BIO: Nathaniel H. SHEPHERD, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 946 - 948. _____________________________________________________________ NATHANIEL H. SHEPHERD, a prosperous and well known farmer of Burnside township, residing on the old Shepherd homestead in this township, was born at his present location February 6, 1850. His parents were Frederick and Elizabeth (Breth) Shepherd, and he is a grandson of John Shepherd, a native of England, who came to this country with his parents at the age of five years, they settling in the Shenandoah Valley. Here the family were all massacred by the Indians except himself, who was taken prisoner and held for three years by the savages. He then found an opportunity of escaping and reached the vicinity of Lock Haven, where he spent the rest of his life. It is not known whom he married. Frederick Shepherd, father of our subject, was born at Lock Haven, Pa., in October, 1810. At the age of eighteen he came to Clearfield county, settling at McGee, Burnside township, where he resided for some years with the Young family, being engaged in lumbering. In 1835 he removed to Patchinsville, where he lived for five years, at the end of which time he took up his residence on the present homestead, the only building then standing being an old log barn, the land consisting of 100 acres. Here the rest of his life was spent in farming and lumbering, his death taking place December 19, 1882. On May 25, 1835, he married Elizabeth Breth, who was born in Germany, February 7, 1820, a daughter of Peter and Margaret Ann (Jenny) Breth, natives of that country. Her father came to America in 1819, locating first in Center county, Pa., whence in 1833 he came to Clearfield county, settling in Burnside township, where his death occurred July 4, 1875, his wife, who was born in Germany in 1792, died at Hollidaysburg, Pa., March 22, 1859. They had a family of eleven children - nine daughters and two sons. Mrs. Shepherd's paternal grandfather, Henry Breth, died in his native Germany at the remarkable age of 106 years. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Shepherd began housekeeping at Patchinsville, where, as already indicated, they lived for five years, afterwards moving to the present homestead, the only building then standing being an old log barn, the land consisting of about 100 acres. Mrs. Elizabeth Shepherd died July 25, 1875. Her living children, in addition to the subject of this sketch, are Esther, wife of J. Mahood, residing in Missouri; Anna, wife of J. McKee, a farmer; Crissie E., wife of C. Sebring; Benjamin, who is engaged in farming in Burnside township; and McClellan, who is a farmer in Arkansas. After the death of his first wife, Elizabeth, Frederick Shepherd married, May 25, 1876, Mary Irwin (nee McCullough), sister of Nathaniel Shepherd's wife's mother. Nathaniel H. Shepherd worked for his father until reaching the age of twenty- one years, at which time he married and bought a farm at Glen Campbell. This he sold at the time of his father's death and returned to the homestead, where he has since resided, being engaged in general agriculture. A good practical farmer, he has been successful in his operations and is now one of the substantial citizens of his township. Mr. Shepherd is a Democrat in politics and has served ten years on the local school board, also two terms as auditor. He is a member of the Evangelical church. He was married in 1874 to Margaret J. McKay, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., August 27, 1852, a daughter of John and Nancy (McCullough) McKay. Her father died December 8, 1875. He was a son of Neil McKay, born in county Derry, Ireland, who died in 1840. Neil's wife was in maidenhood Jane Shields. Coming to America after his father's death, John McKay resided in New York for two years and later in Philadelphia, finally settling in Clearfield county, in 1845, where the rest of his life was spent. The land which he cleared and on which he built a small cabin, is now one of the most valuable coal fields in Pennsylvania. Nancy McCullough, Mrs. Shepherd's mother, was born in Indiana county, August 23, 1827, a daughter of John and Margaret (Sharp) McCullough. Her father was born in Indiana county, Pa., July 15, 1775, and died at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife died May 10, 1863, at the age of seventy-three. She was a daughter of Captain Andrew Sharp, who served in the War of 1812, and who was later shot by the Indians in the vicinity of Pittsburg. At the same time, by way of amusement, they shot a pipe from his wife's mouth, which they compelled her to hold while they showed their marksmanship. Sharpsburg, Pa., was named after Capt. Andrew Sharp, he having received by grant for his military service several thousand acres of land near Pittsburg. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Wood. She was of Scotch descent, her parents settling at an early day in Cumberland county, Pa. Mrs. Shepherd's great-great-grandfather Sharp married a Rutherford, and died in 1817; his wife died at the age of 103 years, a truly venerable old lady. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd were the parents of four children, namely: Edith, residing at home with her father; Pearl, wife of D. G. Plouse, a contractor living in Cambria county, they having five children; Warren E., who married Blanche Rarick, and resides at Westover, having three children; and Clyde, residing at home.