THE LIFE OF JAMES HOMER SHEFFIELD

11 Jun 1880 US Census - Town, Haralson, Georgia - SHEFFIELD: (all are GA GA GA) Henry 33 head (farmer), Mary Ann 34 wife, Thomas 12 son, Starland 11 son, Allice 9 daughter, Sarah 8 daughter, Henry 7 son, Louisa 6 daughter, Benjamin 4 son, James 4 son.

Homer is not listed in the home of his parents in the 1900 US Census. The Sheffields; H N, Mary, Stella, Claude and Katie are listed together then Zack is with his family immediately after them. No luck so far in locating Homer.

14 Feb 1901 - Seney, Polk, Georgia - Cedartown Standard (Cedartown, GA) (Image 8) Col 2: "FISH SCALES - Homer Sheffield, one of Seney's popular young men, was circulating here the 10th."

2 Jan 1902 - Cedartown Standard (Img 5) end Col 2 "Mr. J. H. Sheffield, of Nile, was in the city Thurs. He is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Sheffield at Seney, during the holidays. He reports the lumber industry at Nile in a highly prosperous condition."

NOTE: The Lyndon Lumber Co. was incorporated near Wingate on May 9, 1903 and was in operation until 1912. It was on the "M. J. & K. C." Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad between Hattiesburg and Mobile, Alabama."

13 May 1906 - Mississippi Department of Archives and History microvilm #8931 for Perry County, Mississippi Book 6, Page 204 - By virtue of a License from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County of Perry, I have this day celebrated the Rites of Matrimony between Mr. J. H. Sheffield and Miss Dosia Hinton. Given under my hand, this the 13 day of May A. D. 1906, J. L. Davis, J. P." (Theadosia was the daughter of Jane Eliza Strickland and William Riley Hinton. Louise Moebius Hinton, the daughter-in-law of Henry Grover Hinton, Dosia's brother, helped me with this part of the family tree during an Aug. 2011 visit to her home at 614 East Cincinnati Ave., San Antonio, TX.)

9 May 1907 - Cedartown Standard, Image 7, Col 3 - "Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Sheffield, of Wingate, Miss., are visiting their parents near Seney, Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Sheffield, and other Polk county relatives."

16 May 1907 - Cedartown Standard (Cedartown, GA) (Image 3) Col. 3 "Mr. and Mrs. Homer Sheffield, who have been visiting relatives in Polk, returned home Sunday night to Mississippi."

20 Feb 1908, "Jackson Daily News" (Jackson, Mississippi) Thursday; Page 4, near the bottom of Column 7: "THE LUMBER TRADE ... (paragraph 4) Preparations are being made by the Lyndon Lumber Company, at Wingate to open up with a full crew. This mill is owned by Mr. Buckwalter, of Wingate, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Rush another Hattiesburg.

24 Feb 1908 Wingate, Perry County, Mississippi - Henry Hinton Sheffield was born. (Place and date from Henry's WWII registration.)

Nov 1909 - Henry Newton Sheffield's obituary lists among his survivors, his son, "J. H. Sheffield of Wingate, Miss". The Lyndon Lumber Co. was incorporated near Wingate on May 9, 1903 and was in operation until 1912. It was on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad.

Apr 1910 US Census - Beat 1, Perry County, Mississippi - 4. (Homer Sheffield’s HINTON father-in-law, mother-in-law and brother-in-law) HINTON: William R 73 MS NC GA head (farmer) (M1 of 40 years) 5. Jane 60 MS MS MS wife (M1 of 4 years) (7 births, 6 living), 6. Ira 23 [21] single son - 7. SHERFIELD: Thomas A 37 head (public work, saw mill) (M1 of 2 years for both) 8. Dolia 31 wife (0 births). NOTE: I have repeatedly searched the 1910 US Census for Homer, Dosia and their son Henry. This is the closest I have come and can only assume some other person provided the information. If Henry was born Feb 1908, perhaps he was sent to be raised in another household if his parents were unable to care for him. Homer’s brother, Ben’s daughter is in the 1920 and the 1930 US Census living with a lumber business friend of Ben’s after his wife died.

30 Mar 1913 Perry County, MS - Mrs. Dosia Sheffield died of Tuberculosis at the age of 37 years, 5 months and 11 days.

3 Apr 1913 "The Perry County News" (New Augusta, Perry County, Mississippi) Vol. II, No. 11, Column 1: (Mississippi Dept of Archives and History, microfilm #34696) "Mrs. J. H. Sheffield died at her home at Wingate last Sunday. She had been sick for a long time and her death was not unexpected. She was buried in the old Augusta cemetery Monday afternoon."

3 Apr 1913 "The Perry County News" (New Augusta, Perry County, Mississippi) Vol. II, No. 11, also Column 1: "Card of Thanks. I wish through the News to thank the kind friends who helped during the long illness and death and burial of my wife. J. H. Sheffield"

10 Apr 1913 - Cedartown Standard - Cedartown, GA - Image 7, end Col 3 - "The wife of Mr. Homer Sheffield, formerly of Polk but now of Wingate, Miss., died last week. His mother, Mrs. H. N. Sheffield, returned from that place Saturday."

10 Jul 1913 - Cedartown Standard (Cedartown, GA) Image 7, Col 3 - "ARAGON NEWS - Mr. J. H. Sheffield, of Wingate, Miss., came Sunday on a visit to his sister, Mrs. O. H. (Ludie) Randall."

27 Nov 1915 Forrest County, Mississippi - Homer married Jessie Inez Sapp Easley

12 Sep 1918 World War I draft registration - Homer lived in Blodgett, Jones County, MS working for the J. M. Griffin Saw Mill. (J. M Griffin mill Bankrupt proceedings began in Tupelo, MS on 5 Nov 1934.)

2 Nov 1918 Hattiesburg, Greene County, Mississippi - birth of daughter Eloise Sheffield.

7 Jan 1920 US Census - Washington, Greene County, Mississippi - SHEFFIELD: 38. Homer J. 41 GA GA GA head lumberyard foreman, 39. Jessie I. 31 MS MS MS wife , 40. Velma E (should be Brown) 16 MS MS MS married (step) daughter, 41. Margarett (should be Easley) 14 MS MS MS (step) daughter, 42. Eloize 1 MS MS MS daughter, 43. Henry 12 MS MS MS son, 44. BROWN, Oscar 21 MS MS MS married boarder lumberyard. NOTE: Velma and Margaret were Jessie's daughters from her first marriage to James Easley. Henry was Homer and Theadosia's son.

22 Jul 1920 - The Cedartown Standard (Cedartown, GA) Page 10, Col. 2 - "HEMATITE NEWS. Mr. Homer Sheffield, of Hattiesburg, Miss., was the guest last week of his brother, Mr. C. R. Sheffield."

13 Apr 1922 Cedartown "HEMATITE NEWS... Mrs. Mary Sheffield, of Aragon, came Tuesday on a visit to her son, Mr. C. R. Sheffield. - and - Mr. C. R. Sheffield returned Monday from Laurel, Miss., where he was called by the illness of his brother, Mr. Homer Sheffield."

19 Oct 1922 Walley, Greene County, Mississippi - birth of daughter Juanita Sheffield.

18 Oct 1923 - "The Newton Record" (Newton, Mississippi) Thursday; Page 5, Near bottom of Column 4: "UNION, Oct. 13 - "J. H. Sheffield, connected with a large saw mill in Greene county, but formerly employed at the Buckwalter Lumber Co., here, was here this week greeting old friends."

20 Jan 1924 - His mother's obituary has her son "J. H. Sheffield of Wally, Miss." among the survivors.

23 Jun 1924 - "The Fort Myers Press" (Fort Myers, Florida) Monday Afternoon; Page 4, Column 5 - Jessie & children arrive - "Mrs. J. H. Sheffield and children arrive from Richter, Miss., to join Mr. Sheffield here."

31 Jul 1924, "The Fort Myers Press" (Fort Myers, Florida) Thursday; Page 7, Top of Column 3: "SAMVILLE - A new house is being built for Mr. Sheffield, the foreman, and others will be built as soon as the portable mill, they now have in operation can cut the lumber. A lot of heavy timbers have already been cut to be used in erecting the large mill, and several carloads of rails and machinery are now on the grounds."

4 Aug 1924, "The Fort Myers Press" (Fort Myers, Florida) Monday; Page 4, Top of Columns 3-5: "SAWMILL TOWN TO HOUSE BIG MODERN PLANT - manufactured dressed lumber. -- Ir will then be stored in a stock shed 20x400 feet preparatory to finding its way to market. -- Last week the firm employed 54 hands and the 10,00-feet-a-day sawmill which is now operating is busy sawing our framing material for the main saw mill and the other buildings to be erected. -- Alread(y) a boarding house 30x60 and two stories high has been erected for the whites and near it is a mess hall. 20x42 feet. Just at the side of the mess hall a 5-room dwelling is being erected for J. H. Sheffield, the manager pro tem. -- A one-story warehouse in which is stored fire brick and cement has been built and it is practically filled. Near the railroad by the water tank is a large supply house. -- Now on the ground are six car loads of new machinery and one car load of mill supplies ranging from bolts, washers and nuts to hammers, saws, etc. There are two car loads of fire brick, one car load of cement and five cars of 40-lb. rails. Seventy-pound rails will be used on the side tracks around the plant. A gasoline locomotive will do the switching. -- John Paul Kinsey, of Arcadia is driving a 6-inch well to supply the plant and had reached a depth of 450 feet this morning. A 50,000 gallon steel supply tank will be erected at the well. It is now on its way here. -- All buildings will have running water and a huge dynamo will be installed at the mill and all buildings furnished with electricity. -- Across Daughtrey creek the negro boarding house and mess hall has been built. It is 30x48 and two stories high. -- The plant will ultimately employ 175 hands from laborers to skilled mechanics and machinists. Most of the employees now are imported. -- With my wife and babies I made the trip to the mill in a Ford this morning and, outside of getting mucked down twice and hard labor and wading mud and water, it was a pleasant experience. Manager Sheffield kindly gave me all the assistance in his power in gathering the data given above."

7 Aug 1924, "The Fort Myers Press" (Fort Myers, Florida) Thursday; Page 1, Column 7: "SIXTH CARLOAD OF MACHINERY ARRIVES FOR SLATER MILL - Work of Placing Machinery Will Be Ruched to Completion Says Manager - The sixth carload of mill machinery has been received at the J. W. McWilliams Lumber Company's siding at Slater, near Samville, J. H. Sheffield, local manager, informed a Press reporter this morning. -- The huge water tank has also arrived and Kinsey Bros. Have the deep well down to a depth of 600 feet. -- Millwrights will be at work on the large mill in the next ten days, Mr. Sheffield stated, and then the work of placing the machinery and putting up the building will be rushed to completion."

7 Sep 1927, "The Atlanta Constitution" Death of his brother Claude Randall Sheffield in Atlanta - Surviving siblings - "five brothers, T. J. and H. Z. Sheffield, of Cedartown, Ga.; S. J. and B. S. Sheffield of Mobile, Ala., and J. H. Sheffield, of Fort Myers, Fla,. and three sisters, Mrs. J. R. Hunnicutt, of Hapeville; Mrs. O. H. Randall, of Rockmart, and Mrs. J. I. Harris, of Taylorville, Ga."

19 May 1929, Envelope addressed to Mr. Henry Sheffield 614 E. Cincinnati Ave., San Antonio, Texas. “Sunday P. M. – Dear Henry: Your letter of a few days ago. Rec’d (?) and was glad indeed to hear from you and to know you were getting along so nicely. We are all getting along fine. I am getting so large it looks like I will have to buy more clothes. -- Looks like the rainy season has started here. Several big rains near us but only two small showers here at the mill. Thursday a cloud came from the east just before sun-down and they had a big rain at Bayshore. During the rain lightning struck Hub Williams killing him and his horse instantly. -- They are hard-surfacing our road at last. Will finish in about two weeks. Are coming to the boarding house with it. -- It looks now as though the Dowlings will buy the mill. One of them was in Ft. Myers last night and reported that they would take charge the first of June. Don’t think I will care to stay here. Will write to Carroll Cowan as soon as the reported sale is confirmed and see if he can furnish me a place. He and Pat have two lumber yards in Mobile. The boys are trying to get quite a contingent to go to camp this summer. Fred Smith and Wallace Sandbury joined last week. Don’t think I can let Bob go if I happen to be here. -- Eloise and Juanita are doing pretty well in school. Don’t think they will have any trouble passing. School will not be out for three weeks. All grades are going the full nine months. -- Doris Reynolds stuck a splinter in her foot a few days ago and took tetanus. Like to have died but is improving now. -- The Wests near Bayshore are moving back to Ills. The Greens left a few days ago for Denver. It is reported that David is going to quit his job. Weldons folks are going to La. for the summer as soon as school is out. June got married a few days ago to a fellow in Ft. Myer named Woodward. She has been working in the Busy Bee Café most all the year. -- Will close as I can think of nothing else I think would interest you. Let me hear from you soon. -- With love and best wishes, Daddy.

17 Jun 1929 (a Monday) Homer wrote to his son, Henry on Dowling-Camp Lumber Company stationery. It was addressed to Mr. Henry Sheffield 614 E. Cincinnati Ave., San Antonio, Texas – “Dear Henry: Will answer your very welcome letter Read a few days ago. Was glad indeed to hear from you and hope you are still getting along Ok. As you will see by this stationary I am now working for a new concern. The new people took the mill over Thursday. Don’t know yet how I am going to like them but don’t much think I am going to be satisfied. Don’t know what the purchase price was but McW (McWilliams) didn’t get near what he put in the business. All the old crew are still working except Burdett, Cochran and Cook. -- Martin Smith has quit but he left before the deal was put through. -- Havn’t time to write much but will try to write again in a few days. -- Let me hear from you. Daddy P.S. Did you ever get anything more from the New York Life. (Henry had been injured at the sawmill.)

26 Aug 1929, "The Fort Myers Press" (Fort Myers, Florida) Monday Afternoon; Page 7, Column 2: " FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS - CHEAP - One 1500 gallon galvanized tank. J. H. Sheffield, Slater, Fla."

NOTE: The J. W. McWilliams Company built the Slater sawmill and company town on the north side of the Caloosahatchee River from Fort Myers. McWilliams logged out in 1929. The mill was sold to the Gulf Pine Lumber Company. William H. and James H. Dowling and Vaughn Camp operated the mill as the Dowling and Camp Inc.

Homer's son, Henry Hinton Sheffield, was listed in the 1929 San Antonio, Texas directory in the home of his maternal uncle, Henry Grover Hinton, and his family. Homer's wife, Jessie, and two young daughters, Eloise and Juanita, stayed in Fort Myers for a while after his death and then moved to Fordyce, Arkansas to be close to Jessie's daughters from a previous marriage.

Family newspaper clipping: “J. H. SHEFFIELD DIES – J. H. Sheffield, 52 years old, died at 9 o’clock last night in the Lee Memorial hospital. He was taken to the Lawrence A. Powell Funeral home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Mr. Sheffield lived at 2619 Superior avenue, East End. He is survived by a widow.”

The Fort Myers Press (Fort Myers, Florida) Wednesday Afternoon, 29 Oct 1930; Page 2, top of Column 8: “Deaths and Funerals – J. H. SHEFFIELD – J. H. Sheffield, 52, died at the Lee Memorial hospital late last night, following a lingering illness. He is survived by his wife. Funeral services were held from the chapel of the Lawrence A. Powell Funeral home at 4 o’clock this afternoon, the Rev. C. T. Tew of the First Baptist church officiating. Burial was in Fort Myers cemetery. He is survived by his widow.”