Direct descendant is highlighted in red

Born: 26 Aug 1875 Newport, Vermillion Co., IN Married: 18 Oct 1899 Quaker, Vermillion Co., IN Died: 9 Aug 1947 Dana, Vermillion Co., IN Buried Helt's Prairie Cemetery, Vermillion Co., IN FATHER Lewis Shepard MOTHER Susan R. Hannahs HUSBAND Earle O. White CHILDREN 1. Warren Shepard White      b. 06 Oct 1901      d. 01 May 1903 2. Joe White     b. 19 Dec 1902

Grace Shepard.  On the back is written "to my dearest cousin Bertha with lots of love.  Jan 11, '93

Grace Shepard was born on 26 Aug 1875. (1) Her mother died on 22 Nov 1880, probably in childbirth as there is a tombstone for "baby Shepard" who died in 1880 in the family graveyard plot.  So, Grace lost her mother when she was five and was raised as an only child by her father who lived with his parents and unmarried sisters in the Shepard Family Home. Grace was surrounded by aunts and cousins.  (2)  She was a smart and attractive girl.  She attended Saint Mary's Hall in Indianapolis and won the math price there on 8 June 1893. (3) One day after Earle had graduated from Purdue in 1897, Grace's father, Dr. Lewis Shepard, met up with Earle's father, Sam White, on the road common to their houses.  Lewis asked if Earle was home from Purdue and then mentioned they were having a party at their house the next weekend.  The fathers decided it would be nice for Earle and Grace to get better acquainted and Sam offered that "Earle will be at the party."  Earle and Grace began dating.  (4) They were married two years later on 18 Oct 1899. (5)
In 1901 before any of their children were born, they took a trip to Florida and her father, Dr. Lewis Shepard, went with them.  (6)
Their first son Warren Shepard White, was born in Oct 1901 and he and his mother became very will.  Grace was expecting her second child and when that son was born in Dec 1902 he was given just the name JOE because they did not think he would survive.  Warren died five months later in May of 1903.

Grace must have recovered because she was soon pregnant again and gave birth to her third child on 8 Jan 1905.  In all she had six children, but with the last dying at birth.  The first four children were born in Dana, Indiana where Earle was half owner of the State Bank of Dana.  They loved camping and playing games. (7)  They moved to Arcadia in 1908 to settle some business affairs of Earle's brother Cliff, and then back to Vermilion County Indiana in 1910.  Earle built a beautiful brick house. (8) During World War II the "Brick House" was confiscated by the government since it was too close to the Army Compound testing biological warfare.  In 1942 the family moved back to Dana where Joe had been born. Grace loved a social gathering and hosted many a gathering.  When their first grandson, Joe David White, was born in 1932 she invited all of his relatives from both sides of his family. (9)
Grace died of pancreatic cancer on 9 Aug 1947 at the age of 71.  She was buried in Helt's Prairie Cemetery.

Grace was given a photograph album from her "Grandma Grandpa Hannahs"  Dec 25, 1887.  This album was filled with many Shepard relatives by Grace's grandmother, Eliza Johnson Shepard.  There were also photos of "Aunt Sally Hannahs Monet", "Lucretia Sexton", etc. 

Sources

(1) Hoosier State Newspaper
Thursday, September 2, 1875
 "Born--To Lewis Shepard and his wife Susie Shepard on the evening of August 26, 1875, a daughter, Grace Shepard."

(2) Shepard Family Home
Grace may be standing on the balcony

(3)

Grace at the age of 13, 1888Grace at the age of 13, 1888

Grace Shepard

A Book of Lowell's Poems was awarded to Grace Shepard on 8 Jun 1893     Presented by Mrs Wm H Budd, St Mary's Hall, Indianapolis.   Grace holding Book of Lowell's Poems

(4) Dating about 1888/9

(5) Marriage Record
Earle O White to Grace Shepard
18 October 1899  Vermillion County, Indiana

Wedding Announcement from The Hoosier State Wednesday, October 25, 1899 front page

White-Shepard Wedding  "On last Wednesday evening, Oct 18th, at the residence of the bride's father, near Quaker, Indiana, was the occasion of the wedding of Mr. Earl Overton White and Miss Grace Shepard, daughter, and only child of Dr. Lewis Shepard.  Promptly at 8 o'clock, the designated time for the ceremony, Mendelsohn's wedding march was commenced by Professor Blue of Montezuma, which continued through the entire ceremony.  At 8:10 the Rev. Edwin G. Hunter, clergyman of the Episcopal church of Louisville, KY., came into the parlor dressed in the prescribed apparel of his office - black gown, covered with white, and wearing the surplice.  He took his position in the rear of two handsome pillows lying on the floor; while behind him the corner of the room was beautifully decorated with large green foliage plants, giving to that portion of the room a most tropical appearance.  In a few moments the groom, and his groomsman, Mr. Gilbert Jump of Muncie, Ind., made their appearance, and took position at the left of the clergyman.  They were followed by the Maid of Honor, Miss Augusta Hunter of Louisville, KY and the bridesmaid, Miss Lena Nixon of Newport who placed themselves at the right of the clergyman.  Then came the bride leaning on the arm of her father and took their position in from of the clergyman and pillows.  The ceremony performed was the beautiful ring ceremony of the Episcopal church.  The father giving away the bride and the bride and groom kneeling upon the pillows when receiving the clergyman's final blessing.  It was a most solemn and impressive ceremony.  The groom and groomsman were dressed in conventional black.  The bride was very daintily attired in white silk mull, with trimmings of white satin and lace and carried a large bouquet of white roses.  Miss Augusta Hunter maid of honor was dressed in white Paris muslin, and carried a bunch of cream roses.  Immediately after the ceremony the bride and groom lead the way to the dining room, where refreshments were served, consisting of ice cream, cake and chocolate. The entire house was artistically decorated with branches of oak leaves in the Autumn tints, and flowers which gave a beautiful effect.  The bride received many handsome and useful presents.  There were present some 40 guests who enjoyed themselves until a late hour."

(6) Florida  March 1901

(7) Early life of camping and playing games

Grace and Earle on leftt

Grace in Miami, FL March 1901

Earle and Grace

Earle and Grace

Grace is in the middle

(8) Brick House built in 1910

Brick House in Vermillion Co. built by Earle White.  Earle hired Brandt Steele, son of the artist T. C. Steele as the architect. The house and property were called "Oak Lawn Farm" because of all the lovely old oak trees.  According to the family that took over the house, Carrie Hazelwood, "The house is around 4800 sq feet. It has six bedrooms upstairs (one of the bedrooms we think was used by the maid), there is a huge living room the length of the front of the house, two main stairways - one formal, located in the front foyer, and one common located in the back that leads from the back door/kitchen area.  There is also a room we call "the office" on the first floor off the main foyer.  All of the woodwork/doors in the house are made of oak and the floors throughout are all oak."   According to family lore, the architect neglected to put in a way to support the staircase, hence the later addition of the support beam seen in the photo above.

Dining Room

Kitchen

Living Room

(9)  Grace with the family

1915

Earle and Grace 1919

4th of July 1932.  Shown at right are: back row ?, Earle White, ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Grace Shepard White, Ethel Spillman Zimmerly, J. Earl Zimmerly, ?   Front row Catherine Zimmerly, ?, Elizabeth Zimmerly White, ?, Martha White, Mary Zimmerly, ? ? Mary White, ?

1937 John Robert White, Grace, Martha, David White and Mary

(10) Death Certificate 

(11) Obituary from Dana News August 14, 1947 Mrs. Grace Shepard White died at her home in Dana, Saturday morning, August 19th. (should read 9th)  She had been in poor health for a number of weeks. Mrs. White, daughter of Dr. Lewis and Susan H. Shepard, was born near Newport in 1874 and had lived there and in this vicinity her entire life.  In 1899 she married to E. E. White and to union five children were born, four of whom survive. In 1942, when their farm west of town was included in the Wabash River Ordinance Works area, the family moved to Dana, where they have since resided. Mrs. White was affiliated with the Episcopal Church but since moving to Dana had been active in the Methodist Church here. She was a member of the As You Like It Club, having served a number of years president, also served as president of the County Federation of Clubs.  She was also active in many other community activities. Besides her husband the following children survive: Max White and Mrs. Allen Helt, Dana,  Mrs. Robert Horn of Indianapolis and Joe White of Anderson, also several grandchildren and other relatives. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock at the Methodist Church with Rev. Niell officiating.  Internment was made in the Helts Prairie Cemetery with Kersey Funeral Home in charge.

Helt's Prairie Cemetery

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