Legitimacy Equals Validity

LEGITIMACY

By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP
Certified Protection Professional
Freelance Journalist & Book Author
October 1, 2026
Copyright 2026, All Rights Reserved

EQUALS VALIDITY

Recently, two historical events were discovered, in Shelby County, Alabama, the first was discovered by my cousin; Courtney Dennis Bowling, via a methodical investigation into ancestral history and the other was haphazardly discovered by me. The historical events I’m referencing, refers to two separate locations, in Shelby County, Alabama. More specifically, Allen Cemetery and Fungo Hollow. 

Each specific reference pays tribute to recorded historical facts of the Cahaba Valley area. as well as a specific reference and acknowledgement to its settlers and inhabitants, their way of life, as well as the acknowledgment and recognition of their patriotic (Military) contributions to the United States of America and the wars they served in.

The first being the placement of a historical marker for the obscure Allen Cemetery. Allen Cemetery is located along Indian Springs road, in Shelby County, Alabama. Until recently, Allen Cemetery was a little known final resting place for a myriad Cahaba Valley settlers and its inhabitants, including many of my immediate family members and relatives. The cemetery is a quaint; well kept, property-nestled among the oaks and towering pines at the base of Oak Mountain. A gentle breeze can be felt year round providing a nostalgic but peaceful characteristic to its inhabitants final resting place, as well as the visitors to the location. 

Oak Mountain and Double Oak Mountain are nearby and are part of the rugged Appalachian Mountains range. Recently, a Historical Marker appeared at the front entrance to Allen Cemetery. I discovered the marker while on a visit to the cemetery to pay my respects to my relatives buried there. More specifically, the marker was placed in 2026 by the Oak Mountain Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the America Revolution. The marker reads: 

“HISTORIC ALLEN CEMETERY”. This cemetery was established in 1835 by Issac M Johnson, son of Revolutionary War Patriot Moses Johnson, upon the death of his wife and two sons, who are said to have died of yellow fever. 
Isaac (1780-1867) served in the war of 1812. He purchased land and settled his family in the Cahaba Valley region of Shelby County, Alabama. He and his first wife Frances (Massey) Johnson had twelve children - eight sons and four daughters. Their daughter; Virginia Caroline, married John Allen who inherited the property and cemetery after Isaac’s death. Originally known as the Johnson Cemetery, it later came to be known as the Allen Cemetery. It is the resting place of numerous Johnson descendants, as well as descendants of other Cahaba Valley settlers. 

The cemetery holds the graves of veterans from multiple wars throughout American history, including, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.”

The second historical event is the placement of a historical marker in Fungo Hollow, Alabama which is also located in Shelby County, Alabama; along Hwy 33, and is part of the Cahaba Valley region. Fungo Hollow is a very special place to me because it’s where I spent my early childhood growing up. My grandmother; Jeanette Dennis Johnson, and my grandfather Carl Edward “Papa” Jonson’s homestead was located opposite of the entrance to the Oak Mountain State Park.

​My uncle; General Pettis Dennis, a U.S. Army Veteran and Aunt Luvene along with their children were our neighbor on one side and my uncle Horace Dennis; a World War II Veteran, and Aunt Mary and their children were our neighbor on the on the other side. 

Back in the 1950’s and 1960’s Fungo Hollow was principally a farming community. It was also a very poor community. When I was born, the United States was just five years out of World War II and the economy was in very poor condition, employment opportunities were limited and wages were low. Alabama was also a very poor state, which compounded the problems for families living in the state.

Outside of the agriculture business, other employment opportunities included working in the coal mines, the steel mill in Birmingham, the cotton gin, or driving an 18 wheel semi-truck. However, during this time period, there was one other opportunity many capitalized on to make money in Fungo Hollow in-order to feed the family and pay the bills, i.e., operating a whiskey still and making bootlegged whiskey (moon shine). 

In fact, I had relatives who engaged in the bootlegging (moonshine) business. It was just a way of life, in Fungo Hollow, during this era, to make extra money to survive. Perhaps one of the most fascinating and hilarious items of this article is the placement of a 2026 plaque in Fungo Hollow acknowledging and paying tribute to this illicit; but common, trade. The plaque reads:

Home Town Heritage plaque by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation in 2026 dedicated to: FUNGO HOLLOW, AS EARLY AS 1923 THIS AREA WAS KNOWN FOR ITS MOONSHINE PRODUCTION, WHISKEY STILLS, AND BOOTLEGGING OPERATIONS DURING THE PROHIBITION ERA. 

During my recent visit to Alabama, I stood at the location of the old homestead; long since removed by a buyer, closed my eyes and made a mental trip down memory lane.

I remembered: Sunny summer days, with the wind creating a magical enchanted melody as it flowed among the pines on Oak Mountain, swimming in Uncle Pet’s pond and the cold lake on Oak Mountain, catching fire flies at night with a mason jar with my cousins, climbing young pines on Oak Mountain and riding them down to the carpeted pine needle floor, building mountain sliding sleds with my cousins; slicking the bottoms with bees wax, for speed, and sliding down Oak Mountain on a slick carpet of pine needles like a Nascar racer.

I also remembered: The changing seasons; Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. There was always a frost on the ground by Halloween and in some years it snowed, hunting trips in the winter; with my father, grandmother, uncles and cousins, fishing in the spring, and hard work in the summer. Maintaining a garden, feeding chickens and livestock, and hunting game animals for sustenance is hard work and requires the participation of every household family member. 

Reward: Even though I grew up poor, in a two room house, with no running water, no indoor toilet facilities, a wood burning stove to cook with, a pot bellied stove to heat the house with in winter, water being drawn from an outside well and most of the lighting at night being supplied by kerosene lamps; this hard lifestyle made me the man that I am today. This early environment taught me to survive, the hard work put me on the path to success in life and I’ll never forget my roots or where I came from. 

I’ll always refer to Alabama as my home and one day it’ll be my final resting place. Until then, I have a lifetime of memories to remember and share. At night I can close my eyes and remember chasing Raccoon's on Oak Mountain with my blue tick hound “Handy Andy’s” baritone howl reverberating off the mountains and valleys surrounding Fungo Hollow signifying the hunt is on. 

“Until Next Time, Keep Em Between The Bridle!