OAHS Building Oregon Area Historical Society

            159 W. Lincoln,   Oregon, WI   53575   608-835-8961    








Library scene at the Historical Society
Pioneer Clothing project

Military display at OAHS
Samuel Shepard

SAMUEL SHEPARD, farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Oregon; born Aril 25, 1814, in Byron, Genesee Co., N.Y.; his parents, William and Mary (Hill) Shepard, were farmers and New England people; in 1846, Mr. Shepard visited Badgerton, coming from Milwaukee to Mukwonago, Johnstown, Mt. Zion, Janesville, Cooksville, etc. to Madison, where he found a store or two and a hotel-a party of six making the entire trip on foot; they followed an Indian trail to what is now Storytown, spent a night with the old Capt. McFadden, and on their return, Mr. Shepard claimed 120 acres, which he entered at the Milwaukee Land Office; in June, 1847, he brought out his family.

Mr. Shepard was the first shoemaker in Oregon, working ten or twelve years in a 14x16 log house, one story, with shake roof;" "pretty shaky, too," as the gray-haired pioneer now says; ox teams, Indians and log houses were then as common as high taxes, style, and jealousy now are; after many happy years in the old log house, Mr. Shepard built his present substantial brick in 1857.

His wife was formerly Hannah Story, born Oct. 8, 1817, in Stafford, Genesee Co., and married in Batavia in 1837; they have two children-Omer S., born Nov. 26, 1842; and Mary E. (Mrs. J.C. Trotter), born Feb. 12, 1845, in Bryon, N.Y. Samuel Shepard now has 77 acres, O. S. has 127, and Mr. Trotter 100, all on Secs. 17 and 18. Father and son are Republicans, each having been a member of the Town Board five or more years; Mr. Shepard was one of the founders of the Storytown Baptist Church, of which his family are members.

Ref. 1880 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 1249.


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