Shepherd, Hugh P.

SHEPHERD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 20:42:28

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.797

HUGH PARKER SHEPHERD
When Hugh Parker Shepherd departed this life he left behind a memory that is honored, for in every relation he had been found true to sterling principles, was loyal and progressive in citizenship, industrious, enterprising and energetic in business and always faithful to the ties of home and friend­ship. He was born near New Antioch, Ohio, his natal day being October 7, 1845. He is a son of Moses Watson and Catherine Dillon (Sayres) Shepherd, the former born July 10, 1818, and the latter July 25, 1819. The father represented an old family of New Jersey, while the mother came of Scotch-Irish ancestry and was born at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. They were married, however, in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1839. The father was a tailor by trade, and in the year 1855 brought his family to Iowa, settling in Indianola in the fall of the same year. He continued to engage in the tailoring business, working at the bench until within two years of his death, which occurred April 20, 1901, when he was in the eighty-third year of his age. He was long a devoted member of the Odd Fellows Society and in his political views he was connected with the democracy. He enjoyed the high esteem of his neighbors and business associates and his friends are many. His wife belonged to the Baptist Church.
Hugh P. Shepherd, the third in their family of eight children, began his education in the schools of Ohio but was only nine years of agewhen the family came to Iowa, where he continued his education as a public-school student. At the age of fourteen years, however, he put aside his text-books and entered upon his business career as an employee in the mercantile estab­lishment of M. R. Barker, with whom he remained for a number of years. In 1874 he formed a partnership with E. W. Perry, under the firm style of Perry & Shepherd, dealers in dry goods. This connection was continued for a number of years and the firm enjoyed a large and profitable trade. At length Mr. Shepherd retired, the measure of his previous success being sufficient to justify him in putting aside active business cares and enjoying a well earned rest. He had made investments that proved remunerative and he was not only a successful man but is also regarded as a most honorable one, a fact which was proven in that many trusts were committed to his care. He was frequently called upon to settle estates and upon every occasion was loyal to the trusts reposed in him. He was very popular among his business asso­ciates and wherever he went he won a host of warm friends. He was justly regarded as a man of spotless integrity, capable and painstaking, energetic and progressive. At his death he left a farm in White Oak Township and valuable realty in Indianola including the Central House.
On the 15th of September, 1874, Mr. Shepherd was married to Miss Mary Frances Bryson, who was born in Iowa City, December 9, 1856, and is a daughter of Jesse and Anna Elizabeth Bryson. Her father came to Indianola in 1869 and in the same year engaged in the milling business. He is now residing here at the age of seventy-one, while his wife has reached the age of seventy years. They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm friendship of all who know them. Their daughter, Mrs. Shepherd, is also a member of the same church.
Mr. Shepherd was prominent in Masonry, taking the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter, the commandery and the consistory. He also belonged to the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines and he was a charter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance was given to the democ­racy and for ten years he represented the fourth ward in the city council, his reelection standing as evidence of his faithfulness in office and his ability in the discharge of his duties. In a review of the life record of Mr. Shepherd we are led to the thought that it is not from the few conspicuous deeds of life that the blessings chiefly come which make the world better, sweeter, happier, but from the lowly ministries of the everydays, the little faithfulnesses that fill long years.