Orrin W. Shepherd

ORRIN W. SHEPHERD. - A well known and influential resident of Kansas City, Kansas, and one of its substantial business men, Orrin W. Shepherd is a large real estate owner and deals extensively in realty. A Californian by birth, he was born November 19, 1858, at San Juan, a son of Adam Shepherd.

Adam Shepherd was born in 1822, in Ohio, and died in Wyandotte county, Kansas, in 1907. Seized with the gold fever in 1849, he followed the trail of the emigrant to California, crossing the plains with ox teams. He busily plied the pick and drill for a few years, but not getting satisfactory returns for his labor subsequently turned his attention toward farming, and there continued his residence until 1869. Coming eastward with his family in that year, he located at Edwardsville, Wyandotte county, Kansas, and was here a tiller of the soil during his remaining years. He was a man of honesty and integrity, and a trust-worthy member of the Christian church. In politics he was independent voting for men and measures he deemed best. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Allen, was born in Iowa, in 1828, and died at Edwardsville, Kansas, in 1892. Of their four children, three are now living, namely: Emma, wife of John Davis; Ida, wife of John Grinter; and Orrin W.

Attending the schools of San Juan, California, as a boy, Orrin W. Shepherd completed his early education in Wyandotte county, Kansas. Beginning his active career as clerk in a store, he worked at that employment day times, while his evenings were spent in the Edwardsville station of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, where he learned telegraphy. In 1880 Mr. Shepherd located at Linwood, Leavenworth county, where he remained eight years, being engaged in mercantile pursuits the first seven years, and in the real estate business one year. Coming to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1888, he embarked in the real estate and loan business, which he carried on successfully for five years. In 1893 Mr. Shepherd was elected county recorder, and held the office two terms. Turning his attention then to mercantile pursuits, he opened three stores, one in Riley, Kansas, one at Iola and another at Manhattan. Disposing of all of his mercantile interests in 1900, he again took up his residence at Kansas City, Kansas, where he now holds quite an amount of valuable real estate, and also owns the Husted Building.

Mr. Shepherd married, January 1, 1885, Nellie Reid, who was born in Wyandotte county, Kansas, a daughter of H. F. and Jane (Butler) Reid, being the sixth child in a family of ten children. H. F. Reid was born in 1824, in Maine, and there spent his earlier years. Coming with his family to Kansas in the early sixties, he located in Wyandotte county, where he became in the course of time numbered among the more prominent of its agriculturists, continuing as a farmer until his death, in 1907. He was a Republican in politics, and served a number of terms as county commissioner. His wife was born in Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the parents of four children, namely: Glen Reid, Gay N., Grace and Gertrude. Politically Mr. Shepherd supports the principles of the Republican party, and fraternally he belongs to Wyandotte Lodge, No. 440 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is affiliated with other beneficial organizations.