Fulton Daily Leader - December 28, 1938
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J. W. Shepherd Dies Yesterday After Short Illness

   Yesterday afternoon at 4:45 o'clock Mr. James Walter Shepherd, age 70, passed
away at his home on Third Street after an illness of only two days, casting a
shadow of darkness over the entire city, M. Shepherd has been in ill health 
for some time but was confined to his bed only Sunday.

   He was born September 19, 1868, at Durant, Mississippi. His parents moved to
Jackson, Tennessee in 1870 and to Fulton, Kentucky in 1884.

   Mr. Shepherd entered the service of the Chesapeake, Ohio and Southwestern
Railroad (Illinois Central since August 1, 1896) as engine watchman at Fulton,
Kentucky on April 20, 1884. He was also used as an extra brakeman out of Fulton.
On March 9, 1885 he was transferred to the Annual work train between Paducah,
Kentucky and Memphis, Tennessee. He learned to fire an engine while acting as
watchman on this work train. On December 24m 1885 the work train was
discontinued and he was placed on the fireman's extra board at Paducah, Kentucky
to work between Paducah and Memphis. He was promoted to switching engineer on
December 24, 1887. However, due to reduction in switching service in Memphis,
Mr. Shepherd being the junior man, was returned to firing on March 1, 1888. He
was again promoted to switching engineer in the Paducah yard on June 1, 1888 and
assigned to road service on a gravel pit spot job at Gravel Switch, Kentucky
until September 10, 1888 at which time he returned to Paducah and the following
day was called for his first trip on the main line freight service between
Paducah and Memphis and was assigned a regular engine.
 
   Mr. Shepherd was assigned a regular passenger service in October 1897. He
left the service of the Illinois Central Railroad April 21, 1902 and went to
work for the Frisco as an engineer on August 1, 1902, working extra between
Memphis and Birmingham, Alabama. He was transferred to St. Louis in September
1903 and worked between St. Louis and Newberg, Missouri. He resigned from the
Frisco on December 10, 1904 and returned to the Illinois Central Railroad as an
engineer until December 1, 1905 at which time he was promoted to General Foreman
of the Fulton Shops. On March 1, 1911 he was promoted to Traveling Engineer
between Paduch and Memphis. On December 1, 1922 he was given the territory of
 North Fulton and Cairo districts, north and east of Fulton and the Bluford
district of the St. Louis Division. This job was discontinued on September 1,
1930 due to the depression and reduction of fares and on September 2, 1930 he
returned to Fulton Shops as General Foreman. On August 1, 1932 he retired and
received his pension.

   Mr. Shepherd began his railroad career on April 20, 1884 and retired on
August 1, 1932, having given 43 years, 3 months and 10 days to the service.
During his lengthy career as a locomotive engineer he was in several unavoidable
accidents but never suffered any serious injuries.

   Mr. Shepherd was a member of the First Methodist Church in Fulton, Kentucky.
He was also a Knights Templar, Mason and a Shriner. He belonged to Division 762
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and received his 40 year service button from
the Grand Lodge on April 20, 1931.

   In Mr. Shepherd's retirement the Illinois Central Railroad sustained the loss
of a loyal employee, whose life was devoted to promoting efficient operation and
mutual understanding between the railroad which he served and the men who served
under his supervision. He was always courteous and considerate to all with whom
he came in contact on the railroad as well as in private life.

   In his autobiography, Mr. Shepherd wrote, "I am believer in the Supreme Being
and the Golden Rule which I have always lived up to. My friends are legion and I
love them all. When I am called for my final run, I expect the signals to be
green and the block standing at clear and no red flags or caution signals. And I
will receive a clearance card at my initial starting point."

   On February 13, 1899 he was married to Miss Annie Baumgard of Paducah,
Kentucky, who survives, and to this union only one son, James Winfree was born,
who also survives. One sister, Mrs. Will Yancey, of Denver, Colorado survives
with a host of other relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have been very promonent
residents of Fulton for the past thirty-two years.

   Funeral service will be held tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock from the
First Methodist Church conducted by the pastor, Rev. Wilford, who will be
assisted by Rev. L. K. Bishop, pastor of the First Christian Church of Paducah.
Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery in charge of Hornbeak Funeral Company.

  Active pallbearers will be Traveling Engineer Pat Ryan, Traveling Engineer Joe
Harrington, Engineers Lonnie Chrisman, John Sassell, Herman Grymes, and John
Chester or Jack Stokes. Serving as honorary pall bears will be officials of the
Illinois Central and Board of Stewards of the Methodist Church.

   The body remains at his home on Third and Eddings Streets until time for
funeral services tomorrow.