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History in
a Pecan Shell
In 1875 B. A. Shepherd,
a Houston banker and land
speculator watched the plans of the proposed Houston, East and West
Texas Railroad. Sheperd had a townsite platted in anticipation and
even included a depot. In 1879 a post office was granted and by 1900
the town had 278 residents. During the progressive years, Shepherd’s
population rose to 500, only to decline after WWII
to somewhere around 350.
Shepherd has benefited from the building of Lake Livingston (finished
in 1968) and the instant population increase it brought. From 900
in the early 1970s, it broke 1,600 by the mid 1980s.
Shepherd’s population eclipsed that of the county
seat, becoming San
Jacinto County’s largest town. Shepherd was incorporated in 1967.
The 1990 census reported 1,812 residents, growing to just over 2,000
for the 2000 count. |
Historical Marker
(on Main Street):
Town of
Shepherd
Originated in vicinity
of Old Drew's Landing, a Trinity River port for settlers bringing
in goods and shipping cotton, tobacco, and other products to markets.
An early nearby community was Big Creek. Into these pioneer settlements
came Houston East & West Texas Railroad investors, including Benjamin
A. Shepherd (1814-1891) of Houston,
who in 1875 platted townsite here, naming it for himself.
The town square was on west side of H. E. & W. T., which was completed
beyond this point in 1879. The Shepherd Post Office opened Dec. 22,
1879, with Jack B. Noble as postmaster. A pioneer physician was Dr.
William Herbert Beazley (1837-1919); Mrs. Jessie Fain operated an
early hotel; Mrs. Jane Langham taught first public school session,
in Methodist church building. James Ephraim Tribe, a native of Canada,
came here in 1895, was a carpenter, coffin maker, millwright, and
wheelwright. A Baptist, he built a church edifice for that faith in
1896. Distinguished native son Robert Scott Lovett (1860-1932), became
president of Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads and rendered
outstanding civilian service to the nation during World
War I. Once a center for the lumbering industry, Shepherd remains
an important market town of southeast Texas. |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history
and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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