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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
April 4, 2011
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OBITUARY OF FANNY SHEPHERD
The Muskegon Daily Chronicle
February 25, 1909

CAME TO MUSKEGON
WHEN IT WAS A HAMLET
MRS. FANNY SHEPHERD ARRIVED
IN 1847-RESIDENCE CONTINUOUS.

DEATH CAME LAST NIGHT

Pioneer Reached Age of 78 Years-Worked at Tailoring for Four Decades.

Mrs. Fanny Shepherd, who came to Muskegon to live in the "40's", and
who was one of the founders of the Central Methodist Episcopal church,
died at 8:45 last evening at Hackley hospital.  She had been ill all
winter and because of her advanced age, her condition was considered
hopeless.  Four weeks ago was moved from her residence at 6 Prince
street to Hackley hospital for especial care.

Mrs. Shepherd was the daughter of one of the first settlers of
Muskegon.  Her maiden name was Fanny Witherell.  She was born at
Sparta, Livingston Co., N.Y. June 25, 1830.  When nine years old she
came west with her parents to live.  They settled in St. Charles in
Kane County, Ill.

It was in 1847 that the family moved to Muskegon, her father selling a
fine farm to do so.  He built three early mills.  They were what was
known as Stanner's mills, and two others situated on Green's creek and
Ruddiman's creek.

Built Water Mill

Afterwards, he built for himself a dam and water mill on a creek
emptying into the head of what is now known as Mona Lake.  It was not
long, however, before the family prosperity was clouded.  A freshet
broke through the dam and drove the mill seven feet off from its
foundation. The damage was repaired at a great loss.

The result was that at Christmas time in 1857, the family moved into
the villiage, and Mrs. Shepherd's mother took charge of the Lasley
boarding house.

Center of Social Life

The latter speedily became one of the centers of pioneer social life.
Mrs. Shepherd thus formed many pleasant memories that in after years
she enjoyed repeating to those about her, for she was one of
Muskegon's early belles.

The family then owned extensively of real estate situated in what is
now the heart of the city.  From Terrace Street to the Lumberman's
bank belonged to them, and they built a boarding house there.
Later, a house was erected by them at 34 E. Muskegon avenue, where
Mrs. Shepherd resided until she moved to Prince street eleven years
ago.

In 1863 she married James Shepherd.  Her husband was employed on the
t***ing Muskegon boom holding the office of foreman of the pens.  He
only lived two years after their wedding, however, and then her long
widowhood began.

Became a Tailoress

She took up the work of tailoring and became very skilled in it.  All
these many years she had plied her needle and continuously for one
establishment.  The latter is what the present clothing firm of T. B.
Callan, previously that of Callan & Dratz, and prior to that the
concern of William Herbst & Co.

Such a life of unremitting toil in now way interfered with her
naturally sunny disposition, however, and few homes in Muskegon were
there as cheerful to visit as the little cottage on Prince street,
where Mrs.  Shepherd sat so constantly with her needle and her
reminiscences.

All of her spare moments were given to her church of which both she
and her mother were charter members and to which she was devoted.

Quite a number of relatives are gathering here to attend the funeral.
The include the following:  Joel Witherell of Conklin, a brother, with
his daughters and son; Mrs. William McCord of Grand Rapids, Mrs.
Edward Burns and John Witherell of Conklin; Mrs. William Kennicott of
Shelbyville, Allegan county, a sister with her daughter Mrs. H. B.
Miller of Grand Rapids; Mrs. John Witherell of Grand Rapids, the widow
of Mrs. Shepherd's brother, Captain John Witherell and also a sister
of her husband; Mrs. W. B. Kallmbach of Grand Rapids, and George
Witherell of Dalton, a daughter and son of Mrs. John Witherell; and
Mrs. H. B. Bowler of Grand Rapids, a daughter of Mrs. Jane Hodge, the
latter being a sister of mrs. Shepherd who died three years ago.

The funeral will be held at the parlors of the Central Methodist
Episcopal church at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

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