Mathew K. Shepherd1

b. February 1866
FatherThompson Shepherd2 b. abt 1836
MotherMary Jane Ward2 b. abt 1838
BirthFeb 1866 Mathew K. Shepherd was born in Feb 1866 in Smyth County, Virginia.3,2,4 
Cens-187015 Jul 1870  Mathew was enumerated as a 4 year old child in the household of T.R. Shepherd [his father] on the 1870 census for Rich Valley township in Smyth County, Virginia.1 
Cens-188019 Jun 1880  Ten years later, at the age of 13 he was recorded working as a laborer and living in the household of Hamil Poston and his wife.5 
  Mathew's father was not enumerated with Mathew's mother and siblings, suggesting he might have been deceased. Mathew, as the eldest son, may have been helping support his family. 
Marriage21 Sep 1899 He married Mary Pennington on 21 Sep 1899 in Washington County, Virginia.2 
Cens-Sum  Mathew and Mary spent their married life in Smyth County, Virginia. Mathew owned his own land, which he farmed in the early days of their marriage. However by 1920 he worked as a laborer at a rock quarry. In 1910 the census reported that Mary was the mother of 6 children, of whom 5 were living. Since son Luther was not born until after 1910, the couple may have had another child in addition to those listed below.3,6,7 

Family

Mary Pennington b. abt 1874
Children
  • Edward M. Shepherd6 (circa 1901 - )
  • William T. Shepherd6 (circa 1902 - )
  • Mary Shepherd6
  • Mathew Shepherd Jr.6
  • Robert Lee Shepherd6
  • Luther R. Shepherd7
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited21 Jun 2007

Citations

  1. [S1006] T.R. Shepherd household, 1870 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley Township, p. 63 (stamped), dwelling 195, family 195, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 29 of 90. Enumeration includes: T. R. [?] Shepherd, 3_, farm laborer; Mary J., 32; Reely, 8; cont. top next page: Laura J., 6; Mathew K., 4; Ellen J., 2; Frances, 54 (f), retired housekeeper; Tate Wm, 15, black, works on farm; Taylor M., 17, black, works on farm; all b. VA.
  2. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 100. Record abstracted as: Mathew Sheppard, 31, b. Smyth Co. VA, living Smyth Co., s/o Thomp & Mary A. Sheppard, farmer AND Mary Pennington, 25, d/o Wm & __ Pennington, marr: 21 Sept. 1899.
  3. [S682] Ma__ Sheppard household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley District, ED 84, sheet 6A (p. 88 stamped), dwelling 79, family 80, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 11 of 50. Enumeration includes: Ma_ [written over], male, b. Feb. 1868, 30 marr 0 yrs, farm laborer, rents home, is not farm; Mary, wife, b. Oct. 1869, 30, marr 0 yrs, mother 0 children; Lottie Pennington, sister-in-law, 22, b. Jul 1877, sgl; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.
  4. [S16] The Feb. 1868 date of birth suggested by the 1900 census and Mathew's marriage record are at odds with the age reported for him on the 1870 census (4). His younger sister Ellen appears as a 2 year old on the same census. Her date of birth per the 1900 census was Dec. 1867. Mathew was more likely born in Feb. 1866, not Feb. 1868.
  5. [S521] Hamil Poston household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., 84th District, ED 84, page 46B, dwelling 416, family 443, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 43 of 52. Enumeration includes: Hamil Poston, 30, laborer; Elizabeth, 28, wife; also 4 children; Mathew Shepherd, 13, laborer; all b. VA.
  6. [S1138] Mathew Shepherd household, 1910 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville precinct, ED 87, sheet 17B, dwelling 264, family 297, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 34 of 44. Enumeration includes: Mathew Shepherd, 42, marr #1, marr 10 yrs, farmer, owns farm, not mortgaged, b. VA, parents b. VA; Mary, wife, 39, marr #1, marr 10 yrs, mother 6 children, 5 living [it appears "6" had originally been written], b. NC, parents b. NC; Edward M., son, 9; William T., son, 8; Mary _, dau, 6; Mathew Jr., son, 3; Lee, son, 8/12; all children b. VA; their fathes b. VA and mother b. NC.
  7. [S835] Madison K. Shepherd household, 1920 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley district, ED 117, sheet 4B, dwelling 65, family 68, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 8 of 57. Enumeration includes: Madison K. [sic] Shepherd, 53, marr, owns home (farm), no mortgage, laborer at rock quary; Mary, wife, 51, b. NC [all others b. VA]; Edward, son, 19; William T., son, 18; Mary _ [E or C], dau, 15; Mattie, dau, 13; Robert Lee, son, 10; Luther R., son, 7.