The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
JAMES E. SHEPHERD.
Ex-Chief Justice of the SUI
preme Court.
A Leading Jurist Of the State Bar. First Chair
man of The Infer or Court Of Beau
fort County in 1876.

Among the foremost practitioners at
the lar of North Carolina, none perhaps
enjoys wider reputation than Judge
Shepherd, whose life and public works
it is my privilege to record here
james Edward Shepherd was born
near Suffolk, in Nansemond county, Va,
on the Goth of July, 1917. His parents
were Thomas Shepherd and Ann Eliza
tBrowne) Shepherd, both being of Nir-
gilman birth, and English lineage. When
Judge Shepherd was only two years of
age he lost his mother in death, and his
fathers death followed i'll 1889. Soon
thereafter he came to North Carolina
along with his older brother. William
S. Shepherd, settling at Murfreesboro,
where he continued his home till the
war came Oh. when at the age of four
teen he enlisted in the Confederate ar
my, but being too young for other SER
vice he was made marker, and as
such continued for twelve months, when
he was detailed military telegraph ep
orator in which capacity he did both
field and station work till the close OF the
war. His position was no sinecure, aud
lie distinguished himself by his activity,
skill and devotion TO duty. When the
close OF the war came, he began life un-
der adverse and discouraging circum-
stances His brother, Lieutenant Will
linn S. Shepherd, of the First North Car
Dina Regiment, having fallen at the
battle of Sharpsburg, while leading his
company. brothers counsel was lost.
He had. before the war, attended the
neighborng high school, and had thus
secured fair education, but having
oil ny hp
unable to enter college, and III order to
support himself and at the same time
prosecute his studies, he took charge
of the telegraph office at Wilson's \. e.,
during several years that followed. in
which he diligently continued his stud
les and finally began the study OF the
law. He afterwarl entered the State
University. where, under the direction of
Hon. William ii. Battle, a justice at the
Supreme Court he was prepared for the
bar was admitted i'll 1869, and opening
All office in Wilson, began the practice
of his chosen profession, but in 1874 he
moved to Washington, \. C., and form
ed copartnership with Maj Thomas
Sparrow.
The career of Judge Shepherd from the
very beginning has been series OF
steady successes, and he soon rose to
high rank at the bar. In 1915 he was
elected to the constitutional convention
of the State by a large majority, and
took an active interest in its work, being
a member of the Committee on the Jul
dietary and chairman of the committee
on Municipal Corporations. Though he
was the youngest member, he welded a
strong influence in the convention. The
Legislature had authorized the forming
of inferior courts and he was elected
the first chairman of the inferior court
of Beaufort county in 1876. In the
summer of 1882 he was nominated for
Judge Of the Superior Court for the
First district and Judge Eure, the in
cumbent resigning, he was appointed
by Governor Jarvis to fill the unexpired
term. AT the next election i'll November.
he was elected by the people and served
with such acceptability that in 1888 he
was nominated to one Of the new
places created on the Supreme bench,
and was elected an associate justice,
taking his seat January Isl, 1880. In
1882 the people further showed their
appreciation OF his legal ability and
sound, discriminating Judgment BY elect
ing him their Chief Justice Of the Sn1
preme Court He filed that Office with
great credit. Judge Shepherd Is q mem
her of the law firm of Shepherd and
Busbee, is Dean Of Law at the unlyersl-
ty of North Carolina.