Georgia: Wilkes County: History of the Shepherd Family, Part I Letters and Notes ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Jerre O. Williams sarjer@juno.com ==================================================================== Page - 1 THE SHEPHERD FAMILY -REVISION VII 1997 PREFACE: This paper contains general information about the Shepherd family, considerable fact and some fiction. It is presented in a manner not in keeping with usual genealogical papers in an effort to add some flavor to the story. In 1969 while visiting FANNIE ROSA SHEPHERD BRIDWELL, one of the daughters of THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD (one of JOSEPH SHEPHERD'S sons), I met Miss ADDIE SHEPHERD, the daughter of SAMUEL WYNN SHEPHERD, who had a handwritten paper about the Shepherd and Hendrick families which included a story about the "Texas Migration of 1892/93" and provided some stories she remembered as a small girl. I became excited about the family history at that time and prevailed on Miss Addie to allow me to take her paper and have it typed. Since that time I have taken the opportunity to talk to family members when visiting Texas and took pictures, asked for and received a great number of old family pictures. I talked and took notes, made tape recordings, visited libraries, courthouses, archive facilities, made videos of family and places, visited cemeteries, asked for and received family history information in the possession of other family members, wrote well over one hundred letters to distant and not too distant relatives, and made visits to many places in Texas and Georgia. This interest and search has continued. This is the seventh supplement to this paper. I have been able to spend desirable time on this on-going project since I retired in 1991. Being a novice and being the youngest child of SADIE SHEPHERD WILLIAMS BARKER DURRETT who was the youngest living daughter of THOMAS COATS and SALLIE THOMASSON SHEPHERD, my beginning was late and many family members had gone to "their reward"; so I have been playing "catch up". There have been many who have helped and contributed to this family paper and I thank them and have welcomed the opportunity to get to know them and "pick their brain". Those in particular are the SMITH BROTHERS (LOVIS, BELTON, DELMA, & EBB), the sons of MAGGIE SHEPHERD SMITH, the daughter of NICKLOS CALVIN SHEPHERD; CARL SHEPHERD JR.,the son of CARL SHEPHERD SR., son of THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD; MISS ADDIE SHEPHERD; JOHN LLOYD RHODES, son of NELLIE SHEPHERD RHODES, the daughter of SAMUEL WYNN SHEPHERD; SADIE RAE SHEPHERD CRAWFORD, daughter of CLANT EUGENE SHEPHERD SR., son of THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD; MRS. JUAN OQUINN, wife of MEARL OQUINN, son of SARAH THOMASSON OQUINN, daughter of ALMEDA ANN (KATE) SHEPHERD THOMASSON. And the paper, "Good As Common" prepared by OLA MAY THOMASSON ADAMS, another daughter of ALMEDA (KATE) SHEPHERD THOMASSON. Also, I must say I have enjoyed the hospitality of many relatives and others while conducting the search especially the Smith brothers and sister Marjorie Rogers all of Henderson, Texas, Sadie Rae Crawford and Edward Marion and Beth Shepherd of Timpson, Texas. EDWARD MARION SHEPHERD is the son of RICHARD SHEPHERD, the son of NICKOLAS CALVIN SHEPHERD. The search is far from being complete and there are "honest " errors and incompletions that need to be corrected. I will welcome the opportunity to hear from any one in this respect. Please overlook errors in this paper as the heart is sincere. Since retirement, 1991, several visits have been made to Wilkes County (Washington/Tignall), Georgia, Shelby County, Texas and to Kearns, Texas searching for family information. These visits will be summarized at the end of this paper. JOHN SHEPHERD was born around 1800, perhaps 1803. We have vague information that he was born in Wilkes County, Georgia. We do not know who his parents were or where they were born or from where they migrated. The only clue we have at this time is a history statement that was given by FAY BROOKSHIRE HUNTER whose mother was REBA SHEPHERD BROOKSHIRE. This statement was given in 1965 and states, "My great-grandfather, JOHN SHEPHERD, came from Ireland to America. My grandfather, JOSEPH SHEPHERD, was born in Georgia. He had one sister who was an invalid. He had two half-brothers, TOLL and NICK and several half-sisters: LINDA, MARY ANN, and ADDLINE. Grandpa JOSEPH SHEPHERD married NANCY SEALS. To them were born five boys, JOHN JOSEPH (JJ), WILLIAM REDMAN, SAMUEL W., THOMAS C., and NICHOLAS CALVIN, and two girls, FANNIE and MATTIE. After NANCY SEALS died grandpa married widow SEALLY TOWNES. To them was born a girl, ALMEDA ANN (KATE). The family and connection of JOSEPH SHEPHERD landed in Texas December 1893. They all came from Wilkes County, Georgia." We have been told that there were many of the Shepherd name that came from Fluvanna County, Virginia. Also, we have heard that ALL "SHEPHERDS" migrated from Scotland, thence to Ireland, then to the United States and Virginia? For a fact JOHN and wife had a son JOSEPH, born in 1823 in WILKES COUNTY GEORGIA. During a visit to Kerens, Texas in 1993 I was able to visit with FRANCES HEMPHILL LEE the granddaughter of FANNIE SHEPHERD HEMPHILL. Frances gave me a letter written by FANNIE SHEPHERD HEMPHILL to her granddaughter, ARLENE HEMPHILL BAXTER in 1931. It is appropriate to duplicate those paragraphs that will be informative for your better understanding of the family history: Kerens, Texas November 10, 1931. Dear Arlene, I never had (a grandmother) of my very own, but had an adopted one (perhaps this was a neighbor or maybe CELIA WILLIS TOWNS SHEPHERD's mother?) that was very kind to me and I think of and almost taste now the delicious baked apples she used to fix for me when I would go over for a visit with her. She grew the apples in her orchard. It has been a long time since I was a little girl (Fannie was 80 when she wrote this letter and died the next year) as you will notice when I tell you that my father JOSEPH SHEPHERD and Miss NANCY SEAL were married in Wilkes County, Georgia in 1845. Time went by and there were children born to them. I was the first daughter and third child of a family of seven children. I was born August 15, 1851 in Wilkes County, Georgia near POPE's CHAPEL, a Methodist Church , which is still used as a place of worship (in 1995 a building is still on the property but not used anymore). I mention this church for it is where I first remember to have attended Sunday School and church services. My mother did not have good health. The doctor advised that my father travel with her thinking perhaps she would be benefited. So he got things all ready for the journey that took us first to the state of Mississippi. There were not many railroads at the time. Automobiles were not heard of, so we traveled in a wagon drawn by two beautiful horses named Fashion and Henry. My three brothers John Joseph, Willie, and Sam, my baby sister Mattie and myself were the traveling companions of my father and mother. Some days we would perhaps travel about thirty miles and then again not so far. The roads then were not maintained as they are now, hence were very rough and the irregularity of the country made the travel very slow. When night came we would camp by the roadside near some farm house where we would be convenient to water. Sometimes we would stop near a stream as the country is well watered by springs and running streams. We would build a fire with wood gathered near by and mother, with our help, would prepare the food for our evening meal. One evening I remember we stopped near a farm house to camp for the night. We were busy getting things ready before darkness came. We heard a voice calling "John Joseph". We did not pay any attention as we thought the lady was calling a member of her own family. She kept calling "John Joseph", so my brother named John Joseph answered her. She said come to the house and I will give you some milk. We were certainly surprised, but went to get the milk. That was a singular coincidence don't you think? We did and often remarked about same afterwards. After many days of travel we arrived in Mississippi. We lived there about three years. My father was an overseer by trade. Negros were slaves then and their owners often had large plantations and would employ a man to direct the Negros as they would cultivate the farm and see that everyone worked and stayed in place, for sometimes they would run away from their masters. So this is what my father did, attend to business for wealthy slave owners. While we lived here another little brother came to live with us. His name was Tom. I went to school with my brothers and played with other little girls. Soon there was a chance of residence which took us to Arkansas for only a short time, my father and mother did not like the place so we moved to Alabama. While we were here my baby brother Nick came to make his home with us. I attended school a short time while we were living there. In 1861 war was declared between the states. My father did not go then because of my mother's health and his family of seven children to care for. We hurried back to Georgia as my mother was never satisfied with traveling anyway. She wanted to be near her relatives if my father had to go to the defense of his country. Much time intervened between our leaving Alabama and arriving at our old home in Wilkes County, Georgia. My mother was so happy to see her only sister, Mrs. MARGARET (SEAL) BOATWRIGHT, again. She had several children. Her daughter, SALLIE SARAH SHORT), was my chum until we moved to another part of the country. My mother kept growing weaker and finally God called her to the home in Heaven where He has prepared for all those who accept Jesus as their Savior. That was a sad time. My Aunt Margaret was laid away in the Sardis Church cemetery the day my mother passed away and my mother was placed in the same cemetery. War going on and bereft of my best friend (Mother), I found myself a little girl about ten years old and had to assume the care of my baby brother Nick as well as the responsibility of the home. Of course the neighbors came in and helped us out in many ways. I remember the remark some of them made while in the home as they would look at my baby brother "That baby will not live long." After they would go away I would hug Nick closer to my heart and cry for I thought he might die and I was so distressed. They, like some people today, never thought of what pain they gave my already broken heart by their thoughtless words. After awhile they needed men so much for the war they conscripted my father. So there we were seven children, all sizes left again without a father. Till, a colored woman, came to live and care for us. She was a slave. She was good to us. There was a man and his wife named Tom and Hannah that farmed for us. They had a little girl named Bunchie and sometimes in the evenings Tom would say, "You chilluns come to the quarter tonight an we will have music." Quarter meant the place or cabins where they lived. We went down to see what Tom would do for entertainment as he had no musical instrument of any kind. Tom went through motions slapping his hands and knees patting his feet at the same time. They called it rapping. You ask someone to show you how. Perhaps your father knows how it is done. One day Till said to us, "Mars Joe is coming home", meaning my father. We did not believe what she said but she kept telling us. So one night she remarked, "You chillun git your supper quick so I ken wash de dishes before Mars Joe gits here". After a little while we heard the gate click. She said, "Dars Mars Joe." We ran to the door and sure enough there was my father. Negros have a intuition that white people have never been able to understand. They seem to learn about each other without any means of communication. they are that way today to some extent. Till had the intuition some way that my father would be home soon, so she was not disappointed. Nick was thriving under my care all this time. I was about to forget to tell you that I had decided the neighbors were mistaken and felt better about the baby for he was fat as a butterball. I had to help with the work for there was much to do since we had to card the cotton into rolls and spin it into thread so cloth could be woven out of which our clothes were made. I can hear my brother Sam say, "Card your rolls good Sis so the thread will not break." He did the spinning while I did the carding. We did this during the war and a long time afterwards for the country was in an unsettled condition. The neighbors made our clothing before my father married the second time. Yes, he married a Mrs CELIA WILLIS TOWNS. She had two children, a boy and a girl. Lizzie was her name. We used to have a fine time together. My step-mother looked after the home and we helped with the work. Nick grew and grew until he was a man. His friends used to say that he was one of the best men they ever knew. He married a Miss ELLA THOMASSON, reared a family of fine children, was an outstanding Christian gentleman. He has passed on to his reward (Nick died in 1928, three years before this letter was written). I grew to be a grown lady as most girls do. I had my sweethearts but none of them suited me as well as your grandfather, O.W.HEMPHILL. We were married in 1869. He was a soldier the four years of the war. Never received a wound but exposed to all kinds of weather impaired his health and he passed to his reward early in life in 1888. Now my story for you has ended and I hope when your girlhood is over and you write the story of same it will be a more joyful one. With love from, Your Grandmother, FANNIE SHEPHERD HEMPHILL. The following is to provide information that comes from a letter written in 1943 by NANCY TALLULAH HEMPHILL PRICE, the daughter of FANNIE SHEPHERD HEMPHILL, daughter of JOSEPH SHEPHERD. The letter is written to Nancy's brother and quotes the "sayings" of Fannie. The letter states that "Grandpa Shepherd (JOSEPH) came from South Carolina and had one sister who died early in life. He had Uncle TOL/TOLL/TOLLIE? SHEPHERD for a half brother and Aunt AD (ADDELINE?) BURTON for a half sister". This confirms that there was a TOL/TOLL SHEPHERD though we have not been able to find a government record for TOL/TOLL or his family. Also, it may be a fact that Joseph was born in South Carolina as Miss Addie's paper relates to that possibility when she visited Abbeville, South Carolina in 1945 and talked to the niece of NANCY SEAL/CEAL SHEPHERD whose name was also Nancy who had a sister by the name of Plevenna. At this meeting Addie indicated that NANCY SEAL/CEAL SHEPHERD had a brother by the name of JIM or TOM SEAL/CEAL. Also, since Joseph's wife, Nancy, was from South Carolina, it may be reasonable to come to some sort of conclusion in this respect; however, there is evidence that Joseph was born in Georgia. Apparently, according to the letter, Fannie knew "Uncle Tol" and "Aunt Ad Burton". Perhaps additional search will clear this picture. This same letter relates more information that Fannie provides and will be introduced later in this paper. There is some slight implication that Joseph's middle name was EUGENE. From reviewing events and dates at the time we believe John's first wife died and shortly thereafter he married a second time and best sources indicate that they had four additional children: TOLL/TOLLIE, ADDELINE ELIZA, LINDA and MARY ANN. As stated in the previous paragraph and letter we have to assume that Linda or Mary Ann died at an early age. We now find John with a family of five children with Joseph being the oldest. Per our visit to Wilkes County on February 1, 1994 (See summary), we are convinced that JOHN SHEPHERD and his family were living in Wilkes County, Georgia within six miles of Mallorsysville and Tignall on several acres. John's occupation was in the transportation of cotton from the Atlanta, Georgia area to Augusta, Georgia. Joseph was his father's companion and helper. During one of the trips while transporting merchandise to the Lamar Wooten plantation in Mallorysville (Tignall), Wilkes County, Georgia in exchange for the return trip of cotton the next day, John Shepherd died. This was in 1837 and Joseph was 14 year of age. We believe that JOHN and JOSEPH were staying the night at the SHEPHERD family home six miles from the Wooten plantation where arrangements were made to bury John in the Shepherd Family Cemetery on Shepherd property where we speculate that one or more of the Shepherd family members were already put to rest (See the summery of the visit to Washington/Tignall, Wilkes County, Georgia as of February 1994). There is some speculation here that the John Shepherd family lived in close proximity to the Wooten plantation and was at his home at the time of his death. Is it reasonable to speculate that the family lived in the Mallorysville area and John and Joseph were spending the night in their home ready to set out the next day for Augusta with Lamar Wooten's cotton; however, Miss ADDIE SHEPHERD's paper states that JOHN and JOSEPH were spending the night with the Wootens. We can speculate that that may have been the case using some logic that John and Joseph arrived late at the Wooten plantation and home and, since they would be leaving very early the next morning, perhaps they did indeed elect to sleep with the Wootens? We do not know what happened to Mrs. John Shepherd and her four children who were approximately scattered in age from twelve to seven? We can guess that Mrs.Shepherd went to live with her parents and fourteen old Joseph took over from his father and became a wagoneer. Perhaps the family stayed in Mallorysville; however we have not been able to "find" them as we have Joseph. There is some room to speculate that Mrs. John Shepherd remarried later and remained in the area? At this point we need to accomplish some calculations. It is assumed that JOHN SHEPHERD was born around 1800 based upon the time he married and had his first child, JOSEPH EUGENE and there is some fairly positive information that JOSEPH had a sister who died in early life as related previously. The average age when a male married was approximately twenty two. This would make 1822 the approximate date of John's marriage. The next year Joseph was born, 1823, and we have to calculate that his mother either died at child birth or shortly thereafter. Being a traveling man John had to consider someone to take care of his small son Joseph. Perhaps he remarried shortly after the death of his wife, and had the comfort of having someone to care for Joseph. As stated previously and according to calculations, John and his second wife, within a reasonable time, produced four more children, TOLL, ADDLINE, LINDA and MARY ANN. Again we have some positive information as confirmed in the 1943 Hemphill family letter that JOSEPH did have a half sister that was referred to as "AUNT AD" and we guess that was referring to ADDLINE SHEPHERD. The family lived together for about ten years while John and Joseph traveled until John's death. One must study the time to know the events that would affect all who lived in the Wilkes County Georgia area. In 1733 Oglethorpe brought the poor and religious seeking people from England. These people established the fort/city of Savannah, Georgia on the Savannah river where a thirty foot channel connects it to the Atlantic Ocean, thus a very important port for the transportation of cotton to Europe. In 1749 wealthy slave owners from Virginia, North and South Carolina migrated to Georgia and settled on fertile but cheap Georgia land. The Industrial Revolution in England began in 1750 where the popularity of cotton products exploded. In 1752 Georgia became a crown colony and in 1788 became one of the original thirteen states. It is interesting to note that in 1790 the population of Georgia was 83,000 and we find that 36,000 of that number lived in Wilkes County and most had migrated from Virginia and North Carolina. It should be noted that Wilkes County was a very large county wherein many other Georgia counties were subdivided from the original. It would be a plus if we could establish where JOHN SHEPHERD'S parents came from at this time and where they were. We have been told that the Shepherd family and all of the descendants migrated originally from Scotland to Ireland and then to Virginia, Fluvannah County. We believe our Shepherd family might be related to ANDREW SHEPHERD who migrated from Virginia and was the son of GEORGE F. SHEPHERD from Aberdeen Scotland. There is a report that the families of SHEPHERD/THOMASSON/ WILLIS might have known each other in Virginia and more likely while living in Wilkes County. In any event we believe the family was in the south and more than likely North or South Carolina; however, we do not have any positive information about this at this time and feel that they were not in the group of "wealthy" migrants that brought the first slaves. In 1793 Eli Whitney, who had just graduated from Yale College accepted a teaching position in Savannah and, upon arrival, found the position filled wherein he decided to attend law school. While waiting for school to begin and, being mechanically inclined, he designed and built a cotton gin prototype in ten days. Soon the cotton era began in earnest. As stated John was a wagoneer. Let us remember that Atlanta was not established until after the death of John, 1837 and apparently he transported cotton to Augusta from the "Atlanta Area". The next year all of the Indians were "removed" from Georgia. The earliest roads were rivers and Indian trails. The only "highways", if you will, were those built by Oglethorp for fighting the Spaniards and these led south to Florida. The railroads were not chartered until around 1833 and only one was completed by 1860. Cotton was king and the product had to find its way to the sea ports. The wealthy plantation/land owners bought the merchandise they enjoyed which had to be transported to their homes on the plantations and in turn they would charter the same wagon to transport their cotton to market. Now we can place John and Joseph Shepherd on the road. The wagon roads were the trails that ran from the "Atlanta Area" thru Washington, Wilkes County to Augusta. Keep in mind that Wilkes County was a very large county that bordered on the Savannah River on the East and the Broad River (Little River) valley on the South. It has been reported that on wagon roads one could observe, on the average, six wagons going and six coming every day of the year. So wagoning was a very vital and necessary mode of transportation at John and Joseph's time. Those who drove the wagons were themselves unique, a "breed unto themselves", a hardy and strong individual that was more concerned with the well-being of his horses/mules/oxen and wagon than himself. He drove a team of four to six horses/mules/oxen pulling a very strong and well constructed wagon. It is interesting to note that the driver did not ride on the wagon all the time, rather he rode the left rear animal and with a whip directed the pull. Perhaps his partner rode in the wagon? It has been said that these wagon people originated the term "Georgia Cracker" due to the cracking of the whip as they directed their charge; however, there is also the story that the phrase came from the Scottish people that settled in Georgia when they referred to one that had a tendency to brag. The wagons traveled on the average of ten miles a day depending upon the condition of the roads/trails and the weather at the time. One can imagine the task of pulling a wagon loaded with cotton or other merchandise when the wheels were half hidden in a muddy rut. Also, with so many on the road, there were times when the progress was slowed due to passing or waiting to continue on a single part of the road. One also can imagine the ruggedness of these men as well as how they looked and smelled. The city of Tignall, Georgia did not exist at the time John and Joseph were on the road. We would guess the area was part of Wilkes County. Later it was known as Mallorysville and the Shepherds settled in the Sandhill Community area although we have not been able to identify or locate positively that section. The area was steep in the growth of cotton and there were several cotton gins preparing the cotton product for the market. The most successful planter in the Mallorysville Community was probably W. Lamar Wooten, a Christian gentleman who owned many acres. We would guess that Mr. Wooten commissioned the wagon transportation company to transport the area produced cotton to Augusta wherein John and Joseph Shepherd were given the assignment to transport some merchandise to Mallorysville and thence pick up the cotton and return to Augusta. Since it took the entire day for the ten mile trip from Washington, Georgia to Mallorysville we speculate that John and Joseph unloaded, then supervised the loading of cotton and proceeded to their home for dinner and a nights rest. As we have stated this is speculation to a degree as the statement came from Miss Addie Shepherd's paper which led one to believe that John and Joseph did not live there, only spending the night. That night John Shepherd died. OLA MAE THOMASSON ADAMS paper states that JOSEPH SHEPHERD buried his father and JOSEPH had no father or mother. That statement is true if one considers his blood mother had died; however, we believe Joseph did in fact have a stepmother and after the burial of John and taking care of business perhaps Mrs. John Shepherd made the proper decision regarding the well being of her children and continued her life without John for the time being. From available information we would like to believe that Mrs. John Shepherd was a native of the area and perhaps knew John before their marriage and perhaps her parents were living in the area at the time of John's passing. Joseph, now a young man, apparently was given a job of a wagoneer and thus became self supporting. In any event we have not found John's family; however, we do know about John's half brother TOLL SHEPHERD, who was born about 1825, and will be addressed later in this story. Here too we use some logic in that we know that Joseph's half sister, ADELINE SHEPHERD, apparently grew up in the area and married THOMAS BURTON. This couple had several children that were born in the same area. We have learned that Adeline migrated to Texas with the family, so we again guess that Joseph stayed in contact with his half sister and other members of his family? Joseph continues in the transportation business and we again speculate he spent much time in Augusta, Georgia where the cotton crop was destined for Savannah and then to Europe. Joseph might have lived in Augusta as it seemed the place where new wagon assignments were arranged. Or perhaps Joseph was living in the Mallorsville area; maybe he was living with the Wooten family and driving his wagon? Perhaps his future wife, NANCY SEAL/CEAL, was visiting with her sister, MARGARET SEAL/CEAL who had married a wealthy farmer, RADAMAS BOATWRIGHT, and was living in Wilkes County around Rayle, GA some few miles from Mallorsville. During his free time Joseph meets Nancy from Abbeville, South Carolina. Was Nancy visiting her sister in Rayle or was, by chance, Joseph visiting some of his relatives in Abbeville and met Nancy? Or can we guess that Joseph was visiting with his half sister Adeline or half brother Toll? Whatever the situation we now find Joseph getting married. He is now twenty two and the year of the marriage license is dated December 17, 1845 and the place was Wilkes County, Georgia. Abbeville is a small city approximately forty miles north of Augusta and can we imagine that Nancy might have been shopping in the thriving city of Augusta or Washington with her sister Margaret and met Joseph? Now Nancy finds herself married to a traveling wagoneer who only knew the transportation business. There was little time for much education for the young man due to his travels and being without a father. We believe Joseph was a handsome man with a pleasing personality; he was kind, a Christian and had a fine head of hair. Soon they started their family and it has been reported that Joseph began to search for another type of work that would keep him home more so that he could attend to his wife and children. Perhaps in his contacts with farmers and plantation owners, requiring his transportation services, he was able to obtain a position of "overseer" of a plantation. We do know that later in his life his primary occupation was in fact spent as "Overseer". Again, from Fannie's letter she states that she remembers going to Sunday School and Church as a small girl at a Methodist Church known as Pope's Chapel. There is a church by that name located in Wilkes County today (1995) approximately three or four miles north of Tignall. Since Fannie was born in 1851 we can presume the family lived in that area at that time or perhaps around 1857 when Fannie was around six. The first child of Joseph and Nancy was JOHN JOSEPH SHEPHERD who was born September 12, 1846. This first born was named after his father and grandfather as confirmed by John Joseph's daughter, DAISY SHEPHERD RAMSEY. Daisy was interviewed by the writer in Long Beach, California prior to her death. Then came WILLIAM REDMAN SHEPHERD, born in 1849. As of this writing we do not know who he was named for. The Wilkes County census of 1850 records the family living in Georgia where Joseph was twenty six and owned 300 acres of land. Next born was a daughter, FANNIE SHEPHERD, born 1851. We suspect Fannie was named after one of Nancy's relatives. We do not know if Fannie had a middle name. SAMUEL WYNN SHEPHERD was born in 1854 and the story goes that Joseph, now nearly ten years since his marriage and living in the Mallorysville area, had a neighbor by the name of Sanuel Wynn who had no male children. Samuel Wynn approached Joseph and advised that if he would name his next boy after him he would give Joseph a horse and saddle. Joseph took him up on the proposal and the next child was a boy and was named Samuel Wynn. It has been told that Samuel Wynn did not follow thru on his side of the bargain. Another daughter, MATTIE MATILDA SHEPHERD, arrived in 1857. It has been reported that Mattie's middle name was probably obtained from Bill Hendrick's old maid sister Matilda; however, this has not been confirmed. We know that until Fannie, all of the children were born in Georgia. Mattie was born in Alabama or Mississippi. Their next child was THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD born in 1859 in Mississippi. We do not know for whom he was named tho we suspect the Thomas was from a family member on either side or perhaps the name came from ADDELINE SHEPHERD BURTON's husband "Thomas" and Coats probably was the maiden name of Nancy's mother or another aunt. About 1861 the family was known to be living or journeying in the state of Arkansas. Also, let us keep in mind that the Civil War had begun and it is assumed that Joseph's age and family status placed him in a low classification status. In 1861 the state of Georgia seceded from the Union and in 1862 we find the family in Alabama where NICKLOS CALVIN SHEPHERD was born. We have information that Nicklos was named for JOHN NICKLOS SHEPHERD who was the son of Joseph's half brother TOLL SHEPHERD. Census records tells us that Toll's son visited with the Joseph Shepherd family and we are satisfied that Toll kept in touch with his half brother. No one has been able to provide information as to where Calvin came from in Nick's name. Sometime after Nicklos was born Nancy's illness became very serious and it is believed she wanted to return to Georgia and Wilkes County "home", a few miles from Mallorsville and close to her sister, MARGARET SEAL/CEAL BOATWRIGHT who had married RADAMANTHAS M. BOATWRIGHT, a well-to-do farmer. Margaret and her family lived in Rayle, Georgia in Wilkes County approximately seven miles from Tignall. Fannie Shepherd Hemphill's 1937 letter tells us that the Joseph Shepherd family returned to Georgia and Wilkes County after their tour of the South as far West as Arkansas. The story is told that when Nancy visited with her sister she found her critically ill soon to die. Nancy died the day her sister was buried in the Sardis Baptist Church cemetery a mile north of Rayle, Georgia in Wilkes County, Georgia. Joseph elected to bury Nancy next to her sister. This was in 1862. At that time neither graves were marked in. We suspect the reason Joseph did not provide a marker for his wife was due to his financial status, his family responsibilities and his concern about being drafted into the CSA army. In February 1994 the writer and his son, Dan Williams, visited the Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery outside of Rayle, Georgia and, based upon a copy of a picture we had that was taken in 1937 by Texas relatives, thought we were able to identify the graves of Nancy and her sister Margaret (See summary of the February 1994 visit at the end of this Paper.). A review of available recorded newspapers of the time did not provide obituary information to substantiate the death of Nancy and Margaret primarily due to the fact that only a very few newspapers survived the war of the time. During this visit Bill Boatwright expressed the desire that he would like to provide an appropriate grave marker for Margaret Seal Boatwrtight, Nancy's sister, before he died though Margaret was no blood relation to him. In this respect Sarah and Jerre Williams and Beth and Ed Shepherd agreed to share the expense with Mr. Boatweright. A contract was completed with the marker company in Washington wherein the graves were so marked and identified three weeks later. The marker is clearly shown on The Shepherd Family Video. Another letter, written in 1942, is recorded in the "Hemphill History". This letter was written by NANCY TALLULAH HEMPHILL PRICE to her brother and quoted Fannie's thoughts: JOSEPH SHEPHERD traveled over Alabama and Mississippi when Fannie was a child. They traveled in a wagon and thought it would be good for NANCY SHEPHERD's health; however, as Fannie stated, the plan never helped. Note: This is the second report of the travels of Joseph and family, the first being from Miss Addie's paper. At the time of Nancy's death apparently the forces of the Confederate States of America were depleted to the extent that Joseph was conscripted which left his children without a father or mother. As Fannie's letter indicates, the burden of raising and caring for the family was delegated by the circumstances to Fannie. She did the housekeeping and saw to the needs of the family especially younger sister Mattie and little brother Nick. Apparently the older boys accomplished the farming chores. As we understand it the family did have at least one female Negro worker that helped in the day to day requirements. Civil War records show that Joseph served in the 168th District Militia Company and he was discharged in January of 1864 when he was forty one apparently only serving a few months. His occupation is listed as "Overseer" and he was discharged as being, "Disable by the Board of Physicians". What this means we have not found all the story as yet; however, we believe Joseph made application for a "Hardship Discharge" soon after being drafted but the time required to "process" his application took more time than expected due to the seriousness of the war. His discharge did come through in January of 1864. Apparently Joseph knew or met a widow at the time of his discharge as he married CELIA/SEALIA/WILLIS TOWNS, on February 7, 1864. Celia's maiden name was WILLIS and she had two brothers W.E. and F.B.Willis. She had children by Mr. Towns, a son WEBB TOWNS and a daughter LIZZA. WEBB TOWNS is the father of ED TOWNS who married JANIE THOMASSON and had KATE, EFFIE, DAUGHTRY, JAMES, SHAW, EMMITT, ENOCH, EBBEN, ROBERT and GARLIN. Ed Towns had two brothers and a sister but we do not know their names at this writing. Due to the timing of this marriage we believe Joseph knew Celia and her husband prior to Nancy's and Mr. Towns' death. Perhaps both families lived in the same community while they were younger. We want to try to determine what happened to Mr. Towns. It is very possible that he was killed in the "conflict". After the visit to Washington and Tignall in February of 1994 and talking to older people who were born and lived in the Tignall area, we believe that Joseph knew Celia Willis and her husband at the time they were married as the Willis',Towns, Thomassons and Rhodes all lived in the Mallorysville area as well as the Shepherds. Five years after Joseph and Celia were married a daughter, ALMEDA ANN (KATE) SHEPHERD was born in 1869. We suspect that she was named after a relative of Celia. Since the war was over there may have not been too many opportunities to continue as an overseer since the Emancipation Proclamation was well in effect. We believe Joseph and his family settled down to farming. Additional records tell us that Joseph owned a good size farm and rented a large house near Mallorysville/ Tignall, Wilkes County, Georgia on Jane Hill Road. Following this road east toward Tignall will run into Wooten Road in downtown Tignall. We have pictures of the house taken in 1937 and some of the family visited the area (1992/93/94). The remains are still very evident including an active creek known today as "Shepherd Creek". The house and creek are recorded in the Wilkes County Chronicles. Also we have the records of the date and amount of acres sold by Joseph and to whom prior to and after the family migrated to Texas. 1994 information indicates that the house that Joseph and family occupied was not owned by him, rather it was rented having been built by a Mr. Freeman around 1800. Let us go back to Joseph's half brother, TOLL SHEPHERD. Some in the family knew Toll and advise that he was a "sporty fellow", handsome, who liked to go to parties and socialize with the single girls in the community. He enjoyed the young of the area and on occasions took them "snipe hunting"; (Ask your grandparents what this is?) We would guess that Toll was about two years younger than Joseph and that his wife was SUSAN WILSON who had been married seven times. They had three sons and a daughter. Perhaps all of their children were born in the New Prospect/Shelby County, Texas area. As stated previously in Miss ADDIE SHEPHERD's paper, TOLL SHEPHERD's sister, ADELINE (Aunt Ad) BURTON also moved to Texas with one of her brothers; however, we do not believe it was Toll. How did he and family get to Texas sometime sooner than the Joseph Shepherd family? This is the story as told by JOHN L. RHODES, the son of NELLIE SHEPHERD RHODES who was the daughter of SAMUEL WYNN SHEPHERD. Sometime during the Toll Shepherd marriage his wife's mother's brother shot a man and killed him. We presume that Toll's mother-in-law was living with the family and perhaps the mother's brother also. The shooting occurred some place in the Wilkes County, Georgia area. In an effort to evade capture and prosecution, the Toll Shepherd family decided to move west. West at that time was west to the end of the railroad line that ended in Tenaha, Texas. So, the family boxed their furniture and belongings and placed them on a train going west. Among the boxes was one that "housed" the one that did the killing. And the story goes that they all arrived in Teneha and settled four miles from Teneha, Texas on Flat Fork Creek. Toll sent the "gunman" off to Louisiana and it is expected that the Toll Shepherd family lived in semi reclusion not wanting to be found by anyone searching for the Georgia murderer or those who helped him escape. One of Toll Shepherd's children was HENRY SHEPHERD. Henry suffered from epilepsy and was befriended by other family members. Henry never married and kindness was shown by several members of the Shepherd family particularly JOHN THOMAS "PETE" SHEPHERD, who was the son of THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD. It has been reported that Pete built a room for Henry to use. Another son of Toll/Tollie was JOHN NICHOLAS SHEPHERD, also did not marry. His namesake was NICKLOS CALVIN SHEPHERD the youngest son of Joseph Shepherd. Toll's third son was EDGAR SHEPHERD and we know nothing of him in the story. Toll"s daughter was ONA SHEPHERD who married a HICKS. That couple had a son who, as of 1992, was living in Louisiana. We have been able to extract very little recorded family information about the Toll Shepherd family. What information we have comes from those living family members at this time (1992/93). We have never been able to find a census record that records the TOLL SHEPHERD family. After much examination and logic analysis we have come to the conclusion that Toll and his entire family remained hidden by deliberate intent, not wanting to be known outside the family for obvious reasons dealing with the family shooting. We believe TOLL SHEPHERD is buried at Wood's Post Office; however, a search as of 1993 did not reveal any facts. We do know that Toll kept in touch with half brother Joseph from time to time as Joseph wondered about the land of the West and the "Land of Milk & Honey". At this time we have no further information regarding the other half sisters of Joseph except ADELINE SHEPHERD who married a THOMAS A. BURTON who was killed during the war between the states. Thomas Burton married ADELINE ELIZA SHEPHERD. Information as of 1994 tells that Adeline and Thomas had four children: (1) THOMAS COBB b1853, (2) SARAH ELIZABETH b1855, (3) ELIZA b1859, and (4) TOLLIE A. (perhaps named after "Uncle Toll/Tollie?) b1863. During the Shepherd Family Reunion in June of 1994 we had the opportunity to talk to JOHN L. RHODES and while "picking his memory" he advised that some of Adeline Shepherd and Thomas Burton's decedents lived in the area and gave us the name of MARGARET (KING) FREEMAN in Tenaha, TX who in turn gave us the name of ANNIE PARSONS and JEAN (MRS. RALIEGH) SHERMAN both living in Jacksonvill, TX. Another name that we contacted was Joan Risinger in Lake Charles, LA. We believe further investigation of this family will tell us more about Adeline and provide further information regarding Joseph, his father John, Toll and half sisters. In 1890 and 1891 in the Mallorysville/Tignall, Wilkes County, Georgia area and perhaps in the entire state, there was a circumstance of serious proportions that required the Joseph Shepherd family to consider a family move."Good As Common" by Ola Mae Thomasson Adams states that the families of the area were finding it hard to improve their financial standing and only a few owned their own homes. History tells us that the many years of cotton growing in the once fertile soil had deteriorated the once rich soil. Apparently "crop rotation" was not practiced or known? The soil deterioration fact has been confirmed by other family members as recorded in the Shelby County History. The wealthy and influential families of Wilkes County had begun a substantial migration to the west; to virgin land rich in fertile soil and suitable for cattle growing. Cotton could be grown with profitable results. In addition, more profit could be enjoyed as a result of supplying the beef that was in demand from the north and east. The economy of Wilkes County continued its downward trend and was seriously felt by the families of the Mallorysville/Tignall community. A family meeting was held and a decision was made to move to Texas. When this decision was known within the community several other families decided to move either with the Shepherds or later. To accommodate such a mass exodus required the chartering of two railroad trains from Washington, Georgia leaving within three weeks of each other. In an effort to "check the west out", the family prevailed upon JOHN JOSEPH SHEPHERD to travel to Texas, examine the area and report his findings. All the family "chipped in" to pay for the trip and required expenses. Upon John Joseph's return he provided a good report," that a single cluster of grapes had to be carried on a pole between two men (Numbers 13:23)" and that the New Prospect area was indeed the land of "milk and honey". Toll Shepherd was delighted to hear of this adventure and accepted the responsibility of arranging accommodations for all. Miss ADDIE SHEPHERD reports in her paper written in 1970 that the migration trip took place in 1892 or 1893. There is information that W.C.THOMASSON, his wife, AMANDA RICHARDSON and some of their family moved to Texas in 1902; however, OLA MAE THOMASSON ADAMS' paper, "GOOD AS COMMON", states that W.L. and ALMEDA ANN SHEPHERD THOMASSON along with their son, HOWARD, took the second train from Washington, Georgia in 1892 which was routed Southwest to New Orleans. There is an article from the newspaper of Washington/Wilkes County Georgia dated December 4, 1893 which states, "A large party was scheduled to leave for Texas on December 5, 1893. Their tickets were for Tenaha, Texas, Shelby County. Tickets were sold to JOSEPH SHEPHERD, J.H.RHODES, WILLIAM POSS, W.E.WILLIS, L. WALKER, M.BOATWRIGHT, D.SCOGGINS, A. KING, J.S.WOMACK, G.W.BUNCH, WILL POSS, JOHN WOMACK, WILLIS POWELL, H. KELLEY and children. [We believe a search may show a relationship between W.E.Willis and Celia Willis Towns Shepherd; M.Boatwright and Margaret Seal Boatwright - Nancy Shepherd's sister; and H.Kelley and Sam Kelly who married Mattie Thomasson.] A Mrs. SHEPHERD who was 70 years of age (we speculate was Joseph's wife Celia tho census records record her age as 67 or 68) is quoted as stating that her only child was already in Texas (here again we can speculate that her son may have been Joseph's step son, WEBB TOWNS, who may have been living in Texas at the time. Who for certain this child was we do not know and we cannot say for certain that the Mrs. Shepherd was Joseph's wife.) A passenger, Mr.H. KELLEY, stated that about seventy five families in Wilkes County were planning on moving to Texas in another year." So we conclude that some of the JOSEPH SHEPHERD family made the trip in December of 1893. Perhaps Joseph and wife were the last to actually leave or perhaps Joesph had returned to take care of business. Some others came later and we know that several families returned to Georgia for a period of time. There is some information that the WILL RHODES and KELLY family's came back although we have not been able to confirm this information. It has been told that malaria was not known in Georgia but very known in Texas; consequently, many got sick from the disease and decided to return. Schools were poor and far apart and many had to clear land in order to build homes; and, as in all earth, occasionally crops were bad. It is a known fact that the THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD family returned to Georgia in 1898 for a period of time. There are letters written by Tom Shepherd and his wife SALLIE THOMASSON SHEPHERD dated 1898 to their relatives in Texas telling of bad conditions in Georgia and the wish of being with the family in Texas. These letters will be quoted later in this paper. Let us take time at this point to give the reader some additional facts regarding the time of 1892 and 1893 so that one can gain a perspective as to "what was happening" at the time of the move. Elizabeth Borden was awaiting trial for killing her parents with an ax. Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was attending to the victims of a hurricane on the coast of GEORGIA. Grover Cleveland was president of the U.S.A. Alexander Hamilton Stephens, who had been Vice President of the Confederacy, was elected governor of Georgia. Alexander Graham Bell opened long distant telephone service from New York to Chicago. John Phillip Sousa was head of the U.S. Marine Corp band. The telephone, color photography, the zipper, automatic pistol, diesel engine, motion picture, and the box kite were invented. Walt Disney was 9 years old; Adolph Hitler was 3; Winston Churchill was 18; and Ike Eisenhower was 2. The world's first 100 MPH locomotive was operated. Knute Rockne arrived in the USA from Norway. Henry Ford completed his first gasoline engine. The US Supreme Court ordered John D. Rockerfeller to dissolve his Standard Oil Trust. Austin Miles, who wrote the loved hymn "Dwelling In Beula Land", was 24. The Wright brothers were no longer paying attention to bicycles, rather they were spending all of their time designing their "air machine" (the Kitty Hawk) that would literally change world travel when successfully flown by Orville in 1903 when W.C.THOMASSON and family migrated to Texas. Asa Candler invested $50,000 to gain control of a soda fountain beverage and incorporated the Coca-Cola trade mark! Joel Creek served his special blend of coffee to an ever growing clientele at the original MAXWELL HOUSE Hotel in Nashville. The First Methodist Church was established in Center, Texas. The first BRICK building was built in Center, Texas. 400 years and 2 months after Christopher Columbus landed at San Salvador, the SHEPHERDS arrived in Texas!!! DURING THE TRAIN TRIP: All of the baggage was stored in one car and there was very little furniture. Each family had to supply their own cooked food that had to last for several days. Several of the wives were expecting at the time and Miss Addie's paper states that ELLA THOMASSON SHEPHERD, the wife of NICKLOS CALVIN SHEPHERD, gave birth (December 1892) to BEULAH SHEPHERD RAMSEY shortly after arriving in Texas and Ella's sister, SALLIE M. THOMASSON SHEPHERD, wife of THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD, gave birth to son, WILLIAM CALVIN SHEPHERD, in April of 1993. KATE SHEPHERD THOMASSON, wife of WILLIAM LEWIS THOMASSON, gave birth to a daughter, INA THOMASSON, in March of 1893 who died the next year. During a stop it is reported that several family members were robbed of what little money they had. These bandits were probably not associated with the Jesse James gang as Jesse had been murdered ten years earlier. Toilet facilities were crude with a toilet door that apparently was not able to be locked and kept swinging open thus preventing privacy. Many of the children got sick and, as you would expect, the stench was very annoying. Since there were no bridges across the Mississippi river at that time, the train had to stop and wait for a barge to ferry the train across. During the layover some of the boys did some exploring and came across a banana boat that was docked. As you would expect they got their fill of bananas and some became sick. The families had to change trains near Keithville, Louisiana and then on to Tenaha. When the train came thru Joaquin, Texas, WILBURN SHEPHERD, son of JOHN JOSEPH SHEPHERD, yelled out "we have arrived in Joaking, Texas". RICHARD SHEPHERD, son of MAGGIE SHEPHERD and NICKLOS CALVIN SHEPHERD, was two years old during the trip and begged for milk from the family cow Matt. Soon the trip ended upon arrival in Tenaha and all unloaded. UPON ARRIVAL IN TEXAS: JOSEPH SHEPHERD bought the BOGARD place east of New Prospect. He sold his farm in Georgia as will be noted later. SAMUEL WYNN SHEPHERD and family rented from Uncle TOLL SHEPHERD. In 1894 the Sam Shepherd family moved a few miles west of Center, Texas and lived there for one year. After, the family moved to New Prospect. JOHN JOSEPH SHEPHERD and family lived with someone and later bought the old Methodist church at Beuna Vista and built a house just north of New Prospect. This house was moved in 1923. WILL AND KATE THOMASSON, NICK AND ELLA SHEPHERD as well as FANNIE and son WYLIE HEMPHILL found homes at Woods Post Office four or five miles north of Tenaha. As mentioned earlier we know that THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD and family returned to Georgia in 1898. We have copies of two letters that were written to the SAMUEL WYNN SHEPHERD family from Tom and Sallie written in March and May of 1998: "March 14, 1898, Tignall, Georgia. Mr.S.W.Shepherd and family: I will try to write you all a few lines in answer to your kind and welcome letter which came to hand sometime ago. Was glad to hear from you all. This leaves all well. Truly broke. This will find you all the same. There is right smart sickness around here. Mr.John W._____________ dide with pneumonia. Jef Rodgers wife has pneumonia. Jef (asked) about you all. The school teacher is sick. Mr. ____'s little girl is sick. Mr. George Blake wife and children has been right (sick) but is up now. Hoke Willier lost his baby the other day. I commence this letter the 14th and it was raining. It is now the 16th it is still cloudy and cold. Now about Jane (Writer's Note: could this have been Janie Thomasson Towns who was still in Georgia at that time?). She (came to) see us. Ask about you all. Said she would be so glad to see you all. She looks like she did when you all left. And tell him this is for him as well as for you. Well Sammie I hope I will see you again. I hope Pa is better by this time (Writers Note: Joseph Shepherd died in June of the same year 1898 at the age of 75). I want you to write me soon as you get this and tell Willie to write to me as he promised. I have written to him twice and only received on little note. Well Sammie how is you all over this about the war (Writer's Note: According to dates and review this had to be the Spanish American War). It is all the talk here. I haven't been anywhere to see any of my old friends since I got back around here. I don't have any time to go any where. I want to go to New Town next Sunday if I can get off(Writer's Note: New Town Community in Wilkes County is alive today (1995) and is approximately four miles from the Joseph Shepherd home place on Jane Hill Road). Ike Aycock has been to see me. Red Henry Hendrick promised to come to see me but hasent bin yet. Well I will close this time hoping to hear from you soon. Much love to you and family. I remain as ever your brother till death. THOMAS COATS SHEPHERD. (Age 38)." "May 28, 1898. Tignall, Ga.Mr. & Mrs. S.W.Shepherd and children (Timpson, Texas): I will try and write you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which came to hand sometime ago. Was so glad to get a letter from you all. We are all well as common. Truly hope this will find you all well. We are having dry weather. It don't look like it ever will rain again. My garden is sorrie. Haven't had any Irish potatoes yet. If it don't rain soon we won't have any nor nothing else in the garden. I have 55 little chickens. I have sold $1 worth of chickens this spring. We _____ con't chopping cotton. Corn is very small. The ground is so hard it can't grow. I didn't think a drout hurt here like it did there but it hurts worse I think. I think we made a big mistake by coming back to Ga. Where they don't have so many chills but other sickness is perposition. Well Bessie I have got 2 letters from Jinnie Hendrick since we got back. She don't like the city. She want me to send her things to her. Martha Trolte has them and wont send them to her. I don't know what to do about it. I don't know what she has. I feel sorrie for her. Well Nellie I won't say which hat is the prettier. Waite till I come and I will say. I wish I could go to you all house tonight. I know I would enjoy it. I don't have any wheres to go here just stay home all the time. Sometimes I go to Pa's. I went to see Mrs. Roland. I just went to see you all old home. They have a fine orchard it made me feel sad not to (see) none of you all there. Well I will close hoping to hear from you all soon. Excuse this short letter. I will try to do better next time. I am in a hurry Tommie wants to go to church. Love to all. Write soon and all of the ______.I remain as ever. Sallie Shepherd (Age 38). So good by until we meet again." JOHN SHEPHERD was born approximately 1800 and died in 1837 at about age 37 and is buried in Tignall (Wilkes County), Georgia. John and first wife had a son JOESPH EUGENE? and there may have been a daughter who died at an early age. During a visit to Wilkes County in 1994 we believe we found the Shepherd Family Cemetery where there is indication that John may have been buried there as well as Joseph's sister and other family members. See trip discussion information as summarized later in this paper. John and his second wife had four children as discussed previously and we do have information that one of the girls died young. A son, TOLL, married SUSAN WILSON and they had HENRY, JOHN NICHOLAS, EDGAR, and daughter ONA who married a HICKS and they had a son. John and second wife also had two daughters, ADDLINE ELIZA who married THOMAS BURTON and we have listed their children and birth dates previously. John and his second wife had another another daughter. JOSEPH EUGENE SHEPHERD was born in 1823 in Wilkes County, Georgia or perhaps in South Carolina and died in 1898 at the age of 75. He is buried at New Prospect Methodist Church Cemetery out from Timpson, Texas. He first married NANCY SEAL/CEAL of Abbeville, S.C. and had five sons and two daughters as listed below. In 1864 he married CELIA/SEALLY WILLIS TOWNS, a widow who had two children by Mr.Towns, WEBB and daughter LIZZE. Web Towns was the father of Edd Towns who married Janie Thomasson and had Kate, Effie, Daughtry, James, Emmitt, Enoch, Ebben, Shaw, Robert and Garland. Joseph and Celia had a daughter as listed below.