John Calvin Shepherd

John Calvin Shepherd was born October 3, 1856 in Ashe County, North Carolina as the second of six children born to James Wilburn and Elizabeth Jones Shepherd. John Calvin was the father of brothers Grover and Harrison Shepherd.

Married Rosabelle Baker

John grew up in the Weaversford section of Ashe County along the North Fork New River. The 19-year-old John was living with his parents when, according to family tradition, he married his first wife Rosabelle Baker in 1876. A year later, John's first child, Flora Ennis, was born. For reasons unknown, Rosabelle walked out on the family when Flora was only one year old. [1] Flora was raised by John's sister, Mary, and her husband William Harrison Brown. John then went to live with his uncle Abraham Shepherd in Webbville, Kentucky. He worked there for two or three years to get the money to buy a home of his own.

When John returned to Ashe County, he bought a farm near Crumpler, North Carolina in 1882 that would become his home for the rest of his life. His homeplace was located on Guy Neaves Road and consisted of 125 acres that he purchased in three tracts from Lee Porter, Famous Ham and Robert Blevins.

Married Sarah Anna Ballou

Sarah Anna Ballou Shepherd

John married Sarah Anna Ballou, daughter of John and Sarah Porter Ballou on July 23, 1883. John and Sarah Shepherd lived in a log house on the farm just across the branch from the spring. John started grading for a new house higher up. He did the work by hand with a team of oxen. He hauled rock for the foundations, and also to build a retaining wall in the back, and for a chimney and a double fireplace for the two-story, four-room house he planned to build.

Over the next several years, John worked on the farm during the crop season and spent all extra time working on the house. By 1888, with the help of a carpenter, the house was started. During this time, he had lost one child, Fieldin Jones Shepherd, who died in 1886 at the age of five months. Then his wife Sarah Anna got sick and died August 29, 1890. John was left with three small children (Grover, age 5, Victoria, age 2, and Harrison, age 6 months). John found a housekeeper, who cared for the family, and he continued working on the house and finished the two big downstairs rooms and moved into them around 1891. By this time, he owned a team of horses and some cattle.

Married Martha Ludema Hash

Martha Ludema Hash Shepherd

On June 25, 1891, John married Martha Ludema Hash, daughter of Huston and Mary Emoline Bagwell Hash. Huston fought as a Confederate in the Civil War and was wounded in northern Virginia. Huston returned to his home in Fox Creek, VA to recuperate, but died shortly thereafter, when Martha was a little girl.

Following John's marriage to Martha Hash, his life became somewhat stabilized over the next 30 years. John and Martha finished the four-room house and front porch around 1900 or 1902. They built three rooms on the back of the house, a kitchen, dining room, and small bedroom. They lived in this house, which had hardwood floors and a shingle roof. He had made the shingles by hand. The ceilings were dressed or planed by hand. Martha gave John three daughters, Mary Elizabeth, Lelia Jane, and Ruby Swan.

During this period, John continued to build barns, shops, woodsheds, smokehouse, and other needed structures.

Into the 20th Century

John Calvin Shepherd Homeplace - Click Here to see a larger photo of the home and identity of the people.

On November 6, 1901, John signed an agreement to allow the Norfolk and Western Railway Company to build a track across land he owned in Weaversford that was previously part of his father's estate. Norfolk and Western sought to build a railroad into Ashe County that would follow the North Fork of the New River upstream through Crumpler. However, for reasons unknown, the project was never completed. About 13 years later Norfolk and Western ended up building a track that came into Ashe County further west in the Ripshin Community.

John's family was extended by another person in 1903 when John's mother-in-law Sarah Porter Ballou died in 1903. Sarah's husband, John Rhys Ballou, moved in with the John Calvin Shepherd family and lived with them for five years until his death in 1908. John Ballou deeded his 90-acre farm to John's sons, Grover and Harrison, in turn for his care in his last days. Part of this property remains in the hands of Grover's descendants - grandsons Brodrick and Ryland Shepherd.

Steve Wright

John and Martha also took on the responsibility of raising an orphan boy named Steve Wright. Steve was born about 1904, and was living with the John Calvin Shepherd family at the time of the 1910 census.

Started Fairview Schoolhouse

John is credited with being a driving force behind the building of Fairview Schoolhouse, which was located on Fairview Hill near the edge of John's farm. Men from the community hauled in logs to a sawmill on John's farm where the logs were sawed to build the new school house. Fairview Schoolhouse was completed about 1904 with two classrooms. It replaced a one-room log school building known as the Brown Schoolhouse, which had earlier been donated to the community by Harrison Brown, one of John's uncles. John's three youngest daughters attended the Brown Schoolhouse and Fairview Schoolhouse. The girls had to walk about two miles through the woods to get to school.

Remodeled John Calvin Shepherd Homeplace as it appears today

In later years, Fairview Schoolhouse was expanded, and accomodated around 75 to 100 students. A unique feature of Fairview Schoolhouse was that it also served the children of black families in the community and may have been one of the first integrated schools in the state. Fairview Baptist Church now sits on the site of the old Fairview School.

Moved in With Dollie and Lelia Brown

After Martha died on August 7, 1920, John moved in with his daughter Lelia and her husband Dollie Brown. The Browns lived in Weaversford on land previously owned by John's father, James Wilburn Shepherd. John lived with the Browns for about 8-9 years, including six years in Welsh, West Virginia.

Dollie Brown Homeplace

The Browns, along with Harrison Shepherd, and others in the Weaversford area went to West Virginia in 1922 to work as carpenters. They worked for the coal mining companies, building houses for the minners.

The Browns and Shepherds returned to Ashe County in 1928. The next year, Harrison was in the process of moving into the vacant John Calvin Shepherd homeplace, when John had a stroke and died three days later on July 28, 1929.

When Harrison moved into the John Calvin Shepherd house, he pumped water to the house, rebuilt the back rooms, put in a bathroom, built a big new porch with a bedroom above, put on a new roof and new siding, painted, etc. He also built a new cement storage room and other outside buildings. Harrison and his family lived in this house until their children were married and gone.

John Calvin Shepherd

A 'Gentleman Farmer'

John is remembered by grandson Dale Brown as a "gentleman farmer." Dale was born in 1920, and spent the first nine years of his life with the aged John. Dale said, "He (John) always wore a white shirt and tie... I never seen him do a day's work in his life, and he always had a good saddle horse to ride." Dale said he remembered how John would sit and chew tobacco on the front porch, always wearing his white shirt and tie.

According to rumor, John had several mistrisses, and may have fathered some children outside of marriage. Two seperate word-of-mouth sources indicate that John was intimate with a neigbor, Nora Alice Griffitts, and that he was the father of her child, Lara Fay Griffitts (b. Dec. 10, 1913; d. Jan. 3, 1988). Lara's death certificate lists her father as 'unknown.'

John is also remembered as a generous man and a good neighbor who would gladly lend a hand to help others.

John is buried in the John Calvin Shepherd Family Cemetery located above the homeplace on Guy Neaves Road in Crumpler, NC. John's second wife, Sarah Ballou, her parents, and John's third wife, Martha Ludema Hash are also buried there.

Eight Known Children of John Calvin Shepherd and his three wives:

John Calvin Shepherd (center) with grandsons Walter (left) and Wilburn (right) Shepherd, taken at the funeral of Blaine Shepherd in 1929. John died only two months later.

Had one known child by Rosabelle Baker:

1. Flora Ennis Shepherd

   Had four known children by Sarah Anna Ballou:

2. Grover Cleveland Shepherd
3. Fieldin Jones Shepherd
4. Victoria Maude Shepherd
5. Benjamin Harrison Shepherd

   Had three known children by Martha Ludema Hash:

6. Mary Elizabeth Shepherd
7. Lelia Jane Shepherd
8. Ruby Swan Shepherd

Flora Ennis Shepherd

1. Flora Ennis Shepherd, born August 22, 1877; died May 17, 1925 of a stroke; married Dr. Robert Wesley Summerfield Pegram (b. Mar. 18, 1865, d. Mar. 22, 1939), Dec. 26, 1894; Flora's mother, Rosabelle, literally walked out on John Calvin when Flora was one year old. Flora was raised by Harrison William and Mary Shepherd Brown (Mary was a sister of John's father, James Wilburn Shepherd). Harrison and Mary, originally from Wilkes County, NC, sold their Ashe County home, and moved back to Wilkes County with Flora. They moved to the Dellaplane Community. Harrison built a large house and grocery store, where Mary kept the Dellaplane Post Office. Harrison died about the time Flora married Dr. Pegram. The couple lived with Mary the rest of her life. Dr. Pegram practiced medicine, and Flora helped out in the grocery store. After Mary's death, Flora became the Postmaster at Dellaplane, holding the position from May 29, 1908 - September 30, 1910.

   The Pegrams purchased a lot in Canton, NC in 1905 and built an elegant home on the property in 1911. By 1913, the Pegrams completed their move to Canton after selling off their Wilkes County property.

   Flora Ennis Shepherd Pegram

   Although Flora was raised by her Aunt and Uncle in Wilkes Co., NC, she apparently maintained ties with her father, John Calvin Shepherd and other relatives, in Ashe Co., NC. The above photograph of Flora as a child, was likely taken in 1891 at the wedding of John and his third wife Martha Ludema Hash. Over the years, Flora corresponded with her cousin Annie Phillips, whose family lived next door to John and Martha Shepherd.

   Flora's life was cut short at the age of 47 when she suffered an unexpected stoke of parlysis from which she never revived. She had been in her usual good health and was planning to attend the birthday dinner of her little grandson, George Pegram the same day. Flora was a member of the First Baptist Church and of the Eastern Star. She was active in her church organizations, was past worthy matron of the order Eastern Star.

   Dr. Pegram was a prominent figure in Canton. He was considered to be one of the original "Canton Men" that had a considerable role in the re-creation of Canton as an industrial city. His portrait hangs in the local Canton museum. On September 8, 1897, Dr. Pegram was appointed examining surgeon by the United States government, and served six years, resigning to take his seat in the North Carolina legislature of 1903, having been elected in 1902 over Gordon Hackett by 399 votes.

   Wedding of Dr. Robert & Flora Ennis Shepherd Pegram - Click Here to see a photo of the entire wedding party.

   Dr. Pegram also had several medical discoveries. In 1905 he discovered what he said was a "specific remedy for the treatment of typhoid fever." In 1908 he discovered a treatment for the expulsion of gall stones without surgical measures, which he successfully used ever since. Dr. Pegram was a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge number 467, and the Junior Order, Canton 142. He was also a forceful speaker and often delivered addresses at public gatherings.

   Dr. Pegram died March 22, 1939. He and Flora are buried in the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on Old Clyde Road in Canton, NC; Had four known children:

   • Unnamed Pegram, died before 1900

   • George Clay Pegram, born Nov. 23, 1898 in Wilkes Co., NC; died June 30, 1972; married Alice Bayless (b. Feb. 1, 1897, d. Jan. 4, 1969); George and Alice are buried in the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery in Canton, NC; Had one known child:

     Dr. Robert Wesley Summerfield Pegram

     • George Clay Pegram, Jr, born May 17, 1921; died Sept. 7, 2000 in King, WA; married 1st Onita __?___ and lived in the state of Washington; married 2nd Janet __?__; Had two known children by Onita: Greg and Vickie.

   • Mary Lucia Pegram, born Mar. 26, 1903; died Dec. 13, 1958 of a stroke; married Carter Lee Rhinehart (b. Oct. 6, 1891, d. July 17, 1956), who worked at the Champion Paper and Fiber Company in Canton, NC. Carter served in both World War I and World War II. He retired from the Army as a full colonel; Sons Buddy and Bobby spent some summers with the Harrison Shepherd family in Ashe County, NC. Carter and Mary are buried in the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery in Clyde, NC; Had two known children:
     • Robert Lee "Bobby" Rhinehart, born Mar. 14, 1925; died Dec. 1, 2001; married Matoka Wilson (b. July 29, 1928); Bobby was once a seasonal ranger at Glacier National Park and a school teacher. He was a graduate of Haywood County Schools and attended Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and he was a 1948 graduate of Duke University with a BA Degree in Zoology. Bob also graduated from the Executive Program at the University of N.C. at Chapel Hill.

       Robert Lee Rhinehart

       Bob was a member of the Burnsville Masonic Lodge #717 A.F. & A.M. , where he was a past master. He was also a member of the Oasis Temple as a shriner and had served as a trustee of Mayland Community College. He retired in 1990 from Glen Raven Mills in Burnsville with 38 years of service where he served as administrative manager. While there he developed an on- loom inspection program, a first in the textile industry. He was a member of Burnsville First Baptist Church having served as a Sunday School teacher. Bob is buried in the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery in Canton, NC; Mataka currently lives in Burnsville, NC; No children.

     • Carter Lee "Buddy" Rhinehart, Jr., born July 26, 1926 in Haywood Co., NC; died Dec. 29, 2006 in Asheville, NC; married Judith "Judy" Patton in 1953; Buddy graduated from Canton High School in 1943. In 1950 he graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the Kenan Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

       Carter Lee "Buddy" Rhinehart, Jr

       Buddy was a Navy veteran of World War II serving from 1944 to 1946 in the South Pacific and stationed on the island of Guam. His career included work at Glen Raven Mill in Burnsville, General Electric in Hendersonville and Champion International in Canton where he retired in 1988 as manager of the Production Control Department. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Canton where he was a former deacon, Sunday School teacher and member of various committees. He was a member of the Bishop Sunday School class. He had a great love for nature and the outdoors, and he especially enjoyed fishing, camping, hiking, boating and traveling both in the United States and abroad. Buddy is buried in the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery in Clyde, NC. Judy currently lives in Canton, NC; Buddy and Judy had no children.

   • Robert Wesley Pegram, born April 8, 1907 in Haywood Co., NC; married 1st Elizabeth Kohlass; married 2nd Ruth Fagan from Oxford, NC; Robert was a hospital administrator in Andrews, NC; No children.

   Grover Cleveland Shepherd

2. Grover Cleveland Shepherd, born May 6, 1885; Aug. 19, 1954; married Ethel Isabelle Walker, Jan. 26, 1910; Grover and Ethel are buried in the New River Baptist Church Cemetery; For more information on Grover Cleveland & Ethel Walker Shepherd and their descendants, see the Grover Cleveland Shepherd Family Article or click the link for each child's name. Had eight known children:

   • James Wilburn Shepherd, born July 10, 1911; died Sept. 27, 1977; married Valma Hill Stonestreet of State Road in Wilkes County Jan. 22, 1941; Had four known children: Mary Lynn, Jane, James Wilburn Jr, and Martha.

   • Walter Leonard Shepherd, born Feb. 22, 1913; died Aug. 8, 1998; married Muriel Baldwin July 16, 1938; Had three known children: Remona McOlean, Willard Gwyn, and Sandra Ruth.

   • Robert Blaine Shepherd, born Dec. 28, 1915; died May 29, 1929; Blaine died as the result of a hunting accident.

     Wedding photo of Grover & Ethel Shepherd (seated) on January 26, 1910. Standing are witnesses Robie Walker (brother of Ethel) and Mary Shepherd (sister of Grover)

   • Sallie Edith Shepherd, born Aug. 16, 1918; died Mar. 24, 1984; married Guy Barkley Howard, of Forest City, NC, Dec. 26, 1940; Had one known child: Kay Barkley.

   • Ralph Franklin Shepherd, born July 8, 1920; married Joyce Banks of Burnsville, NC, July 12, 1943; Had two known children: John Franklin and Robert Banks.

   • Myrtle Luna Shepherd, born August 29, 1922; married Bryce Pugh of Ashe County, NC, Dec. 5, 1945; Had two known children: Linda Janice and Denny Glenn.

   • Mont Fred Shepherd, born Sept. 1, 1926; married Betty Arnold of Ashe County, May 29, 1957; Had two known children: Brodrick Dwayne and Ryland Boyd.

   • Betty Ruth Shepherd, born Feb. 28,1932; married Homer Williams of Iredell County, NC in 1950; Had four known children: Mark Felix, Janet Sue, Kay Francis, and Neal Avery.

3. Fieldin Jones Shepherd, born Sept. 13, 1886; died Feb. 22, 1887; buried in the John Calvin Shepherd Cemetery.

4. Victoria Maud Shepherd, born Jan 16, 1888; died Mar. 7, 1892; buried in the John Calvin Shepherd Cemetery.

   Benjamin Harrison Shepherd

5. Benjamin Harrison Shepherd, born Feb. 9, 1890; died Jan. 5, 1979; married Sibbie Neaves, Jan. 22, 1911; Harrison and Sibbie are buried in the Healing Springs Baptist Church Cemetery; For more information on Benjamin Harrison & Sibbie Neaves Shepherd and their descendants, see the Benjamin Harrison Shepherd Family Article or click the link for each child's name. Had three known children:

   • Thelma Ennis Shepherd, born Mar. 22, 1914; died Feb. 13, 1998; married Fred Fender, Nov. 5, 1948; Had three known children: Olena, Unnamed Infant, and Fredda Sue.

   • Leonard Harrison Shepherd, born Jan. 3, 1918; died May 24, 1963; married Odessa Lee Baker, Nov. 19, 1943; Had two known children: Linda Lee and John Leonard.

   • Wayne Dale Shepherd, born Dec. 16, 1919; married Ruth Eugenia Kimball, Feb. 12, 1944; Had three known children: Eugenia Dale, Ben Kimball, and Thomas Neaves.

   Mary Elizabeth Shepherd Colvard

6. Mary Elizabeth Shepherd, born June 12, 1892; died Dec. 11, 1994; married Wiley Pinkney Colvard, Mar. 30, 1910. Mary and Wiley are buried in the New River Baptist Church Cemetery; For more information on Elizabeth Mary Shepherd Colvard and her descendants, see the Wiley Pinkney Colvard Family Article or click the link for each child's name. Had seven known children:

   • Ruby Hazeline Colvard, born May 4, 1911; married Granville Warren, Dec. 25, 1931 in North Wilkesboro, NC; Had three known children: Treva Coleen, Stephen Colvard, and John Granville.

   • Dean Wallace Colvard, born July, 1913; married Martha Lampkin (b. April, 1913), July 7, 1939; Had three known children: Carol Lampkin, Mary Lynda, and Dean Wallace, Jr.

   • Charles Deward Colvard, born Aug. 9, 1916 in Grassy Creek, Ashe Co., NC; died Mar. 8, 2004 in Raleigh, NC; married Juanita Yodor (b. Mar., 1924) of Hickory, NC; Had five known children: Catherine Mary, Carl Edward, Anne Wiley, Elizabeth Monroe, and John David.

   • Mary Arleine Colvard, born Sept. 15, 1919; died Mar. 21, 1976; married William Morgan Poteat (b. Feb. 22, 1919, d. Jan. 12, 1972), Oct. 11, 1949; Had two known children: Mary Sandra and William Morgan, Jr.

   • Mabel Virginia Colvard, born Feb. 15, 1924; died Oct. 5, 1977; married James W. Barnes (b. April, 1920) of Kentucky, Dec. 29, 1944 in Michigan; Had one known son: James Deward.

   • Audrey Leah Colvard, born Aug. 7, 1930; died Aug. 3, 1977; married Yewell Wren (b. Dec. 2, 1918, d. Nov. 26, 1982), June 6, 1953; Had two known children: Emily Carol and Randy Lee.

     William Dolphus (Dollie) and Lelia Shepherd Brown

   • Carol Wade Colvard, born November, 1936; married 1st Jack Berman Allen of West Virginia (b. May, 1933), April 17, 1965 in Lynchburg, VA; married 2nd Ronald A. Noronowicz (b. September, 1943), June 12, 1996 in Smyrna, DE; Had one known child by Jack Allen: Tracey Carol.

7. Lelia Jane Shepherd, born April 6, 1894; died May 27, 1976; married William Dolphus (Dollie) Brown (1893-1977); Dollie was a carpenter. He and Lelia lived in Weaversford, NC on land once owned by Lelia's grandfather, James Wilburn Shepherd; Dollie and Lelia are buried in the Mountlawn Memorial Park in Wilkesboro, NC; Had five known children:

   • John Howard Brown, born 1913; died ca. 1999; married Savannah Cleary; Had one adopted son:

     Sammy & Janie Cleckley Campbell with children Andrew and Tricia.

     • Donald Brown, lives in Catawba Co., NC; married three times and has three known children: Peter (by 1st wife), Jordan and another daughter (both by 2nd wife Crystal).

   • Swaneda Brown (deceased); married Mack A. Cleckley; Had two known children:
     • Marszon "Mack" Cleckley

     • Janie Cleckley, married Sammy Campbell; currently live in Hartsville, SC; Had two known children: Andrew and Tricia.

   • Jewel Lilian Brown, born June 4, 1918; died June 19, 2007 in Myrtle Beach, SC; married 1st Howard Hemmings; married 2nd Marvin V. Olsen (d. Nov. 30, 1996); Jewel is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Forsyth Co., NC; Had four known children by Howard Hemmings:
     • Barbara Christine Hemmings, April 2, 1940; lives in Boone, NC; No children.

       Marvin and Jewell Brown Olsen

     • Wesley Gray Hemmings, born March 27, 1943; died Oct., 21, 2001; married & divorced Margaret Deal (b. Aug. 25, 1960); Had two known children:
       1. Crystal Dawn Hemmings, born Dec. 16, 1978; married George Gene Gillen, Dec. 17, 1999; live in Lexington, NC; Crystal has two known children: Elizabeth Dawn Lapish, born Aug. 3, 1995, and Joseph Gene Hemmings, born Jan. 3, 1998.

       2. Shannon Marie Hemmings, born Dec. 8, 1980; married & divorced Wayne Dias; live in Lakeland, FL; Had three known children: Christina, Amber and Christopher.

     • Harold Dee "Buzz" Hemmings, born in Tampa, FL; married 1st Susan Joy Powell; married 2nd BeatRhys E. "Bebe" Borom of Alabama (now divorced); Currently Buzz is semi-retired and lives part time in Winston-Salem, NC. He also has properties in Williamsburg, VA and Myrtle Beach, SC. Had one known child by Susan Powell:
       1. Melissa Blaire Hemmings, born Oct 10, 1981; married Jon Mackinnon, October, 2006 in Scotland; live in Boone, NC; Had one known step-daughter by marriage to Jon Mackinnon: Freya Mackinnon.

     • Sandra Sue Hemmings, born May 3, 1948; d. Nov. 12, 1949 of spinal menengitis

     Dale and Daisy Sebastian Brown

   • Adolphus Dale Brown, born July 27, 1920; died April 23, 2009; married Daisy Sebastian (b. Aug. 4, 1918, d. Mar. 22, 2011); Dale served in the United States Army Air Corps, where he was part of the 455th Bomber Squadron, on the 15th Air Force Atlantic and the 8th Air Force US. Dale retired from Lowes Hardware where he helped set up chicken houses in Wilkes and Ashe Counties. Daisy was a homemaker. Dale and Daisy are buried at Mountlawn Memorial Park in Wilkesboro, NC; Had three known children born in Wilkes County, NC:
     • Linda Kaye Brown, born June, 1944; married Frankie Justus II; Currently lives in Gladestone, VA; Had three known children:
       1. Annetta Justus, born 1964; married Daniel Moore; Currently lives in Courtland, VA; Had two known children: Kaye E., born 1990 and Dale Trent, born 1994.

          Danny & Annetta Justus Moore with children Dale Trent and Kaye.

       2. Frank Justus, III, born May, 1969; married 1st & divorced Shannon Long; married 2nd Amy __?__; live in Sedley, VA; Had one known child by Shannon Long: Michael J., born October, 1998.

       3. Christopher Justus, born July, 1971; married 1st Cindy Cheatham; married 2nd Jaime Jones; Currently lives in Gladstone, VA; Had four known children by Cindy Cheatham: Christopher D., Jr., born 1992, Caitlin N., born 1995, Dakota L. and Madison E.

     • Brenda Carol Brown, born December, 1946; married 1st Richard Shumate; married 2nd & divorced Gerald Furr; lives in Columbia, SC; Had two known children by Richard Shumate:
       1. Stephen G. Shumate, born September, 1967; lives in Greenville, SC; Unmarried

          Gerald and Brenda Carol Brown Furr

       2. Alicia Shumate, born March, 1970; married 1st Chip Morgan; married 2nd __?__ Kiker; married 3rd Carl Rawleigh; live in Columbia, SC; Had one known child by Chip Morgan: Cole J., born February, 1995; Had one known child by Carl Rawleigh: Ava.

     • Donna Dale Brown, born September, 1954; married Darwin Wall; Currently lives in Winston-Salem, NC; Had two known children:
       1. Mark Wall, born May, 1979; married Amanda Lawson; live in Pilot Mtn, NC; Had one known child: Kaitlyn Daisy, born October, 2004.

       2. Mindy C. Wall, born 1981; lives in Orlando, FL.

     Children of Dollie and Lelia Brown (l-r): Howard, Swaneda, Jewell, Dale, and Lucille

   • Lucille Brown, July 3, 1923; married Dr. Henry Johnson; Dr. Johnson is a retired pediatrian. Henry and Lucille currently live in Winston-Salem, NC; Had two known children:
     • Brent Johnson, born August 5, 1957; married Darla Morgan; Brent works for Belk Department Stores; They currently live in Winston-Salem, NC; No children.

     • Stephanie Jean Johnson, born April 2, 1961; Physical Theropist at Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC; Unmmarried.

   Ruby Swan Shepherd

8. Ruby Swan Shepherd, born Nov. 20, 1896; died Mar. 3, 1986; married John Preston McMillian (b. June 16, 1887, d. Oct. 10, 1943); Removed to Marion, Virginia where they owned and operated McMillian's Produce House; Preston and Swan are buried in Section Six of Round Hill Cemetery in Marion, VA; Had two known children:

   • Delphine Madge McMillian, born Nov. 4, 1919; died May 24, 1994; married Lewis Barton Sprinkle, Sr. (b. Oct. 21, 1910, d. Aug. 26, 1992); Lewis and Delphine are buried beside Delphine's parents in Section 6 of Round Hill Cemetery in Marion, VA; Had four known children:
     • Lewis Barton Sprinkle, Jr., born 1942; married Elizabeth Ann Buchanan (b. 1946), April 23, 1966 in Marion, VA; Currently live in Abingdon, VA; Had two known children:

       Bart and Elizabeth Sprinkle with Cathy and Phillip

       1. Phillip Sprinkle, married Sherry __?__; Currently live in Abingdon, VA.

       2. Cathy Sprinkle, married Steve Nerheim; Currently live in Richmond, VA; No children.

     • Cindy Sprinkle, married Darryl Trawick; Darryl had one child from a previous marriage (Darin, b. ca. 1973; married Tracy Kaufman and has two children: David, born Nov. 9, 2000 and Trista Ann, born Feb. 27, 2003); Currently live in Arcadia, FL where Cindy works for the Board of Education; Darryl and Cindy had one known children:

       Darryl & Cindy Sprinkle Trawick with Travis and Darin

       1. Travis Trawick, born Dec. 10, 1979; married Kristen Armstrong, May 14, 2005 in Bartow, FL; Travis is currently enrolled in seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological in Fort Worth, TX; Kristen is a 10th grade language arts teacher; live in Arlington, TX.

     • Frederick Preston Sprinkle, born April 24, 1953; married Deborah Lynn Romans (b. Mar. 20, 1954), June 18, 1976 in Marion, VA; Fred and Deborah live in Louisville, KY, where Fred is a veterinarian specializing in treating horses; Had two known children:
       1. Daniel Bascom Sprinkle, born Feb. 20, 1983

       2. Sarah Lauren Sprinkle, born Oct. 31, 1986

     • David Sprinkle, born Feb. 29, 1956; married Cheri Hardin; currently live in Johnson City, TN; No children.

     Bill and Carol McMillian Hicks with (l-r) Tim, Mike, Chris and Bill

   • Carol Preston McMillian, born May 6, 1924; died Jan. 8, 2015 in Marion, VA; married William Clinton Hicks (b. Dec. 20, 1920, d. Nov. 23, 1992); Carol worked at the Pepsi Cola Bottling plant until her retirement as a payroll administrator on Dec. 1, 1987. William and Carol are buried at Roselawn Cemetery in Marion, VA; Had four known children:
     • Michael Clinton Hicks, born Dec. 4, 1944; married 1st Barbara Ann Buchanan (b. May 11, 1947), July 20, 1968; married 2nd Maudie Miller; currently live in Brighton, IL; Had two known children by Barbara Ann Buchanan:
       1. Scott Hicks, born ca. 1972
       2. Lisa Paige Hicks, born ca. 1974; married __?__ Schumacher.

     • William Forrest "Bill" Hicks, born Dec. 14, 1947; married Laura Jo Meucci (b. Mar. 27, 1953), June 14, 1975; currently live in Herndon, VA; Had three known children:
       1. Kelly Noel Hicks, born Mar. 6, 1978; married Matthew Kalajian, Sept. 7, 2002; currently live in Charlotte, NC.

       2. Jeremy Forrest Hicks, born Jan. 21, 1981; currently attends Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.

       3. Jessica Lynne Hicks, born June 14, 1983; currently attends Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA.

       Michael Hicks with Lisa and Scott

     • Timothy Shephard Hicks, born Oct. 7, 1949; married 1st Kathryn Whiting Kroll (b. Mar. 11, 1945), Dec. 31, 1976 in Marion, VA; married 2nd Nancy __?__; Currently live in Gaithersburg, MD; Had three known children:
       1. Shannon Hicks
       2. Timothy Fowler
       3. Brandon Fowler

     • Christopher Hicks, currently lives in Marion, VA.

1. The reason Rosabelle walked out on John and their baby girl is not known. However, it may be speculated that Rosabelle, likely a young bride, may have been unhappy with the situation in which she found herself in 1878. John and Rosabelle lived with John's parents, James Wilburn and Elizabeth Shepherd. In December, 1877, Elizabeth died. This probably left Rosabelle as the "woman of the house", with the responsibility of taking care of John, his father, younger brother Frank (age 18), sisters Malinda (age 14) and Leona (age 8), along with baby Flora (age 4 months). It has also been proposed that John Calvin Shepherd never married Rosabelle Baker. In the writings of Mary Shepherd Colvard, John's daughter, Mary says that John married Rosabelle exactly one year before Flora was born. Also, an entry in the John Ballou Family Bible references John's "first wife" but no official marriage record has been found. Return