Lamar-Pike County GaArchives Obituaries.....Shehee, Sherod Beckham May 27, 1885
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Lynn Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 June 23, 2011, 11:48 pm

Barnesville Gazette, Thursday, June 4, 1885

Sherod B. Shehee Dead.
Stewartville, June 1st.

Death has again invaded our community and the soul of Sherod Beckham Shehee 
took its flight to the God who made it.

Sherod B. Shehee was born in Washington county Georgia the 9th of August 1802. 
At the age of ten he lost his father which was a great blow to his mother as 
young Sherod was inclined to be a little wild and his mother expected to have 
some trouble in managing him. There were several children but Sherod being the 
youngest was petted considerably and consequently somewhat spoiled. His mother 
though being a woman of strong and determined will succeeded better than she 
at first anticipated. Sherod dearly loved his mother or “mamma” as he called 
her and this went far towards keeping under subjection his wild impulses. 
About this time the name of Carlisle P. Behman as a school teacher was a 
terror to all the wild boys of the state. Sherod’s mother thought this the 
proper place for him and so informed him. He made no objection so he was 
packed up and started off but never reached his destination. The more he 
thought of it and the closer he got the bigger the bugaboo, till he turned in 
despair and went back home and told his mother she might kill him but she 
couldn’t make him go to Behman. She put him between the plow handles and there 
he remained greatly against his will till his twentieth year when he married. 
So you see his education was quite limited as he refused to take advantage of 
his opportunities. He however had a very good chance to learn mathematics as 
his oldest brother was a civil engineer for a number of years and he took 
young Sherod with him as chain bearer. He has been all through Okefenokee 
Swamp and Southern Georgia while there was not much there except Indians, 
alligators and snakes. The cold chills have shaken me many times while 
listening to him tell of those adventures in those wilds.

I must be pointed and short and only relate a few facts connected with his 
life as Dr. Blackburn will give in a few days, a full sketch of his life which 
will be amusing as well as instructing and interesting.

Mr. Shehee was married in 1822 in his twentieth year to Miss Henrietta 
Collins, one of the first families in Washington Co. She was only seventeen at 
the time of her marriage. She was a beautiful girl, highly educated and 
greatly beloved by all who knew her. She was said to be a Christian from her 
cradle. She was certainly greatly devoted to her husband, for she left a home 
of ease and affluence to move with him to Pike county and live in a log hut 
with a dirt floor and that too in a perfect wilderness. They settled near 
Bluff Springs and used water from it. There was not a stick amiss and the 
country was full of bears, deer and turkeys. This suited them as they were 
great lovers of sport, and had I space I could relate some amusing incidents 
as told me that occurred at that time. Remember that was in 1822 and they were 
among the very first settlers.

They brought their corn from Jones county and when they wanted meal they had 
to go back to Jones to mill.

In 1823, Billy Williams came over and it was not a great while before he built 
a little mill in the place that the Slade mill now stands. But it would take 
too much space to trace the history from that time till now, so I will not 
attempt it.

In 1823, the Judge of Superior Court rode back from Savannah to Zebulon to 
hold court. Not a solitary soul knew who he was but he made himself known and 
told his business. He organized the court and commenced business, but the Jury 
thought he was holding too long and concluded they would adjourn, so they took 
a goat upstairs turned him loose and told the Judge to consider it adjourned. 
I think the Judge’s name was Charlton.

Mr. Shehee lived at Bluff Springs six or seven years and then moved on 
Tobler’s creek near the Upson line. He lived there about six years and then 
moved to Barnesville where he lived twenty eight years. There he raised his 
large family and educated them. There were thirteen children, five boys and 
eight girls. Four of this number have gone to rest. Nine are still living, 
four boys and five girls. They are scattered from Florida to Texas and are all 
good, honest, upright citizens. This fact is largely attributable to their 
mother as she was a model Christian woman.

While Mr. Shehee loved sport and was inclined to be lively. He was above a 
mean action, upright and honest in all his dealings and a kind and 
affectionate neighbor. No one ever appealed to him for help that went away 
empty-handed. He was in good circumstances, always had plenty and to spare. He 
hated and spurned a penurious man and often said none of his blood ever flowed 
in the veins of a five cent man.

In 1863 he moved to Stewartville where he spent the remainder of his days. He 
lived to see all his children married and settled in life. There is a large 
crowd of grand and great grandchildren now.

The loss of his negro property was a great blow to his mind. Being raised as 
he was it was a long time before he could accustom himself to a different 
regime of things. After the death of his wife five years ago he lost all 
energy and self respect, but he managed to keep his feet till about two years 
ago when he gave up completely and took [to] his bed never to rise any more. 
For two years he was a great burden to Mr. M.V. Shehee and wife and children. 
The Christian graces are the only things that bore them up in their trials 
with him. Night and day for two years they devoted all their talents and time 
to him, an invalid. Where could you find another such family? If they can’t 
get recompensed here I hope they may be in eternity. There is one thing they 
can go down to their graves with clear consciences. “Well done thou good and 
faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee 
ruler over many, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”

He died calmly, peaceably and without a struggle on the 27th May 1885 at 5 
o’clock p.m.

He stated to his daughter (Mrs. Joe Smith) the day before his death, that he 
was ready, willing and anxious to go meet his “Henny” in heaven.

He joined the M.E.C. South at Ebenezer last year and was baptized by Rev. S. 
Leak.

The day after his death the burial services were conducted by Rev. S. Leak in 
the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends. He was buried at 
the family burial ground at Ebenezer church. Thus passed away one of the old 
landmarks of this county. He was well and favorably known throughout the 
county.

May he rest in peace.

Would write more but I have already trespassed enough.

Yours truly,
Stewardville
June 1st, 1885.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/lamar/obits/s/shehee2056nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/

File size: 7.3 Kb