Alfred Franklin Shuman was a pioneer settler of Dry Prairie in the eastern part of Manatee County, Florida.

James Shuman, father of Alfred Franklin Shuman, was born January 12, 1809 in Way Station, Georgia. James was the son of George Henry and Faithy (Bird) Shuman. In Bryan County, Georgia, he married (1) in 1827 Cealy Anna Futch, daughter of Onceimeus and Judith (Tootle) Futch. Cealy was born June 12, 1807 in Bryan County, Georgia and died about 1837 in Bryan County. James married (2) in February 1838 Letitia Ann Harvey, born August 12, 1821 in Thomas County, Georgia.

Alfred Franklin Shuman was born November 23, 1851 in Bryan County, Georgia. James and Letitia Ann Shuman, and children, including Franklin, were recorded in the 1860 census of Bryan County. James, a farmer, had real estate of $2,000 and a personal estate of $3,040. The family later moved to Hillsborough County, Florida. There James Shuman died September 17, 1877, and.Letitia died November 24, 1897.

The will of James Shuman, dated September 6, 1877, was probated November 14, 1877 in Hillsborough County. Mentioned were his wife, Letitia Ann Shuman, and ten children: Georgina Proctor, Richard H. Shuman, Isabella Kicklighter, George M. Shuman, Alfred F. Shuman, Cornelia F. Hill, Ralphine Altman, Ellen V. Shuman, May A. Shuman, and Irene A. Shuman. Executors were: George M. Shuman, Ephraim Shuman, and A. Hill. Witnesses were: Burrell T. Altman, Solomon D. Johnson, and John G. Benton.

James and Letitia Shuman are buried in Bethlehem Church Cemetery, which is the oldest church cemetery in the southwest Polk/southeast Hillsborough area, located at the end of Bethlehem Road, about four miles west of State Road 37. Bethlehem Road is 4 3/4 miles off the railroad crossing at Bradley Junction on State Road 37 in Polk County. James’ burial was the second in the cemetery.

In Hillsborough County on December 28, 1871, Alfred F. Shuman married Sarah Gertrude Alderman, born November 4, 1854, daughter of Mitchell and Lenora (O’Neal) Alderman. Andrew Kicklighter officiated. They later moved to the New Zion community in Manatee (now Hardee) County. Franklin and Sarah A. Shuman and children, James F., Anna, Bertha, Cornelia, and an unnamed six-month-old male (Lee), were enumerated in precinct # 2, Fort Green in the 1880 census of Manatee County, dated June 15, 1880. Neighbors included the families of William, Jr. and Susan McLeod, Henry H. Norris, J. P. and Frances Pope, J. M. and Mary J. Hendry, J. D. and Susan Riggs. They later moved to the Dry Prairie community at Duette in Manatee County.

Joe Warner in The Singing River A History of the Peoples, Places and Events Along the Manatee River, related:
“The graded road that leads to Keentown turns off of the Highway # 62 south, between Dry Prairie Baptist Church on the left and Duette School on the right. The church was established in 1888 with Frank Shuman, Jake and Laura Chancey as charter members. The first year the church had 37 people to join the congregation…
“A. Franklin (Frank) Shuman purchased 39.33 acres on September 4, 1882, from the Internal Improvement Fund for $1 an acre. His home was the nearest to the source of Manatee River. The Shuman home was one of the more wooden-frame painted houses. The main living room with a stick and mud fireplace was their original log house. The remainder of the house was built around this structure. During that winter, everyone read by firelight instead of the usual lamps.
“Frank, like many in the vicinity, owned a large herd of cattle which he branded with IX. He also planted a seedling grove, which can be seen west of Highway 37.
“The Shumans were pious and attended church as often as possible.”

Sallie Shuman died May 28, 1929. Burial was in Bethlehem Cemetery. The Florida Advocate of Friday, May 31, 1929, page one, featured Sallie’s obituary:
‘Mrs. A. F. Shuman, Pioneer Passed Away in Manatee County:
“In the death of Mrs. A. F. Shuman, which occurred at her home at Dry Prairie in the eastern part of Manatee county Tuesday morning, May 28, the community lost one of its most respected citizens.
“Mrs. A. F. Shuman was born November 14, 1854, and spent all of her life in the same community. She and her husband spent all of their married life of fifty-seven years at one place.
“The body was in charge of Mortician Turner, of Bradenton. Pallbearers were: Messrs. Kim Turner, Bill Marcus, Garrett Alderman, Bill Burnett and Joel Johnson. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. N. Hendry, assisted by Dr. Jennings, of Bradenton, R. C. Alderman, of Terra Ceia, and S. L. Albritton, of Wauchula.
“Interment was at Bethlehem.
“The deceased was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and her high Christian character was attested by the many beautiful floral offerings and the large concourse of friends and relatives attending the funeral, there being people from five counties. The deceased is survived by her husband, A. F. Shuman, and the following children: Essie, Lee, Frank, at home; William, Mitchell, Mike, of Fort Green; Mrs. W. M. Burnett, Mrs. R. H. Lucas, of Bradenton; Mrs. Sidney Johnson, Mrs. J. E. Lancaster, of Chicora, and Mrs. J. N. Hendry, of Wauchula.”

Alfred Franklin Shuman died on December 9, 1934. The Florida Advocate of Friday, December 14, 1934, page four, printed his obituary:
“Mr. A. F. Shuman Passes Away In Tampa Hospital
“Mr. A. F. Shuman, 83, pioneer citizen and prominent farmer and stock man of Eastern Manatee county, passed away last Sunday in the Municipal Hospital in Tampa.
“Mr. Shuman was born in Georgia, November 23, 1851, and moved to South Florida with his parents while a small child. He was married to Miss Sarah Alderman, a prominent family of that section, and shortly after settled in the Dry Prairie section where he built a fine country home and where he resided at the time of his death.
“The deceased is survived by eleven children: Mrs. W. M. Burnett, Mrs. R. H. Lucas and Mrs. L. L. Shuman, all of Bradenton; Mrs. Sidney Johnson and Mrs. J. E. Lancaster of Chicora; Mrs. J. N. Hendry, of Wauchula; Miss Essie Shuman, William, Mitchell, Mike and Frank, all residing near the old home place.
“The funeral services were conducted last Monday by Rev. S. W. McClelland, of Lakeland and J. N. Hendry, of Wauchula. The services were attended by a large concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives. The body was laid to rest at Bethlehem cemetery in Polk county.”

References: Sherry Boresen, “Boresen/Sullivan Family Archives”; Hillsborough County Old Wills; Polk County Historical Association Newsletter, October 1991; 1880 census of Manatee County; Joe Warner, The Singing River A History of the Peoples, Places and Events Along the Manatee River, Third Printing 1992; Florida Advocate, Friday, May 31, 1929 & December 14, 1934.

This was published in The Herald-Advocate (Wauchula, Fla.) of June 22, 2006.