The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-04-17

10 Ohio, settling upon quarter section
Ut land entered by his father ~ helhle'
hem township, Stark county. His wife
accompanied him on horseback, carrying
a child the whole distance
Mr, shepler Was q fine looking man,
erect VA bearing, a pleasant pounlehhhpti
courteous Ia manner making lhypfhple
impressions upon all WIN whom lis phlnp
la contact, lla was deliberate Ia forming
an Oplnion, aud when formed, not easily
moved, in a now country, such a man
soon hee0mes an important factor
in society, lilo was tho man chosen
Ia settle neiQhhnrhOOd disputes ana con-
troVersies, lt was not long until he was
brought out Tor Justice Ot the Peace, and
although lac had no desire Tor nluee,
could not refuse the opportunities OF his
friends. For nearly thirty years lie sery,
cd Ia that capacity ana lilh docket hllli
preserved, ID q model OF hehlhehh W.
order. His popularity became wide
spread, aud he was announced as q cnu'
didate Tor County Commissioner, Twice
was he elected "a this oiiloe, Then 30
WAS sent 10 the Legislature, Twice W TIC
House aud four times tho Senate, lie was
also made q member Of the state hoard OF
Fortunate in 30 conducting himself Ia
the various offices lao had illlel, 40 io
meet tho appreciation pt his constituents,
Il was hui natural lhey should desire lllH
iie found life In Washington, and the
duties "a which he was assigned different
from what be- had anticipated, lle was
placed on the Committee ut Public IA
pendilurcs, and soon discovered that he
had not tho knowledge of National affairs
necessary tot satisfactory discharge OF
the duties doyolyIng upon him, 10 was
too honest aud conscientious 10 play lhe
Blupcure, Mr. Sheplrr was q member OF
tho United llrelhrpu church. particular
la ihr Observance ~ rules lhnl hhgllu
mWk Christie Ian cnnllgh ana ihe nNnlla
aud ways of many Ol lIs associate Wcm7
hor8 were distiHriul tO him, lie was not
"a public speaker, and iult that he hnd un'
derullon "a task for which he had not tie
qualifications, and hul for the impOrluul'
ty Of friends, would have resigned 40 tie
cEuIwtlon Of tho fret session, lle per
declined % reelection,
ln private life, NE, shepler was above
reproaCh, lleWaa lihrpl ln The cree
tlGu uf u, w. churchlu hneghhnrhnul,
hr was chief coutrihutuG aud when 20
moro subscriptions could he obtained, he
furnished the balance necessary 10 10
When tho June frost of 1859 came upon
us, ana completely destroyed the wheat
crop uf thnt year 4 famine was predicted
Mann farmofa had sold all their graim
not oven retaining Hulllclcut for seed
There was "a feeling oi alarm and q rush
for the wheat yet lu store, some wanting
Il for seed, aud others Tor hpcculbunn'
Mr., Shcplcr had between three ana four
hundred bushels ON hand, The first caller
was hls nelphbnr Mr., Letter. lie wished
10 purchaser lfioon or twenty bushels Tor
seed .,,
"llnye you the money 10 pay for lt2' In
uuIrrd Mr. Shoplor
no bo sure have" replied Mr., Loltor
rather uettlcd Rt the question,
"Thon you can buy lt Of some ono clac'
cOOlly remarked Mr. ShCplcr, "l'ho wheat
/ have 20 spare, / shall soil 20 those who
need Il for seed, and have not the money |
To buy lhcy can pay Tor II out OF lho
next CROP Il
Such evidence Of generosity IL not Of
every day occurrence,
As has been before remarked Mr. |
Shrplcr made no prcicuiionh To public |
spot,Ing, Tho only time he was over |
known 90 mako an Cllpri In that direction, |
was while a member OF the state Board |
of Emall2ntIon, Tho members from the |
county Of IuHcArnwna, hnd |
made quito an effort In a speech before |
the Board 10 reduce the valuation OF land |
Ia hIa county, by comparing y win STARK, |
the most valuable land In the state, be-
cnuso most productiye, while Tuscarnwaa |
was hllly and rocky, and only ~ FOR pas
turo land, Thcro was quite u disposition
10 reduce the valuation OF l'uH'
cnrawaH, whom Mr., Shoplor took the ilQor, |
q ld IN hla honest, frank manner, stated IN
substance, that while he would agree |
with the gentlemen from Tuacurnwna In
what lac had said about the good qua ties
of land In Stark county, he would dillcr
with him In his estimate Of IuacarawaH'
lie had neglected 90 mention or nlludo to
the advantages Of hia section la her miner
nj resources. II those hills did not produce
wheat with Stark, they had underneath
the soil mineral resources and salt, Tar
more valuable than anything that could
be raised from the surface, Mr., Shcplcr'e |
worO brief, but a. the point and
settled the question without
the Valuation that had been
fixed 10y the Board. 100
Mr., Shcplcr left his farm In 1860, and
removed 20 Navarro, whore lac died April
Z, 1863, from disease OF the respiratory or
gnus, supposed to be consumption, His
body was inferred upon the homestead
farm,
Mr.. Shcplcr was married three timca,
Had one child by his first wife, John IL,
Shcplor, still living, n retired minister
siX hy his second marriage, only two liy-
inp, No children by the last wife,
There isa lesson In the life Of every
man. That learned from the life OF
Matthias Shopcr IL that education is u
necessary factor 20 the development OF
d great or useful man or woman, Some
mon are born great, others have great
ness thrust upon thom, but these are Cx.
roptounl cases, Unless an effort he
made Ia dpvploD the mind iu yuuth=u
Inato for knowledge oxcitcd-it is rarely
attended to IN adult years.
Mr. Shoplcr had the natural ability. All
HAT was wanting, was opportunities Tor
Had ho enjoyed these, lac
would have made very able man,