Join us as Cecil and I delve into the history of Pineville, Sumter County, Georgia—a ghost town that once thrived but now exists only as remnants of the Pineville Cemetery. This burial ground, heavily damaged and largely forgotten, is the final resting place of some of the area’s early settlers, including members of the Horne, Wallace, and Hornady families.
Pineville began in 1833 as Horton's Store and flourished after becoming Pineville, with stores, schools, and even a carriage and blacksmith shop. However, competition from the nearby town of Danville, combined with the decline of its school, led to Pineville's abandonment. Today, all that remains is this cemetery, where names like Capt. Littleton E. Spivey, Susan E. C. Horne, and John B. Wallace remind us of its storied past.
We also discuss Danville, once a bustling Flint River port town founded by Martin Miller in 1835. My 4th great-grandfather, Shadrick Joiner, was an early settler there, and I was searching for cemeteries tied to Danville when I discovered Pineville Cemetery. Danville eventually faded as the railroad shifted commerce to Americus, leaving behind no traces of its existence.
Discover the rich, layered history of these forgotten towns and their people in this journey into the past.
Don’t forget to check out my other historical explorations at youtube.com/@TheOldByrdFarm.