New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-16
Enhancement to Railroad Man.,
of St. Louis, Announced
by George Gould.
GOULD FAMILY PLEASED
Marriage Probably Will Take
Place in January-Couple Met
Through Bride-to -Be's In
terest in Y. M. G. A. Work.


Finley ]. Shepard, a prominent railroad
man of st. Louis. The announcement
of her approaching marriage came as
great surprise to her friends, who have
always regarded her as having dis
inclination TO matrimony.
Mr.. Gould made public the fact or his
sisters engagement in a formal state
ment, which read
"Mr. and Mrs. George j. Gould an
nounce the engagement OF their sister,
Miss Helen Miller Gould, to Mr.. Finley
j. Shepard, of st. Louis"
When he was asked If any further de-
tails about the engagement would be
given out Mr.. Gould said:
There will be nothing more, except
that this engagement is most pleasing
TO Mrs. Gould and myself"
1t is expected that the wedding will
take place some time in January and
Will be one of the most important So
cial events Of the coming season.
Both here and abroad Miss Gould is
prominent in society, not only on ac-
count of her family connections, but
because Of her many charities and the
great interest she has shown in re-
ligious, civic and social problems. One
of Miss Gould's favorite charities has
been the railroad branch Of the Young
Mems Christian Association, to which
hpi thrnnRh-
out the country. 1t was through her
work in behalf Of the association
branches along the lines Of the Gould
railroads that the friendship between
Miss Gould and Mr.. Shepard began.
Met on inspection Trip.
In June, 1911, Mr.. Shepard became
connected with the Missouri Pacific
Railroad, and when Miss Gould made
tour of inspection Of the Young Mems
Christian Association buildings on tina;
line last March Mr. Shepard accom-
panied her party on the trip. The ac-
quaintance which had begun a few
months before is then said 10 have
Mr.. Shepard is forty-fve years old.
He Is the son OF the Rev. +. l.. Shep-
ard. a retired Episcopal clergyman OF
Connecticut, who died recently In his
eighty eighth year. Mr.. Shepard was
born in Connecticut and entered The
railroad work in 1889. securing a place
in the general offices OF the Northern
Pacific Railroad. I'm St Paul He rose
steadily through the various grades
until he was made assistant general
manager Of the road, going from there
10 the Atchison, Topeka g. Santa lie
in 1901. with headquarters In Los An
geles. In 1904 Mr. Shepard entered
into private business, although he still
kept in close touch with railroad AZ
fairs.
When B. r. Bush, president OF the
Missouri Pacihc-Iron Mountain lines
was also chosen as president OF the
Denver a. Rio Grande Railroad, he per-
suaded Mr. Shepard to enter the SER
vice OF the Gould lines as his assistant
Recently announcement was made that
Mr.. Shepard had been appointed as as
sistant to President Bush, with juris-
diction over all departments on the
Missouri Pacific Iron Mountain lines.
Has Fondness for Literature.
Mr.. Shepard IL regarded as a man OF
strong executive ability, with sound
Judgment and a keen technical knowl-
edge Of the various phases OF railroad
Ing. In addition to his professional
abilities, Mr.. Shepard has a great fond
ness for books and a decided literary
bent His personality gained him
many friends In Chicago, st. Paul, Los
Angeles. st. Louis and other cities
Az regards the lighter things of life
MIR. Shepard is a devotee of music and
possessed Of more than average ability
in tennis, golf, football, baseball and
rowing.
Mr.. Shepards father was one of the
Hrst graduates Of Trinity College ana
at the time OF his dGath was the oldest
| ordained clergyman In the state. His
mother is still living and is eighty
three years old.
Miss Gould was born in New York
| on June 20, 1868, and is therefore about
| the same age as Mr.. Shepard. For
many years she has taken an active
and intelligent interest in philan-
| thropic work, and after the death Of
her father, Jay Gould. devoted a large
| part Of her time and her great fortune
10 helping others. The fact that her
fortune has almost trebled since the
death Of her father, twenty years ago,
is proof that Miss Gould is keen
| business woman.
Perhaps the thing which tended most
! TO endear Miss Gould TO her country
men was her patriotism and unselfsh-
ness at the outbreak Of the war with
| Spain, i'm 1898. She volunteered the
sum OF 100000 TO the government. in
behalf Of the sick and wounded soldiers
and sailors, and after the war, when
| the fever stricken fighting men were
| returning to this country, she threw
open her great country home, Woody
Crest, on the Hudson River, to receive
| them. The place was turned into a
temporary hospital and the sailors and
soldiers we're nursed back to health at