Civil War Sesquicentennial: April 20, 2011

I have been sustained

by three saving graces - 

my family, my friends, and a faith

in the power of resilience and hope.

~Elizabeth Edwards

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you from San Diego. This month of April marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War. Ironically, this anniversary falls during the week that many Christians call Holy Week, with Easter this coming Sunday.

Numerous persons in our family tree were veterans of the Civil War, which continues to be of great interest to family researchers. One writer has said that more books have been written about the American Civil War than anything else in history, except the Bible. The 1860s was a time in history when many American families were forever changed, in ways that are still felt today. The following are just two instances of people in our family that were dramatically affected, stories that show "the power of resilience and hope".

1915 picture of my Grandfather,
William Shepard (1888-1976)

A Family Disconnected. I have written several times in this blog about my GGgrandfather, Civil War soldier William Shepard (1835-1862) of Wabash, Indiana. (See first picture from 1915, of the soldier William Shepard's grandson, MY grandfather, also named William Shepard.)

What you may not know is that William from Wabash enlisted in the Union Army September 12, 1861 and served in the 41st Regiment (Indiana Second Cavalry), and began his active service in December, 1861 in Indianapolis. His regiment spent the early winter near Louisville, Kentucky, and in February joined with General Buell's army and moved further south to Nashville, Tenn. Meanwhile, back home in Wabash, on February 2, 1862, his wife gave birth to a son, William Elmer Shepard.

Battle of Shiloh, April, 1862

During April and May of 1862 William Shepard's unit was part of fierce battles that took place at Shiloh, Corinth, Pea Ridge, and Tuscumbia in the area around Southern Tennessee. During one of these engagements, he was injured. An old family legend has it that his arm was shot off in a cannon blast. Whatever the actual injury, and wherever it actually occurred, William was hospitalized in Evansville, Indiana. Then on July 21, 1862, just 10 months after enlisting, he died of Typhoid Fever during his hospital stay, and was laid to rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville.

As expected, in time the widow Shepard remarried. When her war baby William Elmer became a teen he found himself engaged in his own conflict, this one with his step-father. As a result, sometime in the 1870s William Elmer ran away from home, first to Illinois where he eventually married into the Owens family of Madison County, and then, later in life, to Beaver County, Oklahoma, where he died Feb, 1915. After leaving Indiana as a teen, he was disconnected from his birth family for the rest of his life. That war-related family conflict must have left painful scars not only for William Elmer, but for the Indiana family he left behind. It has also has made it very difficult today to discover our Shepard roots.

Another family related Civil War story. Just one month before the start of the Civil War, my GGGgrandmother Roena Norton gave birth to a baby girl in a small town in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. Roena was an unmarried teenage girl who disappeared under mysterious circumstances not long after her daughter Finetta was born.

A family legend has it that Roena's step-father David Dearien was responsible for Finetta's birth, and for the subsequent disappearance of his step daughter Roena. These sad events occurred in the early months of the Civil War, which was a dangerous time of rogue lawlessness. I can't help but wonder if the war time atmosphere in Northern Arkansas made Roena's disappearance a lot easier to accomplish, and to remain an unsolved mystery.

The third picture, from the 1940s, shows Finetta Clementine (Dearien) Shannon, Roena's baby girl, much later in life. Behind her is Finetta's youngest daughter, my grandmother, Nola Shannon Gower.

Family Reunion. The above stories are about 2 War-time babies who suffered tragic disconnection from their parents, which makes our connections and reunions today all the more poignant. Our 2011 Shepard Family reunion in Anacortes, Washington is just four months away. Select this link for details. We are hoping that many Shepards and Gowers and Davises and Boyds and other related family members will attend.

Are there other family reunions being planned for members of related families? The Kilpatricks used to have a big family reunion every couple of years, but I have not heard of any events in recent years. If any of you have information about upcoming family gatherings, please pass the word.

---

Steve

Family: A Mirror of Oneself, April 14, 2011

Don't visit family

unless you want to see

a mirror of yourself!

~Joan Shepard

Hello Shepard Family and Friends,

I received word a few days ago from my cousin Joan Shepard of Dixon, California about a trip that she made recently to Oklahoma. She went to see her brother Dane and his family, including their father Elmer Shepard, who will be 93 next month. 

The first picture was taken at their mini family reunion in New Castle, Oklahoma, and shows Joan's cousin Kim Clark on the left in front of Kim's husband Jeff, who live in Blue Springs, Missouri. In the middle is the senior member of our Shepard clan, Elmer, with his son Dane behind him, in whose home this picture was taken. On the right in front is Joan with her daughter Havilah Colgain Wardle of West Valley, Utah.

Joan: "For my birthday, Havilah and I flew to Oklahoma City. It was such a blessing to see Dad and to visit our family there. Dane, Cindy, Nathan, and Kaylan are busy home schooling with all the bustle of band practice and bowling games. Also, they are devoted to the members of their church and to Dad, caring for his every need.

"An added bonus was a surprise visit from Kim and Jeff Clark. We caravaned to Dad's nursing home in a wind storm that reminded me of why the Shepards originally left Oklahoma and Two Buttes! I was delighted to see Dad, especially his eyes sparkling as he recognized us. He doesn't converse much anymore, but he did enjoy the attention and our trip for fried catfish (and fried okra, and fried corn, and fried pickles).

"While sitting beside Dad, Kim shared memories of Gram [Bura Davis Shepard]. I was reminded of how devoted our grandmother was to family, helping rear three generations -- from her own children to Gary Shepard and Shannon Wilk. We had to chuckle as we saw Gram's personality in each of us: perhaps calm determination is one trait we share, perhaps some stubbornness, too. (Don't visit family unless you want to see a mirror of yourself!)

"When we left Dad, it was difficult saying goodbye. But my heart feels especially blessed that Havilah could travel with me to be with family. Laughing and sharing tender moments with her was a perfect birthday gift! Like Kim, we'll keep memories alive. We'll always have our lives together with Elmer, a special Dad and Granddad."

Happy Birthday Rachel! Today is the birthday of my niece Rachel Shepard. She is the daughter of my brother Darrell Shepard and his wife Mary Medina Shepard. Rachel's brothers Christopher and Patrick complete the Darrell and Mary Shepard family, all of whom live in the Seattle area. Rachel lives with brother Chris and boyfriend Brian in Kirkland and is the business office manager at Memory Care Community in Seattle. For her birthday Rachel will have a special evening with her family, going out to eat and then enjoying the evening at her parent's home.

The second picture (above) shows Rachel on the left with her older brother Christopher on the right. Between them in their father Darrell. This picture was taken last fall in Anacortes, Washington when they were all gathered at Grandma Maida Shepard's home to celebrate her birthday.

The third picture, taken 20 years earlier, also shows Rachel with her brother Christopher, the one still demure and composed before the camera, the other one not so much. This picture was also taken on Wildwood Lane in Anacortes, at what has been the Shepard family home since 1978, when Maida and Eugene first moved from San Diego to Washington.

- - -

Steve

Shepard Family Reunion Aug 13, 2011

Joy and Bewilderment, April 8, 2011

Family and friends are hidden treasures. 
Seek them and enjoy their riches.
~Wanda Hope Carter

Hello Family and Friends,

Happy Anniversary TODAY  to Jerry and Cathrina! Congratulations to Jerry and Cathrina (Helms) Clark who were married 5 years ago today in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They make their home in Lubbock, Texas, where Jerry has lived since the 1960s when he first attended Lubbock Christian University.

Cathrina and Jerry: "Yes, it has been 5 years! We are taking "the Rome trip" with a great couple from San Diego this summer for our anniversary. Really looking forward to our trip. We are going to dinner this Friday night, but since we were busy with a family reunion last weekend in Houston, we are staying home this weekend. We are busy planning how to landscape our backyard (which is now dirt). Also trying to get everything ready for summer travels. Our best to all! Come see us in the beautiful dust bowl 2011."

The first picture shows Jerry and Cathrina on the Puget Sound of Washington a few years ago. The second picture was taken a few years earlier than the first one -- 36 years earlier to be exact! It was taken in Lubbock, Texas and shows Jerry with sister-in-law Barbara Shepard on the right. An unidentified college friend of Jerry is on the left.

The Changing Nature of Families. Earlier this year I was part of a fascinating email correspondence regarding the difficulty of chronicling our family and keeping track of everyone. The whole issue arose because of two family members who had never married, but had been a couple for many years, and even had a child. Now regardless of one's opinion about the life choice of that particular couple, the fact remains that somehow they, and any children they might have, need to be accounted for in the family tree to which they belong.

Anomalous family relationships have always been a part of family life. My GGgrandmother Margaret Williams was the wife of William Spear, a man who had been married to Margaret's sister Caroline Williams. After Caroline died, William married her younger sister Margaret and had 8 children by her. To complicate things even more, William and second wife Margaret named their first child after his first wife Caroline.

On the Gower side of my family, one of my 19th century ancestors fathered a child by his stepdaughter. It was a terribly immoral situation, but the truth remains that trying to show that in a family tree is almost impossible, without asterisks, dotted lines and arrows going in different directions.

The increase in the number of unmarried parents these days is only one of the many challenges for those who try to keep track of family. Same sex couples is another. Fortunately computer programs do a pretty good job of allowing for a variety of family situations and configurations.

There are some family anomalies today that create challenges never dreamed of just a few genera- tions ago. Earlier this year a news report came out about Adrian and Lisa Shepherd (no known relationship to us), a couple in England who had triplets by in vitro fertilization (see picture). Two of the daughters, Adrian and Lisa, were born in 1999. The third daughter of this trio, Ryleigh, was born in November, 2010, from a fertilized egg that had been frozen and kept in storage since 1999. Same parents, same act of fertilization, but births 11 years apart. Who could have imagined such a thing not very long ago?

I find this to be an exciting though sometimes bewildering time to be engaged in family research, even though the challenges for family tree keepers are many. Thank God that behind all the incredible changes these days, some things remain the same. There is still that simple yearning for 2 people to be connected in a loving life partnership, and then for that love to result in the joy of parenthood.

If only it was as simple for those who to try to keep it all straight.

- - -
Steve

Trifecta - April 4, 2011

A man who doesn't spend time

with his family 

cannot be a real man.

~Don Corleone

(in "The Godfather")

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you on this travel day for Cindy and me, as we drive down the great Central Valley of California from Alameda back home to San Diego.

Jim and Cheryl Gower Celebrating 42 years

On this day in history, three different members of our family were born. One is a first cousin of mine on the Gower side of the family, another is the husband of my niece Kelly, and the third one is the granddaughter of a cousin on the Shepard side of the family. I don't think any of the three have ever met each other. Yet they are all valued members of our family.

The first born of this trio is my cousin Jim Gower, the second child of Hendrix and Starlene Gower and the second grandchild of Leroy and Nola Shannon Gower. Jim was born and raised in San Diego, but he and wife Cheryl are now retired and live in Fort Mojave, Arizona.

Cheryl: "We are doing great. Jim is busy making all types of kaleidoscopes and selling them here in Fort Mojave and in Oatman, Arizona. He keeps the neighborhood in shape with all his "Mr. Fix-it" abilities. In February we celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary (picture attached). Our son Tim is still teaching and coaching at North Monterey County High School in Castroville, Ca. He has one son, Dane (11 years old), and will soon be engaged to a lovely lady, named Patti, who has a boy and girl of her own. So the family will blossom and we are thrilled."

James Sauvage and Family

The second birthday person today is James Sauvage. Originally from Ohio, he met and married Kelly Sauvage in San Diego. They now live with their two boys in Weatherford, Texas.

This second picture shows Cincinnati Reds fan James at his party last year. Next to him are his sons Nate and Kyle. Also pictured are niece Mandi and sister-in-law Kerri.

Kelly: "James has been working for Pumpco for a year now. It keeps him busy and even allows him to do a little traveling. Every few months he’ll fly to PA helping the guys in that area. He referees football as often as possible. Right now he works the Semi-Pro games every Saturday night. He is also Kyle’s baseball coach…team name Padres. It’s tough trying to teach eleven 6 year olds the basics of baseball and keep their attention for an hour. Lucky for James, he has me around to help. We don’t have big plans for his birthday, probably just dinner with the family.

Horse riding Ciara

"The boys and I spent spring break in Arizona at the Padres spring training.  Such a blast! Kyle has made plans to go again next year. He got so many autographs! Nate got some too, but he wasn’t as excited as Kyle was. It was a long drive for me with two boys, but it was so worth it."
 
The third birthday person on this day is 9 year old Ciara Ortiz of Spring Valley, California. She is the first child of Jeremy and Desiree Ortiz, the first grandchild of Kim Clark, and the first Ggrandchild of Terry and Thelma (Shepard) Boyd. She is also one of the 10 GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard. The third picture shows Ciara riding a horse in a picture taken last fall.

Best wishes to all three of them!
- - -
Steve

Now It's Papa's Turn; March 31, 2011

In family life,

love is the oil that eases the friction,

the cement that binds us closer together,

and the music that brings harmony.

~Eva Burrows

Hello Family and Friends,

Greeting yet again from Alameda, California where Cindy and I are continuing to enjoy a visit with our kids. 

Happy Birthday Joan! This last day of March is the birthday of Joan Shepard, the mother of Havilah Colgain Wardle of West Valley, Utah, the daughter of Elmer Shepard and the sister of Dane Shepard of New Castle, Oklahoma. Originally from San Diego, Joan now lives in Dixon, California. She told me that she and daughter Havilah are presently visiting with her father and family in Oklahoma and will share some family pictures and update when she returns home.

The first picture is an oldie from 1970 and seems to have been taken somewhere in Oklahoma. On the left is a barefoot Joan next to her father Elmer. Next to him is Will and Bura (Davis) Shepard. In the back is Perry and Esther (Davis) Jenkins; on the right is their daughter Coeta.

Happy Birthday Nathan! This coming Sunday, April 3, is the birthday of our son Nathan Shepard of Alameda, California. He is still flying high after the celebration of their daughter Preslea's first birthday last weekend here in Alameda, a celebration attended by Preslea's great grandmother Maida and great aunt Barbara who were visiting from Anacortes, Washington.

The second picture I am including today shows Nathan with wife Chenda and daughter Preslea on a chilly morning early this past week when we were on our way to visit Alcatraz, in San Francisco Bay.

The final picture shows Nathan with his grand mother Maida (Gower) Shepard in a picture taken last weekend here in Alameda.

Nathan works in San Francisco for Wells Fargo Bank, enjoys playing and watching hockey, riding his bicycle, and watching Preslea grow and change almost daily. On his birthday he and Chenda hope to enjoy an evening out by themselves while the grandparents get to babysit.
- - -
Steve

A First Birthday, March 26, 2011

The future belongs

to those who give
the next generation

reasons to hope.

~Teilhard de Chardin

Hello Family and Friends,

Preslea Shepard

Greetings to all of you, wherever you may be, from Northern California where Cindy and I find ourselves on this rainy, first week of spring. 

Several members of our family have gathered here in the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate a special occasion. Today is the first birthday of Preslea Maida Shepard, the granddaughter of Cindy and me, and the pride and joy of her parents Nathan and Chenda Shepard of Alameda, California. Preslea's maternal grandfather is Sou Penh, who lives in Kampong Speu, Cambodia.

Preslea and Family

Preslea is the youngest of the 10 GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Davis Shepard, and also the youngest of the 10 GGgrandchildren of Leroy and Nola Gower. She is named after a certain singing legend, as well as her Ggrandmother Maida Gower Shepard.

The first picture, above, shows a smiling Preslea in her stroller. The second picture shows Preslea on her father's lap next to her mother Chenda. In the back are grandparents Cindy and I. Select this link to see a photoshow of Preslea's first year, including pictures of her family and friends and the birthday celebration.

These days, when she is not chasing their cat Socket around the apartment, Preslea enjoys walks with her mother to the playground of their local park, playing with her dad when he comes home from work in the evenings, and humoring her grandparents on our occasional visits from down south. 

Right now she is also enjoying the attention of her great aunt Barbara and her Ggrandmother Maida, who are visiting from Washington State. In a few months Preslea will welcome the arrival of a little brother, who is due to make an appearance in June.

- - -

Steve

Here Comes Spring, March 19, 2011

Only in the family 
can so many extremes 
be reconciled and synthesized.
Only in the family 
do we have a lifetime 
in which to do it.
- Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Hello Shepard Family and Friends,

Kaylan Ruth Shepard

Greetings to all of you from sunny San Diego where newly blooming flowers, especially the Yellow Sour Grass, announce the end of winter and the coming of spring. Cindy and I are enjoying a visit from a couple of Washington snow-birds, my mom Maida and sister Barbara who seem to be thawing out nicely. 

Kaylan Shepard. Today is the birthday of Kaylan Shepard, Dane and Cindy Shepard's daughter, of New Castle, Oklahoma. Kaylan is the last of the 21 Ggrandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard, and the last of all their descendants to be born in the 20th century.

Kaylan: I am very excited about my birthday!!! I also appreciate you for remembering!!! My mom cannot believe that I am turning 12, but I am loving it!!! For an early birthday present I got a new bowling ball. I am still trying to figure out what all I have to do with it,

Gary and Cindy Shepard

such as where I am supposed to move, what arrow I have to shoot at, and everything else. Thanks again for remembering my birthday. It would be nice to see you all!!!

Gary Shepard. This coming Wednesday, March 23, is the very special 65th birthday of my brother Gary Shepard. Gary is the oldest living grandchild of Will and Bura Shepard, and grandchild number 3 of Leroy and Nola Gower. He and his wife Cindy Shepard live in Oak Harbor, Washington, just a few miles from where a number of other Shepards and Gowers live in Western Washington. The second picture, from 2008, shows Gary and Cindy.

Gary was born and raised in San Diego, California but a few years ago retired with Cindy to Washington State. His three kids, Kerri, Jason and Kelly, along with his four grandkids, all live in Weatherford, Texas. 

Gary with Kerri, Jason and Kelly

This third picture shows Gary with his daughter Kelly on the right. His daughter Kerri and son Jason are in the back. This picture was taken last summer.

Happy Birthday to Kaylan and to Gary!

- - -

Steve

Erin Go Braugh! March 14, 2011

Never slow down,

Never grow old.

~Tom Petty

Hello Family and Friends,

Today is the birthday of my "brother by another mother," one-time brother-in-law but now adopted sibling, Jerry Clark. Jerry lives in Lubbock, Texas with his wife Cathrina and works with his daughter Susan in their business selling yearbooks and class rings. His favorite saying these days is the quote at the top of this post. Happy Birthday, Jerry!

Jerry and wife Cathrina Clark
with Maida Shepard in the middle

Jerry: "I know our dads never met, but in my mind I think they might have walked past each other some where in the dust of Oklahoma and Colorado. I do know that we are related now and how great it is to be a part of the Davis-Shepard family tree. Linda was the best thing that ever happened to me in my life.

"As far as how things are going now... it is great to be a granddad. Cathrina and I love all 8 grand kids (5 of mine and 3 of hers).

"Work is busy here with the end of school near. After 30 years of school related business I am thankful that I never had to have a real job! Working with Susan is a blessing and I think we have never had a cross word about business. She turns 31 (as does Amanda) this year. God has blessed us.

Jerry with grandkids
Miller and Emmerson Cave

"Cat and I are attending a start up church in Lubbock called Experience Life. Young preacher really hits on all cylinders and we feel the spirit working. Everyone is welcome to dusty west Texas to see us at the casa!"

Coffee With Clark. Jerry shared with me the link to Coffee With Clark, the blog of his brother Terry Clark. It is very well written and worth a look. Terry's blog is included in the list of links you can find online at The Shepard's Crook (the main page, right hand column, under Blogs and Sites of Family and Friends).

Erin Go Braugh! With Saint Patrick's Day coming up this Thursday, it is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our Irish Heritage. I have identified 11 different people in our family tree who immigrated to America from Ireland in the 17th and 18th centuries. The first in the list below is an ancestor of my paternal grandmother Bura Davis Shepard. The others are all ancestors of my maternal grandmother Nola Shannon Gower.

Here then is our family's own personal Irish Hall of Fame:

• James Spear (1768-1821), Bura Davis' Ggrandfather, from County Armaugh, Ireland.
• Thomas Shannon (1686-1737) and wife Eigness (Reid) Shannon (1686-1737), Nola Shannon Gower's GGGgrandparents from Munster, Ireland.
• Mary Maxwell (1634-1680) and her daughter Jane Alexander (1665-1691), Nola's GGGGGG grandmother from Donegal, Ireland.
• Mary Hamilton (1600-1634), Nola's GGGGGGGG grandmother, also from Donegal, Ireland.
• William Gray (1771-1865), Nola's GG grandfather from Antrim, Ireland.
• Margaret (Pike) Pickens (1672-1740) and her son Israel Pickens (1693-1749), Nola's GGGG grandfather from Limerick, Ireland.
• George Davice (b. 1660) and his daughter Martha Davice/Davis (1708-1774), Nola's GGGG grandmother from Donegal, Ireland.

Each of these persons has their own stories of hardships and happiness, only a few of which we will ever know. Some of these stories I have shared in this blog before and others I plan to share in future posts. We can be grateful for their courage and celebrate the Irish blood that flows through us because of them. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
- - -
Steve

Same Day Shepards, March 10, 2011

The debt of gratitude we owe our parents
goes forward, not backward.
What we owe our parents
is the bill presented to us by our children.

~Nancy Friday 

Hello Family and Friends,

Linda, Steven and their dad Russell Shepard

It's a beautiful, feels-like-spring day here in San Diego. The calendar says winter for another week or so, but the sunshine and warmth say something different.

Happy Birthday Russ and Steve. This coming Sunday, March 13, in the birthday of my brother Russell Shepard and his son Steven Paul Shepard, both of whom were born on the same day, 28 years apart.

Russ and Steven Sharing a Birthday in 1995

Russ, the last of the 6 children of Eugene and Maida (Gower) Shepard, was born and raised in San Diego, but moved to Anacortes, Washington in 1978 when the family first moved there. Steven has lived his whole life in Washington. Russ and his wife Pam (Engan) Shepard and daughter Linda, along with Steven, all live today in Anacortes.

Russ spends his time these days committed to his job at Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes. In his spare time he enjoys the open road on his Honda Shadow, as well as relaxing at his lake house, "up the river". 

Steven -- who will be 21 on Sunday! -- is a full time student at Skagit Valley College, and is a big help at his Gram's house, where he lives. He is also very involved in the Church of Christ in Anacortes, and enjoys sailing with his Sea Scouts group.

Steve (in green) on a Sea Scout outing

Family Reunion August 13, 2011. Ana- cortes, by the way, is where our Family Reunion will take place this summer on Saturday, August 13, 2011.

You are invited to make your plans and join us as we renew family ties and share an afternoon together. Select this link for all the details of the reunion, including the exact location, motel suggestions, and other pertinent information.
- - -
Steve

From Warfordsburg to Weatherford, March 3, 2011

The family endures because it makes us feel unique

and yet joined to all humanity,

accepted as is and yet challenged to grow.

~Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Hello Family and Friends,

Kerri Shepard Aquiningoc and
sister Kelly Shepard Sauvage

Today is the birthday of my niece Kerri Shepard Aqui- ningoc, who lives with her daughters Lyndsey and Mandi in Weather- ford, Texas. Kerri is the oldest daughter of Gary Shepard of Oak Harbor, Washington and Jackie Perry of Weatherford. She is also the first granddaughter of Maida (Gower) Shepard of Anacortes, Washington. Happy Birthday to Kerri!

Our Warford Connection. In a recent post I shared with you about Lydia Warford, Kerri's GGGGG grandmother. Lydia and husband John Williams, were an American frontier couple who met in Kentucky where they married and bore their 4 children, before the family moved on to Spencer, Indiana.

Lydia Warford was originally from Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania. Intrigued that her maiden name was also the name of her home town, I discovered recently that her kinfolk were indeed the ones who gave that small town its name.

Kerri, Kelly, Jason with Mandi and Lyndsey
in 1994 at Ggrandma Gower's home, San Diego

Warfordsburg, where she was born in 1782, is 200 miles west of Philadelphia, near the Maryland border. Lydia was the youngest child of Henry and Elizabeth (Vanhook) Warford, who were among the earliest settlers of Fulton County in Southern Pennsylvania. Another early Pennsylvania settler was Lydia's uncle Joseph Warford.

Wikipedia states that in December, 1776 (just months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia), Joseph Warford was deeded 100 acres of land on which he laid out a village that became known as Warfordsburg (a fact also attested to by an 1884 History of Fulton County by Waterman Watkins).

The years right after the establishment of Warfordsburg was an unsettling time of revolution and the westward expansion of America. So it is not at all surprising that very few of the original Warfords remained in the town. Warfordsburg exists to this day, but evidently without any descendants of the original family. Many of the Warfords (including our Lydia and her family) left Pennsylvania before the end of the 18th century.

Lydia's father Henry Warford died in 1784 at just 43 years old, a mere 2 years after Lydia was born. The Revolutionary war lasted until 1783, so it is possible his death is attributable to that conflict. What we know for sure is that his wife Elizabeth was left with as many as 10 children between the ages of 2 and 16. Records indicate that the family packed up and left Warfordsburg for good after papa died, and moved to northern Kentucky, where they settled east of Louisville. It was there that Lydia met John Williams, and the continuing saga of our family moved on.

Here is the 340 year westward migration pattern for this particular 13 generation lineage from Warford to Weatherford:

John Warford (1650-99)
...born in Baltimore, Maryland.
Son John Warford (1683-1769)
...born in Westchester, New York.
Son Joseph Warford (1711-74)
...born in Middletown, New Jersey.
Son Henry Warford (1741-84)
...born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Daughter Lydia Warford (1782-1829)
...born in Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania.
Son John Pouty Williams (1806-98)
...born in Spencer County, Kentucky.
Daughter Margaret Williams (1845-1904)
...born in Spencer, Indiana.
Daughter Caroline Spear (1865-1951)
...born in Spencer, Indiana.
Daughter Bura Davis (1896-1986)
...born in Spencer, Indiana.
Son Eugene Shepard (1921-2003)
...born in Beaver County, Oklahoma.
Son Gary Shepard
...born in 1946 in San Diego, California.
Daughter Kerri Shepard
...born in 1968 in Walled Lake, Michigan.
Daughters Lyndsey and Mandi Aquiningoc
...born 1990 and 1992 in San Diego, California, and live today in Weatherford, Texas.
- - -
Steve