James Alford Shepard, My Great-Great Grandfather and Caroline McCleary My Great-Great Grandmother

James and Caroline 

James Alford Shepard was born to Calvin and Nancy Shepard on October 5th 1846. Caroline McCleary was born on May 30th, 1853 to John and Elizabeth Houseman McCleary. 

James Alford Shepard

In the 1850 US Census James Alford is living in his father and mother's household, he was 6 at this time.  His dad Calvin was 30 and mom Nancy was 29.  Sister Sarah was 8 and brother Preston was 6,  All living in Russell, Kentucky. 

In the 1860 US Census they have now migrated to Pike County Indiana Monroe Township. Caroline is 7 years old living in the house hold of her parents John and Elizabeth McCleary. Caroline's siblings  in the home are Naomi McCleary age 5 born 1855,Mary A is 2 years old born 1858.  John is 30 and listed as farmer and her mother is 26 working in the home.

James and Caroline were married April 30th, 1868 in Pike County Indiana.  

In the US Census of 1870 Pike County Indiana Monroe Township has James age is 23 and Caroline is 17.  Also in the home is baby Viola Shepherd age 1.  Next door lives John McCleary and Elizabeth Houseman McCleary.  They have several children still in the home, Mary is 13 born 1857, Luvina is 7 born 1863 and Margret is 6 born in 1864.

You will notice the various spellings of "Shepard" as you read this, it's all the same family. When the Enumerator's take the census info and document it on the paper, hand writing can be very hard to read and understand.  

Caroline McCleary

In the 1880 US Census in  Pike County Indiana Monroe Township Caroline is 28 and James is 34. James is working as a merchant and still farming.  Omma is 11 born in 1869, John N 5 born in 1875, Emma May is 2 born in 1878 and now Luvina McClary, age 17, sister-in-law is in the home (Caroline's sister.)

In the 1890 Pike County Indiana Monroe Township Census, James A age 53 and Caroline age 47, children still in the home are Emma age 22 and James age 17.  

Caroline died December 11th 1915, she was 62.  She had Huntington's.  James died Feb 1908, he was 61.  They are both buried at the Spurgeon Cemetery in Spurgeon, Monroe Township, Pike County, Indiana.

Caroline's and James's children:

Omma "Viola"  1878-1929 died of Huntington's

Emily E    1871-1873

Baby Boy  1872-1873

John David 1874-1925 died of Huntington's. Our Great Grandfather.

Benona 1876-1876

Emma May 1878-1929 died of Huntington's

James Lemuel 1882-1967 Did NOT have Huntington's

Willard 1890-1894

James L Shepard and John David were brothers. Sharing the same mother, Caroline McCleary. The brothers were not close from all I've read. 

John married Cora and had two surviving boys, Carl and Floyd.  

James L married Emma Ferguson and they had eight children, having four surviving into the new century. Four babies did not live past four years.  Viola, John D, Emma M and James Lemuel all lived to adulthood.  Three died of Huntington's and James Lemuel went on to live a full life.  He had two boys, Carl Eugene and Paul Alford.  Carl E did not have any children and Paul had three: John Paul, Ellen Mae and Marla.  

Emma Mae Shepard 1878-1929 married William Thomas Jordan 1870-1944 on March 27th 1901.

Emma had two children, Evelyn Jordan 1907-? and Wilbur Kitchener Jordan 1902-1980. 

Biography of Wilbur Kitchener Jordan

Wilbur Kitchener Jordan, son of William and Emma (Shepard), historian and college administrator, was

born on January 15, 1902 and brought up in Lynnville Indiana, WKJ received his degree from Oakland City College, Indiana in 1923, his AM (1926) and Ph.D (1931) from Harvard University. He was appointed tutor in History, Government and Economics, and taught History I under Roger B. Merriman. In 1937 he was appointed Professor of History at Scripps College in California. In 1940 he was appointed general editor of the University of Chicago Press. He was named President of Radcliffe in 1943 and served in that position until. [Feb, 1960]. At the same time he was Professor of History at Harvard, remaining in that position until he retired in 1970.  Wilbur was married to Frances Ruml, they had no children. 

Wilbur K Jordan

Carl Eugene Shepard born 1921

Carl E, not to be confused with Carl Mason Shepard, served in the military and Charlie had a news paper article regarding a letter he sent home to his parents during WWII.  Charlie did confuse this article to be from his Uncle Carl.  It was discovered during our research, that we found the correct Carl. 

Newspaper Article 

Newspaper story approx.. 1945 - city unknown:

"DESCRIBES PRISON CAMP"

PFC,. Carl Shepard has written his parents Mr. and Mrs. James L. Shepard of this city, about the horrors of one of the infamous German concentration camps which was seized by American troops.  PFC.. Shepard is a German interpreter with the U. S. forces in Germany.  The letter follows:  

Dear folks;

 Since I wrote you last I have certainly seen and experienced many things.  But of them all what I saw a couple of days ago is by far the worst.  I saw something with my own eyes which will stay with me for as long as I live.  I saw what the Germans have done to the Jews, the Poles and all  the others.  I will tell the whole story from beginning to end so you can follow it more easily.  One morning the Germans moved as many of the Jews from this particular camp as could walk or be moved.  Then since they knew the Americans were coming they sprayed gasoline around all the buildings and probably on those who were left behind too, then they set fire to the place.

 That was in the morning and that afternoon the Americans got there.  I was there that afternoon too and I saw the remains.  Just a short time before I got there there were a few who were about half-alive but by the time I got there they were all dead.    In one room there had been a large number because the corpses were pile pretty high, but the rest were just scattered around all over the place, lying where they had died.  They were all skin and bones.  They had been starved for as long as five years some of them.  A few were lucky enough to escape.  There were perhaps ten or twelve who got out alive.  I talked to some of them.  They were just so overjoyed that they wanted to kiss everyone they met, especially the Americans.  They were able to escape because of a shell fired by the Americans, which blew a hole in one of the buildings.  They too, were just skin and bones.  They were just wandering about, no knowing where to go but so happy that they were just free again.  And you can't imagine what that means unless you have seen someone like these people.  According to one who got out, there were about 250 who were killed or burned as the Germans retreated, and judging from the bodies I saw I would guess that there were that many.  I did not take any pictures and I am glad I didn't.  The sights I saw were too horrible.  Up until now I had been inclined to think the stories about the concentration camps were exaggerated, but now that I have seen one my self I know that they don't begin to tell the truth.  It is impossible to describe in words what it was like.

Per Find a Grave

Carl was born to James Lucius Shepard and Emma (Ferguson) Shepard. He married Joan J. Buchanan, the daughter of Ogle Joshua Buchanan and Amy B. Buchanan.

Gravesite Details

WW II Veteran - U.S. Army Intelligence Corp. - German interpreter.

Carl E. Shepard

BIRTH

23 Oct 1921

Spurgeon, Pike County, Indiana, USA

DEATH

30 Oct 2010 (aged 89)

USA

BURIAL

Adams Corner Cemetery

Adams Corner, Wabash County, Illinois, USA

Dennis was able to contact Carl E  through his family in 2004. The next piece of information from Carl states he has a daughter, that is in error, he had no children, aware of the Huntington's issue. 

Here is the information Carl Eugene Shepard mailed Dennis

April 23, 2004

Dear Dennis,

I can’t begin to put into words how glad I am to be able to send you the enclosed material.  I had been thinking about it all, composing it in my mind, and putting it together, bit by bit, in my word processor ever since I asked my daughter to get in touch with you.

This is all based on memory.  I have very little in the way of family records -- a couple of newspaper obituaries and that sort of thing.  There is no one else alive who can reconstruct all this.

A couple of notes: my nephew, John Shepard, who lives in Spring Valley, MN, was doing research on the McHenry side of the family, going back from Nancy McHenry who married Calvin Shepard.  John wanted to establish that a James McHenry who was a delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention the same person as a James McHenry in our line. But no one has ever been able to make that connection. John was going to western Missouri last summer to try to look up some tombstones.  I was too sick just then  -- recovering from a mitral valve replacement --  that I was not able to tell him that Nancy McHenry married a Rev.  Themus Taylor and is buried in the Spurgeon cemetery under “Taylor.”  Now, tragically, John has been diagnosed with lymphoma and the last I heard he was not doing well at all.  John had told me that he was in touch with someone “out west” who was doing similar research -- maybe that is you.  

It has troubled me all my life that I knew nothing of the family of my father’s brother, John.  Now this helps out a lot. (my daughter printed pages for me from your website.)

WITH ALL KINDEST BEST WISHES, 

Carl E. Shepard

105 Perry St

Mt. Carmel, IL  62863

CARL E. SHEPARD, born October 23, 1921, near Spurgeon, in Monroe Township/Pike County, Indiana.

These notes are intended as a “family tree,” but are rather a personal recollection of my family and Huntington’s Disease.

My parents were JAMES LEMUEL SHEPARD (1882-1967) and EMMA FERGUSON SHEPARD (1881-1961).  My father’s parents were JAMES ALFORD SHEPARD and CAROLINE McCLARY SHEPARD.  My parents were married in 1906 and for the next two years my mother was the dutiful daughter-in-law, taking care of JAMES A.  in his last months of life, suffering from tuberculosis.  He died in 1908 and definitely did not have Huntington's Disease (Chorea). It was his wife, CAROLINE, who had this disease.  

As she began to have this affliction, my father wanted my mother to take care of her.  So they built a room on the back of their house for her bedroom.  It turned out to be nearly disastrous.  My mother told me many stories, of which the following is typical: One day my mother was going into CAROLINE’S room when CAROLINE,  who had been hiding behind a door, came lunging at my mother with a butcher knife.  My father’s brother-in-law (more later) took matters into his own hands and had his mother-in-law, my father’s mother, committed to a mental hospital in Evansville, Indiana.  It was known for decades as “Woodmere,” but is now called Indiana State Hospital.  This caused a rift between my father and William, but it was later healed.  CAROLINE died about 1915.  I was born in 1921, so I never knew either of my grandparents, but I knew two of CAROLINE’S siblings quite well.  

There was a sister (CAROLINES), HARRIET McCLARY ARNOLD, married to a Primitive Baptist minister, JAMES RILE ARNOLD.  They “broke up housekeeping,” to use an appropriate old term, at an early age and went to live with a daughter, EDITH ARNOLD HON, who lived in Crossville, Illinois.  Aunt HARRIET came to visit my parents in Spurgeon, Indiana, every summer for three or four weeks at a time.  Even as a very small boy, I realized that there was something wrong with her.  I do remember that what was the last visit she had severe problems.  She died with Huntington’s, but I am sure she was not put in an institution.  I know of no other children beside Edith.

There was also a brother (CAROLINES), WILLARD McCLARY m ETTA ---?  I knew them well, since my parents visited them fairly often on Sunday afternoons.  It was a very great shock to me, a young boy, to see him in his condition, with all the typical symptoms of Huntington’s. Etta took care of him until the end, even though it was very hard on her own health.  They had four children: (1) JOHN McCLEARY had a Ph.D in psychology and was a partner in a firm of industrial psychologists in Chicago.  He and I exchanged letters until his last letter in 1959, which was a rambling raging tirade. I assume his wife had him put in an institution, but I don’t know this.  He never mentioned any children. (2) CHLOE McCLARY FRENCH was an elementary school teacher until the onset of her illness.  He was committed to Woodmere in Evensville and died there. There were no children.  (3) MARGUERITE (SP?) McCLEARY GEORGES lived in Ft. Branch, Indiana.  I understand she had Huntington’s but I don’t know anything more.  I believe there were children.  (4) WOODROW McCLEARY was still living at least until recently in Elberfeld, Ind.  He would now, if living, be in his 90s.  I think there were no children. 

    Now there is a gap in my knowledge.  Caroline must have had another sister.  My father, JAMES L., had a favorite cousin JAMES T. SHEPARD, whom my father called a “double cousin,” meaning that their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters.  I don’t know if he was the son of Preston  Shepard, but I think it is likely.  Now that means that Preston (or another brother) married a sister of CAROLINE.  I do know that James T did not develop Huntington’s, nor did his son, JAMES S., who was a distinguished lawyer in the Richmond, Indiana, area. But there is the possibility that Huntington’s did exist in some descendant of this branch.  There was yet another cousin HARRIET SHEPARD WITHERSPOON, who lived in Vincennes and was likely a daughter of Rice Shepard.  She did not have Huntington’s. 

    One small clue as to the identity of CAROLINE’S father.  My own father spoke often, and affectionately, of his “Grandpap” Mclary, although he described him as very odd and a real loner.  Only one thing, apparently, would bring him out of his reclusiveness:  If he learned of someone in the community who was sick, he would go into his large forest and shoot a squirrel and take it to the family of the sick person, for as they believed then that cooked squirrel soup (ugh!) had wonderful curative powers. (by the way, in my reading of early Tudor English history, I have found that this was believed back then.)  Now I have a map of Monroe Township from 1881 and it shows a very large tract of land southeast of Spurgeon as belonging to a “T. McCleary.” Could this be the father?  It would be a good starting point to possibly making some connection.  

Now I need to finish with a listing of the children of James Alford and Caroline Shepard:

1. Viola married a WEBB (I think it was Theadore).  She died at an early age with Huntington’s  There was one son, ORVIS.  He lived with my parents for some time and then after marriage settled in Cincinnati.  He came fairly often to visit my parents.  Then last time he came was obviously a very sick person, and all my father could do was the next morning to take him to a nearby city and put him on a bus directly to Cincinnati.  We did not hear from him again, but a few years later learned of his death.  

2. JOHN SHEPARD  There must have been a serious, deep family division, because so far as I know my parents never heard from JOHN, saying only that he had “gone west.”  And I like wise don;t know that my parents ever tried to communicate with him.  I always knew that he had two sons, CARL and FLOYD, but I have no personal knowledge of the entire family.  (Note to reader: This is my family line, FLOYD was my grandfather)

3. EMMA SHEPARD m. WILLIAM JORDAN, a distinguished professor of mathematics at Oakland City College.I remember visiting them with my parents when she was becoming seriously ill with Huntington's.  William had her put in Woodmere, where she died in 1928 or 1929.  They had two children: WILBER K and EVELYN (GOERLITZ).  Wilber was a long-time professor of English History at Harvard and, for twenty years, president of Radcliffe College.  He and I were in close touch.  He once told me that he and his sister had resolved, early, never to have children, and they did not.  Both were spared from Huntington’s Disease.

4. JAMES LEMUEL SHEPARD m. EMMA FERGUSON.  My father must have been fearfully frightened of what might befall him, but he lived to be 84.  There were two sons, PAUL ALFORD SHEPARD (1915-2001) and myself.  Both of us escaped the disease.  Paul married and had two children, but I somehow, gradually decided not to have children.  About 1960, when I was nearing 40, doctors began to tell me that I could feel safe since my father did not become ill.  I had not yet married, but I did then marry in 1962.  

John David Shepard, our Great Grandfather

John David Shepard was born on August 1874 in Pike County Indiana to Caroline McCleary and James Alford Shepard.  John had six siblings. Omma Viola 1869-1890, Emily E 1871-1873, Baby Shepard 1872-1873, Benona Shepard 1876-1876, Emma May 1878-1929 and James Lemuel 1882-1967. 

In the 1880 US Census John is living in Pleasantville, Pike County Indiana.  He is living at home with his parents James Alford and Caroline Shepard. John is 5 years old, siblings Omma is 11, Emma 2 also living in the house hold is an Aunt, Luvia MCCleary age 17.

John married Cora Dell Mason on 14 Oct 1894 in Spurgeon, Pike County, Indiana.  Infant son was born and died on Jul 23, 1895 in Pike County.  Son Carl Mason was born Mar 1900 in Mason, Pike County.  They had an Twins born on 13 Feb 1903 in Pike County, one was a daughter who was stillborn and a son Floyd David who survived.

John D and Cora D Shepard 
Carl and Floyd Shepard

In the 1900 US Census has Cora age 26 and John D Shepard age 26 living in  Monroe Township, Pike County Indiana. With them in the household is Carl age 1 and a adopted daughter Goldie Mange age 8. John is listed as a farmer and Cora at home.  In the 1910 US Census John 35 and Cora 35 are still in Pike County.  Adopted daughter Goldie Mange is not listed in the household, Carl is now 10 and Floyd is 7 years old. Listed on this census record, Shepard is spelled Sheperd.  John is working in a Dry Goods store as a salesman. 

I am unable to locate John or Cora in the 1920 US Census.  Their boys, Carl is in Oklahoma and Floyd is living with his Grandfather David Mason in Arkansas.  
It is know that John did have Huntington's and was taken to a "mental" hospital, date unknow at this time and died in 1925.  He is buried in the Spurgeon Cemetery.  

I will add to the page as more information is uncovered.

Carl Mason Shepard, our Great Uncle

               

Carl Mason, big brother of Floyd Shepard was born on February 9th, 1900 in Spurgeon, Pike County, Indiana.  No to be confused with his cousin Carl E Shepard born October 23rd, 1921.  When first beginning this research my cousin and I visited our Uncle Chuck and he told us great stories of his uncle Carl etc.  He gave us many pieces of history to take home with us, this was 20 years ago, he has since passed and didn't see our end results.  Carl's parents were John David Shepard and Cora Dell Mason.

In the 1900 US Census Carl was one year old and lived in the house hold with his parents both age 26 and adopted sister, Goldie Mange age 8, in Monroe Township, Pike County in Indiana.   His father John, is a farmer and Cora is working in the home.  

When the 1910 US Census was taken John and Cora were 35, Carl was 10 and now a brother Floyd David is 7.  Adopted sister Goldie is not mentioned or in the home located in Monroe, Pike County in Indiana. 

In 1920 Carl age 20, is now living in Hot Springs, Arkansas with wife Catherine Conrad age 23.  Carl is working as a machinist in a garage. Also living in Hot Springs are is grandparents David and Ellen Mason.  They were married November 28th 1917 in Vanderburgh, Indiana. Sometime in this decade Carl got divorced from Catherine.  

In 1929 Carl has moved northwest to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and remarried on February 5th to Gladys Blye.  Carl is 30 and Gladys is 24.  They got married in Cotton, Oklahoma on May 2nd, 1929 Carl is also working as a Peace Officer for Oklahoma City.  

In 1930 US Census Carl is now 29 and Gladys is 24 living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Carl is still a machinist at a motor company and Gladys is working in the home. Her father is from Texas and her mother is from Pennsylvania. There are notes saying

that Carl was married three times, but I haven't found anything on the third wife. 

By the 1940 US Census comes around Carl is 40.  in 1935 Carl is still in Oklahoma City, but by 1940 he has migrated to Washington where his brother Floyd lives.  Carl is living At 600 Orchard Ave in the Fragaria district, divorced and living alone as a lodger.  

Between 1940-1950 Carl has worked as a machinist and now working in Puget Sound Shipyard. From pictures saved by family, it seems that Carl and Brother Floyd loved to fish and swim in Puget Sound. Carl is living with his mother, Cora Wickham by now is 75, and his brother Floyd is 47.  The 1950 US Census was taken there on April 21, 1950.  Both boys are now sick and their widowed mother is doing her best.   They lived at 2110 Trenton Ave in Bremerton WA.

From the written notes by Mattie Shepard: Carl Mason Shepard was married three times, had no children known of.  Carl went to Swedish Hospital and went to Virginia Mason in Seattle WA he had brain operation that left him  bedridden.  They sent him to Northern State Hospital, but  was released to his mother, Cora Wickham.  He was having twitching in his stomach.  After he was having more symptoms of Huntington's he was under care of Dr. Jackson & Dr. G. P. Bramwell. 

Carl was in Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, Washington for treatment. A family story is he was given a lobotomy and lived out his life bedridden with one side paralyzed. This place is now on the states abandon places. Creepy place. 

Great Grandma Cora Dell Mason Shepard Wickham and Family

Cora Dell Mason was born in Oakland City, Indiana to her parents, Ellen Deter and David Mason on June 3rd 1874, Cora died in Bremerton Washington on December 2nd 1952 of Chronic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Congestive heart failure. 

In the 1880 US Census David Mason was 40 and listed as a farmer.  In the household is wife Ellen 30. Children are Charley age 12 born 1868. Floyd W age 9 born 1871.  Cora Doll (sic) 6 born 1874.  Tillman age 3 born 1877 and Lenora 1, born 1879. All born in Indiana.  Listed as living next door is William Mason age 81 and a retired farmer.  

Cora Mason age 21, married John David Shepard on October 14th, 1884 in Spurgeon, Pike County Indiana.  It lists John's name spelled as Jno. Sheppard age 24. 

On July 23rd 1895 Cora gave birth to baby Boy Shepard, the child died at birth. On January 19th 1900 Carl Mason Shepard was born.  February 13th 1903 Floyd David Shepard was born, his twin Baby girl Shepard died at birth. They all were born in Spurgeon, Pike County Indiana.

Find a Grave regarding John D Shepard 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179088673/john-shepard

Married Cora Dell Mason on 14 Oct 1894 in Spurgeon, Pike County, Indiana. Infant son was born and died on Jul 23, 1895 in Pike County Son Carl Mason was born Mar 1900 in Mason, Pike County. They had Twins born on 13 Feb 1903 in Pike County, one was a daughter who was stillborn and a son Floyd David who survived.

Mattie Frances Vernon Shepard, let's start with Grandma

Mattie was born  27 Jul 1909 in Norcatur, Decatur County, Kansas. 66 years later on the same day her first great grandson was born.  Kansas State Census of 1925 has Mattie age 15  living in the home of her father A C Vernon 57, and Clara Emma her mother, age 54.  Along with her sister Grace Vernon 13, her brother Glenn 11 and sister Nellie Vernon age 19. 

In the 1920 US Census, Mattie 9, lived in Olive Township, Decatur, Kansas, United States. Living in the family home with Amos 52 and Clara E Vernon 49. Children living in the home were sister Iva Vernon 17, Nellie B 14, sister Grace 7 and brother Glen E Vernon 6. 

On May 17, 1929 Mattie graduated from Norcatur Rural High School.  

"The marriage of Floyd D Shepard and Miss Mattie F Vernon took place at Norton on Saturday, August 10th.  Judge Palmer officiating. Mr. Shepard is a son of Mrs. Aden Wickham well known here  And the bride a daughter of AC Vernon of northeast Norcatur, a resent graduate of Norcatur High School.  Their many friends are delighted to offer congratulations" 

In the 1930 US Census Mattie Shepard 20, and Floyd 27 Shepard were married and living in the household of Aden Wickham.  and wife Cora Shepard Wickham.  In the 1930 Census they have misspelled his first name of Floyd, as Folyd.

In the 1940 US Census Mattie 30, and Floyd 36, are living in  Fruitvale, Mesa, Colorado, United States. Their living with now widowed, Floyd a mother, Cora Wickham. Also in the household is Dorothy Ellen 6 and Shirley Frances  is now 4.  Aden was married on October 15, 1925 to Mrs. Cora Shepard and died March 4th 1930. More on him later.  

From 1929 to 1940,  Mattie, as a newly wed married on the 10th of August 1929 she worked as a Packer in Palisade Colo., She was a housewife from 1929 to 1942, then she lived near Palisade, CO.  John David Shepard was born August 5th 1930, he died a few hours later.  Each summer she would pack fruit and vegetables and also worked around the peaches.  She would work behind the Graders that sorted the fruit, she also made some boxes and nailed boxes up to send to the packing sheds. Glen Roy Shepard was born August 8th 1932, he sadly died the next day. Dorothy Ellen Shepard was born September 10th, 1933.  Two years later Shirley Frances Shepard was born May 17, 1935.  Before She left that type of work behind when Charles Clinton Shepard was born May 25th 1941.  Floyd went to Washington state before Mattie, to work in the Puget Sound Shipyard. She moved to Bremerton, Washington in 1941 after Charles was born.  Mattie sent a Wester Union to Floyd in Bremerton announcing his birth at home a healthy 10 1/4 pound boy born at home.  

From March 1942 to June 1942,  Mattie worked for City Hand Laundry in Bremerton Washington.  She left this position because she received a call to go to work for PSNS.

From June 23, 1942 to Feb. 5, 1947,  Mattie was a War Appointee at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a Helper General, Classification E.  She was sent into the paint shop of Shop 70 for a few days, and the was sent up to Building 466, known as the Radio Lab., there she worked under FBI investigation and was allowed to stay for a long time.  She cleaned offices on swing-shift for about 2 1/2 years.  Asking for day work, she was sent down to the Naval Dispensary, where she cleaned offices, hallways and restrooms.  Then when they started laying off the women, she was sent up to the Officers club and worked there about six months.  Then she was sent to the Riggers shop, then she was advised of a medical discharge.  She was a War appointee and wasn't needed any longer.

From Sept. 1951 to Feb. 1953, Mattie held the position of head Mangle, in the PSNS laundry Service.  It was there she worked on the shake tables and , also was head mangle girl for some time.  Her reason for leaving this position was due to poor working conditions and low pay.  

Mattie F Vernon married Floyd David Shepard on 10 Aug 1929 in Norton, Norton County,  Kansas, just months after graduating High School.  Decatur and Norton Counties are on the northern border to Nebraska.  

Mattie kept a scrapbook and pasted on one page are several small newspaper clippings of her marriage and of their babies that died.  There is no reference of where or what papers they were clipped from.  The scrapbook is held by a family member. 

"No Title"

The marriage of Floyd D. Shepherd and Miss Mattie F. Vernon took place at Norton, on Saturday, August 10th, (1929)  Judge palmer officiating.  Mr. Shepherd is a son of Mrs. Aden Wickham, well known here, and the bride  a daughter of Mr. A. C. Vernon, of northwest of Norcatur, a recent graduate from Norcatur High School.  Their many friends are delighted to offer congratulations.  

"No Title"

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shepard drove to Colorado on a honeymoon outing trip last week.

Floyd David Shepard, son of Cora Dell Mason and John David Shepard.  Floyd was a twin, his twin died at birth. Another child was stillborn.  No record of date yet.  Floyd has one brother, Carl who is three years older. Floyd went to the doctor in Denver, Colorado in about 1937. The doctor told him he had signs of syphilis. When he came to Washington State in 1941 he went to work in Navy yard.  He went to Dr. Jackson and Dr. Bramwell for a spinal tap.  Then he was told he had Huntington's Chorea.  Way back in 1928 he had trouble - He could not see in the dark.  None what so ever.  He would have to have help if he walked in dark.  Floyd entered the hospital 1948.

Hospital Records:

WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL, FORT STEILACOOM, WASHINGTON

CLINICAL RECORD

No.34183     Age   49   Name   SHEPARD, Floyd L.    

Date admitted   7/16/52

County    Kitsap

Civil Condition   Divorced   Religion   Prot,.   Occupation   Laborer Nativity   Indiana   Time in State  12 Years   Service Connection   None. Correspondent    MOTHER:  Cora Shepard Wickham, 2110 Trenton  Avenue, Bremerton Wa.

Guardian  

INFORMATION FROM PAPERS:

 PRESENT ILLNESS:  The present illness started in 1937, and came on gradually.  The mother claims patient is harmless, but previous commitment records mention his striking her.  Patient will occasionally undress without regard for others.  There is no history of patient being suicidal.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:  Physical findings:  "Continuous choreoform mots ."  No information on neurological and laboratory findings.

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL HISTORY:  Previous illness:  onset of Huntington's chorea at age 34.  No history of surgical operations or epilepsy.  This patient hospitalized at Northern State Hospital Aug 27, 1947 to Nov. 20, 1948 according to commitment papers.

MENTAL EXAMINATION:  Patient soothes over all accusations as though his actions were logical and the nurses and patients pick on him.  Mrs. Pelky, Mrs. Coen, and a letter written by Rita Karvonen, R.N. of Stonehall Nursing Home says patient has fits of temper and swears at people.  Becomes upset when tobacco is refused.  Unmanageable, terrifies other patients and the nurses.  Cannot be refused tobacco or have him turn off the radio at night without terrific scenes.  Characteristic of behavior:  continual grimacing. Smokes with difficulty but assiduously, dropping lighted cigarettes constantly, does not mind being burned.  Patient speaks conversationally and answers questions. He is very highly emotional.  Fits of temper and strike at people.  At present he is quite nervous but shows no temper.  Delusions:  none, other than he believes the nurses are constantly picking on him.  No hallucinations.  his memory is normal, judgement is poor.  Patient is uncontrollable by others and can't control himself.  May set fire to clothes or to fixtures accidentally.  Patient has been in a nursing home for more than a year and had to quit.  Stone Hall cared for him for only one day and night and refused further care.  Apparent cause of the illness is Huntington's Chorea.  Impression as to thee mental diagnosis;  "Huntington's Chorea with the usual mental deterioration.   Psychosis-paranoid".

STATISTICAL AND SOCIAL DATA:  This is a 49 year-old , divorced , white, Protestant laborer, male, with three children.  The youngest child is 11.  Patient was born 2/13/03 in Indiana.  The father John D Shepard was born in Indiana: and the mother, Cora Shepard Wickham , also was born in that state.  Patient has resided in Washington state 12 years.  Previously has lived in Colorado and Arkansas.  Patient has one brother who has Huntington's Chorea.  Patient went to the 6th grade in school.  There is history of patient being in Northern State Hospital from 8/27/47 to 11/20/48.  No history of excessive use of drugs or alcohol.

 ADMISSSION NOTE:

Patient admitted 3:15 P.M., July 16, 1952 via state car from Kitsap County on a regular court commitment.  In no restraint.  This man is a very cooperative person who can't keep his body still.  His speech is very slurred and hard to understand.  He was able to tell us about his brother who also has a similar affliction- his brother was operated on in Seattle (apparently for his chorea) and is now paralyzed on one side.  He also said his father had the same thing.  He seemed to be quite rational and it wasn't possible to tell how much mental deterioration there was.

Impression:  Huntington's Chorea with some mental deterioration.                                                    

FAMILY HISTORY

Father          John N. Shepard, dead, by pneumonia.  He also was afflicted with Huntington's Chorea  

Mother             Cora Shepard Wickham, living, in Bremerton, Wash.

Siblings          Brother, Carl, living, was a patient at N.S.H . from Aug 27, 1947 to August 11, 1949.  Diagnosis was   psychosis with Huntington's Chorea.  Floyd Shepard's twin brother was stillborn.  One brother  died at birth.  

The paternal grandfather  died at the age of 70 years in a mental hospital.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Patient was born February 13, 1903 in Indiana.  He started school at 6 years of age and reached the 9th grade.  After the school he started to work as a laborer and did it until 1941.

Religion   Protestant

Military   None

Habits   Used alcoholic liquors moderately.  Smokes.  Denies the use of drugs.

Social   None

Arrests   Denied

Sex-Marital   Divorced.  Has three children, 19, 17, and 11.

Medical    Common childhood diseases.  Has been hospitalized at N.S.H. from August 27, 1947 and was paroled November 20, 1948 and discharged from parole as recovered from his Psychosis February 16, 1950.  Diagnosis:  Psychosis with Huntington's Chorea.  

LABORATORY TESTS

Blood   Negative

Spinal Fluid

Appearance

Cell Count   0

Pressure   16.

Total Protein   43.0

Globulin   No increase

Kahn   Negative

Gold   Negative

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Age 49;  height 5'7"  weight 131#; pulse 90;  resp.24;  development, poor;  nourishment, poor;  gait hesitant and wide stance.  Writhing movements of whole upper body.  

HEAD Skull: Symmetrical, hair black

Eyes: Symmetrical, equal and react to L&A  

Ears:

Nose: Normal

Mouth: Teeth, plates, tongue normal

NECK     Lymph glands normal, thyroid normal, scars none

CHEST Heart Size normal, sounds good:  arteries normal.  BP 118/75.  

Lungs Permission normal;  Aueseuletion not possible.  

 ABDOMEN        X-ray  7-11-52, chest plate normal.  Rigos per Brown:ds:pk     Palpation normal;  hernia none.  Anal not done

EXTREMETIES Chorea-athetoid movements of upper extremities, head and neck.  Faull range of passive movement of legs.

REFLEXES Gramasteric absent;  Petellar H-H;  Flanter present:  Abdominal absent:  Rhomberg - :  Babinski Questionable on left.  Touch present.

SUMMARY:  Choreo-athetoid movements characteristic of Huntington's Chorea.

                                                                                                                                                  ANAMNESIS:  This 49 year old, white, divorced male enters WSH July 16, 1952 by regular court commitment from Kitsap County.  The following information from paper is noted.  The present illness started in 1937 and came gradually.  Patient will occasionally undress without regard to others.  Patient has fits of temper and swears at people.  Becomes upset when tobacco is refused.  Unmanageable, terrifies other patients and the nurses.  Smokes with difficulty, but assiduously, dropping lighted cigarettes constantly, doesn't mind being burned!

MENTAL EXAMINATION 

ATTITUDE AND GENERAL BEHAVIOR:  Patient is quite (sic) and cooperative.  He shows facial grimacing.  Saluting movements of the arms and irregular movements of various types.  Movements of the arms are more active than those of the legs.  The gait is clumsy because of the incessant choreiform movements.  The movements disappear during sleep.

STREAM OF MENTAL ACTIVITY:  Patient responds to questioning logically but speech is indistinct and dysarthria. 

EMOTIONAL REACTION:  He shows emotional instability

MENTAL TREND AND CONTENT OF THOUGHT:  He offers no evidence of hallucinations and no delusions of any kind can be elicited at the present time.

SENSORIUM AND MENTAL GRASP AND CAPACITY:  Patient's sensorium is clear and he is well oriented as to time, place and person.  His memory is intact.  Mental grasp and capacity can't be checked because of indistinct speech.

INSIGHT AND JUDGEMENT:  He shows a good insight but judgement is defective. 

SUMMARY:  

A 49 year old, white, divorced male, admitted to WSH July 16, 1952, by regular court commitment from Kitsap County.  He is suffering from Huntington's Chorea and he was hospitalized  at NSH August 27, 1947 and discharged February 16, 1950.  His father also was afflicted with Huntington's Chorea and his brother Carl is suffering from Psychosis with Huntington's Chorea.  After discharge from NSH he was placed in a nursing home.  He became unmanageable there, had fits of temper, swore at people, became upset when tobacco was refused etc.  He was admitted here quiet and cooperative, shows facial grimacing, and irregular movements of various types.   His gait is clumsy and the movements disappear during sleep.    Speech is logical but indistinct and dysarthria.  He shows emotional instability but offers no evidence of hallucination and no delusions of any kind can be elicited at the present time.  He is well oriented in all three spheres and memory is intact.  He shows good insight judgement is defective.

Impression:  Chronic brain syndrome associated with Huntington's Chorea. 

DIAGNOSIS:

PHYSICAL 908-992   Hereditary chronic progressive chorea with mental deterioration

MENTAL By conference:

Provisional:  009-900.x1  Chronic brain syndrome associated with Huntington's Chorea with psychotic reaction.              

FINAL                009-900.x1  Chronic brain syndrome associated with Huntington's Chorea, with psychotic reaction.

PROGRESS NOTES

Floyd Shepard

August 15, 1952  Transferred from Ward 1 to Ward 11.  A deteriorated Huntington's Chorea, pleasant and cooperative.  A bed patient most of the time, usually quiet and tidy.                                                    September 17, 1952  Patient placed on Scopolamine 0.3 mg t.i.d. He is very cooperative and pleasant.  November 5, 1952  Ward 11.  This patient has been consistently pleasant, cooperative and tidy since his admission to ward 11.  He had been receiving Scopolamine 0.3 mg t.i.d. with subjective improvement but no objective changes.  His mother expresses a great deal of insight into her son's illness and has written a request that her son may have visits at home during the holidays.  The case was discussed with Dr. Brown and his approval was obtained.                                                                                                  November 23,1952  Regular Parole   ds

November 30 1952  Return Parole    ds

November 21 1952  Patient was attacked by Walter Heinig about 4:00 PM on 11-21-52.  Walter was found pushing Floyd's head against the wall of the men's room.  Floyd received superficial abrasion/ ecchymosis about right ear and on forehead.  Also a small laceration over occiput.  This was a totally unprovoked and vicious attack by Walter on the helpless Floyd.                                          

December 2, 1953  Ward 11.  Received a phone call from Mr. Robert Brown, R. N. of 1727 Trenton Avenue, Bremerton Wash. today stating that  Floyd's mother had passed away yesterday.  Mr. Brown requested that we inform Floyd of the death and also stated while Floyd was home he complained that the food he received here at the hospital was not chopped up enough so that he could eat it.  Therefore, he would often skip meals.  Mr. Brown was quite upset with the handling Floyd had received from Walter Heinig, another patient.  Mr. Brown has been appointed executor of Floyd's mother's estate and it was in her will that she would like Mr. Brown to look after Floyd.  He would like to be notified of any change in Floyd's condition or any legal correspondence that had to be handled.  Floyd was informed of his mothers death, and took it quite well.  He did not cry or show any display of emotions and said only. "that's too bad."  Floyd has never complained about the food.  He says that he gets enough here and he is happy,  However, he has lost weight.  He now only weighs 112 lbs.  A close watch will be kept on Floyd and his door will be locked to prevent any intruders from harming him.  Also, extra precautions will be put on him to see that he eats a goodly amount of food.                                                                  

December 5, 1952  Ward11  Patient fell this morning and received a 3" abrasion and superficial laceration over right upper arm and a slight superficial laceration over parietal area.  He has shown little, if any improvement.  His chorea is unaffected by medication.  His skin is atrophic and dry and susceptible to irritation and especially to bed clothing.  He has developed a papular rash over right flank.  He remains quite cheerful in spite of his disability and his mother's recent death.  He has been eating very well, but fails to gain weight.  His therapeutic regime includes multivitamins b.i.d. and Scopolamine t.i.d.  His diet is carefully watched.  Treatment of his skin lesions is quite difficult as the involuntary movement against bed clothing add insult.                                                           

December 8, 1952  Mr. Brown again called and informed me that patients' three children, two girls and one boy, Shirley 17, Dorothy 19, and Charles 12, did not even come to visit him while patient was at home; that the children were ashamed of their father.  Wife is divorced.  Grandmother deeded everything to Floyd in Mr. Brown's trust, even burial plot for Floyd.  Mr. Brown wishes to be notified if he dies, so that he can make funeral arrangements, also he expresses his opinion that Floyd should not be paroled to children or ex-wife.        

December 15, 1952  Ward 12 Notice letter from Mr. Robert Brown, RN who is executor of Cora Shepard's estate (Floyd's mother)                                                                                          

January 5, 1953  Ward 12.  Patient was examined Friday by Doctor Dietrich who prescribed Penicillin 6000,000 units IM every other day for (?) and a lotion consisting of calamine loth 1% phenol and zinc stearate powder.  Today the skin is much softer and lesions abating.                                                            April 17,1953  Ward 11.  This patient is becoming progressively weaker since 3 weeks ago.  Unable to walk and continues to lose weight gradually.  BP is 80/40.  Pulse 80, weak and regular.  Heart sounds distant.       

May 9, 1953  DIED.  Ward 11  Causes:  Huntington's Chorea.  Huntington's Chorea with psychosis.