My Genealogy Hound

JOHN SHEPHERD, in the early part of 1865 Mr. Shepherd came West from Virginia and with his family settled upon some land in township 46, range 24, where he has since resided. He is the owner of one of the valuable and highly improved farms of Johnson County, and while, on account of his generous gifts to his children, his possessions are not as large as in former years, he still retains a sufficient property to provide him with a good income, insuring his declining days against poverty or care.

In that portion of the Old Dominion now included in West Virginia, the subject of this sketch was born August 8, 1814. He is the eldest child in the family of Nathaniel and Rebecca (Lewis) Shepherd, natives of Virginia, who spent their entire lives in that state, dying about 1864. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was one of the leading men of his section, and by his upright character and persevering industry won the regard of his associates.

In Brooke County, where he was born, our subject passed the years of boyhood in an uneventful manner. His advantages were inferior to those enjoyed by the youth of the present generation. His educational opportunities were exceedingly limited, consisting of a brief attendance at the neighboring subscription schools. Reared upon a farm, he was early trained in that calling, and when the time came for him to select a life occupation he chose that with which he was most familiar. He remained with his father, assisting him in the cultivation of the home place, until his marriage, at the age of twenty-five, after which he began life’s pursuits for himself. For a number of years thereafter he cultivated a farm in Brooke County, meeting with fair success in his undertakings.

Resolving to seek a home in the West, at the close of the Civil War Mr. Shepherd brought his family to Missouri, and has since made his home in Johnson County. He has been a very industrious and energetic agriculturist, and by economy and frugality has accumulated a considerable amount of this world’s goods. To his children he has deeded some of his property, retaining in his possession a tract of ninety acres. Owing to the infirmities attendant upon advancing years, he is unable to engage in active manual labor as in days past, but still gives his personal supervision to his place, which he keeps under excellent cultivation.

The marriage of Mr. Shepherd in 1839 united him with Miss Amanda M., daughter of Henry and Rhoda Stockman, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Shepherd, who was born in Wheeling, W. Va., came to Missouri with her husband, to whom she was a devoted helpmate and counselor until her death, October 15, 1894, at the venerable age of eighty. Eight children were born to them, two of whom have closed their eyes in death. Those living are Nathaniel Bruce, Joseph Warren, John Wells, Milton Lee, Basil Eugene and Clarence Elmer, all residents of Johnson County except the last-named, who lives in West Virginia.

In his religious views Mr. Shepherd holds membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. From youth he has supported the principles of the Democratic party, and to these he is as true and loyal in his age as he was in boyhood. He keeps posted concerning the great questions of the present age, and in mental vigor is the equal of many men twenty years his junior. In the welfare of Johnson County and the progress of the people he has ever been warmly interested, and enterprises of a progressive nature find in him a stalwart friend.