Winston-Morgan County AlArchives Obituaries.....Sheats, Charles Christopher May 27, 1904
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kenneth Sheats csheats@upperspace.net December 7, 2005, 8:42 pm

unknown
"The Free State Tory Leader"

Charles Christopher "Chris" Sheats was born in what is now Winston County on 
Wednesday, April 10, 1839 and died Friday, May 27, 1904. This brave young man 
and teacher of Winston County bravely led the opposition to the secession of 
Alabama from the Union in the Secession Convention of Monday, January 7, 1861. 
On Monday, December 24, 1860, the citizens of Winston County elected him to 
represent the interests of preserving the Union of the United States of America 
at Alabama's Secession Convention in Montgomery. Chris was an outspoken 
opponent of the secessionists, using his skills of fiery oratory and 
persuasion, he defended the Union and Constitution of the United States. His 
courage won him the trust and respect of Winston Countians, who only sought 
peace over warfare and justice over enslavement. The people of North Alabama on 
the whole sought not to be enslaved by the political barons of South Alabama, 
who were attempting to force their secessionist efforts down upon the backs of 
citizens who had no real stake in fighting the Union. Chris Sheats was indeed a 
man who made history live in the hills of North Alabama. His stand against 
secession and the North Alabama Neutrality Meeting at Looney's Tavern on 
Thursday, July the 4th, 1861, forever changed Winston County's destiny. 
As "Uncle Dick" Payne remarked that day, "Oh, oh, Winston secedes, the free 
state of Winston" shall forever live on as a faithful friend to the Union and 
to the independent spirit of its people and the United States of America. 
[Article written by: Scotty K. Burleson (taken from the "Tories of the Hills" 
written by Wesley S. Thompson, 1960, Carl Elliott Books.) And, the Northwest 
Alabamian Newspaper.]



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