Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-04-15
J. AVERY SHEPHERD.
A FAMOUS VERMONTER WHO GAINED
DISTINCTION IN THE SOUTH.

Born at Brandon and Educated at Middle
bury College-Acted as Chaplain at the
Inauguration of Jefferson Davis--A Life
spent in Educational Pursuits
Rev DR.. j. Avery Shepherd, the old
est Episcopal minister in California and
one of the best known churchmen on the
/ Pacific coast, died at Santa Rosa on the
Both of March
He was born at Brandon, VT, Aug.
2G, 1916. DR., Shepherd was of the
family of Holland Weeks, who came
from Connecticut to Salisbury, Vt, in
/ l7SS, floating his household goods on
Otter creek from Pittsford. His mater
nal ancestors were descendants of John
/ Alden, the Pilgrim. There were ten
children in this family, all of whom had
been so brought up as to give tone and
character to those who were to come
after them. One was graduated at
/ Dartmouth and one at Middlebury col
/ lege. Their descendants have built and
are still building well on the founda-
lion so solidly laid, and are to be found
in all the useful walks Of life and in al.
most every state in the Union.
DR.. Shepherd spent several of his
younger years in Brazil with his father,
where he learned the languages spoken
/ in the South American countries. After
his fathers death at Rio Janeiro, he re-
turned to Vermont with his mother and
made preparations for entering Middle
bury college, from which institution he
was graduated in 1888. Among his
classmates were Rev, DR.. Sunderland
and William f. Bascom of Washington,
d. c.; Edgar p. Wadhams, Roman
Catholic bishop of Ogdensburgh and DR..
j. G. Wellington of this place,
Soon after, at the request of Bishop
Green, he became president of st. An
drew's college in Mississippi. 1t was
while presiding over that institution that
ne married Miss Evelyn Turner of Bal
timore, a lady noted for her many
accomp plishments. DR.. Shepherd taught
school in Kentucky and North Carolina
and also opened the first educational in
stitution for women in California. He
was ordained a priest of the church at
Louisville, Ky, by Bishop Smith.
DIR. Shepherd was teaching a ladies
school in Montgomery, Ala, when the
civil war broke out, and such was his
position with the public that there was
an interruption of only ten days of the
school during the entire war 1t has
been wrongly stated that DR.. Shepherd
administered the oath of Office to Presi-
dent Davis. What he did do was to act
as chaplain in the Confederate congress
then in session at the time when Presi-
dent Davis's inaugural was delivered. the
ministers of the place taking turns in
this service each day. The substantial
citizens, the aristocracy, early gathered
at the state house steps to see the pro-
cessiOn as it marched from the Exchange
hotel and entered the building. Dr.
Shepherd with his school had also
selected an eligible position. The presi-
dent of congress sent the sargeant-at-
arms to ask him to ofllcate as chaplain,
which he did.
Near the clase of the war the Federal
army in their march had sacked and
burned Selma and Columbus, resulting
in fearful destruction of lives and
property. For week before their ar
rival at Montgomery DR.. Shepherd had
been busy entreating his acquaintauces
to T, ceiye the Federal forces with cvility
at least. The may or and council with a
committee of citizens, including DR..
shepherd, who carried flag of truce, met
the army, surrendered the city and
asked their protection. This action
saved their city from the fate Of others.
A generals staff officer, who was enter
tanned by Dr. Shepherd, told him that i'm
no place in the entire south had they
been more cOurteously received than in
Montgomery. That flag of truce, just Il
strip of white cotton cloth nailed to a
whitfield pine stick, was the last flag of
truce used in the Confederate war. Many
have been the regrets that its bearer and
maker thoughtlessly threw it away after
its eventful results.
With keen eye for business Dr.
Shepherd turned all his Confederate
money Into Gotten, grain and other staple
commodities, and at the close of the war
found himself with a competence. lie
returned to Californis in 1876 and became
rector of the church of the Incarnation
at Santa Rosa, retiring four years ago as
rector emeritus.
No man in SOnOma county had
more friends than DR.. Shepherd. OF
"A broad liberal cast of mind and of
the kindliest nature, he was well
come guest In every home. He num-
bered among the warmest of his friends
priests, pastors and people of all denom-
nations. His cOurtly Southern manner
made him one of the most agreeable
and entertaining of men. He was a
leading Mason in the lodge, chapter and
commandery.
He had been failing for several months
and finally succumbed to paralysis His
funeral was one of the most memorable
in the history of Santa Rosa. Mrs. Shep-
herd died in 1887, and their only son,
Herbert, died at San Francisco in 1880,