MANLIEUS T. SHEPHERD. The Shepherds on the paternal side are of French ancestry. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was one of the patriotic Frenchmen who came with the distinguished Marquis de Lafayette to America, during the progress of the Revolutionary War, and participated with him in it. He was wounded in the battle of Yorktown, and rendered a cripple for the rest of his life. After the close of the Revolution, he married an American young lady and settled in Orange County, Va., where his three, sons, Philip, Lewis and William were born and reared to maturity. William, the father of our subject was born in 1794, and moved to Kentucky in 1825. His profession was that of a school-teacher and a professor of vocal music, and was engaged in teaching in Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, crossing the mountains many times on horseback and alone. Highwaymen were at that time numerous and frequently for hours he carried his life, as it were in his hands.

Our subject's father was married in Kentucky in 1827 to Miss Eveline H. Ball, whose parents had settled in Jessamine County, Ky., in 1825. The father, John Ball was a wealthy land and slave owner, and his wife was an own cousin of the first President of the United States. Both sides of the family were highly connected with the best social element of the State of Virginia and had all the advantages of culture and education. William Shepherd remained in Kentucky until 1859 when he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Sullivan, Moultrie County, where his decease took place in 1871. During the War of 1812 to 1814, he took an active part in the engagements as a private soldier. His wife, the mother of our subject, died in Sullivan, Ill., in 1874. There were born to William and Eveline H. Shepherd, five children; the eldest daughter married S. P. Alexander in Kentucky, in January, 1846. Mr. Alexander resides in this county and State. His wife died, leaving two children, one of whom was named James W. His decease took place in Sullivan, this State, in 1872. Louisa Bell, is the wife of W. W. Eden, County Clerk of Moultrie County. The family are now residents of Fresno, Cal. John B. the eldest son married Miss Sarah L. Hayden, of Shelby County, this State, and was at one time one of the business men of Sullivan, and is now a resident of Texarkana, Texas. Edwin L. married Miss Ann M. Hawkins, of Franklin County, Ky., and makes his home at Sullivan, this State.

Manlieus T. the subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the family, and he was born in Franklin County, Ky., February 28, 1835. His early educational advantages were limited and what knowledge of books he possesses, has been attained by his own efforts outside of the school-room, as he spent but a short time in the district school of his native State. He is a man who possesses more than an ordinary amount of observation and industry, and added to these qualities is a retentive memory.

When young Shepherd was in his nineteenth year he left home to go out into the world. His first employment began in 1854 and 1855, when he was engaged as guard at the Kentucky penitentiary at Frankfort. At that date there were but two hundred men imprisoned there. During a great part of the time, in which he was there occupied, he locked one of the main rows of cells in which slept Calvin Fairbanks, and one Doyle, who were under long sentences for assisting slaves to leave their masters. Every evening the name of each prisoner was called and he was personally acquainted with every man in the institution.

Our subject was next engaged as clerk in the Mansion House in Frankfort, Ky., where he remained for some time, and by his industry and close attention to business he gained the esteem and good will of his employers, and those with whom he came in contact. He remembers well John C. Crittenden, John C. Breckinridge, Charles S. Morehead, and John M. Harlan. present United States Judge. He afterward went to the Capital Hotel in the same city and remained there until 1857, when he went to Versailles, in Woodford County. He was well acquainted with Hon. Thomas F. Marshall, and also Buford, who killed Judge Elliot two years ago, (1889) at Frankfort, Ky., for deciding a great suit against him. Mr

. Shepherd continued as a hotel clerk until the spring of 1858, when he came to this State, stopping in Sullivan, this county, where he engaged with his brother. John B., in the grocery and restaurant business. He had about $200 and this he invested in the business which was necessarily commenced on a small scale, but gradually grew to large proportions and gravitated into general merchandising. In that business the brothers continued together until 1867, when our subject came to Lovington with part of the stock, to which he made additions, and together they carried on an extensive business, and were the leading merchants of the two places for a number of years. They continued in partnership until 1867, when the partnership was dissolved, the older brother taking the stock and store-house in Sullivan, and our subject the Lovington store-house and stock. Mr. Shepherd continued the business in this place with great success, and in 1870, he added private banking to his business. This latter branch gradually absorbed so much of his time that he began curtailing his merchandising, added the real estate business, and a few years later, went out of the mercantile business entirely, since which time he has given hib whole attention to his private banking, and the care of his real estate, having about six hundred acres of land and being the owner of a large number of the best dwelling and business houses in Lovington and Sullivan.

On February 7, 1870. the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Miss Maria J. Mullikin, a native of Johnson County, Ind. This marriage has been blessed by the advent of seven children. Justin M. has been a most progressive and ambitious student, and graduated from the Lovington High School at the age of sixteen years, receiving his diploma from Eureka College at the age of seventeen years. Ollie Jewel, Earl T., Blossom, and Paul T. died in infancy; Homer T., and Flossie, complete the family circle. Mrs. Shepherd, who is an estimable woman, and a leader of society in Lovington. is in her church relations a member of the Christian denomination. Politically our subject affiliates with the Democratic party.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 683/684

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