County of cemetery: St. Charles County
Location of cemetery: Off State Hwy W, just N of I-70, Foristell
Founded: 1871
Number of graves: 150
The school Building is completely gone, but the foundation for the church remains. There was never a basement, so the ground inside the foundation is as it was. This is a historic site for African-American history and the Civil War, and the Underground Railroad.
There are 105 tombstones found and located and photo'd. There are another 27 graves found using ground-penetrating-radar, and are marker with small red flags. Other are assumed and age going to be looked for again with radar.
"The cemetery is final resting place for Smith Ball (1833-1912), Benjamin Oglesby (1825-1901), and Martin Boyd (1826-1912) who each took steps toward freedom and joined the United States Colored Troops, despite the risks involved for themselves and their families.
"Established in 1871, Smith Chapel Cemetery is an African American burying ground established by nine formerly enslaved individuals in St. Charles County Missouri. At least three men were freedom seekers, and members of the Smith Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church associated with this graveyard. The cemetery is final resting place for Smith Ball (1833-1912), Benjamin Oglesby (1825-1901), and Martin Boyd (1826-1912) who each took steps toward freedom and joined the United States Colored Troops, despite the risks involved for themselves and their families. Living in a border state, these families were caught between the conflict of both Union Troops and Confederate guerilla soldiers. Under Martial law, many Missourians strongly opposed the formation of Colored Troops, only allowing those enslaved to serve as substitutes in their place and to fill County quotas. These freedom seekers, like many others, escaped slavery by the underground railroad, enlisting without permission. Slave Patrols, who kept constant watch of the roads for those attempting freedom, would either return those seeking their freedom to their former enslaver or enforce methods of punishment, which could include death. After the war, these men returned to their families to join others in creating this community." ~ Smith Chapel Cemetery
"In January 2025, the historic Smith Chapel Cemetery was awarded a grant from the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Project Director is Dorris Keeven-Franke, working with Barbara Love from the Wesley-Smith Church in Wright City, Grace Moser from the St. Charles Community College, and Jerry Prouhet, a professional cemetery restorer. The grant of $16,000 is for the work of Prouhet to restore and clean headstones in the cemetery and signs to be placed at the cemetery. This Grant includes the research by the students at St. Charles Community College’s Service-Learning American History Class." ~ National Underground Railroad