- TRUMAN SHEPHERD, deceased, was born in Litchfield County,
Conn., on the 6th day of
- December, 1800. His father, George SHEPHERD, was born December
14, 1775, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He married
Sarah WEED, whose birth occurred on the 27th day of March, 1776,
and to them were born a family of seven children, as follows:
Susan, born January 28, 1796, Cynthia, Dec. 6, 1797; Truman,
December, 1800; Emily, Dec. 21, 1805; Norman, June 22, 1812;
Jemima, Nov. 15, 1815; Esther, Nov. 25, 1817. The father of
this family was called to his final rest Aug. 6, 1852.
- During the days of his youth our subject removed to New York,
and in November, 1835, in
- Wyoming Co., Ky., led to the marriage alter Miss Eliza WILLIS.
The young couple began their domestic life in the county where
their union was celebrated, and there continued to make their
home for ten years, when determining to try their fortunes in
what was then the Far West, in 1845 they left New York and came
to Rock County. Railroads had not then been built, and they
had to make the journey with teams, but after many days of fatiguing
travel they arrived at their destination in the fall of the year
and spent the first winter in Clinton. The following spring
they removed to a farm on section 10, in the town of Clinton,
which had been entered by W. W. WILLIS, the father of Mrs. SHEPHERD.
The first purchase made by our subject consisted of a tract
of eighty acres, to which he added by subsequent purchase until
his farm comprised 161 acres. This he placed under a high state
of cultivation and improvement, making a beautiful home, upon
which his son now resides.
- The family of Mr. and Mrs. SHEPHERD numbered five children,
four of whom are yet living: Dr.
- Gilbert, who received his literary education at Beloit College,
then pursued a course at the Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago,
and is now a prominent physician of La Crosse, Wis., married
Helen COEMAN, by whom he has three children: George H., Kittie
L. and Carrie B.; Frank C., who wedded Hattie SIMMONDS, makes
his home in Chicago; Alanson W., who resides on the old homestead,
married Miss Ellen CAMPBELL, and to them have been born four
children: Beulah E., Nellie A., Truman and Ruth M.; Carrie E.
is the wife of E. C. SPALDING of Floyd County, Iowa; and they
have two children, Rae and Mayne. The two elder sons served
in the late rebellion, Gilbert enlisting in the 1st Wisconsin
Cavalry and Frank in the 28th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, both
participating in many hard fought battles during their three
years campaign.
- In 1888 a sad event occurred which cast a deep shadow over
many homes throughout the county,
- being the death of Mr. SHEPHERD, who departed this life on
the 17th day of June, at the very advanced age of eighty-seven
years. His wife was called to her final rest June 18, 1887.
They had traveled life's journey together for the long period
of fifty-three years, and the wife had lain in her grave for
but twelve months when the loving husband was placed by her side.
Thus one by one the old pioneers are passing away, until but
few are left to tell the story of Rock County in her early history.
Kind and accommodating, warm hearted and true, Mr. and Mrs.
SHEPHERD were held in the highest regard by all, and their memory
will long be enshrined in the hearts of those who have had the
pleasure of being numbered among their circle of acquaintances.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 786-787.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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