Jacob Shepperd

by: Kameron Searle

Shepperd, Jacob H. W. W. Shepperd and Mary Steptoe Shepperd's son, Jacob H. Shepperd, was born and raised in Surry County, North Carolina.  Before coming to Texas, Jacob Shepperd was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1829 at the age of 16 years and 4 months. Jacob Shepperd resigned from West Point shortly before he and his family came to Texas.  For more information about W. W. Shepperd, see article on the W. W. Shepperd Family.

Though he  did not graduate from West Point, Jacob Shepperd's military activities in Texas would be extensive.  Jacob Shepperd arrived in Texas in 1831.  He made his first campaign in June 1832 as Lieutenant in Captain Abner Kuykendall's 2nd Company when the colonists rose to rescue William Barrett Travis and his companions who were being held prisoner by the Mexican government official, Colonel Juan Bradburn, at Anahuac.  Jacob Shepperd's future brother-in-law, C. B. Stewart, took part in the campaign as well.

A resident of the Lake Creek Settlement which would later become the town of Montgomery, Jacob Shepperd began his service in the Texas Revolution.  He turned out with the first volunteers in the Campaign of 1835 and joined the army under General Stephen F. Austin while encamped on Salado Creek east of San Antonio.  He was 1st Lieutenant in Captain Joseph L. Bennett's company.  On October 28, 1835, in the opening battle of the Siege of Bexar, Jacob Shepperd fought with Jim Bowie and James Fannin at the Battle of Concepcion.  A few weeks after the Battle of Concepcion, Bennett's company was disbanded.  Jacob Shepperd joined Captain Robert M. Coleman's company and was chosen 2nd Lieutenant.  On November 26, 1835, Jacob H. Shepperd fought along with Jim Bowie in "The Grass Fight."

Jacob Shepperd fought the Mexicans in the Siege of Bexar from December 5, 1835 through to the capture of San Antonio on December 10, 1835.  Jacob Shepperd received an honorable discharge from General Edward Burleson on December 13, 1835 which reads in part, "San Antonio, December 13, 1835; This is to certify that Jacob H. Shepperd has served in the army of Texas since the 4th of Oct. and has honorably and faithfully discharged his Duty as 2 Lieut. of the Mina Volunteers.  R.M. Coleman, Capt.; Edward Burleson, Com in Chief." 

Following the Siege of Bexar, Jacob Shepperd was with General Sam Houston at Groce's Plantation in April 1836. Sam Houston believed that the Coushatta Indians would send a number of warriors to fight with the Texas army.  In 1855, Henderson Yoakum, in volume 2 of his History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846 wrote the following on page 132, "With a view to anticipate any intercourse between the enemy and these Indians, Houston had engaged Messrs. Hubert and Rankin, Indian agents to sound out the Cooshatties on the question of giving the Texans aid.  They promised to furnish 90 warriors.  Just before the army set out for Harrisburg, the commander-in-chief sent Captain Jacob H. Shepperd with a "talk" to the Indians, and an order to the agents to bring on the warriors.  It is sufficient to say here that the Indians wished to see which side was successful before they turned out."

Henderson Yoakum also included an interesting footnote regarding Shepperd and Houston's meeting at Groce's Plantation on page 132, "Captain Sheppard says: "Just as I was leaving the general's quarters, I said, 'where will I find you, general?  He [Houston] said: 'Tell all the people that you may see, captain, that I am determined to fight, the first chance; and if I should meet with a reverse, I will be sure to make noise enough for you and the Indians to follow me.'"

But this was not the end of Jacob Shepperd's service to Sam Houston.  He personally delivered the message that saved the life of Santa Anna in 1836 at a critical moment following Texas independence.  Henderson Yoakum on pages 194-196 of volume 2 of his History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846 relates the following: "It is proper to state here a movement in the army, consequent upon the attempt by Pages to rescue Santa Anna.  It was the wish of many, and was generally reported, that by a vote of that body, it was resolved to conduct the captive to headquarters, and place him before a court-martial.  General Houston, then at Aies Bayou, being informed of these alleged proceedings, dispatched his protest against them.  He [Houston] protested against it, because of all the advantages accruing to Texas by his [Santa Anna's] capture would thus be destroyed.  The protest reaching the army, was sent to Columbia.  A captain with his commmand had, just before its arrival, gone, as was said, after the prisoner, to bring him to the army; and the protest only reached Captain Patton, who had the captive in charge, in time to prevent his removal.  Captain J. H. Sheppard, the bearer of the document, says the pleasant change of affairs filled Santa Anna with joy, and he embraced him as one who had saved his life."

This is probably the only record that will ever be found of Santa Anna "embracing" a Texas soldier.  In a letter Jacob H. Shepperd wrote Jesse Grimes in July 1856, Shepperd wrote, "I bore the express from General Houston countermanding the taking of Santa Anna to the army to be tried for the slaughter of Fannin's men: which latter service saved Texas from the accusations that would have been heaped on her for his death."  Because of this service, Shepperd further stated in his letter to Grimes that he felt himself "entitled to the largest bounty of land allowed anyone for his services in the campaign of 1835."

Jacob Shepperd also served in the Cherokee War of 1839.  Again, when Mexico invaded Texas, Shepperd served in the Campaign of 1842 in San Antonio.  He served in the Somervell Expedition but did not go to the Rio Grande.

Jacob Shepperd was one of the early settlers of the town of Cincinnatti.  Originally founded in 1837 and located in Montgomery County, the town of Cincinnatti became part of Walker County when that county was created in 1846.

Texas historian, Henderson Yoakum, was very familiar with Jacob H. Shepperd.  On February 1, 1838, Jacob Shepperd received a First Class Headright for one league and one labor of land in Montgomery County.  Jacob H. Shepperd's league, though originally located in Montgomery County, became part of Walker County when that county was created from Montgomery County in 1846.  Like his father W. W. Shepperd who founded the town of Montgomery, Texas, Jacob Shepperd founded the town of Shepperd's Valley, Texas (sometimes spelled Shepherd's Valley).  In advertisements placed in the January 22, 1853 thru March 19, 1853 issues of the Huntsville Item newspaper, Jacob Shepperd offered land for sale in Shepperd's Valley. Located seven miles southeast of Huntsville in Walker County, Henderson Yoakum wrote his two volume History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846 there in 1855 on land sold to him by his neighbor, Jacob H. Shepperd.

Jacob Shepperd's wife, Hannah Eliza Collard, registered her cattle brand in Montgomery County on March 7, 1838.  Her brand was the capital letter E formed from a capital letter C.  On June 1, 1850 in Walker County, Jacob H. Shepperd registered his cattle brand which was the letter X.  Shepperd's neighbor, Henderson Yoakum, registered the brand Y.  Seven years later, Sam Houston, registered Jacob Shepperd's brand X as his own on November 20, 1857.

Jacob Shepperd married Hannah Eliza Collard in about 1837 in Montgomery County, Texas.  Hannah Eliza Collard was the daughter of Elijah Collard and Mary Stark.  Jacob H. Shepperd and Hannah Eliza Collard had the following children: Mary A. Shepperd, Augustine W. Shepperd, Eliza Pamelia Shepperd and Julia Shepperd.  According to Valma Dorrell Fischer in her family history, Shepperd and Palmer, 1985, Jacob H. Shepperd died on April 16, 1872 and is buried near Black Jack Cemetery in Walker County, Texas.  Though his name can be found spelled Sheppard, Shepard and Shepherd, Jacob H. Shepperd always spelled his name SHEPPERD in all legal documents.  He died without a will.  His son, Augustine W. Shepperd, was appointed administrator of Jacob H. Shepperd's estate in 1872.