Winfield Scott Shepherd (1923)

SHEPHERD

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/16/2010 at 07:54:24

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 15, 1923
Page 8

Earlham

The funeral of W. S. Shepherd was held at the home on Thursday afternoon, Rev. Nelson the pastor of the Friends church having charge of the service. While Mr. Shepherd has not been well this winter, he was not considered seriously ill until a few days before his death. He was a man that will be missed, as his form was a familiar one on the streets of our little city and as he has been the town assessor for many years, was a frequent visitor in the different homes.

Mrs. Shepherd has very poor health, having been in the hospital twice in the fast few months and her friends and neighbors sympathize with her in her afflictions.

Her husband was one of the kindest of husbands, a good neighbor and a man considered above reproach in every way. His word was accepted on any and all occasions. The world needs men of his character and stability.
_________________________

Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, February 8, 1923
Page 1

W. S. Shepherd Obeys Last Call

Is Called Home at End of Useful Life of 73 Years

Earlham lost a good citizen and the community a good friend Tuesday in the death of Winfield Shepherd, who passed on at about 1:30 in the morning after a brief illness with heart trouble. Symptoms of this serious malady were first manifest Saturday, when the first attack came, but Mr. Shepherd was not prevented from going down town as usual in the evening. His condition became steadily worse, and late Monday night it became apparent that his hours were numbered. His brother arrived at about eleven o’clock from Van Meter, and Mr. Shepherd seemed to recognize him and his wife, but soon afterward sank into the death-like slumber from which he never awakened.

W. S. Shepherd has resided in this town for about twenty years. He was a man of few words, but had many friends who appreciated his sterling qualities. He was not given in confidences, and it was a significant trait of his character that he never spoke ill of his fellow men. He was a man of extraordinarily keen mind, and never enjoyed himself better than in solving some difficult problem.

Funeral services were held at the Shepherd home at two o’clock Thursday afternoon, and interment was in Earlham Cemetery. Rev. Nelson’s talk was full of cheering and timely counsel for the bereaved relatives, being based on the thought from the 90th Psalm, “We spend our years as a tale that is told.” The following history of Mr. Shepherd’s life was read at this service:

Winfield Scott Shepherd, oldest son of Jesse P. and Martha Shepherd, was born near Greencastle, Putman county, Indiana, November twenty-third 1849. His parents came to Iowa in the spring of 1854 in a covered wagon, there not being a railroad, within the state at that time, and entered a homestead in Union township near the Guy settlement, building a home with no tools but an axe. At that time there were but very few families living in the county and the hardships and privations of the early pioneer was felt in this family, the true sense of the word. In the summer of 1859, his parents sold the homestead and moved to Kansas but not liking the county turned and went back to Indiana, where they resided until the summer of 1862 when they decided to return to Iowa again, which they did, settling on the Musgrave farm in Douglas township where they settled permanently.

Here the subject of this sketch attended school and at the age of nineteen years began teaching and successfully followed this profession for twelve years. He then engaged in farming, buying the farm in Madison township where he lived for twenty-two years, making a success of it as he did of all his undertakings. He then took up his residence in Earlham, where he lived until his death on Tuesday, February sixth, 1923, at the age of seventy-tree years, two months and thirteen days.

On February first, 1883 he was married to Florence B. Powell, eldest daughter of Ruel B. and Jane Powell of Madison county, Iowa. Mr. Shepherd has many public offices, being township clerk for twenty-two years, secretary of the school board and assessor for several years.

He is survived by his wife and two brothers—Millard F. of Anoka, Minn., and Oran E. of Van Meter, Iowa. Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

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