1891 Biography - George B. Shepherd

GEORGE B. SHEPHERD, FRANKLIN. -- George B. Shepherd is a native of Massachusetts, born July 10, 1824. He is the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Whelden) Shepherd, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. Nathaniel Shepherd was a jeweler by occupation and was a successful business man; in politics he was a Democrat. Our subject's mother was born in 1804 and was married in Massachusetts. She became the mother of one child, the subject of this sketch.

George B. Shepherd received an excellent academic education, and in 1845 came to Louisiana from Massachusetts and engaged as a salesman for Cyrus B. Whelen, in which capacity he was employed for three years. After this he devoted his time to civil engineering, and in 1857 became editor of the Attakapas Register, a weekly Democratic paper published in Franklin. He was thus engaged until 1860, when he was appointed register of the State land office, which position he held until 1862, when he enlisted in the C. S. A. under General Miles, Louisiana Volunteers, in which command he served until the close of the war. After the war he became a notary public, and in 1870 he turned his attention to law. In 1872 he was chief clerk of the McEnery House of Representatives, and in 1887 was appointed post-master by President Cleveland, and held this office until July, 1890, when he returned to the practice of law. He was married, March, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth McMillan, a daughter of Robert McMillan and Janet Douglas, native of Scotland, born in 1833 and died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the parents of five children: Emma, Georgie, Edwin, George and Robert. Mr. Shepherd and family are members of the Episcopal church. He is a stanch Democrat.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, published in 1891, Biographical Section, pages 381-382.