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JOSEPH SHEPHERD, SR. A goodly number of the old settlers of the county have secured a sufficient amount of worldly goods to ensure them against want in their declining years and enable them to surround themselves with many comforts unknown in their earlier days here, when markets were neither as near nor as adequate as at present. Among those of this number who are worthy of notice is the subject of these paragraphs, whose portrait is presented on the opposite page. He is the owner of a large farm in Woodside Township and has there every needful and convenient arrangement for the furtherance of the work of the estate and the comfort of the family circle. The farm comprises four hundred and eighty acres of land that is under first-class tillage and is made to produce abundantly in due season.
Mr. Shepherd was born in Shepherdstown, W. Va., June 11, 1816, and is the fourth in a family of eight children. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Byers) Shepherd, natives of the same place as himself. The father died there in 1833, and the widowed mother subsequently coming to this county, died in Pawnee Township. The son of whom we write remained in his native place until he was about twenty years of age, learning those lessons from books, observation and home training that fitted him for the battle of life. In the fall of 1836 he came to this county and established himself in Woodside Township, where he has continued to reside, accumulating a competence from year to year.
In this township Mr. Shepherd was joined in holy wedlock to Fanny Smith, an estimable lady, who was born in Franklin County, Pa., and who shared his joys and sorrows until 1866, when she was called from time to eternity. Of her children, eight in number, the following are now living: John T., James H., Joseph, Jr., and Saloma. Saloma is now the wife of George Doane and lives in this township. The present capable wife of Mr. Shepherd was born in the Old Dominion and bore the maiden name of Lydia Byers. She went to Ohio with her parents, Abraham and Margaret (Bramhall) Byers, natives of Virginia, when she was but eight years old, grew to womanhood there and married Matthias Haggard. That gentleman died, leaving to the widowed mother's care a daughter, Margaret, who makes her home with Mr. Shepherd. The result of the present union of Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd is two living children - William A. and Lydia.
For some thirty years Mr. Shepherd has been serving in the capacity of School Director. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church and he has held the positions of Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee. Both manifest a deep interest in whatever promises to increase the material prosperity of the citizens or add to their moral and intellectual status. They are therefore looked upon with esteem as helpful, honorable members of society.