Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-09-04
From Norris's History OF the Lower Sh enan.
doah Valley.l
Mr.. HENRY SHEPHERD.

OF the SneplleTus III tue iudii INSULT
cal part of this work, much can be
CLEANED of the early history of this en-
terprising and prominent family.
One of them, Thomas Shepherd, To-
Gated here about 1888 or 1884, at a
time when the entire region, from the
Potomac river on the north. to the
Augusta county line on the south, and
the Blue Ridge mountains eastward,
was Spottsylvania county.
Capt. Abram Shepherd, son OF said
Thomas, was gallant soldier in the
Continental army. He marched to
Boston with the famous company OF
Hugh Stevenson, which started from
Morgan's Spring, near Shepherdstown,
in 1775. He was in numerous battles,
coming out unscathed. After Col.
Rawlins and Maj. Ohio Williams were
wounded in the battle Of Kings Bridge,
in November, 1776, he commanded the
regiment OF Maryland and Virginia
Riflemen during the remainder OF the
engagement. He received highly
complimentary letter from Gen. Wash
ington not long before the death of
that illustrious patriot and leader.
After the close Of the Revolution he
settled down upon the family estate,
and became one Of the active spirits
in the organization OF the municipal
government OF Shepherdstown.
Henry Shepherd, son OF said
Abram and father of the subject OF
this sketch, spent his lifetime upon
the family estate, devoting his atten-
ton almost exclusively to agricultural
pursuits. While not inclined to pub
lie life, he was always recognized as
one of the prominent citizens of the
community, and his home as model
of that Of the ante bellum Virginia gen
tleman.
Mr.. Henry Shepherd, the subject of
this sketch, was born at the old fami
ly homestead-hi fathers residence.
He was educated at st. James College,
Washington county, Md. AT the age
Of about seventeen years he went TO
New Orleans where he began his bus
iness life in the employ OF his emf
nently successful and distinguished
uncle, r. ID. Shepherd, with whom he
~ finally
succeeding him. About the year 1878,
retiring largely from active engage
ments in New Orleans, he removed to
wild Goose Farm, in jefferson coun-
ty, w. Va, where he still resides, and
which now includes and combines
the adjoining Shepherd homestead OF
his father, with the original Wild
Goose farm of his said uncle, the late
r. ID. Shepherd.
This magnificent estate, of which he
is now sole owner and proprietor,
Justly deserves more than passing
notice. 1t rather resembles a beauti-
full European villa than the plain and
perhaps rugged country residence the
name imparts.
1t is situated four miles north of
Shepherdstown and consists of about
1000 acres of rolling and naturally
fertile limestone land, still further ell
riched by advanced methods Of cult
walton. The mansion-building and
furniture, in style and arrangement,
a model of taste and completeness-is
located on an eminence overlooking
the Potomac river and adjacent coun-
try, so that the scenery therefrom in
almost any direction is truly pictur-
esque. The lawns, gardens, grove and
lake. with shrubbery and flowers, af-
ford all that generous nature aided by
culture and labor can add to beautify
and adorn. The tasty cottages, homes
of workmen, dotting the surrounding
slopes of the farm, the mammoth
barns and out-buildings, the herds,
stock and implements, in fact the
whole equipment and premises gen
orally are in entire keeping with the
mansion itself, and Enthusiastically dis
play that thoroughness of system and
order in every detail-a marked char
acteristic of the proprietor-which
justifies being said of it, what visit
and inspection will verify, that it can
rarely be equaled and nowhere be
surpassed.
A handsome shell avenue, shaded
and gracefully arched by INTERVIEWING
boughs. leads down the slope from the
mansion to the public county road,
which intersects the farm and con-
meets it with Shephsrdstown. This
road Mr.. Shepherd, some years ago,
at considerable cost, graded and great
ly improved, since which it has been
known as the shepherd Grade"
But the browning act of his munif-
cence, and that which will long con
tinue as monument thereto, is the
magnlncent lnacadan roadway which
he ha. during the past year had built
on said grade, solely at his own ex-
pense, and which for solidity of struc-
ture, method of finish and complete
ness in all its accompaniments, now
affords the most attractive driveway
from his farm to town, to be found in
this State or section of the country.
Mr.. Henry Shepherd is a gentleman
OF culture and refinement, of large
business experience, of strong will
power and of indomitable energy. He
Is literally the architect ofhis own for
tune. Left comparatively poor at the
close OF the late war between the
States, he has since by his push, sa-
gacity and admirable management