124 TRA^rSACTIONS OP THE ILLINOIS 



Such AA'as onr friend and colaborer. We shall not soon see his 

 like again. While we still wait and watch for the morning of all 

 highest human hope, to which we pass only through the draped gate- 

 way of death, let his virtues be our virtues, his life and light our life 

 and light; and though earth may fade from our view the sunshine of 

 our immortal life shall never set. 



SMILEY SHEPARD. 

 BY SAMUEL EDWAEDS. 



He was horn March 3, 1803, and was the eldest of ten children. 



In August, 1828, he left his father's home on horseback for a 

 visit to the new State of Illinois. During the visit he selected the 

 site of the home he so long occupied, its scenery and extensive views 

 outweighing, in his estimation, the considerations which induced 

 others to pass it by. While looking at the locality he spent his first 

 night in the neighborhood, on what is now the northwest corner of 

 Mrs. Wm. Allen's apple orchard, sleeping alone on the prairie grass, 

 with his saddle for a pillow, and his horse fettered near by. During 

 the night a wolf managed to steal from his stock of provisions a tin 

 cup of butter, but, like some other thieves, he did not know what to 

 do with it when he had it, and instead of licking out the butter 

 closed the mouth of the cup with his teeth and left it. 



Leaving Putnam, Mr. Shepard gratified his strong love for ro- 

 mantic scenery by visiting Starved Kock, Sulphur Springs, Buffalo 

 Rock, and the present site of Ottawa. From this point he crossed 

 the country to Rock River and the Mississippi below the mouth of 

 Rock River. On his way back he and his companions made the trip 

 from the Mississippi to Fort Clark (now Peoria) in one day. From 

 this he made his way back home by way of Vandalia, Vincennes and 

 Cincinnati. 



April 9th, 1829, he married Elizabeth Paul, who was born in 

 Rockbridge County, Virginia, but came with her family at an early 

 day to Adams County, Ohio. During the early summer he returned 

 to Illinois with his wife, Avho was supposed to be the first white 

 woman to land from the river in Putnam County. Circumstances 

 not being favorable to the immediate occupation of his chosen site 

 for a home, he made a claim at Point Pleasant, and remained there 

 until the fall of 1830. From a letter dated Point Pleasant, Septem- 

 ber 27, 1829, directed to Shepherd Moore, Bond County, the follow- 

 ing extracts will throw some light on the situation: 



" Bring me a side of sole leather when you come. I have sent 

 to Springfield and Chicago both, and could obtain none. Call at 

 Lewis Laughlin's, on the Sangamon, and bring me a washing tub. 

 I sent him timl)er and pay for making it, by S. D. Laughlin." 



The timber was red cedar, taken from the bluffs of All Forks. 



