SHEEK BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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SHEEK, Elizabeth Frances DENNY - b: 1850 Henry Co, MO
source: Clinton Eye, Clinton, Henry Co, MO, April 1932
residence: Leesville Twp

Born in Henry County, Missouri, Eighty-Two Years Ago Interested in schools, 
Politics, and faithful to her God, her church and her friends - Her life reflects 
Christianity - Mother Sheek of the Shady Grove community in Leesville Township 
is one of Henry County's oldest Pioneers who is native born. Eighty two years ago 
Elizabeth Frances Denny was born to James and Caroline Denny. The ruins of her 
birthplace, an old log house built by her father nearly a century ago are still 
standing near the home of T. G. Ashley on the road to Tebo church. James Denny 
came to Missouri from Kentucky and Caroline Denny from South Carolina. Mrs. 
Sheek's mother died when she was seven years old. The father married a widow. 
Counting children, step children, half brothers and sisters there were 17 children 
in all. There were no lamps, newspapers, stoves or carpets. The Denny father 
tanned leather and made shoes for his brood, even the pegs. The mother made 
clothing, bread, everything necessary to life, as there were no stores for years. 
The hickory wood ashes were saved in a great wooden hopper. Water was poured 
over this and the drippings were saved as lye to combine with grease and meat 
scraps for soap. For light they had some candles and wicks in pans of lard and of 
course the fire place. Elizabeth Denny was next to the champion weaver in her 
community. She wove 4 3/4 yards of jeans in one day. Susan Wright, older and 
larger was first with five yards. She lived in the place known as the Bram 
McQueen farm. They walked to church at Tebo the night after the contest. One 
Saturday afternoon Elizabeth Denny walked with other young folks to the Singing 
School at Tebo, conducted by Grandfather Jesse Sheek. She had on a pretty new 
green and white dress. New dresses were rare. She knew she was looking her best 
but was always modest. Isaac Sheek, the fine young union soldier took his place 
by her side and said by way of requesting her company, "I'm walking with the new 
dress." Though ten years her senior, Elizabeth was more than pleased with his 
attention and they were married. The public school life of Elizabeth consisted of 
three weeks at a subscription school in a private house. With the aid of her 
McGuffy speller, she learned to spell and read at her churning or other household 
duties. Writing, she taught herself. When a stray news paper or a circus bill was 
found it was treasured and worn out by handling. Grandfather Jesse Sheek taught 
singing school at Tebo, and Elizabeth with all the young folks attended that. 
Twice has Mother Sheek read the Bible through. She reads the Bible, daily 
newspapers and good books daily. Mrs. Sheek was 11 years old when the civil war 
began. The Denny family was never hungry but always in fear during those dark 
years. Grandfather Denny and Sheek slept in the woods constantly, fearing to be 
caught at home by bushwhackers. One night a giant of a raider came to the Denny 
house and demanded supper and a bed. Mrs. Denny complied with his request, then 
walked the woods until she found her men to warn them not to come in until the 
bad man was gone. Once they feared robbery and the mother tied the little hoard 
of $170.00 in an old bonnet up in a small peach tree. In the night the cattle broke 
out and trod down the tree and scattered the money. However Elizabeth and her 
brothers and sisters hunted until they found the last dollar of it. A union man 
(Ace Higdon) living where Uncle Daniel Briggs now resides was killed on his way 
to Leesville and his stallion stolen. In retaliation, union troopers killed four of 
his confederate neighbors. Putnam, Evans and Hall were shot at sunrise at the 
place where Garland McQueen now lives. A fourth, Randall was shot on his horse 
which carried him home to die on his own doorstep. The Denny Children heard the 
shots and cries from their home. They helped prepare the bodies for burial. 
Mother Sheek shakes her head sadly for both sides and says without bitterness 
"They ought not to have done it." When six bushwhackers surrounded the Denny 
home, the old father gathered his children in a circle around him and prepared to 
die. One man knew Mr. Denny and said, "you shall not be harmed, we only want 
your gun." They took it and one more family was left defenseless. Isaac W. Sheek 
joined the Union army at the age of 20. After the war he returned to his father's 
farm and gained a reputation for honesty and industry. On August 8, 1870, he took 
the girl of his choice on horseback to his father's home where a Baptist preacher, 
Rev. Jas. Briggs united them in marriage. The girl, Elizabeth Denny wore a long, 
brown worsted skirt and a white waist. She was tall, slender and pretty. The 
first Isaac Sheek home was where Daniel Briggs now lives. Later they kept store 
in Leesville many years. They next moved to their home near Shady Grove where 
their home and little store building still stands. Here Isaac Sheek died after 
years of suffering. The children of Isaac and Elizabeth Sheek were Morris and 
Eddie, deceased in young manhood; two infants deceased; Allie and Robert of 
nearby farms; Mrs. Minnie Carlton of Sedalia and William and Laura of the home. 
There are 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Of the Denny family there 
survives a brother, Dan Denny, of Arkansas; one sister, Mrs. R. C. Moore of 
Garnett, Kans.; three half sisters, Laura Higdon, Tulsa, Okla.; Talitha Green, 
Montana, and Nora Hopkins, near Leesville. Their golden wedding was celebrated 
very quietly on account of Mr. Sheek's poor health. Isaac Sheek died October 5, 
1920. Erect and serene she goes about the daily work in her son William's 
pleasant home. None can outdo Mother Sheek and Laura in Hospitality. Even when 
in severe pain, Mrs. Sheek will think of the comfort of those helping her and will 
tell a relative not to leave until she is able to talk with him For her daughter, 
Laura, she has just pieced an intricate Cottage Tulip quilt. Loyal in politics, 
interested in good schools, faithful to God and her church, a good neighbor, she 
can truly say she has no enemy. When asked for advice for the present generation 
she said, "Live a good Christian life, do all the good you can, love everybody and 
be ready to meet Jesus face to face any day. It is the custom of the Sheek tribe 
to gather in the William Sheek home to be with Mother Sheek holidays, her 
birthday and Sundays after church. The members of this family reflect the 
character and training of their mother and forbearers. The first generation of 
Sheeks, Dennys and Briggs in Leesville Township were charter members of the 
Tebo Baptist church. - Written by Mrs. L. I. Mickey, friend and neighbor of Mother 
Sheek.

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