The Portland daily press., 1878-07-22

field as chief of staff to Major General Welt
eel, acting in that capacity. and for short
time, during the absence of Gen. Weitzel, COM
manding the 18th army corps. He continued
with the Army of the James to the end OF the
campaign, entering Richmond with Gen. Welt
zeps command-which were the first troops to
enter that city after its falkland was appointed
the first Military Governor of that city. At
the close of the war he resigned his commits
siop, July l, 1865.
In the early part of his military career he
was rendered a nomination for Congress by the
Democrats of this district, but declined in a
letter in which he said his highest ambition
was to see his country at peace and prosperous
again, and to be himself at liberty to return to
the practice of his profession.
In November 1866, he was appointed an AS
sociate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court
of this state, but declined the position.
The events of tbs war and his own expert
riences led to hange of his political relations
and he became identified with the Republican
party, by whom he was elected Representative
to the State Legislature in 1866, in which ne
served with marked ability.
Shortly after the close of the session he re-
sumed the practice of law, having formed CO.
partnership with A. A. Strout, Esq under the
style of Shepley g. Strout. But he was not
long permitted to remain in private station.
When, in 1869, the judicial system of the
United States was amended by an act provid-
ing for the appointment of Circuit judges, he
was, without seeking on his part, selected for
the appointment in the first circuit His COM
mission was issued December %, 1869, and he
at once entered upor the discharge of the la
borious and responsible duties of that high iu-
dicial Office.
In the years of his judicial life he was con-
stantly called upon to sit in dificnt and i'm
portant cases, and by his knowledge his acumen
and his mpartiality, fully proved the wisdom
of his selection for the judgeship. In matters
of patent law his work has been especially Sc
we're, and those best qualified to estimate how
he has performed that work are unanimous in
his praise and in according to him the highest
rank as judge in that branch of the law
Nor has he failed in any respect to meet the
high anticipations of the public at the time of
his appointment but rather he has command
the best and soundest lawyers throughout his
circuit and the country.
His mental faculties, originally of high
order, were strengthened and disciplined by
constant study. The range of his attachments
was wide. His taste in literature and art was
cultivated and refined. His eminence was fit
tingly recognized only few weeks ago by the
honorary degree of LID, conferred on him
by his Alma Mater.
Judge Shepley, as was well known to those
intimate with him and enjoying his confidence,
was ever full and strong believer in the Holy
Scriptures, but did not until recently publicly
unite with any religious society. A little more
than year ago he joiced the Episcopal church
and connected himself with the St. Luke's
Society of this city. That he was firm and
devout believer in the truths of Christianity,
there is abundant evidence, and in that faith
he daily grew stronger and found increasing
joy. His religious life was deep and sincere
without ostentarion or dogmatism.
BY nature he was kindly and considerate to
all men. His sympathies were quick and his
affection strong and enduring. Only those
who have been permitted to see him in his own
home, and surrounded by those whom he loved
and trusted, can imagine how sweet his dis
position was, aud how he brought happiness to
those around him.
While living in Bangor he married Miss
Lucy Hayes, by whom he had four children,
one son and three daughters. She died in 1859.
Two of the daughters-Mrs. Selfridge. wife of
Commander T. O. Selfridge, U. S. n, and
Mrs. Tiffany, wife of prominent lawyer of
st. Louis-survive their father. In 1872 Judge
Shepley married Miss Helen Merrill, daughter
of the late Eliphalet Merrill, who survives him.
If the fitness of life is 20 be reckoned by the
amount Of work we'll done, we cannot feel that
our honored fellow citizen has been premature
ly cut off, but as we remember how full of
strength he seemed and what capacity for use
fulness yet remained to him, and what all men
hoped from him, we bow in sorrow at the sud-
den extinguishing of his light.