Who was Francis Wayland Shepardson? And why did he do the Shepardson Family history leaflets?

 

When I did my original website in the late 1990s, Francis Wayland Shepardson was just the name of the distant

relative (4th cousin, 3 times removed) who had written some Shepardson Family histories. That all changed somewhere around

2011 or 2012 when I carpooled to an event with a couple of guys who were part of the same men's organization I was in. When

I got into the car, one of them turned to me & said: "Are you any relation to Francis Wayland Shepardson?" After I picked my jaw

up off the floor, I asked him how he knew that name. It turns out that he's a member of the same fraternity (along w/ several

other men I know in the men's organization) that Francis Wayland was in: Beta Theta Pi.

But Francis wasn't just IN the fraternity! He was one of it's leaders in the late 1800s & early 1900s.

 

FROM the Francis W. Shepardson Award (Beta Theta Pi’s highest award for service to the Fraternity):

 

"The Board of Trustees developed the Francis W. Shepardson award in May 2001 to recognize brothers who embody the

spirit and dedication of Brother Shepardson and epitomize the concept of lifelong service to the General Fraternity. Each

honoree receives a handsome full-lead crystal cup featuring the coat of arms and the recipient’s name, chapter and class year.

 

Often referred to as “Mr. Beta Theta Pi,” Francis W. Shepardson, Denison 1882/Brown 1883, served as General Secretary

for ten years and General Fraternity President for 20 years after that. While president, he also edited The Beta Theta Pi for

13 years. Shepardson was a dominant force in the Fraternity from 1910 until he died in 1937. He is one of the two most prolific

Beta writers with at least five books."

 

The information below is from Francis Wayland's 1907 history on the family line of his father, Daniel Shepardson.

I modified to make it more readable (The bullet points were basically one LONG paragraph.)

 

Francis Wayland Shepardson (Daniel7, Daniel6, Jonathan5, Jonathan4, Nathaniel3, Daniel2, Daniel1), born in Cheviot, Ohio,

15 October, 1862. Lived in Piqua, Ohio, in infancy. Moved to Granville, Ohio, 1868. Moved to Chicago, Illinois, 1892.

 

• Received degree of Bachelor of Arts from Denison University 1882, being the first of the family name in America to secure a baccalaureate degree.
• Attended Brown University 1882-3 and received degree of Bachelor of Arts 1883.
• In 1886 Master of Arts of Denison University.
• Instructor, Young Ladies Institute, Granville, Ohio, 1883-1887.
• Editor of Granville Times 1887-1890.
• Member firm "Kussmaul & Shepardson," printers, book-sellers and stationers, 1887-1890.
• Graduate student at Yale University 1890-1892, receiving degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1892.
• Docent, the University of Chicago, 1892-1893; University Extension Assistant in History, 1893-1895; Instructor in American History, and Secretary of the Lecture-study Department of the University Extension Division, 1895-1897; Acting Recorder, 1897-1898; Assistant Professor of American History, 1897-1901; Secretary to the President, 1897-1904; Associate Professor of American History since 1901 and Dean of the Senior Colleges since 1904.
• Editorial writer on the Chicago Tribune.
• In 1906 received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Denison University on the occasion of its seventy-fifth anniversary.
• Member of American Historical Association, Illinois Society Sons of the Revolution.
• Beta Theta Pi, Phi Beta Kappa.
• Center Star Lodge No. 11 Free and Accepted Masons, Granville Ohio.
• Chicago Chapter No. 127 Royal Arch Masons.
• Chevalier Bayard Commandery No. 52 Knisjhts Templar, Chicago.
• Charter member and first Past Chancellor Altamaha Lodge No. 296, Knights of Pythias, Granville, Ohio.

 

Married in Clinton. Indiana, 3 September, 1884, Cora Lenore Whitcomb, daughter of John and Margaret (Whitcomb) Whitcomb (John8, Benjamin Raymond7, Anthony6, Asa5, Nathaniel4, James3, Robert2, John1). Child:

 

• John Whitcomb Shepardson, born 25 July, 1885, Clinton, Ind.

As for WHY he did the Shepardson Family history leaflets, I think one only has to look at his time at the University of Chicago to find the answer.

• University Extension Assistant in History
• Instructor in American History
• Assistant Professor of American History
• Associate Professor of American History

Mind you, I don't know whether it was his passion for history that prompted his interest in his family's genealogy or vice-versa. Whatever the reason, with his background in history, one can tell that he did meticulous research. And the result was his seven leaflets, beginning with the ACTUAL first one in 1906, followed by four in 1907, & the final two in 1912.