Friends of the 518, William Shephard Home

Friends of the 518, William Shephard Home Our goal is to save the historic home of William Shephard; a prominent Jerseyville pioneer, and turn

Our goal is to save the historic home of William Shephard; a prominent Jerseyville pioneer, and turn it into a first class Bed and Breakfast showcasing Victorian splendor and the rich history this prominent family and the impact they had on our town

More pictures of the Shephard family
05/07/2025

More pictures of the Shephard family

Alright. The oven is up and I'm waiting on an electrition.I still want to sell pumpkin pies as a fundraiser for Kirby's....
11/14/2023

Alright. The oven is up and I'm waiting on an electrition.

I still want to sell pumpkin pies as a fundraiser for Kirby's. These pies will be homemade using my great grandmother Morgan's recipe. These pies will be ready to pick up next Wednesday. Since this is a fundraiser the pies will be $12 each. If you would like to order a pie or two, leave your order on here. I will confirm that I got your order.

08/04/2023

There isn't much more we can do to save the Shephard family home located at 518 South State Street, except hope that one day someone with money can step up and same this piece of our towns history, before it's to late.

We had always hoped that maybe, some how, all the families who are descendants of William Shephard, would come together to help save their families history. But to date that has not happened. Every time we meet or talk, to members of these families they all talk about their part in the family history and how proud they are of this history.

The last person with the last name Shephard passed away in the 1930's but these descendents have kept the Shephard name alive by naming their children after members of the Shephard family. Some has "Shephard" as their middle name. One group of female cousins were even known as, "The Shephard Girls"

These families have evey right to be proud to be a part of the Shephard family. If it wasn't for William Shephard, and his children, Jerseyville would be a lot different place today. They had a part in creating so much of what we take for granted today. William was instrumental in bringing the railroad to/through town. He, along with his sons, established the first bank, the first car dealership, the first Catholic church in Jersey County, helped bring the first telephone service to town. Several served as mayor, post master and treasure. Some were Illinois seniors. Some were very active in the beginning of St. Francis Xavier Catholic church and served there in some capacity for the rest of their lives. William Shephard helped optain the land that the curent St. Fancis Xavier sits today. Upon completion of the church. William Shephard donated the churches alter. The Shephards were also instrumental in starting the local chapter of Knights of Columbus here. They were also involved in real estate and were instrumental in developing different residential areas of town. Mary Shephard, had the distinction of being the first female born in Jersey County.

As you can see, the Shephard descendants do have much to be proud of. Over the past few years we have been honored to get to meet so many of you and hear your family stories. For this, I will always be greatful.

Jerseyville likes to talk about the Cheney's and show off their family home. It is a beautiful home and I am glad that Mr. Brown stepped up and bought it for the historical society. Personally, I believe if you put the Cheney's, next to the Shephards, the two families accomplishments don't compare. Sadly, the Shephards have basically been forgotten. Our original plan was to save their beloved family home and use it to to bring the Shephard name back to the prominence it deserves.

I believe the struggle we've had is because the people of Jerseyville don't know who the Shephards were and the effects this family had.They see this big old house as the former 518 South Restaurant. That is all and wr think that's pretty sad.

06/05/2023

I want to give a big thank you to Barbara J. Billings Schwartz. She is a Shephard descendant. and she put together a notebook full of newspaper clippings and pictures from the Shephards. Some of it I've seen before but much was new too. She also had some pictures I had never seen before. I can't wait till I can sit down and really go through all of it.

I don't want to say much about this right now but want to get this out there. It looks like the Shephard home again coul...
08/25/2022

I don't want to say much about this right now but want to get this out there. It looks like the Shephard home again could be slated for demolition. I sure would hate to see this happen. This house and the Shephard family are very historically important to the development of this town. We put so much emphasis on the Cheney family and their home, but personally I think the Shephard family played a much bigger part of the development of our town that the Cheneys' Please I need to hear from you with ideas and if you would like to work to save this great piece of our history

07/26/2021

Today I was out driving from small town to small town. In these towns I looked to see how they represented themselves to people passing through. In several I found historic homes with really nice signs out front telling the history and about the families that lived there and the effect they had on the town. When you come into the historic city center of Jerseyville the first thing that greets you is the William Shephard home. We really want to see this beautiful home as a welcome center with not only the history of the Shephards but the part they played on the development of Jerseyville. We would also see brochures walking maps and other things for tourists promoting our local businesses. Then after house we want to turn the home in to a Bed and Breakfast with true country hospitality.

04/21/2021

DEATH OF MISS ANNIE M. SHEPHARD

Follows That of Older Sister – Double Funeral Service to be Held on Wednesday at St Francis Church

After weeks of illness, during which members of her family have been constant attendances at her bedside. Miss Annie M. Shephard passed quietly and peacefully away Sunday night at 8:15 o'clock at the family home on South State Street. Her death occurred just three days after that of her oldest sister, Miss Mary Elizabeth Shephard, whose illness had extended over a period of many months.

The death of Miss Annie M. Shephard is the seventh in the immediate family within a period of five years, three sisters, Misses Flora and Louise Shephard and Mrs. Lelia T. Smith, one brother, Harry A Shephard, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Harriet Shephard, having passed away within this time

Harry A. Shephard, whose death occurred in 1925, was for many years a member of the Illinois State Legislature and a prominent man in political circles in the state.

Miss Annie M. Shephard was born in Jerseyville, November 11, 1855, the daughter of William and Ann Maria (Gross) Shephard. William was one of the early settlers of Illinois and one of the most prominent men in Jersey County. At the time of the death, Miss Annie M. Shephard she was 72 years and one month of age. Her oldest sister, Mary Elizabeth Shephard, was born in the city August 23, 1841, and at the time of her death last Thursday, she was 86 years, 3 months and 15 days of age. The house in which Miss Mary was born was located on North State street on the present site of Jacoby Brothers store. Miss Shephard for a great many years has been the oldest woman residing in this city who by birth was a native of Jerseyville.

After completing their course in the grade schools of Jerseyville, both Miss Mary and Miss Annie attended the Young Ladies' Seminary in this city, completing their education at Ursuline Convent in Alton. During their lives they have been faithful and devout Christians and have done a great deal for St. Francis Xavier's Church, of which they have been life long members.

They leave surviving them one nephew, William F. Shephard, three nieces Misses Harriet and Louise Shephard and Mrs. Carl E. Thatcher, two great-nephews Jack and Billy Jim Thatcher and four great-nieces Helen Louise, Mary Matilda, and Betty Shephard and Harriet Virginia Thatcher.

Funeral services for Miss Mary E Shephard were to have been held Monday morning, December 12, at St. Francis Xavier's Church but upon the death of her sister, Miss Annie, Sunday evening, the funeral was postponed and a double funeral service will be held from that church Wednesday, December 14, at 9:30 a.m. Solemn Requiem High Mass will be celebrated, Rev. Fr. J.J. Clancy, celebrant. Internment will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery.

Those who will serve as pall-bearers for Miss Mary E. Shephard are: Robert E. Flynn, George W. Campbell, W.A. Leigh, Frank J. Powers, Otto Eck and T.W. Kirby Jr. Pall-bearers for Miss Annie M. Shephard will be the following: G.G. Reardon, W.T. Summer, Harry Redlich, Frank J. Munsterman, Clifford E. Stanley, James Walsh, John J. Quinn and J.J. Brown.

04/15/2021

Our sponsor T-Mobile is looking to give one small town a $3,000,000 "Hometown Techover" — here's how to enter the contest.

03/26/2021

DEATHS

Miss Mary Elizabeth Shephard

Miss Mary Elizabeth Shephard passed away at her home on South State Street in this city, Thursday, December 8, at 10:06 p.m. after a lingering illness which covered a period of many months. Miss Shephard, who was the oldest daughter of William and Ann Maria (Gross) Shephard, was born in Jerseyville, August 23, 1841, and at the time of her death was 86 years, 3 months and 11 days of age. The house in which she was born was located on North State Street on the present site of Jacoby Brothers store. Miss Shephard was for a great many years been the oldest woman residing in this city who by birth was a native of Jerseyville.

The death of Miss Shephard is the sixth to occur in the immediate family with in a period of about five years, three sisters Misses Flora and Louise Shephard and Mrs. Lelia T Smith, one brother, Harry A Shephard, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Harriet Shephard, having passed away in that time. Surviving her are one sister, Miss Anna Shephard, who is critically ill at her home, one nephew, William F. Shephard, and three nieces, Misses Harriet and Louise Shephard, and Mrs. Charl E. Thatcher.

During Miss Shephard's life she has been a faithful and devout Christian and has done much for St. Francis Xavier's church, of which she has been a life-long member. Funeral services will be held from the home to St. Francis Xavier's church. Monday, December 12, at 9:30 o'clock. Requiem high mass will be celebrated. Internment will be in St. Francis Xavier's cemetery.
- Alton Evening Telegraph, Dec. 10 1927

03/24/2021

MISS MARY SHEPHARD

Miss Shephard Celebrates Eightieth Birthday

Miss Mary E. Shephard celebrated the 8th anniversary of her birth last Wednesday, and in honor of the event a family dinner was given at the Shephard home on South State Street.

Miss Shephard is without doubt the oldest native citizen of Jersey County and is a daughter of the late Senator and Mrs. William Shephard of Jerseyville. She is the sister of Henry A. Shephard who for the last several terms has been a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and is the aunt of William A. Shephard, Mayor of Jerseyville.

Although four score years of age, Miss Shephard is remarkably active and has the last few years been able to do the very finest and daintiest sewing, making many beautiful clothes for her little grand nieces and nephews, in whom she taken the keenest interest.

The guests at the dinner Wednesday were Mayor and Mrs. William F. Shephard and daughters, Helen, Louise and Mary Matilda, Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Thatcher and children. Miss Harriet Shephard, Misses Flora, Anna and Louise Shephard. Mrs. Lelia T Smith and H.A. Shephard. - Alton Evening Telegraph, August 31, 1922

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Miss Mary Shephard Eighty-Four

Miss Mary Shephard, sister of the late H. A. Shephard, passed her 84th birthday Monday, and owing to her serious illness the day was celebrated very quietly in her room, only her relatives being allowed to call on her. Miss Shephard is the oldest living resident of Jerseyville who was born in this city. - Alton Evening Telegraph, August 26, 1926

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518 South State Street
Jerseyville, IL
62052

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