Individual Details
William Floyd Shepherd
(22 Feb 1882 - 31 Dec 1956)
Evidently born with last name of Stergil or Sturgill. He was raised in the family of Andrew Jackson Shepherd and Martha Shepherd in Jackson County, Kentucky. He married Sarah Lucile Hays using the name Stergil. The marriage document showing Stergil was sent by Don Hays to Carol Kirkpatrick in 1978. Without his help, this name change would not be known. Don Hays was a nephew of Lucile's. Carol had written to the wrong office at the courthouse in Jackson County, contacting Don Hays by mistake. All documents afterward show Shepherd.
Worked for various railroad companies laying track. Copies of pension papers from the Railroad Retirement Board in possession of great-grand daughter Carol Shepherd Kirkpatrick.
On the 1910 U. S. Census of Cooper, Mercer Co., West Virginia, Floyd Sheppard appears with his wife Lucy and children Earl, Clide and Georgia. Floyd is a foreman with the rail road. Floyd and Lucy have been married 9 years. Lucy is the mother of 4, 3 of whom are currently living.
William Floyd Shepherd registered for the World War I draft at New Hampton, Chickasaw Co., Iowa on Sept, 12, 1918. His occupation was Road Master for C.G.W.R.R. or Chicago Great Western Rail Road. He listed his nearest relative as Lucile Shepherd (wife) living at New Hampton, Chickasaw Co., Iowa. He stated his birth date as 22 January 1882.
William Shepherd appears on the U. S. Census for 1920 at Chartiers, Allegheny Co. Pennsylvania,with his wife Lucille and children Earl, Clyde, Georgia, Virginia, Bruce and James. William's occupation is road master for a railroad. His son Earl is a timekeeper working for the railroad. Son Charles Woodrow is born in February 1920. Census was taken 19 and 20 January, just weeks before Charles was born.
I called Tuxedo, New York where Eagle Valley is located on March 28, 2016. I filled out the form I received by e-mail, and mailed it back with $11.00 money order. I received a copy of the marriage license of William Floyd Shepherd to Bessie Corter. Big differences. Floyd was Fred, age 28 , born Ewing, Lee Co., Virginia. I had found him as Fred on the 1930 Census with Bessie and their son Fred. I just thought the census taker was in error. So he used Fred as his first name. He was 43 not 28 and of all the birth places he used, Ewing, Lee Co., Virginia is a new one to me! Also Bessie stated she was 17 actually 16. Her parents were the witnesses. And they were married not in 1925 like his son Fred told me, but August 14, 1926, three days before baby Fred was born!!!
Fred Sheppard with wife Bessie and son Fred appear on the U. S. Census of 1930 at Stamford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. They are living at 53 Franklin St. Fred or William is a foreman for the railroad. Bessie is 22, born New Jersey and states she married at 17. Fred, the son, is 3 years, 7 months old, born in New Jersey. Even though William is listed as Fred all the information shows that this is William and his second family.
On April 27, 1942 William Floyd Shepherd registered for the World War II draft at Morris Co., New Jersey. He stated his birth date as Jan. 22, 1888 and that he was born at Inman, Virginia [Wise Co.]. The name of the person who will always know your address was Mrs. Bessie Shepherd of Main St., Butler, New Jersey. William stated he was unemployed. His description is white, 5 ' 9" tall, 170 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion.
The Herald-News, Passaic, New Jersey, Wednesday, January 2, 1957, page 30: William F. Shepherd. Bloomingdale, A funeral service will be held tomorrow for William F. Shepherd, 66 [error], of 19 Lakeside avenue. He died suddenly Monday in his home. Mr. Shepherd was a railroad supervisor. He was born in Big Stone Gap, Va., and had lived here nine years. Surviving are his wife, Bessie; a son, Fred, of Bloomingdale, and four grandchildren.
Worked for various railroad companies laying track. Copies of pension papers from the Railroad Retirement Board in possession of great-grand daughter Carol Shepherd Kirkpatrick.
On the 1910 U. S. Census of Cooper, Mercer Co., West Virginia, Floyd Sheppard appears with his wife Lucy and children Earl, Clide and Georgia. Floyd is a foreman with the rail road. Floyd and Lucy have been married 9 years. Lucy is the mother of 4, 3 of whom are currently living.
William Floyd Shepherd registered for the World War I draft at New Hampton, Chickasaw Co., Iowa on Sept, 12, 1918. His occupation was Road Master for C.G.W.R.R. or Chicago Great Western Rail Road. He listed his nearest relative as Lucile Shepherd (wife) living at New Hampton, Chickasaw Co., Iowa. He stated his birth date as 22 January 1882.
William Shepherd appears on the U. S. Census for 1920 at Chartiers, Allegheny Co. Pennsylvania,with his wife Lucille and children Earl, Clyde, Georgia, Virginia, Bruce and James. William's occupation is road master for a railroad. His son Earl is a timekeeper working for the railroad. Son Charles Woodrow is born in February 1920. Census was taken 19 and 20 January, just weeks before Charles was born.
I called Tuxedo, New York where Eagle Valley is located on March 28, 2016. I filled out the form I received by e-mail, and mailed it back with $11.00 money order. I received a copy of the marriage license of William Floyd Shepherd to Bessie Corter. Big differences. Floyd was Fred, age 28 , born Ewing, Lee Co., Virginia. I had found him as Fred on the 1930 Census with Bessie and their son Fred. I just thought the census taker was in error. So he used Fred as his first name. He was 43 not 28 and of all the birth places he used, Ewing, Lee Co., Virginia is a new one to me! Also Bessie stated she was 17 actually 16. Her parents were the witnesses. And they were married not in 1925 like his son Fred told me, but August 14, 1926, three days before baby Fred was born!!!
Fred Sheppard with wife Bessie and son Fred appear on the U. S. Census of 1930 at Stamford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. They are living at 53 Franklin St. Fred or William is a foreman for the railroad. Bessie is 22, born New Jersey and states she married at 17. Fred, the son, is 3 years, 7 months old, born in New Jersey. Even though William is listed as Fred all the information shows that this is William and his second family.
On April 27, 1942 William Floyd Shepherd registered for the World War II draft at Morris Co., New Jersey. He stated his birth date as Jan. 22, 1888 and that he was born at Inman, Virginia [Wise Co.]. The name of the person who will always know your address was Mrs. Bessie Shepherd of Main St., Butler, New Jersey. William stated he was unemployed. His description is white, 5 ' 9" tall, 170 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion.
The Herald-News, Passaic, New Jersey, Wednesday, January 2, 1957, page 30: William F. Shepherd. Bloomingdale, A funeral service will be held tomorrow for William F. Shepherd, 66 [error], of 19 Lakeside avenue. He died suddenly Monday in his home. Mr. Shepherd was a railroad supervisor. He was born in Big Stone Gap, Va., and had lived here nine years. Surviving are his wife, Bessie; a son, Fred, of Bloomingdale, and four grandchildren.
Events
| Birth | 22 Feb 1882 | Whitesburg, Letcher Co., Kentucky |  | ||
| Marriage | 20 Sep 1901 | Gray Hawk, Jackson Co., Kentucky - Sarah "Lucile" Hays | | ||
| Marriage | 14 Aug 1926 | Town of Tuxedo, Orange Co., New York - Bessie Corter | | ||
| Death | 31 Dec 1956 | Bloomingdale, Passaic Co., New Jersey | | ||
| Burial | Stone shows 1890-1956, Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Kennelon, Morris Co., New Jersey | | |||
| Research Notes |  |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah "Lucile" Hays (1885 - 1967) |
| Child | Sarah Vesta Shepherd (1902 - 1903) |
| Child | Richard Earl Shepherd (1904 - 1967) |
| Child | Roy Clyde Shepherd (1906 - 1962) |
| Child | Georgia May Shepherd (1908 - 2001) |
| Child | Virginia Alice Shepherd (1911 - 1986) |
| Child | William " Bruce" Shepherd (1913 - 1938) |
| Child | James Edward Shepherd (1916 - 2000) |
| Child | Charles Woodrow Shepherd (1920 - 1943) |
| Spouse | Bessie Corter (1910 - 2000) |
| Child | Frederick William Shepherd (1926 - ) |
Notes
Research Notes
Document Date of Birth Place of birth Notes:1900 Census Feb. 1882 Kentucky Age 17
Marriage License 1879 Virginia Age 22 in 1901 used Stergil as last name
1910 Census 1883 Kentucky Age 27
WW I Draft Jan. 22, 1882 Not asked for
1920 Census 1883 Virginia Age 37
Marriage License 1898 Ewing, Lee Co., Virginia age 28 used Fred Shepherd as name
1930 Census 1895 Virginia 35
WWII Draft Jan. 22, 1888 Inman [Wise Co.] Virginia 54
RR form Jan. 22, 1873 Falls Mills, [Tazewell Co.] Virginia Filled out by Norfolk & Western Railway Co.
RR Retirement App. Feb. 22, 1882 Whitesburg, Letcher Co., Kentucky
Death Certificate Jan. 22, 1890 Big Stone Gap, [Wise Co.] Virginia
Burial Permit 1890 Age 66 years, 11 months, 9 days.
Obituary 1890 Big Stone Gap, [Wise Co] Virginia Age 66
Gravestone 1890
Endnotes
1. Letter from Railroad Retirement Board.
2. 1900 Census Jackson Co., Kentucky, T623, Roll 527, Sheet 18, Page 11.
3. Marriage License of Floyd Stergil and Lucy Hays, Book 1901-1903 page 33.
4. Verbal from Fred Shepherd, March 20, 2016 call from Fred Shepherd..
5. Transcipt of Marriage of Bessie Corter to Fred Shepherd, Town of Tuxedo, New York shows August 14, 1926.
6. Death Certificate of William Floyd Shepherd, 52433.
7. Death Certificate of William Floyd Shepherd.