2. Infant Shepard

Lewis Shepard
by Susan Brooke
April 2023

Lewis Shepard was born 15 Nov 1839 in Newport, Indiana. (1)  On 1 Jul 1863 he and his brother Hiram Lewis were both called for service in the Civil War, but there is no evidence that either of them served. (2)  His obituary says he attended school in Chicago in the early sixties. (13) His Latin grammar book and dictionary with his signatures have come down to his heirs. (3) After reading medicine for a time with the late Dr. Cook, he attended the Miami University at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which institution he received his degree of Doctor of medicine.  He was 26 years old when he "went to the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended lectures two years, graduating in 1868." (4)   While at school in Cincinnati he often went to visit his sister, Callie at St Agnes Hall in Terre Haute, IN and it was there that he met Callie's dear friend, Susan Hannahs.  Susan was almost 16 years old and kept a diary. In Feb 1866 she recorded how happy she was that Callie's brother H. Shepard had come for a visit.  Callie's brother Lewis came from Cincinnati to visit two weeks later and brought her some oranges and "they were luscious." (5) 
Lewis graduated in 1868 and  became a doctor. (6) As stated Lewis had been under the instruction of  Dr. J. C. Cook  who had married Sarah Jane Hannahs, a sister of James Hannahs. Susan Hannahs was a daughter of James Hannahs and thus a niece of Dr. J. C. Cook. 
After graduation he lived with his parents and practiced medicine in Quaker Hill.  Then on 17 Jun 1874 he married Susan Hannahs.  (7) He was 34 and Susan was 24.  He moved to Newport and took up practice in Newport and his brother Hiram, also a doctor, practiced in Dana.   Lewis and Susan had a daughter Grace Shepard the next year.  He often rode his horse out to see his patients. On one occasion his horse "took fright" and dashed off at such speed that the doctor was thrown from the horse knocking out his knee cap and breaking his finger. (8) However, all in all, life was probably good.  He built a barn on his lot in the west end of town. (9) In the 1880 census he and his wife and 4 year old daughter were living at 194/5 Hopkin Street in Newport. (10) .  Then in 1880 his wife and newly born child both died.  Grace was five years old.  He apparently moved back in with his parents in Quaker and his daughter Grace, aged 5, had her grandparents,  many cousins and aunts and uncles close by. (11)  Lewis retired in 1890. (13) His daughter married Earle White in 1899 and in the 1900 census he was listed as living with his brother Judson Shepard in Quaker. (12) Later he moved in with his married daughter Grace. 
Dr. Lewis Shepard must have suffered for several years.  His death certificate stated that he died of chronic cystitis. (1)  He died at the home of his daughter Grace whose husband, Earle White, had built a Brick House on the lot next to the Old Shepard home in Quaker in 1910.  He died there on 20 Feb 1913 at the age of 73. (13)

Sources 

(1)  Death Certificate

Lewis Shepard
Born: Nov 15, 1839
Died:  Feb'ry 20, 1913 Chronic Donatative Cystitis
Father: Benjamin Shepard born in Kentucky
Mother: Elizabeth Johnson born in Ohio
Informant E. O White

(2) Draft Record

Hiram Shepard, aged 27 unmarried, farmer
Lewis Shepard, aged 22 unmarried, farmer

A service record for a Lewis "Shepherd" in 164th Regiment, company K

(3) A Greek Grammar book is inscribed "Lewis Shepard, University of College"

Grammar of the Latin Language, 1861 Title Page	Grammar of the Latin Language, 1861 Inscription:   Lewis Shepard   Univesity
An Abridgment of Ainsworth's Dictionary, English and Latin Title Page	An Abridgment of Ainsworth's Dicitonary Inscription:  Lewis Shepard University of Chicago

(4) Biographical and Historical Record of Vermillion County, Indiana, 1888 pg 389
"Lewis Shepard, M. D. a prominent physician of Newport, is a native of Vermillion County, born November 15, 1839, a son of Benjamin and Eliza (Johnson) Shepard. He was raised in this county, spending his early life on his father's farm. In 1865 he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. C. Cook, remaining under his instruction two years, when he went to the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended lectures two years, graduating in 1868. In the same year he began his practice at Quaker Hill, remaining there until 1874, when he moved to Newport, where he has since built up a large practice. Dr. Shepard was married in 1874 to Susie Hannahs, a native of Ohio. They have one child - Grace. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, Vermillion Lodge, No. 594. In politics he is a Democrat. Dr. Shepard has a good home in the village of Newport."

(5) Typed version of Diary of Susan Hannahs

1866, Feb 7, Morning, 8 o'clock - I met with a happy surprise.  I was called down to see my friend H. Shepard, my dear friend Callie's brother.  1866 Feb 22 - Evening-Levee, and there was quite a number from town here.  Louis came from Cincinnati.  Callie was sick he came up in 32 had a gay time in general.  Wrote a long letter home after 10 o'clock. 1866 Feb 23 - Louis came up in the morn, brought us some oranges and they were lucious.

(6) Newport Hoosier State
Aug 12, 1885 page 8
The following physicians of this county have complied with the provisions of the state law requiring practicing physicians to have license:
Lewis Shepard, diploma, dated 1868, Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, O.
Hiram Shepard, diploma dated 1869, Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio

(7) Marriage License
Lewis Shepard to Susie R. Hannahs 17 Jun 1874 Vermillion, Indiana

Wedding announcement from Hoosier State June 18, 1874

A Brilliant Wedding The palatial residence of Wm. I Porter, of this place, was the scene of one of the most brilliant weddings yesterday evening that has taken place in Newport for a long time, being the occasion of the marriage of Miss Susan Hannahs, a beautiful and dashing young lady, to Dr. Lewis Shepard.  The costume of the bride was exquisite in the extreme.  The groom was dressed in plain black and presented a handsome appearance.  A few special friends and a large number of relatives of the groom and bride were present to witness the two united in wedlock, which was duly performed near 8 o'clock last evening by the Rev. John W. Parrett.

(8) Attending physician Hoosier State Feb 18, 1875 Dr. Lewis Shepard was the attending physician when a lady was badly burned when her clothes caught on fire.

Hoosier State Nov 22, 1877 Dr. Lewis Shepard thrown from horse on the way to see a patient. His knee cap was knocked out of place and he broke a finger.

(9) From the Hoosier State from Newport, Ind. Aug 3, 1876
"Dr. Lewis Shepard has just completed a substantial little barn on his lot in the west part of town."
  

(10) 1880 census

(11)  Photos

1894  Dr Lewis Shepard standing.  Grace on the right.

1899 Grace, Earle White and Dr. Lewis Shepard 1900

\ 1901 in Miami Florida with daughter Grace and her husband Earle White

1904 camping with Earle and grandson Joe White.  Lewis Shepard in the hammock

1905 on the farm Mile White, Rose Gilmore White, Sam White, Lewis Shepard, Grace Shepard White, Effie Porter White, Cliff White

(12) 1900 census  Lewis Shepard was living with his married brother Judson Shepard in Quaker, IN

The Old Shepard Home was on the north side of the road that lead from I 71 to Quaker.

Old Shepard Home

Portrait of Dr. Lewis Shepard

(13) Obituary of Dr. Lewis Shepard from scrapbook kept by Grace Shepard "Dr. Shepard Dead Dr. Lewis Shepard died last Thursday evening after a brief illness. He had been in poor health for a year or more, but until the last few weeks he had been able to go. He had made his home with his daughter since her marriage and it was there he died. The following obituary was read at the funeral held Saturday morning. Dr. Lewis Shepard, son of Ben and Eliza Shepard, was born in Newport, Indiana, November 15,1839, and departed this life February 20,1913, at the age of 73 years, 3 months and 5 days. He was married to Miss Susie Hannahs, June 17, 1874. To this union were born two children, the youngest dying in infancy. His wife died November 22, 1880. Dr. Shepard attended the Chicago University in the early sixties, and after reading medicine for a time with the late Dr. Cook, attended the Miami University at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which institution he received his degree of Doctor of medicine, and immediately began the practice of his profession, at the home of his father, remaining there until his marriage, when he removed to Newport, where he continued in the practice of his profession until about the year 1890, when on account of failing health he retired from active practice and returned to the family home. Since the marriage of his daughter, Mrs. Earl White, he has made his home with her. Dr. Shepard was a man of genial disposition, honorable and upright of character, a successful practitioner and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Almost his entire life was spent within a few miles of the place of his birth. Among the people of his earliest knowledge he practiced his profession with philanthropic zest, while health and strength permitted, and in his later years enjoyed the home of his daughter and her family, and in the many weeks of his last illness there was no want which loving affection and dutiful hands could supply but was provided for. Funeral service at the home of his son-in-law, Earl White, February 22, 1913, at 10 o'clock a. m., conducted by Rev. David Handley of Frankfort, Ind., and Rev. C. E. Beebee of Dana. Burial at Memorial Chapel."

Obituary found in scrapbook kept by Grace Shepard

Obit from The Hoosier State Newport, Indiana, Wednesday, Friday 26, 1913

 

"Dr Lewis Shepard Born Nov 15, 1839 Died Feb 20, 1913"

Shepard Family Plot at Memorial Chapel Left to right: Ben and Eliza, Lizzie, Callie, Ellen V, Susie

Ellen V and Susie (repeated), Lewis Shepard and Susan Hannahs Shepard (two large stones), infant Shepard (small stone) and Elizabeth Johnson