1877 ~ Shephard Abstract Co. ~ Plauge of Tramps Quelled

SHEPHARD, DENISON, HITCHCOCK, DEXTER, MCMILLIN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/18/2014 at 12:50:44

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 01, 1953
Mason City Centennial Edition, Section 3

1877: SHEPHARD ABSTRACT COMPANY STARTED

[Section 3, Page 14] Henry H. Shepard, father of Hugh H. Shepard, started the Shepard Abstract Company in Mason city April 26, 1877, having purchased the business from O. T. Denison. By that time he had erected the building on the present [1953] site of the Osco drug store. The picture was taken from the Dyer House on the corner looking east and slightly north.

Henry Shepard came to Mason City in 1870, became Cerro Gordo County Auditor in 1876 and held that office until Jan. 1, 1888. The following June, because of failing health, he turned over the abstract company to his daughter, Ella F. Shepard, and later the business was taken over by Hugh H. Shepard, who had by then been graduated from the law school of the State University of Iowa.

The Shepard Abstract Company is the oldest business in Mason City operating under the same name.

NOTE: Henry Harrison Shepard was born September 24, 1840, and died September 13, 1893. Hugh H. Shepard was born in 1876, and died in 1970. They were interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.

Hugh was a charter member of the Iowa and American Land Title Association and the inventor and developer of Grant of Possession, a legal procedure used in connection with farm mortgages. He also served at one time as the international president of the Jefferson Highway Association and was a leader in bringing highways to northern Iowa. He was a member of the Mason City Rotary Club.

Ella F. (Shepard) Hitchcock was born March 28, 1870, and died November 18, 1947. She was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.

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1877: BAYONETS STOP PLAGUE of TRAMPS

[Section 3, Page 15] The year 1877 was made memorable by what became known as the "tramp plague."

A group of 60 or 70 tramps had moved into the town of Ackley, where they had taken possession of a freight train. With the tramps aboard, the railroad had abandoned the train, with the result that the tramps stayed and were fed by the citizens of the community.

The tramps defied all Hardin County law authorities, as well as railroad officials. Finally the United States marshal was sent for. The tramps even ignored him and boarded a train bound for Mason City.

A telegram from the Central Iowa agent at Ackley warned Mason Cityans of what was coming, stating the men would arrive about 11 p. m.

Met by Bayonets
When the train arrived a military company under the command of Capt. Dexter, with muskets and bayonets, and a posse of well armed, resolute men under Marshal John L. McMillin, were at the station.

"In the glare of a dozen lanterns the astonished tramps found themselves, as the train stopped, surrounded on all sides by bright gleaming naked bayonets, in the hands of men who had no words, to bandy with them," said the Mason City Express, describing the scene.

"Only the prompt command to climb down from the train, march to the other side of the depot and go into some box cars fitted up to receive them. They obeyed, most of them promptly, though some of them tried to escape up town by crawling under the car, but a bayonet punched into the leg of one gave the rest to understand the boys meant business. They were soon housed for the night in the box cars and put under guard.

"The following day they were provided a 'cracker and cheese' meal, divided into two squads and escorted some four or five miles up the Central and Austin branch of the M. and St. Paul Railway, toward Minnesota, to which state they all wanted to go.

H.H. Shepard photograph courtesy of Globe-Gazette
Transcriptions & note by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2014

Cerro Gordo Documents maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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