THOMAS A. SHEPHERD - One of the best improved farms of Sangamon county is that owned by T. A. Shepherd on section 23, Ball township. Here he has two hundred and twenty-six acres of land, which is supplied with all modern equipments, including a neat and attractive home, substantial barns and outbuildings and a good orchard. The place is well tiled and fenced and divided into fields of convenient size. In fact, all modern accessories are found upon this place, which in its neat and thrifty appearance is indicative of the careful supervision of a progressive owner.
Mr. Shepherd was born in Ball township, Sangamon county, December 4, 1860, on the old homestead farm belonging to his father, Thomas B. Shepherd, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. He was reared under the parental roof and acquired a common school education, while his business training was received in farm work.
He was married December 24, 1883, to Marian M. Weber, a native of this county and a daughter of George P. Weber, now of Saunders county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd established their home at the time of their marriage on the farm where they are now living, and he has since devoted his energies to the further improvement and cultivation of his tract of land of two hundred and sixty acres. He has erected a nice and commodious residence to supplant the little home in which they first lived, has also built a good barn and is giving considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock. This branch of his business has become very important to him and annually returns a very gratifying income. As his financial resources have increased he has placed his capital in the safest of all investments-Real estate-and now owns two farms in addition to his home property, one in Pawnee township of two hundred acres and another of a quarter section in Divernon township. These he rents and all are well improved and valuable properties.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have been born three children: Stella M., George W. and Thomas Charles. Politically Mr. Shepherd is a Republican, indorsing the men and measures of that party by his ballot, yet never seeking office at the hands of his fellow townsmen. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both are well known in the community, receiving the favor and friendship of many with whom they have come in contact. Mr. Shepherd is a man of integrity and worth, of enterprising spirit and accurate business methods, and as one of the representatives of a pioneer family also deserves mention in this volume.