James Shepherd 1800-1880

SHEPHERD, SHERMAN

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 3/16/2013 at 18:42:13

FATHER JAMES SHEPHERD.

The subject of this notice was born in the state of Maryland on the 15th day of March, 1800. He moved to Clinton County, Ohio, with his parents in 1803, where he resided till 1827. March 7th, 1821, he was united in marriage to Jane Sherman with whom he lived a joyous and happy life till Sept. 22nd, 1870, when death came and took his companion from his side after a journey of almost fifty years together. In the spring of 1872, he emigrated from Ohio and settled in Sangamon county Illinois, remaining there till October, 1844, when he again went west and located in Keosauqua, Iowa. While living in Illinois, he held several positions of honor and trust, having been several times elected assesor [sic] and colector [sic] of Sangamon county, and was Colonel of the State Militia for several years. He was an intimate of both Douglass and Lincoln, and he had on several occasions met and discussed the political issues of the day with Mr. Lincoln and other whig speakers on the stump. In 1840 he became a resident of Springfield, Illinois, and assisted in the editorial department of the "Illinois State Register." In July, 1843, he fitted out an office and sent his oldest son, J. M. Shepherd, and J. L. T. Mitchell, both young men, and practical printers, with the office to Keosauqua, Iowa, where he had been and made all necessary arrangements for the starting of a paper to be called the Iowa Democrat. The name of the paper was changed by the publishers, however, and was called the Iowa Democrat, and Des Moines River Intelligencer, and run as an independent paper, Mr. Mitchell being a whig. In July, 1844, he again visited Keosauqua and bought the interest of Mr. Mitchell and started the paper on its second year as a democratic paper, as it was first designed. In October, 1844, he moved to Keosauqua with his family, and continued the publication of the "Iowa Democrat," which was the only paper off the Mississippi river and south of Iowa City, till 1850, when he sold the office. In 1860, he with his son, J. S. Shepherd; (now editor of the Corydon Democrat,) bought the Des Moines News office at Keosauqua, which paper they continued to publish till 1865, when they sold the office and went out of the publishing business. Col. Shepherd was a prominent politician in his younger days; was elected to the territorial council in 1846, and in later yard was several times supported by his party for the legislature and other positions.

He was extensively known in Southern Iowa, having been engaged in the hotel business at Keosauqua for many years, when travel by stages was the only mode of conveyance.

He united with the M. E. Church about the year 1836, and continued a consistent and zealous member till the hour of his death. In 1872 he was licensed to preach, and the latter years of his life he dedicated almost wholly to the work of the Divine Master. He was also an honored and worthy member of the Masonic order, having been a worker in speculative masonry for upwards of forty years. He was a charter member of Keosauqua Lodge, No. 10, and was its Master for Many years. He was also a R. A. Master and a member of the council. He filled the office of Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, and was Deputy Grand High Priest in 1864. He was a lover of the institution and his counsel was sought by the brethren of the fraternity on many ritualistic points and disputed ancient landmarks. He was always warmly greeted when present at the meetings of the Grand Lodge, and was called a "father in Masonry," as well as a "father of Israel."

He was the father of thirteen children, six daughters and seven sons. The six daughters have been called hence one by one, till they have all gone before, the last one proceeding him only two weeks, and two sons were taken away in their infancy leaving five sons, two of whom live in Oregon, to mourn his departure.

He made two trips to the Pacific coast, one in 1870, and again in 1878 returning the last time in October, 1879. His last hours were like the still waters of the Jordon, calm--not a ripple on the face--and the breath of life passed away like the strains of sweet music--he went to sleep in the arms of Jesus, who, he said a few hours before, was his hope and his salvation, and all was bright beyond. His remains were laid away by the side of his companion, in the cemetery at Keosauqua Iowa, by the masonic fraternity, under the direction of Keosauqua Lodge, No 10 on Wednesday afternoon, September 15th, 1880.

J. S. S.

Source: Grant County news. (Canyon City, Or.) 1879-1908 > October 09, 1880 via Pam Roach auntpie@comcast.net