Grayson County TXGenWeb

Col. Leven W. Shepherd
3 September 1836 - 24 March 1887

Died at the Soldiers' Home in Quincy, IL; aged 50y 6m 21d

A thunderbolt out of a clear sky could not be more unexpected than was the announcement which reached here shortly after noon yesterday that Col. L. W. Shepherd had dropped dead in the street at Quincy. As he was a man of fine appearance, of exemplary habits, and was known to almost all the citizens of Springfield, the report was almost too surprising for ready belief. The news first came in a telegraphic dispatch to Mrs. Henson Robinson from her husband who was in Quincy on a business visit. It was speedily confirmed by a similar dispatch sent by Gen. Charles E Lippincott, governor of the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, to the Hon. Milton Hay, who is an uncle of Mrs. Shepherd. Mr. Hay conveyed the distressing news to his niece, who is prostrated with grief over the sudden calamity.

The particulars are as follows: He was walking from the kitchen building, where meals are served, to the headquarters building, accompanied by other officials, when he suddenly stopped and fell to the ground, gasped two or three times and was dead.
Col. Shepherd has been in unusually good health, was about the city the preceding day on business for the Home, and yesterday morning was engaged in work at the institution as usual. The cause of his death was apoplexy. The news of his death spread rapidly throughout the city and cast a feeling of gloom over the entire community. Though he had resided in Quincy less than a year he had made many friends through his uniform courtesy, frankness and straightforward integrity, and the people of the city generally held him in the highest esteem. He was one of the most valuable officers of the Soldiers' Home, working with untiring zeal to advance and promote the interests of the institution.

Leven W. Shepherd was born in Leesburg, Loudon County, Virginia, Sept. 3, 1836. He came to Illinois in the year 1856 and was city clerk and comptroller during the years 1860 and 1861. In October of the latter year he married Miss Sarah Amos, daughter of Mr. Joshua Amos, of this city. He was a member of the Sangamon County board of supervisors in the years 1868-1869.

In 1862 President Lincoln appointed him assistant quartermaster at Fort Ridgely, Minn. He was transferred to Keokuk, Ia., where he commanded the fort for six months, going thence to Columbus, Ky., as deputy quartermaster. He was afterwards stationed at Chicago as disbursing quartermaster, thence going to Fort Kearney, Neb., at which place he resigned in October, 1865, and returned to Springfield and engaged in the lumber business. A few years later he went to Ottawa, Kan., and became first vice-president of the People's Bank of Ottawa. He lived in Texas a few years and laid out the town of Dennison, selling the first lot there in the year 1872. He was twice brevetted for faithful services during the war.

Herald Democrat
August 12, 2012
"Organizations Formed in Early Days of Denison"
Donna Hunt

"On January 27, 1873, just four months after first lots were sold in the growing town, the Free Masons of Denison met in the office of Dr. W. C. Feild to organize a lodge. A Colonel Shepherd offered a room in the upper floor of the National Bank Building as a meeting place."

The Humboldt Union
(Kansas)
March 10, 1877
pg 3
"Col. L. W. Shepherd, who has been living in Denison, Texas, for a number of years, was in the city last Saturday. We understand that he contemplates removing to Springfield, Ill."

Some ten or more years ago he returned to Springfield and became chief clerk in the office of collector of internal revenue under Col. Jonathan Merriam, a position which he also held under Collector Jacob Wheeler. He was a man of pure life and deep religious convictions and was a member of the official board of the First M. E. church in this city. He was one of the most zealous members of the Grand Army of the Republic and was district deputy grand master of the Masonic order in the State of Illinois. At the time of his death he held the positions of secretary and treasurer and superintendent of construction of the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' home at Quincy, and it was his intention to remove his family to that city in May.

Although the dispatches announce that the death was caused by apoplexy, it was known to a very few acquainted with the deceased that he was a sufferer from Bright's disease of the kidneys. The condition was talked over by doctors about two years ago and then stated that his lease of life was uncertain and that he probably would not live three years longer. The colonel had repeatedly told his wife that he did not expect to live to be 50 years old. He entered his 51st year last September. About a year ago, in conversation with some military friends on the subject of sudden deaths, he remarked that that was the way he desired to die.

Mrs. Shepherd's brother, Mr. John F. Amos, and Prof. J. H. Collins left last night for Quincy. They will return with the remains of the deceased this morning. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL March 25, 1887

Col. Shepherd is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois alongside his wife, Sarah E. Amos Shepherd, and mother, Elizabeth D. Shepherd.

"...most other streets are named for individuals who had roles in the development of the city...Shepherd [was name] for L.W. Shepherd,...agent for the Denison Town Company."
Maquire, Jack. Katy's Baby : the story of Denison, Texas. Austin, TX: Nortex Press, c1991; pg. 108