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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John G. Shepard is among the prominent and enterprising citizens of Traskwood Township, for which he has been magistrate a number of years. He is a native of Tennessee and was born in Hickman County, March 17, 1833, being one of thirteen children in the family of Thomas and Permelia (Gohight) Shepard, originally from Georgia and South Carolina, respectively. Eleven children are living and reside in different parts of the country. Thomas Shepard was married in Mississippi, but lived in Tennessee for a good many years. He was justice of the peace twenty years, and a very popular and influential citizen, dying in Tennessee at the age of seventy-nine; his wife still survives at the age of seventy-nine. John G. Shepard was reared to farm life, and as the facilities for schooling were very meager his education was limited, but, nevertheless, he is a well-informed man, as he has read and studied a great deal. At the age of twenty he was married to Miss Judith H. Trout, a native of Tennessee, and in 1860 he came to Saline County, settling where he now resides. Mrs. Shepard died in 1862, leaving one child, William Thomas, married, and a prosperous farmer in Texas. Mr. Shepard’s second and present wife was Mrs. Nancy Pelton, widow of William B. Pelton. By this union three children have been born: Andrew A. (born April 1, 1866, married), Christopher C. (born April 10, 1869, married), Nancy L. (died when an infant). In 1862 Mr. Shepard enlisted in the Sixth Arkansas Infantry and participated in the battles of Helena and Jenkins’ Ferry, but was not captured nor wounded. After being paroled at Marshall, Tex., in 1865, he returned home and engaged in farming. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. He was elected as magistrate in 1878, and with the exception of two years has served since that time. He has married about twenty-five couples, and is now justice of the peace. Fifteen years ago he was elected school director, a position he has continued to hold. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was steward and trustee for years. The latter has two children by her former marriage: Isham M. and Sarah M. Mr. Shepard owns a good farm of 118 acres on Clift Creek, with sixty acres cultivated. During his residence in Arkansas he has cleared forty acres, and the careful attention paid to keeping the farm in good condition, shows that “the grass has no chance to grow” under his industrious efforts. In 1887 the home was destroyed by fire, but a new frame house now stands in its place. Mr. Shepard has taken an active interest in public enterprises, and there is probably no one in the county who has done more toward securing a good school and furniture for this community. He always favors long terms of schools and competent teachers. The Fair Play Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., counts him as one of its members, and during their continuance here he was a member of the K. of L. and Agricultural Wheel. He also belongs to the Grange.

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This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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