Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen H. H. Hardesty, 1898; page 586.
William R. Shepherdson, born in Washington county, Ohio, June 6, 1846, and was living in Pleasants county, W.Va., when he enlisted, at Wheeling, April 5, 1864, as a private in Co. A, 1st W.Va. Vol. Inf. (11th A.C.); he was shortly after transferred to Co. E, 2d W.Va. Vet. Inf., and finally discharged at Clarksburg, W.Va., under General Order, July 16, 1865; his only battle was the engagement at New Market, Va., May 15, 1864, where he received a gunshot wound through the left hand on account of which he was in hospital at Clarkville, Md., until Jan. 1865; he received there a thirty days' furlough, and on expiration of same was detailed to cook and do other hospital work there while convalescing. Mr. Shepherson married, in Pleasants county, Nov. 7, 1875, Elizabeth Knight, who was born in that county in 1854, daughter of Freeman and Melissa (Bailey) Knight, both now deceased. They have had four children: Bernice E., b. Sept. 21, 1876, d. Oct. 4, 1880, Rosa P., b. Feb. 28, 1878, Rolla A., b. April 4, 1882, and Clarence O., b. March 20, 1886. Mr. Shepherdson's parents were Francis and Nancy (Amlin) Shepherdson. They have both passed away; his brother, R. A. Shepherdson, served four years in the 10th W.Va., and his cousin, Geo. Amlin, was also in the Union service. Several uncles and cousins of Mrs. Shepherdson also aided in suppressing the Rebellion. Comrade Shepherdson has been supervisor and school trustee several years, and has also served as assistant postmaster at Grape Island; he is a class- leader and Sunday school superintendent in the M. E. church, of which also his wife and daughter are members; he is a charter member of Hazen Post, No. 66, G.A.R., of which he is a farmer, and his postoffice address is Grape Island, Pleasants Co., W.Va.
