Page 546
THOMAS A. SHEPHERD, though a young man, already occupies an assured position among the leading farmers of his native county, is in independent circumstances and bids fair to become one of the large farmers of this section of the State. He is the proprietor of one of the best equipped farms in Ball Township, that is under the best of management and is finely improved.
Thomas B. Shepherd the father of our subject, was born in Shepherdstown, Va., and is a son of Thomas C. Shepherd. For a sketch of the life of his father see biography of T. C. Shepherd. Thomas is a name that has been in the family for several generations, our subject being the sixth to bear that cognomen. The Shepherds are the first families of Virginia. The father of our subject was one year old when he was brought to this county by his parents in 1836, the journey being made by team and wagon. They located in Woodside Township, where he engaged in farming as soon as old enough. In early manhood he bought land in Ball Township on the Pawnee Township line, where he has since been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is one of the wealthy men of his calling and is an extensive landowner, having six hundred and forty acres of land all lying in a body in Ball and Pawnee Townships. He is now fifty-five years of age and is living in a pleasant home surrounded by every comfort that heart could wish. In former years he labored hard to acquire wealth and his pioneer work contributed much to the development of this part of the county. He has made much money from his timber land; he used to see cordwood and among his customers was Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Shepherd is a man of unswerving probity and of high principle. He is a firm Prohibitionist in politics, and religiously is of the Methodist Episcopal faith, one of the leading members of the church and a Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Armenda Pyle. She is a native of St. Clair County, Ill., and a daughter of Alfred Pyle, who was in his day a farmer in St. Clair County, Ill. Mrs. Shepherd is the mother of the following three children: Thomas A.; Annie E., now Mrs. Davidson, of Pawnee Township; and Mary E., who is at home with her parents.
Thomas A. Shepherd was born in Ball Township on his father's homestead December 4, 1860, and was reared to manhood on a farm. He attended the district schools and was early set to work to assist in the farm labors. He remained at home until his marriage in Ball Township, December 24, 1883, when he established a home of his own, taking unto himself on that date a wife in the person of Miss Miriam M. Weber. Mrs. Shepherd is a native of Pawnee Township where she was born October 5, 1864. Her father, George P. Weber, was a native of Springfield and a son of John B. Weber who was born in Shepherdstown, Va., April 7, 1810. He was a mechanic and a manufacturer of furniture in his native State whence he came to Illinois in 1836. In 1849 he left his pioneer home here and crossed the plains to California, where he remained until 1851. He then returned to Ball Township and was a successful farmer. Notwithstanding the fact that while engaged in the manufacture of furniture in Virginia he had lost his hand by accident, he was a very capable man, and got along well in the world. He was very prominent in public life and held various political offices. In 1854-55-56 he was County Sheriff, and was Quartermaster during the Mormon War. While the Civil War was waging he was a member of the Commissary Department. He was a conspicuous figure in politics, was quite an orator and stumped the State with Abraham Lincoln. He was a stanch Republican and also a great advocate of temperance. He was in early life a Lutheran, but after coming to this country, joined the Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Shepherd's father was formerly a farmer. He was an officer in the late war in which he bore a gallant part serving through the entire conflict and was Lieutenant of Company B, Eleventh Missouri Infantry. He had brothers also in the army and one, Col. A. J. Weber, who was a member of the Tenth Illinois Infantry, was killed in the battle of Vicksburg while his brother James was murdered on his way home after the war closed.
After leaving the army Mr. Weber became an extensive farmer and a stock-raiser in Pawnee Township. In February, 1890, he removed to Valparaiso, Sanders County, Neb., where he is engaged in the banking and real-estate business. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and in all things is a man of great worth who is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. In early manhood he married Vienna Meader a native of Pawnee Township. Her father Timothy Meader was born November 25, 1800, in Rochester, N.H. He was reared there as a farmer and in 1834 came to Sangamon County. He was a very hard working and successful farmer in Pawnee Township, where he was also the first merchant. He rounded out a life of seventy-seven years in that place. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weber: Miriam M.; Sarah A., deceased; Timothy, a resident of Agnew, Neb.; Eli, living in Pawnee Township; and Eva, in Valparaiso, Neb.
In the fall of 1883 our subject bought the place on which he now lives, and has since made valuable improvements so that it is one of the best farms in the vicinity. It comprises two hundred and sixty acres all tillable, well cultivated land, on which he has large and conveniently arranged buildings, a windmill, etc., and all the latest improved machinery. Mr. Shepherd also owns one hundred and ninety-four acres in Pawnee township, which is finely developed and improved. Our subject is extensively engaged in raising and feeding stock, and is said to be a good judge of cattle and horses. He is a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, belonging to the Ball Hall Lodge. In politics he is prominently identified with the prohibitionists of this locality and is an active member of the club here. Mrs. Shepherd is a lady of a lovable disposition, presides over her home with grace, and both she and her husband are very hospitable entertaining their friends right royally. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Oak Ridge. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the parents of two children; Stella M>, born December 25, 1856, and George W., August 16, 1890.