Eliza Johnson

 

AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red 

Eliza Johnson   see FAMILY TREE
Born: 11 Aug 1816  Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH

Married: 28 Jul 1835 Vermillion Co. IN

Died: 07 Dec 1890  Newport, Vermillion, IN

FATHER

John Johnson

MOTHER

Elizabeth unknown

HUSBAND

Ben Shepard 

  Eliza Johnson

CHILDREN

1.  Hiran Shepard
      b. 1 Jan 1836 Newport, Vermillion, IN
      m. 9 Jul 1889 to Susan Hutson
      d. 16 Dec 1898 Newport, Vermillion, IN

Dr. Hiram Shepard
2.   Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Shepard
      b. 10 Dec 1837 Newport, Vermillion, IN
      d. 22 Dec 1862 Newport, Vermillion, IN
      age 25
 
3.   Lewis Shepard
      b. 15 Nov 1839 Newport, Vermillion, IN
      m. 17 Jun 1874 to Susan R. Hannahs
      d. 22 Feb 1913 Dana, Vermillion, IN

Dr. Lewis Shepard
4.   Mary Elma Shepard
      b. 18 Jan 1842 Newport, Vermillion, IN
      m. 3 Nov 1869 to John Ellis Wright
      d. 26 Mar 1930 Indianapolis, Marion, IN
Mary Elam Shepard
Mary Elma Shepard Wright

5.   Harriet Ann (Hattie) Shepard
       b. 15 Mar 1844 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       m. 17 Oct 1871 to John Harlan
       d. 21 Mar 1919 Helt Twp, Vermillion, IN
Harriet Shepard
Harriet Shepard Harlan
6.  Caroline (Callie) Shepard
       b. 8 Jul 1846 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       d. 10 Jan 1869 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       age 22
Caroline (Callie) Shepard
Caroline Shepard
7.   Selina Wyatt (Leria). Shepard
      b. 11 Nov 1848 Newport, Vermillion, IN
      m. 20 Sep 1871 to David Handley
      d. 2 Feb 1915 Indianapolis, Marion, IN
Selina Shepard
Selina Shepard Handley
8.   Ellen Virlinda Shepard
       b. Abt. 1850 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       d. 03 May 1876 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       age 25
Ellen Shepard
Ella Shepard

9.   Judson Porter Shepard
       b. 28 Dec 1853 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       m. 28 Jan 1875 to Laura Ellen Manwaring
       d. 12 Mar 1929 Dana, Vermillion, IN

Judson Shepard
Judson Shepard
10. Florence Shepard
       b. 25 Nat 1858 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       m. 26 Jun 1890 to Benjamin Sewell Bothwell
       d. 26 Aug 1923 Harter, Clay, IL
Florence Shepard
Florence Shepard Bothwell
11. Susan M Shepard
       b. 6 Aug 1860 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       d. 25 Aug 1880 Newport, Vermillion, IN
       age 20

Susan Shepard

Eliza Johnson
by Susan Brooke
Aug 2023

 

According to her obituary , "Eliza, the wife of Ben Shepard, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, August 11, 1816.  She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Johnson, who came from Manchester, England in 1812."  (1) By 1830 she had moved to Vermillion Co., IN with her parents and in the 1830 census she was living just two doors away from Ben Shepard. (2) IN 1830 Ben was twenty two years old and had his widowed sister, Sophia, and her three children living with him. Eliza was about fourteen.  Five years later on 28 Jul 1835 Eliza and Ben Shepard were married in Vermillion Co. (3)  He was twenty-six and she was eighteen.
Eliza Johnson Shepard was one of the oldest of several children and even though they settled in different states, Eliza remained very close to at least one of her younger sisters, Linda.  In an album given to her granddaughter, Grace Shepard, Eliza had added a photo of her own sister, "Aunt Linda Houk".    See photo on her page, Verlinda Johnson
According to the obit of Harriet Shepard Harlan, Ben Shepard was an "honored and faithful member of long standing" in the Baptist church. The obituary on Ben Shepard says, "he was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church."   He and Eliza had 11 children. Hiram remained a Baptist. Lewis, Mary Elma, Salina, Ellen became Methodists. Harriet became a Methodist "in her girlhood" but later "went to the Baptist denomination." Caroline died in 1869 apparently having not joined any church. Susan died in 1880 also not having joined any church. The religion of the other three children is not known.  The obituary for Eliza, his wife, says the funeral was preached by the Rev. John W. Parrett.  Rev. Parrett was the Methodist minister who officiated at the funeral of Enoch White in 1878.
Eliza died 7 Dec 1890 in Newport, Vermillion, IN. (4) She was buried in Memorial Chapel Cemetery. (5)

Sources

(1) Obituary of Eliza Johnson Shepard
The Newport Hoosier State Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1890
"Obituary
Eliza, the wife of Ben Shepard, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, August 11, 1816.  She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Johnson, who came from Manchester, England in 1812.  She was married to Ben Shepard in 1835, with whom she lived in wedlock fifty-five years a faithful and devoted wife.  She was the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are still living.
The venerable husband and father, over whom have swept full eighty winters with all their storms, is still rich in character, wise in counsel, and respected by all about him.  The sons and daughters are the heads of other families, not to speak of all.  One son is Dr. Hiram Shepard, of Dana, another Dr. Lewis Shepard, of Newport, Ind. One daughter is the wife of J. E. Wright, and another the wife of Rev. David Handley, both of the Northwest Indiana Conference.  The grandchildren, like plants set a little farther from the center, are growing up in beauty and strength.
Mrs. Shepard was a Christian lady, wife and mother, she embraced religion and joined the M. E. church in early life.  She was an ornament in society, a helper in the church, prompt in duty, and generous in all her relations of life.  She had been the light of her home, the stay and charm of her husband.  The confidence and joy of her children and a central attraction among her neighbors for more than half a hundred years.  Her place is vacant, her hands are folded: her feet are still.  Life's great work is done.  She has gone to her rest and reward.  She died in the faith of Jesus, at her home on the 7th day of December, 1890  J. W. Parrett"

(2) 1830 census
John Johnson is two names away
Hiram Shepard is on the next page

(3) Married:  28 July 1835  Vermillion Co., IN
Marriage record

 

 
(4) Died: 07 Dec 1890  Newport, Vermillion Co., IN
The Newport Hoosier State Wednesday Dec 10, 1890
"Obituary
Death of Mrs. Ben Shephard
At 2"o'clock on last Sunday afternoon, the wife of Mr. Ben Shepard, residing seven miles west of here, died after a lingering illness.  She had been in poor health for a long time, and her death was no surprise to the family.  She was about 75 or 76 years old, and had been a resident of this township the most of her life.  She was a kind and good old lady, and very highly respected by all.  Her funeral took place at 10 a.m. yesterday at Vermillion chapel, the discourse being preached by Rev. John W. Parrett, who has been a warm friend of the family for many years."

(5) Buried: Memorial Chapel Cemetery, Vermillion Co., IN

 

Eliza wife of Ben Shepard died Dec 7, 1890 aged 74 yrs, 4 mo. 6 days

Shepard Plot at Memorial Chapel Cemetery.  A brick boundary can be seen surrounding the plot. Within the plot, starting at the far left, are Ben and Eliza Shepard with a tall chunky headstone. Next are four tall slim markers for their four unmarried daughters, Mary Elizabeth, Caroline (Callie), Ellen V and Susie. The next two large stones are Lewis Shepard and his wife Susan Hannahs Shepard.  The next tiny stone is for a baby Shepard. On the far right of the line is the marker for Elizabeth Johnson.