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“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”  Thomas Jefferson

8/27/2017

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Good Conscience!
We have too long remained silent. We must never forget the true History of our Nation that it was founded upon Godly principles. Our forefathers paid a great price our freedoms.  Many men and women are still giving their lives so that we might remain free. History has not changed even though history textbooks have been updated and rewritten with different viewpoints. We need to remember the history of our nation, good and bad so that we will not make the same mistakes again and can continue to excel in the good.
 Tyranny has begun to rule, but we can stop it!

It is time for people of good conscience to no longer remain silent.  We must teach our children in our homes what the principles that our nation was founded upon.  People this is history and is the reason why our nation's history is important. It is our legacy for our freedoms. 

I remember hearing in school a statement in the 1960’s that was made that the   United States would be destroyed from within. Is this happening?

If you can quietly change the history of a nation, to begin to get the generations to forget the Godly principles that it was founded upon, then pretty soon you can control them. Bombard their mind that they have the right to have everything their way that they are entitled, it is their right, destroy their good conscience.  Get them to disrespect God, themselves, one another, and their nation!
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Pray for our nation. 2 Chronicles 7:14 
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. “
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Semmes Pioneer Family-minerva Emeline Roberts 1847-1923

8/21/2017

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 Jesse Vickers, Jr.
Minerva  Emeline Roberts was born in Green County, Mississippi on March 18, 1847 the daughter of Isaiah Roberts,( 1809-1851) and Ann Cochran (1827-1903).  Minerve Roberts family moved to Albritton Precinct (Semmes), Mobile County, Alabama, in 1867.  

​Minerva married John Ashbee on January 14, 1888, Mobile Co. Alabama.  John Ashbee (1845-1916) was the son of George Washington Ashbee  born in 1803 and Mary Rhodes born in 1813.

John Ashbee served in Company A 7th Alabama Cavalry in the Civil War. He is listed  on the 1880 Federal Census in Albritton Precinct (Semmes), Mobile County, Alabama as a laborer working in the household of William Polk Roberts, Minerva Roberts brother, who had a small Sawmill and commissary Store on his property.

According to Government Land Office Records: John  bought 80.64 acres of land in 1879.  This land was adjoining the north side of Margaret Wulff's (Minerva's mothers) property.  

According to the story passed down in the family, Minerva suffered from crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis all her adult life. When Jesse Vickers, Sr. was a little boy, he visited Uncle John and Aunt Minerva and he remembered Aunt Minerva holding onto a ladder back chair and pushing it in front of her as  a walker. When John  built  his bride their new log cabin he knew his wife would be unable to get to a storm cellar so  he had long iron spikes made to fasten the logs together to make the house safer for his wife in case of a twister.


*** It is interesting to note the Ashbee's original log cabin home was covered over with additions and remodeling over  the years. It was recently uncovered when remodeling by the current owners who chose to keep the cabin as a  room in their home,

John and Minerva set aside a parcel of their property for use as a cemetery that was deeded to  Semmes First Baptist Church on October 21, 1904. The trustees of the Church signing the deed were as follows: J. F. Harroun, J.A. Wulff, and I.H. Roberts.  The deed wasn't recorded in the Courthouse in Mobile until December 23, 1930 and is in Deed Book 232 page 267. John Ashbee died April 12, 1916 was buried in this Cemetery. Minerva Roberts Ashbee died September 21, 1923 and was buried next to her husband.   Their Graves are marked with a large Cement Marker in the Cemetery that they donated to their Church.

 ****Semmes First Baptist was originally named Mt. Pleasant Church and began in the log cabin school on the township's sixteen section of land.   Schools often served as the meeting house for community activities  and early churches in Alabama.
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1957 Clubs Build Character

8/12/2017

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1957 Junior high expands program

8/12/2017

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Our junior high is composed of  only seventh and eight graders--300 strong--while the ninth graders, because of a limited number of classrooms  are in the  high school.  Energetic and enthusiastic, these 300 came in September  into a partially departmentalized classroom program and to expand their activities.  They have the distinction of organizing the first Semmes Junior High Student Council--loyal and hearty activities of your school and studying lessons, too.  So these junior high people, amid a program that includes sports, clubs , and special interest periods as well as classes, maintain a high percentage who make honor roll.
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1957- Eighth Camellia Coronation

8/11/2017

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  • "Class meetings are called...nominations...voting...a queen is selected from the seniors. Twelve other  pretty misses are elected to be her maids--one from each grade.  They select a king and knights.  Yards  of satin lace and tulle...buttons and bows...saws, hammers,  paint...nimble fingers, strong hands...long hours...all are important when you crown a Camellia Queen.  
  • But a royal court must be entertained, too.  New Year and Father Time worked together and ushered by a parade of dancers and drills--the Calendar Cavalcade--before the Court  interspersed with solo dance and glee club members.
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Left: King Charles Harwell crowned Lena Pearl Carr as 1957 Camellia Queen January 11.
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1955-Semmes School-Community Camellia Festival

8/9/2017

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Sixth Annual Camellia                             Coronation -1955

8/9/2017

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Changes  eleven year system to twelve year system Semmes High

8/9/2017

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Camellia Yearbook 1955
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Pioneer Homes

8/9/2017

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Displays in the cabin give us a glimpse of life in pioneer days! 
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Mrs. Mary Ellen Ward

8/9/2017

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Mary Ellen Ward was   a loving, kind, caring teacher looking for the best in each student. Mr, Ward was the barber in Wilmer and  was highly regarded,   Mrs. Ward began her teaching career at Wilmer  School in the period of
time when lady teachers could not be married in Alabama.  After marrying, she taught in Mississippi until it was acceptable for women teachers to be married in Alabama. Returning to Alabama Mrs. Ward taught   science, math and art at Semmes High, MGM  and Faith Academy. One of her  favorite sayings was," never say you can't,  but I will try." 
 The Ward's home was always open for students to visit.   Mr. and Mrs. Ward befriended  a number of students taking on the role of mom and dad offering  a safe home.
 In 2011 the Mary Ellen Ward Art Guild began in Semmes. To choose a name the question was asked to those in attendance; was  there someone in Semmes who influenced your love of art that we could honor? Mrs. Ward  was remembered and unanimously chosen.
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