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Descendants of William SHELTON
Seventeenth Generation
114. George Sylvester LEE (Nancy SHELTON , Abednigo , Jeremiah , Ralph , Ralph , Peter Chilton , James , Thomas , James , Ralph , Ralph , John , John William , Ralph , John , William ) died in 1893 in He Was Murdered.
NOTES for George Sylvester LEE: Syl's Civil War Military Pension Records indicate that he was born in Butler Co., KY. The 1850 Greene Co., MO census shows the relationship of George S. Lee to his father and mother, and to his siblings.
Vol. 7 #1, page 20-21 of the "Benton County Pioneer" shows that G. S. Lee was a director in District 21, with his name found on the school financial records of Benton County, Arkansas.
There are many deed records in the Benton County courthouse for this man and his wife, but only a few are listed here. Deed records show that Martha Lee and her (step) son George S. Lee sold the family house at Lee Town to S. H. Mayfield dated Sept. 22, 1858, Book G, page 397. The deed recorded May 8, 1860 shows indenture made between these parties in the consideration of the sum of $1400 in hand paid. The tract was to wit: the west half of the SW quarter in Section 34 in Twp 21N of range 29W, also the NE quarter of the NE quarter of the NW quarter in Section 3 Twp 20 range 39 which includes 1/3 of the spring. This was part of Martha R. Lee's dower.
Sam and Sarah Orbisan of Newton Co., MO., sold G. S. Lee, for $600, the west half of the SW quarter of Section #34 Twp #21 and the east half of the NE quarter of the NW quarter, and the NW quarter of the NE quarter of Section 3 Twp 20 all in Range 29 containing 140 acres. This being found in the reverse deeds dated Oct, 31, 1854 or 1859 Book E, page 83.
In Book D, page 517, G. S. Lee, received 40 acres from John W. Lee for $100 "in hand paid" for NW quarter of SE quarter of Section #30 in Twp #21 of Range #27, testified by J. T. Ford.
George Sylvester (Syl) LEE was a Confederate Veteran - Co. F, Div. I, 22nd or 35th ARK Infantry, Fagan's Division, with the records indicating he was from Butler Co., KY, serving from Aug. 15, 1862 to 1865, as a Sgt. He was in the hospital at Ft. Smith, AR on Dec. 27, 1862, and again was sick in the Ft. Smith hospital and absent until Aug. 31, 1863.
The census records indicate his occupation was as a merchant. In 1867, his name is on a marriage record as Justice of the Peace. On page 301 of "Obituaries of Benton County, AR 1923-1925" Vol. 7, in 1875 Syl was a deputy sheriff under John W. Simmons. In house 817/811 is Sylvester Lee 25, a Merchant, $600-$2000 born KY and Martha 23 b. TN, Nancy 4 AR, Burr 1 AR and Syl's step-mother Martha Lee 58 b. KY and his brother John 18 a clerk and sister Antha Lee 16. The next house, 818/812, is Elizabeth Morgan, 56 a widow, $1200-$100 born KY and William 28 KY, Nancy 23 KY, Lucinda 18 AR, Malinda 16 AR and Ervin 14 AR. The Mayfield family lives on the other side of his home.
There is an entry for John W. Lee's line in World Family Tree: Volume 27, Tree # : 0276 which gives the following regarding Syl Lee: He was a farmer, carpenter,and community activest. Not long before his death he had run for the State legislature. While making a good showing, he still lost the race. The paper said "He stood high as a citizen of the county."
Criminal Court records in Bentonville, AR indicate that Syl Lee was not immune to trouble. While he was called a respectable citizen, he was was arrested for assault in 1886. He was charged, convicted, and, as a note from the jury foreman, J. M. Vandover indicates "We the jury find the defendent gilty (sic) as charged in the indictment and asses the fine at one dollar". The charge was unlawfully using violent, abusive and insulting language toward Bryant Royster. Syl wrote a letter to the court through his attorney, J. M. Peel, who explained that the accuser, Bryant Royster drew a knife on Syl and in order to defend himself, Syl punched out the accuser. In a motion for a continuance filed April 1887, it was further explained that a witness would testify in Syl's behalf regarding the incident where Mr. Royster, in an angry manner, within striking distance of Syl, drew a knife from his pocket, opened the same, and turned towards Syl with the opened knife drawn and that Syl imediately struck Royster.
His obituary from the Benton County Library in the Fayetteville Sentinel dated 1893: Sylvester Lee, known among his friends as Syl Lee, a citizen of Benton County, who was attending court here as a witness in the Wishon forgery case, was shot to death Saturday night, by Sam Dilsworth, a night watchman. The crime was committed at the wagon yard opposite Kelly and Davenport's livery stable, East Mountain Street. It seems Lee had been "joking" Dilsworth when the latter offered Lee ten dollars to knock off his star. Lee did so when Dilsworth commenced firing on him, killing Lee instantly. Lee was about 65 years old and a peaceable citizen, given to joking. Our circuit court is now in session and the grand jury will no doubt make a special investigation. We forbear further comment. The body of Mr. Lee was taken to the depot by his friends here Sunday evening and shipped to Garfield where it was taken in charge by his family for interment. Mr. Wade Sikes of Rogers, Lee's brother-in-law, and several other friends came down on the morning train and accompanied the body to Garfield.
In the Benton County Democrat: "Resolutions of respect from Masonic Lodge" gives his name as G. S. Lee. Other records are found in "Obits. of Benton Co. AR 1884-1898" compiled by B. P. Easley, page 227 (Probate Court), Thomas F. Marshall was admx. of G. S. Lee, first annual settlement (Benton County Democrat 8/29/1895).
From the Weekly Newspaper, 10 May 1894 (found on microfilm in Fayetteville, AR library): "No case tried at the present term of court has attracted so much attention as that of Sam Dilsworth charged with murdering Sylvester Lea. The case was called Monday morning and a day and a half was consumed in getting a jury. Deputy Sheriffs had to be sent to distant parts of the county and summon men from their farms and at least 100 were examined before 12 were secured who had not formed an opinion and who were satisfactory to the state and the defendant. The testimony did not occupy much over half a day and the greater part of yesterday was consumed in the argument of the counsel, the defendant being represented by J. V. and J. W. Walker and the state by Proscecuting Att'y Tillman. The case was given to the jury about 4pm yesterday but a verdict was not returned until court opened this morning, which was that Dilsworth was guilty of murder in the second degree and his punishment fixed at 21 years in the penitentiary. Two members of the jury at first contended for murder in the first degree and this caused the delay in returning the verdict. The evidence showed that Syl Lea and several other witnesses from Benton county who were in attendance upon the last term of our circuit court, were camped in a wagon yard and slept in a small house just across the street from Kell's livery stable. About 11 o'clock on the night of Oct. 28th when some of the party had gone to bed and the others were preparing to retire, Sam Dilsworth, who was city nightwatch, went into the house and joked a few minutes with old man Lea who was about 70 years of age. Finally something was said about the star Dilsworth was wearing and Lea remarked that he had seen the time he could take the star off. Dilsworth told him he would give him five dollars to take it off and went out of the house. He went across the street into a negro barber shop where he remained only a minute and then started back. In crossing the street he passed Quincy Black whom he told to stand where he was a minute. Black saw a pistol in Dilsworth's right hand and saw him put it on the inside of his coat on the left side. He also saw money in his left hand. Dilsworth entered the house and addressing Lea whose back was toward him said: 'you said you could take this star off for $5.00 but here is $10.00 you can have if you will take it off--it is not a $5.00 star.' Lea asked him what he meant--if he was trying to tantalize him. Dilsworth replied that he meant just what he said and walked close up to Lea throwing himself back and pushing the star out. Lea reached his hand out and Dilsworth asked him if he had hold of the star. He said yes and Dilsworth said, 'I will send you to hell in a minute.' With that he pulled his pistol and commenced firing. One shot took effect in the arm and two others in the breast. Death was instantaneous. Five shots were fired. Dilsworth then went to the jail and called Mr. Duggan telling him that he guessed he had killed a man and wated to surrender. It has been regarded as one of the most wanton, reckless and uncalled for killings that ever took place in this county and yet Dilsworth has never looked on the matter seriously, always seeming to regard his action as perfectly justifiable. He was almost a total stranger to Lea and his strange action has always been an enigma. He appeared to have a mania for notoriety and wanted to be regarded as a dangerous man. Very few, if any will think his punishment too great."
The actual criminal court records are in the Washington Co. Courthouse in Fayetteville, AR in the Circuit Court Book, page 555, 557 and 558. On Thursday morning, May 10, 1894, the State heard Samuel Dilsworth's "not guilty" plea. The jury being sworn, considered the evidence and delivered the following verdict to-wit "we the jury find the defendant Samuel Dilsworth guilty of murder in the second degree and fix his punishment at 21 years in the State prison at Little Rock, AR", per juror foreman James F. Wilson. On Saturday morning, at the courthouse, the defendant was ask if he had anything to say about why the judgement and the sentence of the court should not be pronounced against him, and Dilsworth had nothing to say. The related law was read to him and he was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Washington County, AR, and delivered to the Keeper of the AR State Penitentionary at Little Rock to be confined at hard labor for 21 years.
Probate record can be found for G. S. Lee in Probate Book E, p. 436 dated 1894. Administrator was T. F. Marshall who petitioned the court for an order authorizing him to sell a town lot in the State of Missouri, property belonging to said estate which petition was granted and authorization was granted to employ Peel and Rice as his attorneys.
There is an listing in Benton Co., AR Obituaries Vol. 2 1899-1904 by Easley which mentions the death of Ed G. Lee, former resident of the county and SON of G. S. LEE, deceased, who died of smallpox at Chijuajua, Mexico June 29, 1899. It said Mr. Lee had been a resident of Boise City, Idaho for a number of years where he was engaged in the newspaper business. He left that place about a month before his death, to prospect for minerals. He attended school at the Pea Ridge academy, graduating in 1884, since which time he has been engaged in business in various cities of the west (from Benton Co., Democrat 8/3/99). This Ed G. Lee is not listed as a child of G. S. and Martha Lee on the census.
They had the following children:
+ 186 M i Jesse Vincent LEE
115. Jesse Vinson LEE (Nancy SHELTON , Abednigo , Jeremiah , Ralph , Ralph , Peter Chilton , James , Thomas , James , Ralph , Ralph , John , John William , Ralph , John , William ) was born on 7 Jun 1832 in Ky. He died on 2 Nov 1888 in Benton Co., Ark.
Jesse married Margaret E. WOODS daughter of Dysart WOODS and Sarah HOLMES. Margaret was born on 24 Jan 1832 in Carroll Co., Tn.
They had the following children:
187 M i Living 188 M ii Living 189 F iii Living
125. Millard M GOUGH (Jeremiah W. GOUGH , Rhoda SHELTON , Jeremiah , Ralph , Ralph , Peter Chilton , James , Thomas , James , Ralph , Ralph , John , John William , Ralph , John , William ) was born in 1857 in Kentucky.
Gough, Millard M
Age: 63
Year:
1920
Birthplace: Kentucky
Roll:
T625_1833
Race: White
Page:
4B
State: Texas
ED:
121
County: Milam
Image:
0168
Township: Precinct 3
Millard married Tola. Tola was born in 1862 in Kentucky.
They had the following children:
190 M i Herbert GOUGH was born in 1880 in Kentucky.
172. Michael SHELTON (Azariah ? , Crispin Eli , Ralph , Ralph , Ralph , Peter Chilton , James , Thomas , James , Ralph , Ralph , John , John William , Ralph , John , William ) was born about 1844 in Missouri.
1870 Census
Michael Shelton Fabius, Schuyler, MO abt 1844 Missouri White Male
Martha Shelton Fabius, Schuyler, MO abt 1845 Illinois White Female
Robert Shelton Fabius, Schuyler, MO abt 1869 Missouri White
Michael married Martha. Martha was born about 1845 in Illinois.
They had the following children:
191 M i Robert was born about 1869 in Missouri.
175. Lucinda Jane SHELTON (Azariah ? , Crispin Eli , Ralph , Ralph , Ralph , Peter Chilton , James , Thomas , James , Ralph , Ralph , John , John William , Ralph , John , William ) was born about 1850 in Iowa (probably Davis County).
Lucinda married Riley SMALLWOOD son of Hezekiah SMALLWOOD and Elizabeth "Betsy" BROUGHTON about 1875 in Schuyler, MO. Riley was born about 1838 in Kentucky.
Uncertain if this is the correct Riley Smallwood
1860 Census - Des Moine, Clark, MO
Riley Smallwood - living with brother Elisha1880 federal census - Johnson, Scotland, MO
Rily Smallwood, age 40, KY
Jane, age 30, MO
Rosa, 3, MO
Flora, 1, MO
Riley and Lucinda had the following children:
192 F i Rosa SMALLWOOD was born in 1877 in Missouri. 193 F ii Flora SMALLWOOD was born in 1879 in Missouri.
