Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-14
JACOB r. SHEPHERD,
Protector of the Notorious "Per-
vivian Company"

Jacob r. Shipherd was born in Cen
trail New York. and is now about
forty FIVE years Of age. He found his
chief educational advantages at Ober.
lin College, Ohio, and being an assid.
uous student, graduated with high
honors. His strong religious nature
inclined him to select the church ss
his life calling, and he took a thor
eugh course at the Divinity School
connected with the college. He soon
began to preach, and, having a fervid
and popular manner, his progress was
so rapid that he was called to the pull
rit of Plymouth Congregational
Church in Chicago-an important and
leading factor in the Congregational
ism of the West. Here he remained
for some years, and gave high salts
faction, 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 ~earuestness collected money
to relieve more han one struggling
congregation of its burden, During
the war Rev. Mr.. Shipherd, true to
his 0berlin education. felt the live
lest interest in the condition of the
freedmen, aud deeming the Freed
mems Aid Society under the auspices
Of TIE government inadequate to the
needs of the newly enfrsnchised, he
took active measures for the harmon
izing of other interests, and was
chosen President Of the resulting or
~ganization known as the Freedmen
Union Aid Commission The asso-
citation was very effective in promoting
the objects for which it was brought
into being, and when the freedmen
were finally thrown wholly upon their
self -rcliance, Mr.. Shipherd retired
with expressions of gratitude and
con~gratulation on the part of his asso-
ciates. During these active years,
also, he resolved to establish an organ
of Congregationalism in Chicago, and
interested a sufficient number Of PEG,
pie in the project to found the Ad.
vance, a paper which is nov too well
known to need further reference.
In 1869 he resigned his pastoratC
and opened a real estate and loan of
fee in Chicago, with General Sweet
as partner. General Sweet soon after
left the firm to accept the Office o.
Pension Agent. Mr.. Sbipherd's bus.
mess throve, good Eastern relations
we're secured, and the next year he
established a bank. He was made
Trustee of the Riverside Company
one Of the great suburban enterprises
of Chicago, aud he laid out and found
ed the town Of Elmhurst. A branch
New York house was now established
and. meantime, to keep pace with th,
prosperity Of the bank. other branches
in Boston. and in Frankfort, Ger
many. In the fall Of 1872. Mr.. Ship.
herd secured control of the South
Side railroad of Long Island, aud
conceived the scheme (Which others
in succeeding better times, accom-
plished) Of consolidating the Lon
Island roads under one management
his own. Suddenly came the grea
panic Of 1873, and Mr.. Shipherd'
numerous projects we're engulfed. II,
worked for several years to extricat
himself from the ENHANCEMENT, an,
at last it is said, paid the last cent O
Lis obligations. In 1877 he entere,
the law school Of the University O
New York, and the next year wa
admitted to the bar. He establishe,
his Office at No. 10 Spruce street
where he has remained ever since.
He is now best known as Presiden
Of THE Peruvian Company" whic'
is is said to own the Cochet and Ian
dreap claims against the bankrup
Republic Of Peru, ~aggregating the stu
pendous sum Of nine hundred million
of dollars In consideration Of thi
unprecedented "%lien," the compan
proposes, with tie moral aud p%olitica
approval Of the United States, to as
sumo possession Of the guano an
I nitrate lands Of Peru, and administe
them in the interest Of Peru and he
various creditors. To this end, a
recently published correspondent
has shown, Mr.. Shipherd has endeay
I ored to obtain the assistance Of on
! diplomatic agents and of prominer
! public men; but his appeal does nc
Z appear to have been successful 70 an
marked success.