Shepherd, L.B., 72

Died 26 November 1909 (date calculated)

Burial in Chicago, IL

Published in Pilot on 1 December 1909

Arlington, Neb., Nov.-L.B. Shepherd, an old resident of this city, dropped dead Friday at 2:30 p.m. of heart failure. Born at Buffalo, N.Y., 72 years ago, deceased came to Arlington about thirty years ago and engaged in the grain business with W.D. Badger of this city. Later he sold out his business here and moved his family away. During the Klondike rush Mr. Shepherd went to Alaska and bought gold mines that turned out to be paying. About one year ago he returned to this city and purchased his former home and again became a resident of this city. He leaves a widow, two daughters, one of his city, while the other resides at Washington. The body will be sent to Chicago next Tuesday for interment.

#2-December 2, 1909- Arlington Review Herald- Leonard B. Shepherd

Last Friday afternoon this community was greatly shocked by the announcement on the street that L. B. Shepherd had just died at his home on Fifth Street which report was a little later confirmed by friends of the family. The news was unexpected, as it was not known that Mr. Shepherd had been ailing. In fact, he had not been sick, as the day before (Thanksgiving) he had been one of the jolliest persons present at a home dinner given by the family in honor of several out of town guests. His jovial spirit, and general behavior surely did not suggest to the assembled guests that the grim reaper was hovering so near, but next day, at 2:30 p.m., the spirit of the genial host winged its flight whence no traveler returns. At once friends far and near were notified of the sad occurrence, and on Tuesday after a short service at the house, the body was taken to Chicago where it was laid to rest on Wednesday, in beautiful Rosehill cemetery. The cause of death was heart failure, by having been a sufferer from heart disease for a number of years.

Leonard B. Shepherd was born in Buffalo, N.Y., September 6, 1837, he being 78 years old at the time of his death. While still a young man he moved to Chicago, entering at once into the activities of that hustling young city, and in September 1871, he was married to Miss Mattie Walker.

He remained in Chicago until 1876, having passed through the disastrous fire that nearly destroyed that city in September, 1872.

Mr. Shepherd came west in 1876, and settled in Arlington, forming a partnership with W.D. Badger in the grain business, the partnership lasting nine years.

Leaving Arlington, Mr. Shepherd went south, later going to Alaska. While there he was appointed by the late President McKinley United States Commissioner, which office he filled until his health gave out and he returned to the United States, taking up his residence in San Francisco, where he was at the time of the earthquake.

Later he moved to Galveston, Tex., from there he went back to Chicago where he remained until 1908, when he came to Arlington and purchased the Jewett home on Fifth Street, which he built while a resident of Arlington, a number of years ago. The house was thoroughly over hauled, and made into one of the handsomest homes in the village. As he informed friends after returning to Arlington, he had traveled around a good deal since leaving here, and it was his desire to come back to the scenes of his early struggles where he expected to remain the balance of the days that were still allotted to him. Thus it was that he died in Arlington.

After years of activity in many parts of the country; after he had arrived at a stage in life when death was expected at almost any time, his heart turned to beautiful Arlington where he had spent so many happy years, and it was in Arlington, the place that he loved so well, that the Grim Reaper found him.

The deceased leaves behind him to mourn his death, a loving wife and two daughters: Mrs. L.M. Fuller, who has made her home with the family since coming to Arlington, and Mrs. Ada Emerson of New York. After the funeral in Chicago the family will return to Arlington and will take up its residence here for a time at least.

The service at the house Tuesday afternoon was short but impressive, many of his old neighbors and friends being present to pay their last sad respects to the memory of him who had been their friend and companion in former years.

Mr. Shepherd was a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 1 Chicago, as well as a member of the Fremont Knights Templar, a number of members of the latter organization being present in uniform at the funeral.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

FindaGrave #139057190