William and Mary Ann
Shepherd
William was born on May 9, 1827, in the home of Nathaniel John and Mary Shepherd in the city of London, England. The Shepherd family were by trade, boot and shoemakers. Sometime before the year 1849 William became acquainted with Mary Ann Tracey, who was born January 6, 1831. An event of great importance occurred when some of their friends told them of certain men who were in the town preaching a new religion, claiming that God had appeared to a young man in America by the name of Joseph Smith, authorizing him to re-establish the Church of Christ. They listened to their message and became deeply interested in the doctrine taught. They were convinced to the truth of the message and received a testimony of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and on March 7, 1849 they were baptized members of the church.
On the first day of the following May, William and Mary Ann were
married. For several years following their marriage they had a hard financial
struggle. William following the trade of boot and shoemaking -working on his on
account, doing a custom business. Soon after their marriage they moved to Romsey,
where their first child, a girl, Angelina, was born. Their stay here was of
short duration and they returned to Southampton for about eleven years. During
this time the following children were born: Christina, William, Nathaniel Budge,
Constance Tracey, Henry Robert and Edward Tracey.
At the time of their marriage they formed an
intimate acceptance and friendship with William Budge and Charles R. Savage,
which continued until their death.
Because the financial condition of the family was at a low ebb., they concluded
to leave Southampton and venture into a new field for business. In the summer of
1862 they located at Brockenhurst. Upon their arrival they were received into
the home of Brother George Earley with a hearty welcome. During their residence
in Brokenhurst, Joseph Russell was born. Also during their time residence in
this village, a branch of the church was organized and presided over by William.
Due to the spirit of antagonism toward the church members, William's business
again suffered and in the fall of 1866 the family bid farewell to Brokenhurst
and moved to Fawley. The following children were born at Fawley: Fredrick T.
Ernest A. T. and Mary Elizabeth.
After William's business improved so that he was able to provide the necessary and comforts and in addition save a little during the next six years so that in the fall of 1877, with the help of other members of the family, he had sufficient means to emigrate to "Zion". Before they left England William had corresponded with President William Budge of the Bear Lake Stake regarding the time they could be expected to arrive in this country. Although the tickets of passage were purchased with Salt Lake City as their destination, when the train reached Evanston, Wyoming on October 6th, teams and wagons in charge of Brother George Earley's son's were ready to take them as far as Round Valley, near Laketown. President Budge arranged that they should be taken to Paris, Idaho. They arrived at 6 0' clock in the evening of October 12, 1877, and were hospitably entertained by Bishop Robert Price.
It had been raining considerably when they arrived and the streets were extremely muddy and the weather gloomy; however, they were very thankful that at last they had reached home - the hone to which they had been looking forward with fond hopes for nearly thirty years. Upon their arrival in Paris, they found that Brother Budge had arranged for them to occupy a vacant house that had formerly been the home of David P. Kimball. Then there were not more than eight brick buildings in the whole town and nearly all the homes were build of logs. It was not long before William and the older boys found work in the shoe factory and tannery and obtained means to provide the bare necessities of life.
Opportunity for the service in the community life in different ways opened up as
soon as the family was settled in their own home. Especially was their musical
talent appreciated. It had been a custom to have the group singing in the
Shepherd family, and now this was made use of and added much to those pioneer
gatherings and socials. Later under their direction, choirs were formed, also a
band and orchestra. All members of the family who were old enough soon became
active in the church work. For many years Mary was connected with the Paris
Second Ward Relief Society and for a long time served as president. William,
too, was always on hand to answer the call of those who presided over him. He
held the office of high priest.
On July 26, 1879, William and Mary received
their endowments and were seal together for time and eternity in the Endowment
House at Salt Lake City and on June 22,1887, their children were sealed to them
in the Logan Temple. The family contributed a substantial part in the developing
of the community.
On March 30, 1887, William married as a plural wife, Sarah Ellen Humpherys, the
daughter of John Humpherys, by whom he had the following children: Leonora, May,
Estella, Victoria, Alvin, Edmund, Vinnie Althea, Edwin Henry and Annie Haines.
Although this family was many years younger, they too, have been stalwart
members of the church and community and a credit to their parents wherever they
have live. Many of their members have served the church as missionaries and in
other responsible positions. Both families were known for their love of flowers
and well kept yards.
In the winter of 1897-98 William was taken ill and after intense suffering for
about nine months passed from this life on August 7, 1898, in his seventy-second
year. On April 18, 1911, Mary Ann passed away in her eighty-first year. Sarah
Ellen, passed away on July 25, 1913.