My Genealogy Hound

HARRY H. SHEDD, a prominent general agriculturist and successful stock-raiser of Berrien County, Mich., is pleasantly located upon a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-one acres, situated about three miles southeast of the thriving village of Three Oaks. Arriving in his present locality a bright, ambitious boy of fourteen, he is identified with the early history of the State, and, sharing in the privations and experiences of the pioneer days, has for about fifty-seven years been an important factor in the upbuilding and progressive interests of Berrien County. Our subject is a native of New York State and was born in Onondaga County January 1, 1822. His father, Sylvester Shedd, a native of Massachusetts, emigrated from the old Bay State to New York, where with his wife, Sally (Smith ) Shedd, he made his home for some time. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Shedd, was of direct English descent and a man of position in New England. The mother of our subject, like her husband, was born in Massachusetts and was a most excellent woman, beloved by all who knew her. After a time the father removed with his family to Ohio, and later came, in 1836, to Berrien County, Mich.

Entering forty acres of land Sylvester Shedd with energy began the cultivation of the soil, and within a brief period purchased sixty additional acres, thus owning in the old homestead one hundred acres, which when cleared became a highly productive tract of land. After a thirty-years residence the father died August 13, 1866. A farmer by occupation, he served with fidelity and courage in the War of 1812, and was a man of upright character, earnest and straightforward in his dealings. The mother passed away in Berrien County November 14, 1875. Both parents were members of the Congregational Church and active in the extension of religious influence. The home of the father and mother was blessed with the presence of a family of eight children, four of whom are yet surviving. Harry H. was the fifth in order of birth and spent his early days of boyhood in Onondaga County, N. Y., there receiving a limited education. During the two years of his residence in Ohio he attended school ten weeks, and after he came to Berrien County enjoyed but fourteen days of instruction. Toiling industriously until he was nineteen years old, he remained with his parents and then bought his time.

At first our subject worked out by the month on a farm during the summer and in winter received employment in a sawmill and hauled lumber. At the end of a twelvemonth Harry H. and a brother bought a threshing-machine and ran that during the threshing season, the remainder of the time devoting themselves to the pursuit of agriculture. Until he cleared and partially improved his homestead Mr. Shedd continued to operate with the thresher, after which his land required his constant attention.

In 1850 Harry H. Shedd and Miss Mariett Thompson were united in marriage. Mrs. Shedd, like her husband, was a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Charles T. and Millison (Betts) Thompson. The estimable wife of our subject passed to her rest in Berrien County, March 9, 1888. She was the mother of two children, Sylvester and Jennie, and gave to her family devoted care. Mr. Shedd has never been troubled with political aspirations, but he is intelligently interested in local and National issues and cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison. His fine farm, well adapted to grain and stock-raising, is one of the landmarks of the county and is a monument to the self-reliant efforts of a man who has unaided won his upward way to a position of usefulness and influence, and who to-day commands the high esteem of all his fellow-townsmen.