Samuel James Radford

In 1834, Samuel Radford and Taressa Goggans Radford purchased a cotton plantation on the land on which the Alexander City Quarry now stands. They had been married in September 25, 1827 and were the parents of 11 children altogether, eight sons and three daughters. Three of their sons perished in the Civil War. Samuel was originally from Oglethorpe, Georgia and Taressa's family was from Newberry, South Carolina.

Samuel, Taressa and their daughter Cassandra, who never married and lived with her parents, were buried in the Radford Cemetery, located at the back of their plantation on land which now forms part of the Quarry. Samuel and Taressa always hoped that all their children and grandchildren would be buried with them, but in the end they and Cassandra were the only three family members to be buried there.

Taressa's father was James Goggans. Born in South Carolina, James and his wife and children moved South, first settling in the Mississippi Delta and later in Coosa County, Alabama where he became a wealthy and successful cotton farmer and also the first surveyor of Coosa County, a high ranking position at the time.

James was the son of Daniel Goggans, a Revolutionary War soldier who fought with famous Brigadier General Francis Marion, known as the ‘Swamp Fox', in the Continental Army of South Carolina. The movie The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson, was based upon this group of soldiers. One fascinating family story, adapted slightly but featured in the movie, tells of a night during the War when Daniel Goggans' plantation was attacked by British troops. Daniel and three of his sons were shot dead and his wife Nancy, 8 months pregnant, and their 5 other children escaped across the swamps to her parents' home in Newberry, South Carolina. There she gave birth prematurely to James, Taressa's father. Nancy sadly died in childbirth.

This cemetery is in the Ray Community, near Nixburg, in Coosa County, Alabama. The quarry, although known as the "Alex City Site", is actually in Coosa County. Should anyone ever want to find the cemetery, the driving directions to get there are: from Alex City, turn west onto Hwy 22 and go approx 6 miles and turn south (left) at the Ray Community church. Proceed about 1 mile and the quarry is located on the right. The 3 little graves are located next to the maintenance shed on the quarry property.