The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-03-24
Protector OF the Notorious "Pe-
ruvian Company"

Jacob r. Shipherd was born In Central
New York, and is now about 45 years of age
lie found his chief educational advantages
at Oberin College, Ohio, and being an as
siduous student, graduated with honors.
His strong religious nature inclined him TO
accept the church as his liie-caling, and he
took thorough course at the Divinity
School connected with the college. He soon
began to preach, and, having fervid and
popular manner, his progress was so rapid
that lie was called to the pulpit of Plymouth
Congregational Church, in Chcago-an i'm
portant and leading factor in the Congrega-
tionalism of the West. Here he remained
for some years, and gave high satisfaction
both as preacher and pastor. In those early
days he devised the plan of paying church
debts, since made so popular, and by his
own efforts and earnestness collected money
to relieve more than one struggling congre-
CATION of its burden. During the war Rev.
Mr.. Shipherd, true to his Oberlin education,
felt the liveliest interest in the condition of
the freedmen, and deeming the Freedmen's
Aid Society under the auspices of the Gov
erlment inadequate to the needs of the
y-enfranchised, he took active measures
for the harmonizing of other interests, and
was chosen President of the resulting organ
ization known as the "Freedmen's Union
Aid Commission" The association was
very effective in promoting the objects for
al - knf, ,hay,
the freedmen were finally thrown wholly
upon their selfrelance, Mr.. Shipherd re-
tired with expressions of gratitude and cor
graduation on the part of his associates.
During these active years, also, he resolved
to establish an organ of Congregationalsm
in Chicago, and interested sufficient num-
Der of people in the project to found the
Adrance, paper which is now too well
known to need further reference.
In 1860 he resigned his pastorate and
opened a real estate and loan Office in Chi
cage, with Gen. Sweet as partner. Gen.
Sweet soon after left the firm to accept the
office of Pension Agent. Mr.. Shepherds
business throve, good eastern relations were
secured, and the next year he established
bank. He was made Trustee of the River.
side Company, one of the great suburban
founded the town of Elmhurst. A branch
New York house was now established, and,
meantime, TO keep pace with the prosperity
of the bank, other branches, in Boston and
in Frankfurt f,artnanv In ha faH IF 1870
Mr.. Shipherd secured control of the South
Side railroad of Long Island, and conceived
the scheme (Which Others in succeeding bet
ter times accomplishedl of consolidating the
Long Island roads under one management
his own. Suddenly came the great panic of
1873, and Mr.. Shepherds numerous projects
were engufed. He worked for several years
to extricate himself from the ENHANCEMENT,
and at last, 1t is said, paid the last cent of his
obligations. In 1877 he entered the Law
School of the University of New York, and
the next year was admitted to the bar. He
established his office at No. 10 Spruce street,
where he has remained ever since.
He is now best known as President of the
Peruvian Company" which is said to own
the Cochet and Landreau claims against the
bankrupt republic of Peru, aggregating the
stupendous sum of nearly 5000, 000,0 900. In
consideration Of this unprecedented "lien,"
the company proposes, with the moral and
political approval of the United States, to
assume control of the guano and nitrate
lands of Peru, and administer them In the
interest Of Peru and her various creditors
To this end, as recently published CORES
pondence has shown, Mr.. Shpherd has en-
deavored to obtain the assistance of PROM
inent public men; but his appeal does not
appear TO have been successful to any marked
extent, and 1t is not probable that his vast
scheme will ever realize his expectations.
The approaching examination of Mr.. S.
by the Congressional Committee on Foreign
Affairs promises the most sensational devel-
opments, and may wreck as many reputa-
tions as the testimony of Cakes Ames in the
Credit Mobilier business. While the great
est number of the prominent men alleged
to have been interested In the scheme have
"indignaLtly refuted," or contemporary
Denied" or onever knew the man." or
"laushed at the matter as joke" there are
others who twill speak when the proper
time comes,' or who s.simply knew the man,
that's ALL" or who "decline to talk on the
subject"