The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-01-22
Mrs. n. q. Shepherd.

|
The death OF Mrs. X. Is. Shepherd an
nounced In the REPORTER last week
caused much sadness TO her large circle
Of friends, particularly to those In this
village 30 long her home and where she
was 30 well known. During her sickness
in Bufislo, N. Y. many people here
watched with deep solcltude for inform
alton from that city, earnestly hoping for
favorable news.
For mony years Mrs. Shepherd labored
under severe physical disability and en-
dured much suffering from asthma. She
tried many remedies, including change Of
climate; but without any permanent
relief, and was iu Buffalo, n Y. TO BE-
treated for this disease when overtaken
by her last sickness, Sunday, December
2ls:. Its severe manifestations were
quite sudden and for time puzzled the
best medical practitioners Of Buffalo, but
proved TO be the formation OF assesses
upon the brain, battling all remedies and
resulting in her death Thursday morning
the Is inst.
Gen. Shepherd was summoned to her
bedside Monday, December, 22d, by tele-
graph and remained there until the 18th
INST, when she became so much improv-
ed that the physicians pronounced her
out Of danger and he came home to at
tend to an important business matter. He
had been here but few hours, however
when he received an unfavorabla dispatch
and Immediately departed for Buffalo,
arriving there the l4'h inst.
Gen. Shepherd arrived h9ma Saturday
morning with Mrs. Shepherds remains
and funeral services were held at her late
home Sunday afternoon conducted In an
impressive manner by Rev. a. j. Rack
Lift, her pastor, with singing by he Con
gregationsl qrarie., composed of Mrs.
Emery, Mrs. HAYES, and Messrs. Smiley
and Siurtevaut. Messrs. Isaac Dyer A.
W. Wildes, Lewis Anderson, James p.
Blunt, Joseph o. Smith and Levi C. En-
of j. Z. Oak, manager.
The services were largely attended and
the floral offerings were rich and profuse.
Among those made by others than the
| immediate relatives were large, clusterof
white roses by the Womsn's Club OF
| Skowhegan of which Mrs. Shepherd was
II member, and an elaborate floral pillow
by the family of Mr. Lewis Anderson.
Nothing could be more appropriate than
these floral offerings to ithe memory of
one who in life was so fond of beautiful
flowers.
The remarks of Rev. Mr.. Rackliff de-
lineating the characteristics of the de-
ce ased found ready and feeling response
In the hearts of the friends and nelghbor-
present who knew her so well. He spoke
briefly of her marked individuality, her
evident sincerity, her simplicity OF char
acter and life, her benevolent spirit, her
religious faith and her kindness o,
heart.
Mrs. Helen S. Shepherd was the daugh-
ter of william and Lucinda Rowell and
WAS born in Bingham, October 30, 1884
Her parents removed from Bingham to
Skowhegan In 1854, residing here until
their te,ease that OF Mrs. Rowell occur
ring in 1866 at 81 years Of age, jand that
Of Mr.. Rowell in 1867 at 81 years of age
Her marriage to Gen. Russell B. Shep
herd occurred January 90, 1865, and they
estat lshed their residence in Georgia In
1866 where they remained until 1870 when
they returned to Skowhegan and it has
since been their home.
During the war period Mrs. Shepherd
was treasurer of the Woman's Aid tSocie.
ty of SkowheEan, a society of patriotic
women who worked earnestly for the
soldier in the hospital and on the tiel II.
Mrs. Shepherd threwi herself inlo this
work with great enthusiasm and not only
worked indefatgahly and contributed
literally but stood ready to quie'3 make
up shortages in fuuds!wheneger they oc
Cured.
Many of our citizens recall with pleas
ure her superior musicel attainment, her
rich, s'seet, cultivated voice, used 5 gen
erously for the pleasure OF Others upon
public and social occasions and in her
own home, before it was impate by di.-
ease.
Mrs. Shepherd was woman end W d
with rare mental gifts, cUlured, refued,
generous, charitable, smiable; of strong
convictions, she believed emphaticelly in
good works and lived that belief every
day. Her long and painful lillnc S was
borne with heroic forttude and superb
cheerfulness. Her sympathetic heart led
her to beuevolence that was without os
tentstion, and many hold her memory IL
grateful remembrance for assistance d,l
icately rendered in the hour of need. A
loving wife, a faithful friend, her home
was the place where her presence was
felt in its fill significance, her husband
and intimate friends be.t realize the besu.
ty and symetry or her character and puri-
" of her life and upon them the blow
falls with crushing force