Discover Shellman.
A Rich History in Stories
Shellman was incorporated in 1883. It was originally named Ward, in honor of John P. Ward, whose vision helped bring the Southwest Georgia Railroad through the area, and placed a depot in the spot that would become the center of Shellman. Only two years later, the name of the town was changed to Shellman, in honor of Major R. F. Shellman, General Traffic Manager of the railroad and a promoter of the young town.
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Shellman Documents
The documents below can be printed, but is more useful when viewed on a computer which is connected to the internet. The online document can be searched. This allows the reader to quickly find to a topic of interest, such as a family name. To open a search bar, simultaneously press the control key and the “F” key.
Each online document also contains links which connect the reader to websites that provide additional depth on the topic. Where possible, the links connect to websites which offer their content without the need for a paid subscription. Many of the links, however, connect to the Ancestry.com website. Much of the Ancestry.com content is available only to paid subscribers. Readers who wish to access that information may either subscribe to Ancestry.com, or ask the assistance of an institution, such as a library, that holds a subscription.
Several of the links connect to interactive maps. Simply move your cursor around the map for details to appear. For example, the map of the Oliver Family holdings highlights the land lots owned by the family; moving your cursor over one of the highlighted lots reveals the history of the lot.
Land Ownership Around Shellman | 1827-1883
Learn about the history of present-day Shellman and surrounding environs from the perspective of land ownership. The story begins with the Treaty of Washington in 1826, in which the Creek Nation ceded the land to Georgia, and carries through the incorporation of Ward, later renamed Shellman, in 1883.
Commercial History of Shellman | 1844-1950
This document discusses agriculture and agribusiness, commercial sector, and public sector activity in the vicinity of present-day Shellman. It begins with the grist mill built by James Oliver and Harmon Hargraves in 1844. The document will be expanded to cover more topics over time.
Historic Buildings of Shellman | 1830-1950
This section catalogues over 400 historic buildings of Shellman, that is, houses, commercial buildings, civic buildings, churches, etc. built by 1950. Of the total, over 200 are no longer standing. It also provides a brief biographical sketch of over 350 of the families who have owned the buildings.
Shellman Maps
A number of maps of Shellman and environs are available below. These maps are created using Tableau; viewers not familiar with Tableau maps can use these Helpful Hints for better navigation:
1. The maps are interactive; moving the cursor over a mark will open a window with information about the mark.
2. The top left corner of the map has zoom controls; use them to zoom in or out. Click the house to re-center the map.
3. For the map with a timeline, there is a slider that allows the viewer to select a year. Advancing the slider year-by-year gives a sense of how Shellman progressed from a wilderness to a small town with the trappings of civilization.
A map with a timeline which allows the viewer to select a year (from 1835-1950) to see buildings constructed up to that year.
