Pg. X

Colonel Luther Shepard was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, July 31st, 1777. He came with his father’s family to Marietta, in 1790, and, in company with his brother Calvin (who is mentioned herein in connection with the history of the Methodist Episcopal church), arrived at Gallipolis shortly after the year 1800. In 1809 he married Margaret, a daughter of John Enteminger (whose name will be found in the extract published of the early records of the township, among its list of original officers, in 1802, and who came to Gallia county, from Virginia, in 1795.)

Colonel Shepard served as captain of a company in the war of 1812 during a portion of which service he was post commandant at Chillicothe, whither he was accompanied by his wife. He had under his charge at that point a large number of British prisoners, among whom was an artist of considerable repute, who, while there, painted finely executed portraits of himself and wife, on wood, which are now in the possession of one of his descendants, and highly prized, not only as interesting relics, but as valuable works of art. As a matter of interest, in this connection, a copy will be given of an old document which is found among the papers of Colonel shepard, and now in the possession of one of his descendants. In contrasting the appearance of it with military papers of like import of the present day, one is impressed with the lack of modern red-tape and it business-like language:

 

Chillicothe , April 4th, 1814.

Sir: On receipt of this you will take charge of Camp Scioto, in which the British prisoners are confined. You will put all the prisoners in close confinement who have been concerned in the mutinous conduct to-day, in rejecting their provisions after they were passed as good by their own noncommissioned officers. You will keep them under guard for twenty-four hours, without suffering them to cook or eat. You will order out the one-half of your effective force on guard, this day and to-morrow, and have the guard well supplied with ammunition. If any of the prisoners become refractory, or insolent, you will order them to be tied.

Yours, with respect,
John Miller,
Colonel of 19th Regiment, Infantry.

Captain Shepard,
Commanding Ohio Militia

Colonel Shepard, after the war, continued to reside at Gallipolis, an honored citizen, lending an active business life until his death, which occurred in 1852. Four of his children are yet living, viz: Mrs. Alexander Vance, Mrs. Margaret Aleshire, Miss Julia Shepard and Edward T. Shepard.