My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. SHEPARD, the cultured private Secretary of the Hon. W. T. Palmer, President of the National Commission of the World’s Columbian Exposition, is also the able editor and proprietor of the Vigilant, a Republican organ published in Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich. Our subject comes from a patriotic and distinguished ancestry worthily represented upon the field of 1776. Mr. Shepard is a native of the Old Bay State, and was born at North Brookfield, Mass., November 24, 1840. His parents, Rev. James and Lucy (Bush) Shepard, were also natives of New England, where the father was well known and highly respected as a man of rare integrity of character, a true Christian and an eloquent preacher of the Gospel. The paternal grandfather, Gen. Shepard, actively participated in the struggles and triumphs of the Revolutionary days, and with gallant conduct and courageous endurance nobly bore his part in the war for “God and Liberty.” Descended from a family who thoroughly appreciated the advantages of a liberal education, our subject enjoyed extended opportunities for study, and completed a course of classical instruction at the Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. Later Mr. Shepard studied dental surgery in Boston, and fitted himself for the duties of that profession.

During the Civil War our subject served in the Medical Department of the United States Navy, and when peace again blessed the land exchanged his military duties for those of a civilian. Since his location in Cassopolis he has devoted his time mainly to the cares and perplexities of editorial life. Under his excellent management the Vigilant has an extended circulation and is one of the most popular local papers of Cass County. It contains, aside from home items, much of interest concerning the world at large, and with its spicy editorials is both readable and instructive. Typographically, it is an attractive paper and is likewise an important factor in the advancement and progressive movements of Cass County. The political preferences of Mr. Shepard are clearly indicated in the organ which he controls, and as an advocate of “the Party of Reform” the utterances of the Vigilant are clear and logical. Our subject was elected to represent Cass and Van Buren Counties in the Michigan State Senate of 1879, and, placed upon important committees, discharged the duties devolving upon him with efficiency and to the great satisfaction of his constituents.

Since March 1, 1883, Mr. Shepard has occupied the position of private Secretary to the Hon. T. W. Palmer, of Detroit, his education and fine business attainments peculiarly adapting him to the requirements of his complex work. Throughout the entire time of the Hon. T. W. Palmer’s term of office in the United States Senate and also during his service as President of the National Commission of the World’s Columbian Exposition, our subject has been intimately associated with the leading social and national events of the day. Upon November 28, 1870, James M. Shepard and Miss Alice M. Martin were united in marriage. The accomplished wife of our subject was the daughter of Hiram and Margaret (Silver) Martin. The Silver family were originally from Hopkinton, N. H., and were among the substantial citizens of New England. Mr. Martin was from Batavia, N. Y. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Shepard has been blessed by the birth of a son and daughter, Melville J. and Blanche. Our subject and his family are important factors in the various social and benevolent enterprises of their home locality and enjoy the esteem and best wishes of a host of friends.