Essex County NJ Archives Biographies.....Frederick M. SHEPARD, 1827 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 8, 2008, 8:57 am

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

SHEPARD, Frederick M.,
Financier,  Humanitarian, Philanthropist.

  The surname derived from the oldest occupation of men has been worthily borne
by eminent men in many lands in every generation, but by none more worthily than
by Frederick M. Shepard, a "Captain of Industry," banker, philanthropist and
humanitarian, late of East Orange, New Jersey. Though not a native born son of
New Jersey, he entered heartily into the business life of his adopted home,
aided in the establishment of new interests, financial and industrial, also in
philanthropy and religion left enduring monuments to his great public spirit. To
his business sagacity the pure abundant water supply of East Orange is largely
due, also the banking institution of the city. To his philanthropy Orange
Memorial Hospital owes a debt of gratitude for the tuberculosis department,
erected in memory of a dear son. To his religious fervor Munn Avenue (First)
Presbyterian Church can ascribe much of its prosperity, while Elmwood Chapel
Sunday School is a monument to his devotion and interest, his connection with
that school forming one of the pleasant and interesting chapters of his life in
East Orange.

  Mr. Shepard was of the eighth American generation of the family founded in
Massachusetts by Edward Shepard, a sea captain, about the year 1639. He was a
descendant of an English family that bore arms: "Vert two shepherds' crooks in
saltire or, between three lambs passant, two and one argent." Crest: "A mount
vert thereon in front of two shepherds' crooks in saltire or, a lamb passant
argent."

  Frederick M. Shepard was born in Norfolk, Litchfield county, Connecticut,
September 24, 1827, and died in East Orange, a son of John Andrus and Margaret
J. (Mills) Shepard, of Norfolk, the former a member of the Connecticut
legislature and postmaster. He attended public and private schools, completing
his studies in the school conducted by the Rev. John F. Norton in Norfolk. He
began business life as clerk in a Norfolk store, then spent some years in a
similar capacity in a dry goods store in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1848, on
arriving at legal age, he went to New York and there for five years was in the
employ of Augustine Averill & Company, commission merchants. In 1853 he began
his wonderfully successful career as a rubber manufacturer and merchant, a
career that terminated only when the highest honor had been won, and his place
at the head of the world's greatest rubber interests firmly established, and his
worth recognized. He was elected secretary of the Union Rubber Company in 1853,
later becoming its president. In 1864 he organized, in association with Joseph
A. Minott, the Rubber Clothing Company, and in 1872, also in association with
Mr. Minott, organized the Goodyear Rubber Company, and under Mr. Shepard's
control. He was also president of the Lambertville Rubber Company; director of
the National India Rubber Company of Rhode Island, of the United States Rubber
Company, and of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company.

  Mr. Shepard resided in New York until 1868, and then purchased a residence on
Munn avenue, East Orange, which he occupied in summer only until 1873, then sold
his New York residence and thereafter made East Orange his permanent home. The
original house was greatly enlarged and beautified within and without, and with
its surroundings formed one of the most attractive homes in that city of
beautiful residences.

  For the first few years after locating in East Orange, Mr. Shepard took little
interest in the life of that city except in its religious and philanthropic
institutions. The Orange Water Company, chartered in 1867, had lain dormant, but
in 1880 was revived, Mr. Shepard being one of the first and largest
stockholders, and the first president, continuing in that office until his
death. Under him a perfect system of supply and distribution was established,
furnishing a pure and abundant supply, he, with his associate, Mr. Randall,
bearing the early financial burden. While a pure and plentiful supply of water
was the paramount idea, the returns in a financial sense have also proved
satisfactory to the stockholders. He contributed largely to the erection of the
Commonwealth building, and organized the East Orange Safe Deposit and Trust
Company, whose vaults are in that building. He was the first president of the
company, serving many years, then resigned, but accepted the office of
vice-president. He aided in organizing the East Orange National Bank, was its
president tor two years, and then retired, having seen that institution safe and
surely on the road to success. He aided by influence and large contributions the
Orange Memorial Hospital, and in memory of his son, Joseph Minott Shepard,
erected the tuberculosis department of that valuable philanthropy. In memory of
his childhood days, Mr. Shepard also established a water system in his native
town of Norfolk in 1894, the Norfolk Water Company furnishing that town with an
abundant supply of pure water drawn from Mountain Lake.

  A Presbyterian in religion, Mr. Shepard on coming to East Orange became a
member of the Munn Avenue Presbyterian Church, also known as the First
Presbyterian Church of East Orange. He served on the board of trustees for
several years, and during his term the debt was extinguished that had been on
the congregation since the erection of the church edifice in 1863. When Elmwood
Chapel, a branch of the Munn Avenue Church, was proposed, Mr. Shepard by
personal effort and generous contribution made its establishment possible. After
the erection of the chapel he took deep personal interest in its welfare,
especially in the Sunday school, serving as its superintendent from 1880. He
devoted much time to its upbuilding, and saw its steady growth in number and
usefulness with the keenest pleasure. He was beloved by teachers and scholars,
his connection with Elm-wood Chapel and its Sunday school forming a most
delightful feature of his life in East Orange, and one he reviewed with deep
satisfaction. So lived a good man "diligent in business, fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord." His life was one of construction and upbuilding. His fortune
was fairly earned and rightly used. He did not let "his right hand know what his
left hand was doing," and many of his benevolences and deeds of kindness were
unknown save to those benefitted. But his deeds of public-spirited generosity,
publicly performed as mentioned, were many, and stand as monuments to the memory
of a "good man," and of one who stood every test demanded of American
citizenship and of a manly character.

  Mr. Shepard married, in September, 1854, Annie Clarissa, daughter of Theron
Rockwell, of Colebrook, Connecticut, a descendant of Deacon William Rockwell,
who came to Nantucket, Massachusetts, May 30, 1630, and founded one of the
important Pilgrim families. Joseph Rockwell, of the fifth American generation,
was one of the proprietors of Colebrook, Connecticut, and captain of the first
militia company in the town. His son, Elijah Rockwell, was a lieutenant of the
Revolution, justice of the peace, and town clerk of Colebrook for thirty-eight
years. Theron Rockwell, his son, was a leather manufacturer of Colebrook and New
York, a man of wealth and influence; he married Clarissa Treat, a descendant of
Matthew Treat, of Connecticut, Annie Clarissa being the youngest child of that
marriage.

  Children of Frederick M. and Annie Clarissa (Rockwell) Shepard: Annie
Rockwell; Frederick M., married Isabella Condit; Clara Margaret, married Alfred
Boote; Joseph Minott, died in 1875; John Andrus; Edith Mills.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917

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