Jeremiah Shepherd was born November 23, 1821 (probably 1822) in Ohio county, Virginia. This was before West Virginia existed. He was the son of Daniel and Charlotte (Quilling) Shepherd. When quite young he moved with his family across the Ohio River to Belmont County, Ohio. When about nine¬teen he moved with his parents to McLean County, Illinois. Here he married Catharine L. Garrison on September 2, 1841. In 1843 he, his wife, and little daughter came to Wapello County, Iowa with his father-in-law Silas Garrison. Iowa was only a territory with no railroads. The family settled one and one-half miles from an Indian camp. They became very familiar with the customs of the red man and were on friendly terms with them. The family lived in Wapello County until 1850 when Jeremiah, like so many others, got the gold fever and started for California. His family returned to McLean County, Illinois. It took Jeremiah about six months to make the trip overland with an ox team. Members of his family recounted tales of the harrowing experiences that happened to him on his return trip from California. Instead of returning home overland he decided to take a ship down, around South America, as did many other gold seekers returning home. While out at sea the passengers were seized by the ship's crew. The crew would not take the passengers back to land until they had given them all their gold. This did not appeal to the passengers and eventually they mutinied and grounded the ship in Central America. Jeremiah walked from Central America back to his home in McLean County, Illinois. Around 1853 Jeremiah and his family returned to Iowa settling in Union County. They made their home there for many years. Jeremiah's parents are buried in Abel Cemetery near Afton in Union County.
Jeremiah was a veteran of the Civil War. When the call was made for 100 men for 100 day's service he enlisted. When the 100 days were up he re-enlisted August 9, 1862 as a Private in Co. H, 29th Regiment, Iowa Infantry. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1865 at New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1871 Jeremiah moved his family to a farm in Valley Twp., Page County, Iowa, where they remained until retirement. Their golden years were spent in Villisca living with their child¬ren. When 92 years old Uncle Jerry, as he was known by everyone, won a gold-headed cane, given by C. B. Curtis, for being the oldest man on the grounds at the Old Settlers Day Celebration held at Villisca in 1912. At the same celebration, Uncle Jerry's son, Silas Shepherd, was the old¬est native settler but did not compete for the prize for he didn't think two prizes in the same family would look well.
Living a very full life, Jeremiah passed away March 25, 1913 at the age of 92years four months and four days. He left six living children from a family of nine, thirty-six grandchildren, sixty-nine great grand¬children and nine great great grandchildren. His children were Martha, Peggy, Elizabeth Ann, Silas, Lewis Theodore, Sarah Nevada, Rebecca, and Jeremiah (Jerry).
Jeremiah was a veteran of the Civil War. When the call was made for 100 men for 100 day's service he enlisted. When the 100 days were up he re-enlisted August 9, 1862 as a Private in Co. H, 29th Regiment, Iowa Infantry. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1865 at New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1871 Jeremiah moved his family to a farm in Valley Twp., Page County, Iowa, where they remained until retirement. Their golden years were spent in Villisca living with their child¬ren. When 92 years old Uncle Jerry, as he was known by everyone, won a gold-headed cane, given by C. B. Curtis, for being the oldest man on the grounds at the Old Settlers Day Celebration held at Villisca in 1912. At the same celebration, Uncle Jerry's son, Silas Shepherd, was the old¬est native settler but did not compete for the prize for he didn't think two prizes in the same family would look well.
Living a very full life, Jeremiah passed away March 25, 1913 at the age of 92years four months and four days. He left six living children from a family of nine, thirty-six grandchildren, sixty-nine great grand¬children and nine great great grandchildren. His children were Martha, Peggy, Elizabeth Ann, Silas, Lewis Theodore, Sarah Nevada, Rebecca, and Jeremiah (Jerry).
Jeremiah Shepherd was born November 23, 1821 (probably 1822) in Ohio county, Virginia. This was before West Virginia existed. He was the son of Daniel and Charlotte (Quilling) Shepherd. When quite young he moved with his family across the Ohio River to Belmont County, Ohio. When about nine¬teen he moved with his parents to McLean County, Illinois. Here he married Catharine L. Garrison on September 2, 1841. In 1843 he, his wife, and little daughter came to Wapello County, Iowa with his father-in-law Silas Garrison. Iowa was only a territory with no railroads. The family settled one and one-half miles from an Indian camp. They became very familiar with the customs of the red man and were on friendly terms with them. The family lived in Wapello County until 1850 when Jeremiah, like so many others, got the gold fever and started for California. His family returned to McLean County, Illinois. It took Jeremiah about six months to make the trip overland with an ox team. Members of his family recounted tales of the harrowing experiences that happened to him on his return trip from California. Instead of returning home overland he decided to take a ship down, around South America, as did many other gold seekers returning home. While out at sea the passengers were seized by the ship's crew. The crew would not take the passengers back to land until they had given them all their gold. This did not appeal to the passengers and eventually they mutinied and grounded the ship in Central America. Jeremiah walked from Central America back to his home in McLean County, Illinois. Around 1853 Jeremiah and his family returned to Iowa settling in Union County. They made their home there for many years. Jeremiah's parents are buried in Abel Cemetery near Afton in Union County.
Jeremiah was a veteran of the Civil War. When the call was made for 100 men for 100 day's service he enlisted. When the 100 days were up he re-enlisted August 9, 1862 as a Private in Co. H, 29th Regiment, Iowa Infantry. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1865 at New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1871 Jeremiah moved his family to a farm in Valley Twp., Page County, Iowa, where they remained until retirement. Their golden years were spent in Villisca living with their child¬ren. When 92 years old Uncle Jerry, as he was known by everyone, won a gold-headed cane, given by C. B. Curtis, for being the oldest man on the grounds at the Old Settlers Day Celebration held at Villisca in 1912. At the same celebration, Uncle Jerry's son, Silas Shepherd, was the old¬est native settler but did not compete for the prize for he didn't think two prizes in the same family would look well.
Living a very full life, Jeremiah passed away March 25, 1913 at the age of 92years four months and four days. He left six living children from a family of nine, thirty-six grandchildren, sixty-nine great grand¬children and nine great great grandchildren. His children were Martha, Peggy, Elizabeth Ann, Silas, Lewis Theodore, Sarah Nevada, Rebecca, and Jeremiah (Jerry).
Jeremiah was a veteran of the Civil War. When the call was made for 100 men for 100 day's service he enlisted. When the 100 days were up he re-enlisted August 9, 1862 as a Private in Co. H, 29th Regiment, Iowa Infantry. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1865 at New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1871 Jeremiah moved his family to a farm in Valley Twp., Page County, Iowa, where they remained until retirement. Their golden years were spent in Villisca living with their child¬ren. When 92 years old Uncle Jerry, as he was known by everyone, won a gold-headed cane, given by C. B. Curtis, for being the oldest man on the grounds at the Old Settlers Day Celebration held at Villisca in 1912. At the same celebration, Uncle Jerry's son, Silas Shepherd, was the old¬est native settler but did not compete for the prize for he didn't think two prizes in the same family would look well.
Living a very full life, Jeremiah passed away March 25, 1913 at the age of 92years four months and four days. He left six living children from a family of nine, thirty-six grandchildren, sixty-nine great grand¬children and nine great great grandchildren. His children were Martha, Peggy, Elizabeth Ann, Silas, Lewis Theodore, Sarah Nevada, Rebecca, and Jeremiah (Jerry).
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