My Genealogy Hound

JACOB A. SHEPHERD, lumberman, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 7, 1825. His parents, James and Rachel (Freeze) Shepherd, were also natives of the Keystone State. His grandparents on both father and mothers side were natives of England, the former of Sheffield. Our subject grew to manhood in Philadelphia, and was educated in the Quaker schools. When about twenty years of age he commenced work for the P., B. & W. R. R., and one year later he accepted a position as foreman on bridges on the B. & O., and had charge of work-shops and store-house at Martinsburgh, Va.; continued in that position five years, and then took charge of the sixth division of that road. In 1856 he came west to Illinois, and took charge of the center division of the I. C. R. R., and in 1857 took charge as superintendent of all bridges on that line. In 1863 he moved to Knox county, that state, and there engaged in farming for nearly nine years. He then came west to Kansas and opened a lumber yard at Baxter Springs, at the same time engaging in mining and smelting in Harrison county, Ark.; he came to Joplin in 1872 and established his present business. Mr. S. was married in Trenton, N. J., Oct. 13, 1850, to Miss Sarah C., daughter of Daniel and Jane Thorne, of that place. Mrs. S. was born in New Jersey, Nov. 15, 1830. This union has been blessed with thirteen children: Rosalie Isabell, born Feb. 21, 1851; Mary L., born Dec. 26, 1851, and died Aug. 21, 1852; Mary E., born March 16, 1853; Rachel J., born Aug. 9, 1851, and died April 6, 1874; Sarah V., born Oct. 19, 1858, and died Feb. 14, 1882; John A., born Oct. 23, 1858, and died Dec. 19, of the same year, Ann, born Jan. 19, 1861; Emma T., born Feb. 26, 1863; Chas. C., born May 7, 1865; Ellen M., born Feb. 6, 1867; Wendal B., born Aug. 17, 1869; Frederick, born July 28, 1873, and died Aug 31, 1874; and Edward Lee, born Aug. 30, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have a very pleasant home on the corner of Main and Ninth streets, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of all with whom they are engaged in social and business relations. Mr. S. has been established longer here than any other lumberman in the city, and is certainly deserving of the liberal patronage which his enterprise and fair-dealing has gained for him.