to drill, in July of 1861 Captain HIGGINS' Company was ordered to Virginia.

HIGGINS' Company, designated as E Company, along with nine other Alabama Companies, was organized as the Twelfth Alabama Infantry Regiment. The Regiment totaled 1,196 men when organized. The commander of the Regiment was a Colonel Robert Tignall JONES of Perry County, Alabama. Twelfth was assigned to the Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Richard Stoddert EWELL. Ewell's Brigade was in the Division commanded by Major General Daniel Harvey HILL. Hill's Division was in the Second Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" JACKSON. The Second Corps was in the Army of the Shenandoah, commanded by General Joseph Eggleston JOHNSTON.

On 25^th of October in 1861 Colonel Robert Emmett RODES (1829-1864), of The Fifth Alabama Infantry Regiment, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. He was given commanded of the Brigade designated as Rodes' Alabama Brigade. This was due to General EWELL'S promotion to Divisional command.

On April 2, 1862, Major General George Brinton MCCLELLAN, commander of The Army of the Potomac U. S. A. began his Peninsula Campaign to take Richmond. Sometime during this, Tom ate or drank something contaminated, because he got dysentery. It was difficult for a soldier to maintain good health. The dangers of dirt and filth, and the importance of cleanliness was at times of no interest or concern. Their living conditions were abominable. The choices of camp sites and locations of latrines were neglected. Later investigations revealed that camp excreta were being carried by heavy rains into water sources, resulting in typhoid fever, dysentery and pneumonia. He was in the Hospital from May 22 through June 16, 1862. He was first at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, then on May 28 he was transferred to C. S. A. General Hospital in Danville. Chimborazo was the largest military hospital in the world then.

While Tom was in the hospital his Regiment was engaged in The Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks. During the Battle the twelfth lost 208 men that included Colonel Robert T. JONES. Lieutenant Colonel Bristor Brown GAYLE, of Morgan County, was promoted and given command of the Regiment. Also General JOHNSTON was wounded on the first day, May 31, 1862. President DAVIS appointed General Robert Edward LEE as commander of the Army.

General LEE renamed the Army, calling it The Army of Northern Virginia. The twelfth participated to some extent in all five of The Seven Days battles. The Seven Days Battles occurred from June 25 through July 01,1862. Tom was back on duty during this time and must have participated. At the Battle of South Mountain, on September 14, 1862, Colonel Bristor B. GAYLE was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Bonneau PICKENS, was promoted and given command of the Regiment. The Twelfth had 27 killed, 69 wounded and 33 missing due to LEE'S Maryland campaign. At the Battle of Chancellorville, May 01 through 04, 1863, the Twelfth lost 109 men. The Corp commander Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" JACKSON was mortally wounded by friendly fire.

While Tom was on furlough between September 30, 1863 and April 30, 1864 he married Susan Lucinda BAXTER. Susan was born on June 11, 1848 near Lebanon, Dekalb County, Alabama. She is the daughter of James "Jimbo" and Susan Lucinda Satterfield BAXTER. Tom went back to Virginia in May 1864. On his return the twelfth was hotly engaged with its brigade at the Battle of Spotsylvania [May 08 - 19, 1864]. Tom and Susan's oldest, Elisha BURT, was born while Tom was under seige in Petersburg, Virginia [June 15, 1864 - April 3, 1865]. The twelfth laid down its arms April 09, 1865 (Palm Sunday) with the rest of the Army at Appomattox. The twelfth comprised of 5 officers and 62 enlisted men.

After the War Tom and Susan had the following children: John William "Johnnie" BURT, Cornelia Jane "Neely" BURT, Robert Lee "Bob" BURT, Pallestine "Pallie" BURT, Henry Anderson BURT and Frederick Green "Fred" BURT. Tom and Susan farmed in the valley until the 1890s. They moved to Lookout Mountain near the Ruhama Community. He died on May 01, 1905 near Dogtown, DeKalb County, Alabama. Tom is buried at the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery. Susan died on August 08, 1912 near Dogtown. She is also buried at the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery.

Elisha "Toby" BURT (Elijah¹) was born on January 12, 1844 near Lebanon, DeKalb County, Alabama. Toby served in Confederate Army during the War. According to family tradition Toby was in Missouri when the War was over. All (if not most) methods of transportation had been destroyed in the south. Toby had to walk home to DeKalb County. Months and months went by and all of his family thought he had been killed in the War. They thought this because he did not return home when many other boys did. When Toby and his brothers had been young they had a certain hooting sound that they would make to each other. One night as the family was eating Supper, high on the hill east (Sand Mountain) of their house they heard this hooting sound. The family jumped up from the table and lost no time in meeting Toby.

After the War he married Tempa COPELAND. They were married on December 28, 1865 in DeKalb County, Alabama. She was born on November 16, 1836 near Lebanon, DeKalb County, Alabama. Tempa is the daughter of John and Martha "Patsy" Baxter COPELAND. They had the following children: Albert BURT, William Riley "Will" BURT, John Henry "Johnnie" BURT, Martha BURT, James Calvin "Jim" BURT, Lillie Jane BURT, Elijah BURT, II, Elisha BURT, Jr., Mackey BURT and Walter BURT.

Toby and Tempa farmed in the valley near Lebanon after the War. Tempa died on January 13, 1897 in DeKalb County, Alabama. She is buried at the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery near Lebanon. About this time Toby and most of his children moved to Lookout Mountain near the Ruhama community (AKA Dog Town). Toby continued farming in his new residence. He died December 26, 1912 near Dog Town in DeKalb County. He is also buried at the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery.

Mackey "Mack" BURT (Elijah¹) was born on June 20, 1854 near Lebanon, DeKalb County, Alabama. Mack was just a boy when his older brothers went to War. He grew up in the Wills Valley near Lebanon. After his father died Mack and his brother George farmed their parents farm. Mack married Emma Elder MARTIN on December 3, 1885 in DeKalb County, Alabama. Emma was born on July 22, 1869 in Geogria. They had the following children: Mary Elizabeth BURT, Jennie O. BURT, Frances E. "Fannie" BURT, Jesse G. BURT, Martha M. BURT, Charlie L. BURT, Maggie P. BURT and Reuben M. BURT.

It appears from census records that they moved to Etowah County, Alabama in the 1910s. Mack died on January 8, 1927 most likely in Etowah County, Alabama. He is buried at the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery in DeKalb County, Alabama. Emma died on December 13, 1954 in Alabama. She is also buried at the Shiloh Baptist Cemetery.