Field Recoveries

John Fraser Shecut (1838-1893) & Tommie E. Durden Grady Shecut (1844-1884)

Private John Fraser Shecut was born in South Carolina in 1838 to Linnaeus Americus and Alvina Browne Shecut. In 1862, John married Maria E. Erickson (1844-1870). A year later, their daughter Alvina Eloise Shecut (1863-1906) was born. In July 1870, Maria gave birth to a son, William H. Shecut. Shortly thereafter, tragedy struck the Shecut family with the passing of both Maria and William.
Born in 1844 in Georgia, Tommie E. Durdin Grady Shecut was the oldest child of Stephen J. and Susan E. Wyatt Durdin. In 1860, Tommie married Alexander S. Grady, who later passed in 1870. On January 22, 1873, John and Tommie married in Fulton, Georgia. On March 22, 1879. Tommie gave birth to a son, John Fraser Shecut, Jr. (1879-1920).
In the late 1970s, John, Sr., who fostered his passion for newspapers working in various papers around Georgia, relocated with his family to Sumterville, Florida. After Sumterville became the County Seat in 1881, John, Sr. began publishing the Sumterville Times (later The Sumter County Times) as the first editor and chief. This paper is still in publication today as the Sumter Sun Times. Tommie was involved with various social and charitable organizations until her death at age 43 in 1884. John passed away nine years later in 1893 at age 55, laid to rest beside Tommie on their property in Sumterville.