In America, there’s nothing more cherished than rugged individualism like John Shepard
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“I can spell my name three ways. Shepard. Sheppard and Shepherd. But only one way is right.”
In America, there’s nothing more cherished than rugged individualism, and John Shepard has been defiantly different for over eight decades. Sitting on a bench recently on the courthouse lawn in bibbed overalls over a blue work shirt over a long-sleeve undershirt, John is as much a fixture of Main Street Gallatin as the bell tower. He represents different things to different people. If you talk to him, you soon learn he stands for decency and basic family values.
Born and raised in the area, John grew up on a rented farm south of Gallatin. “I was born one day and dad registered next day for WWI. Dad registered for two wars. In WWI if you were married they didn’t take you. In WWII it didn’t make any difference, but Dad’s age was against him.”
His mother was a housewife. His father farmed and worked out so they moved around a lot. John went to school at Hickory Grove, Madison, Whitt, Swisher and Blue, up to the fifth grade.
Playing an active role on the stage of history, John endured both world wars and the hardships of the Great Depression. “Back in those days nobody had any money much, under Hoover and then Roosevelt. You could borrow money back then. Paying it back was the hard thing.”
At age 30 something, John served in the Army in WWII. He was in the 83rd Company C Training Battalion stationed at Camp Roberts, Calif. He didn’t exactly embrace army life. “They called me up. I wouldn’t go no other way. I didn’t like being away from home but in the army you got to do things you don’t want to do.”
After 23 months, John was discharged and came back home. He worked at a CCC (Civilian Concentration Corps) Camp around 1937-38. He was in Company 17 and 34 out of Bethany.
John also worked on the farm. “Back in those days horses was all we ever used. We lived back in the hills. Sometimes we didn’t hardly come to town. Didn’t own any vehicles.”
A job at the Gallatin Lumberyard was offered to him. “Think they figured it up about 40 years I worked there. Seven years with Lye Miller. Then Lyle sold it out.”
John lived on a farm south of town by himself all of his life. “Never been married. I never will. I like the single life.”
Born in 1917, John will turn 85 on Aug. 28. He says he likes the outdoors and fresh air and walking. Almost every day he could be seen wandering down Main Street. He likes to talk, even to strangers. He has a memory that can retain about every detail and he can rattle off dates and give you an accurate account of Gallatin history.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes. Oh, my, yes, I have. The First National Bank used to be by Elberts.
Farmer’s Bank used to be the old Woodruff’s Hotel and then the Hotel Elbert. McDonald’s Tea Room used to be a blacksmith shop. And the post office is where a blacksmith shop used to be.
Half the newspaper office used to be a liquor joint and the other half used to be an express office for the main line of the Rock Island.”
John lives at the Lake Viking Health Care Center now. It’s a simple life, but then John’s lifestyle has never required much in the way of possessions or creature comforts. “Lived in the Depression. It’s lot easier now. The depression ain’t like it is now. Now they’ve turned everything loose.”
He reads the paper and listens to the radio, but doesn’t watch much TV. “Ain’t much on TV anymore. Lot of junk. Cussing and stuff. That’s not good. I don’t do that.”
John is a member of the Assembly of God Church and goes pretty regular.
Over a lifetime, John has watched the town come and go. “Lived here all my life. Never had any desire to travel. Lot of good people here. Lot of good friends.”