Excerpt from the 1926 History of the Okefenokee Swamp by AS McQueen and Hamp Mizell:
“Years ago an adventurous pioneer by the name of Dan Lee settled on Billy’s Island, erected a rough log cabin and for years made his living by the primitive means of hunting, fishing and trapping. When Dan Lee and his bride entered the Swamp, the only thing to disturb them was the occasional scream of the panther, the only vicious animal in the Swamp, but both lived to hear the scream of the steam locomotive supplant the scream of the panther, and their little home was broken up.”
Hi, I’m conservation photographer and nature writer William Wise. Nature journaling and wildlife photography has been a favorite pastime since the ‘90s. I graduated from University of Georgia Warnell Forestry School's wildlife program in 1996. I'm currently an animal shelter manager/photographer and reside in Athens, Georgia, USA with my wife and two teenage daughters. My website www.williamwisephoto.com is a wildlife and birding photo website documenting the beauty, design and wonder of creation. I have a deep love of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. I became a devoted Christian in 1993 under a campus ministry while studying wildlife biology. My love of the outdoors quickly turned into a love for the Creator and His works. Creation Speaks is my teaching ministry that glorifies our Creator and teaches the truth of creation. I am also a guest author at Lee's Birdwatching Adventures and The Creation Club. The theme of my blogging comes from The Message version of Psalms 104 -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, You made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."
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5 thoughts on “Okefenokee Swamper Daniel Lee on Billy’s Island”
This photo is so poignant. The idea of a tree growing on my grave appeals to me. What a hard life he and his family must have lead in this place! Thank you for another interesting post. All the best! Cheryl
And a palm tree at that! No doubt the palms were planted by the Lee family, for I’ve seen them nowhere else in the Okefenokee other than the Lee homestead on Billy’s Island.
That palm has not always been there. I use to go with my Dad to check on the cemetery when I was young. He was one of the few that had a key to the lock on the gate of the fence that surrounded the cemetery. I might even have pictures from the last time we went together.
Thanks so much for writing! It is an honor to hear from you and your first-hand knowledge. I have stood there looking at the headstones and wondering about the Lee family and others that once lived in the Okefenokee. My only knowledge comes from books, so it is a pleasure to receive your comments (and I’d love to hear more!).
As to the palm, there are about three medium sized palms within the fenced cemetery. A little further south is a stand of taller palms. Perhaps the ones in the cemetery seeded from those. I came across this in a 1926 printing of “Mammals of the Okefinokee” by Francis Harper. On page 254 he writes, “Nearly every settler’s home is shaded by live-oaks (Quercus virginiana) or Chinaberry Trees (Melia Azedarach); and in some cases, as at Traders Hill and elsewhere, there are great oaks (of an undetermined species). Several cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto) and an orange tree (Citrus sp.) were long ago introduced for ornament on Billy’s Island; and a couple of sycamores (Platanaus occidentalis) may have become established there in a similar manner.”
Please write or comment any time! I am no Okefenokee expert, but totally enamored of the habitat and learning of its former inhabitants.
Sincerely, William
William
This photo is so poignant. The idea of a tree growing on my grave appeals to me. What a hard life he and his family must have lead in this place! Thank you for another interesting post. All the best! Cheryl
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And a palm tree at that! No doubt the palms were planted by the Lee family, for I’ve seen them nowhere else in the Okefenokee other than the Lee homestead on Billy’s Island.
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Very interesting!
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That palm has not always been there. I use to go with my Dad to check on the cemetery when I was young. He was one of the few that had a key to the lock on the gate of the fence that surrounded the cemetery. I might even have pictures from the last time we went together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for writing! It is an honor to hear from you and your first-hand knowledge. I have stood there looking at the headstones and wondering about the Lee family and others that once lived in the Okefenokee. My only knowledge comes from books, so it is a pleasure to receive your comments (and I’d love to hear more!).
As to the palm, there are about three medium sized palms within the fenced cemetery. A little further south is a stand of taller palms. Perhaps the ones in the cemetery seeded from those. I came across this in a 1926 printing of “Mammals of the Okefinokee” by Francis Harper. On page 254 he writes, “Nearly every settler’s home is shaded by live-oaks (Quercus virginiana) or Chinaberry Trees (Melia Azedarach); and in some cases, as at Traders Hill and elsewhere, there are great oaks (of an undetermined species). Several cabbage palmettos (Sabal palmetto) and an orange tree (Citrus sp.) were long ago introduced for ornament on Billy’s Island; and a couple of sycamores (Platanaus occidentalis) may have become established there in a similar manner.”
Please write or comment any time! I am no Okefenokee expert, but totally enamored of the habitat and learning of its former inhabitants.
Sincerely, William
William
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