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By Diane Bender 
Maderson (or Madison) Shepard was the son of George Fletcher
Shepard (1806-1863) and Lucretia Jordan Shepard (1812-1878).
He was born 9 Dec 1831 in Henry County, GA, and died between
1880 - 1900 in Paris, TX. On 30 Nov 1853, in Harrison County,
Texas he married Lucinda Elizabeth "Betty" Kennedy (b: Abt. 1835
KY, d: probably between 1880 - 1900 in Paris, Lamar Co., TX.)
Their children were:
1. Julia Shepard, b: Abt. 1855 TX.
2. Sarah Lucinda Shepard, b: Abt. 1857 TX.
3. Victoria Shepard, b: Feb 1858 TX. Married A. J. Roberts, m: Jan 15, 1874 Lamar Co., TX. Child: Arthur Roberts, b: Mar 1879 (Census: 1900 as Arthur Reed, living with uncle John Shepard.) 2nd Husband of Victoria Shepard was N. B. Reed, m: Aug 12, 1883 TX. 3rd Husband of Victoria Shepard was James Wilson, m: Abt. 1890. Child: Grant Wilson, d: 1927 Lamar Co., TX.
4. John Shepard, b: Mar 1861 Lamar Co., TX (Census 1: 1870 recorded as L. H. J. B. Shepard. Census 2: 1900 John Sheppard, w/Arthur "Reed," nephew, also in hh.) Married Eliza W. Baugh, b: Jul 1854 AR, m: Sep 5, 1886 Lamar Co., TX.
5. Martha F. Shepard, b: Abt. 1865 Lamar Co., TX. Married S. A. Cruce, m: Nov 30, 1882 Lamar Co., TX.
6. Mary J. Shepard b: Abt. 1867 Lamar Co., TX
7. Miranda "Rindy" Shepard, b: Abt. 1871 Lamar Co., TX. Married 1st to J. W. Jones, m: Jun 9, 1885 Lamar Co., TX. 2nd Husband of Miranda "Rindy" Shepard was (Unknown) Stout, m: Aft. 1890. 3rd Husband of Miranda "Rindy" Shepard was (Unknown) Kennedy, m: Aft. 1895.
8. Son Shepard, b: Abt. 1872 d: Aug 1879 Lamar Co., TX Fact 1: Uncertain if he is son of Maderson.
9. William Shepard, b: Abt. 1874.
Madison moved with his family to Talladega County, AL about 1841, where his grandfather Charles Jordan lived. Charles died about 1845 and the estate was divided. In 1848, Madison's family moved to Ozan, Hempstead Co., AR, and in 1850 he was living in Franklin Twp., Union Co., AR, working on a farm. In 1854, Madison's brother Franklin moved to Bastrop Co., TX, and probably the rest of the family followed.
On 4 Jan 1862, M. Shepherd enlisted in Lamar County Texas under Miles A. Dillard in the 9th Texas Infantry. His service record shows:
July - October, 1862, present as 4th Cpl.;
January - April, 1863; present as 2nd Cpl.;
May - June, 1863; absent;
July - August, 1863, left sick at Morton, MS;
28 Aug 1863 at Texas General Hospital, Quitman, MS;
5 Apr 1864, present as 2nd Cpl.
On 3 Sep 1863, Madison's father was murdered. George Shepard had rented a farm that already had a tenant on it. The tenant was angry at being removed and blamed George. He hid in the barn and when George arrived at the farm with his family, the man ambushed him, calling him a "horse thief." The horrified children ran to some neighbors, who rounded up a posse and pursued
the killer. They caught and hanged him that very night. One of the boys who witnessed this murder, John Stedham Shepard, eventually became a judge in Eastland Co. TX, because, it is said, of the influence of this experience.
He is found in the 1850 Union County, Arkansas Census and the 1860 Lamar County Texas Census. Occupations of Madison shown in the census records are:
1850 Union County, Arkansas, laborer
1860 Lamar County, Texas, a brick mason
1870 Lamar County, Texas, a farmer, Beat 1, 332-375
1880, Lamar County, Texas, a farmer, Precinct No. 7, ED 131, p 262
He is not found on the 1900 TX soundex.
His last record is an 1881 Lamar Co. deed and he is supposed to have died in Red River Co.
His brother Franklin "Frank" SHEPARD served 1st Texas Cavalry, Co. D, POW.
His brother Thaddeus served in Company K, 28th Louisiana.
For more information on the ancestors of Madison Shepard contact Diane Bender.
©Ron Brothers and Diane Bender 2000. All Rights Reserved.
February 19, 2000
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