AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
| Benning (Ben) Shepard |
 Ben Shepard |
 Ben and Eliza Shepard |
see FAMILY TREE |
| Born: Abt 29 Oct 1808 Breckinridge Co. KY |
 Old Shepard Home Grace may be standing on balcony |
 Another View of Old Shepard Home |
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| Married: 28 Jul 1835 Vermillion Co. IN |
 Marriage Record |
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| Died: 11 Apr 1897 Newport, Vermillion Co., IN |
 Obituary from The Hoosier State Wednesday, April 14, 1897 |
"Obituary: Death of an old and respected citizen Uncle Ben Shepard, who had recently been making his home with his son, Dr. Lewis Shepard, near Quaker, this township, died a few minutes after 9 o'clock on last Saturday night. He had been in poor health for several years, and of late his mind had been failing him. Since the death of his wife a few years ago he had made his home most of his time with his son-in-law, Rev. J. E. Wright, who resides just south of Dana. The deceased was born in Kentucky in 1808, and moved to this county in 1828, being one among the early settlers of this county. Only a very few, who came here as early as he did are still living. Probably they all could be counted on one's fingers. In the early days of this county Mr. Shepard and Abel Sexton formed a partnership and and kept a general store on the corner south of Nixon's bank, in the building now owned by attorney M. G. Rhodes. By economy and good business judgment he accumulated enough to buy a large farm in the western part of the township, which he divided up a few years ago among the seven children who survive him. Mr. Shepard lived an honorable and upright life, and was very highly respected by every one. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and always tried to live a consistent and Christian life. His faults, if he had any, were few. He lived an exemplary life, and in his death a noble citizen has passed from among us to his reward in a brighter and better world than this. His funeral occurred at his old home ay 10 o'clock yesterday morning, which was very largely attended, after which his remains were followed to the Vermillion Chapel cemetery, four miles southwest of town and quietly laid away to rest." |
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| Buried: Memorial Chapel Newport, Vermillion Co. IN |
 Memorial Chapel |
%20(640x485).jpg) Shepard Family Plot at Memorial Chapel Left to right: Ben and Eliza, Lizzie, Callie, Ellen V, Susie |
%20(640x480).jpg) Ellen V and Susie (repeated), Lewis Shepard and Susan Hannahs Shepard (two large stones), infant Shepard (small stone) and Elizabeth Johnson |
FATHER
MOTHER
WIFE
CHILDREN
1, Hiran Shepard b. 1836
2. Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Shepard b. 1837
3. Lewis Shepard b. 1839
4. Mary Elma Shepard b. 1842
5. Harriet (Hattie) Shepard b. 1845
6. Caroline (Callie) Shepard b. 1846
7. Selina W. Shepard b. 1848
8. Ellen Virlinda Shepard b. 1850
9. Judson Porter Shepard b. 1854
10. Florence Shepard b. 1856
11. Susan Shepard b. 1860
| Benjamin Shepard was born in Breckinridge Co., KY in 1808. His father died when he was about three months old and his older sister, Sophia, about two In June 1812, his mother was paid $39 for boarding "One year & three months old (Benning) for one year & six months at 50 cents per week. $39.00" |
 Inventories & Sales Bills for estate of John Shepherd Box 1 Folder 5 |
His mother, Lucretia Shepherd, was listed as a widow in the 1810 Ky census with five children under sixteen living with her. Sometime after 1811 she moved to Perry Co., IN taking at least Ben and Sophia with her. She remarried to a James G. Jones in 1815 in Perry Co., IN. Her daughter, Sophia, also married there to a William Blanchard in 1824.
According to the obituary of his daughter, Elma Shepard Wright, "Benjamin Shepard, her father, was one of the pioneers of Vermillion county, coming to Newport from Hawesville, Ky., in 1827."
By 1824 Ben had purchased 700 acres of land in Vermillion Co., IN. Siblings Sophia and Hiram came to Vermillion Co about the same time. When his sister Sophia's husband, William Blanchard, died she and her three children moved in with Ben. They are all living together in the 1830 census for Vermillion Co., IN. Sophia remarried to a William Doss in 1832 in Vermillion Co., IN. Ben married Eliza Johnson in 1835. (In the 1830 census for Vermillion Co., IN the Jon Johnson farm is only two listings away.)
| Ben was a county commissioner in 1843. He was listed as a tanner in 1856. About 1852 Ben entered into a partnership with Abel Sexton on Lot 72 in Newport. In 1861 he and Abel Sexton won a law suit in civil court and won $224.00 from George W. Filson. |
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In 1826 Ben's brother, Hiram Shepherd, purchased land in Newport, Vermillion Co., IN.
One of Sophia's daughters, Lucretia Blanchard, married Abel Sexton in Vermillion Co., IN. Photos of Lucretia and Abel were found in the photograph album of Grace Shepard.
According to the obit of Harriet Shepard Harlan, Ben 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.
Ben and his wife must have believed in education for their children. According to the obituary of his daughter, Elma Shepard Wright, "Mrs. Wright's girlhood was prior to the establishment of our present efficient public school system, much less were there high schools available to the young people. During this period several heads of families in Newport, among which was Mr. Shepard, formed an association and established an 'academy' to give their children preparation for college. Teachers were brought from New England and as a result a number of the young people of Newport in the fifties were enabled to enter the institutions of higher learning."