THE CHILDREN OF LEWIS SHAPARD

THE CHILDREN OF LEWIS SHAPARD

WILLIAM BOOKER SHAPARD (November 5, 1797 – January 19, 1870) spent his youth in Caswell County, North Carolina. At the age of 15, in the spring of 1813, he migrated with his family to Williamson County, Tennessee. Shortly thereafter in October, he joined Capt. William Martin’s Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812, under General Andrew Jackson. William B. Shapard saw action in November of 1813, at the Battles of Tallushatchee and Talladega in Alabama against the Creek Indians. Upon returning home, he joined in business with his father as a commission merchant, living in Williamson, Wilson and Smith County, Tennessee. In 1820, after his father’s business failed, William moved to Sumner County, Tennessee. In 1822, William migrated to Columbia in Maury County, Tennessee, where he joined partnership with James Nichol in the merchant business, under the name of “James Nichol, Shapard & Co.” In addition to his business, William was also the Captain of the Columbia Blues, being a state militia unit based in the town of Columbia. On December 8, 1825, William B.

Shapard married Margery S. Childress in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Margery was the sister of Sarah Childress who had married James K. Polk in 1824; being the same James Polk who was admitted to the bar in 1820, elected to represent Maury County in the House of Representatives in 1823, then to the Senate in 1825. He became Governor of the State of Tennessee from 1839-1841 and finally President of the United States from 1845 – 1849. William B. Shapard’s association with the Childress and Polk families advanced him significantly throughout his lifetime via business and social opportunities. It is evident that, while William and Margery returned to Columbia in Maury County after their wedding, purchasing Town Lot No. 15 as their home, they frequented Nashville often for social and business calls. In 1829, William and his young family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he partnered with H. T. Yeatman as merchants, under the name of “Shapard & Yeatman.” After the firm dissolved by mutual consent in 1832, William carried on the business as a sole proprietor under the name of “Shapard’s.” In 1836, William ran for the office of Sherriff of Nashville. Although he received 481 votes, he was beat out by Campbell receiving 801 votes. In 1836, William opened an Exchange Office, named “W.B. Shapard & Co.,” selling, buying and trading various bank notes, stocks, gold and silver. At this same time he also operated a mercantile store named “Shapard & Anderson,” with business partner Thomas P. Anderson, which was dissolved in 1846. In 1844, William was an elder of the Second Presbyterian Church of Nashville, and helped erect a new chapel. In 1853, he was listed as the Treasurer of the newly incorporated Nashville Ladies College. On October 2, 1854, W.B. Shapard was elected as Mayor of Nashville, receiving 930 votes. He was affiliated with the Democrat Party. He resigned his position on October 26, 1854, securing him the curiosity of being the shortest termed Mayor in the history of Nashville, Tennessee. During the Civil War, his house was occupied by the U.S. Army, the government retaining possession of his house for about five years. W.B. Shapard became the President of the Merchant’s Bank in Nashville, and was associated with numerous fraternal organizations, including: Sir Knights of Nashville Commandery, Knights Templar and Masons. He deeded a portion of his land upon which to build Sewanee University. He died in 1870 in Nashville Tennessee and is buried in the Old City Cemetery. William B. Shapard was described as, “…not only a devout Christian, but in all relations of life, he was fully merited by his conduct, the appellation of ‘an honest man, the noblest work of God.’ In his intercourse with his fellow-man, he was exceedingly courteous and in disposition affable and sociable. Possessed with a good heart overflowing with kindness, he turned not a deaf ear to the appeals of the needy, but on the contrary, bestowed charity on the right hand and on the left, was continually going about doing good.” He and his wife had nine children: Mary Elizabeth (b. 1825), William B. Shapard, Jr. (b. 1829), Martha Jane (1831-1849), Maggie (1833-1840), Henry Childress (b. 1835), Eleanor (b. 1836), Thomas Childress (1838-1864), Margery (b. 1840), and James (b. 1842).

SOPHIA SHAPARD (November 24, 1799 – March 5, 1855) was raised in Caswell County, North Carolina during her youth. She migrated in the spring of 1813, at the age of 13, with her family to Tennessee. Sophia was orphaned when her mother died that same year, and she assumed the mothering roll for her younger siblings. At the age of 16, she was introduced to Mr. Joshua Norman Harrison, a nail maker and merchant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and they wed a few months later on September 26, 1816. Mr. Harrison had been previously married and had two young daughters; however, his first wife had died in Nashville, Tennessee, circa 1815. Sophia and Joshua Harrison resided on Town Lot No. 19 in Murfreesboro. Their 18 foot by 25 foot store, built of cedar logs, faced the town square and their house was located behind the store on the same lot. In 1817, Sophia’s 12 year old brother Robert Paine Shapard was apprenticed to Joshua Harrison to learn the art of nail making until he was 21 years of age. The apprenticeship contract stipulated that Robert would live at the Harrison household and they would be responsible for his education, clothing, etc. The Harrison’s were very successful in business over the years, diversifying into rent houses, dry goods, hardware and other merchandise when the Panic of 1819 caused the decline of locally produced nails. Tragically, on June 10, 1825, Sophia’s two year old son Robert died. Only a few months later, on December 25, 1825, Sophia’s husband Joshua Harrison also died, and was buried in the Old City Cemetery in Murfreesboro. In November of 1826, court appointed commissioners met and issued Sophia Harrison and her children a year’s provisions and allotted her dower. The court also appointed guardians for her children. Interestingly, Mr. Harrison’s estate was so extensive and complex it was not fully settled until 1830. Despite being widowed at only 26 years old, Sophia was left financially secure and never remarried. To illustrate her affluence, in 1820 she and Mr. Harrison had two slaves; however, by 1830 she had amassed 13 slaves. Throughout her life, Sophia was a dedicated mother to her children and step-children, providing them the best possible food, board, affection and education. Sophia (Shapard) Harrison died on March 3, 1855, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and was buried next to her husband. She raised two step-daughters Sarah Ann Harrison (c. 1811-?) who married John T. Cannon; and Caroline Harrison (c.1813-1836) who married John A. Taliaferro. Sophia also had six children of her own:; Eleanor Paine Harrison (1817-1896) who married David Molloy; Martha Bedford Harrison (1818-1891) who married Stephen Johns and then John Durham; Joshua Norman Harrison, Jr. (1819-1819) died at age 5 months; William Joshua Harrison (1820-1880); Mary Harrison (1822-1866) who married Robert Rucker; and Robert P. Harrison (1823–1825).

JAMES PAINE SHAPARD (April 11, 1801 – October 18, 1850) was reared in Caswell County during his childhood. He migrated with his family to Tennessee in 1813. Over the years he lived in the counties of Williamson, Wilson, Smith and Rutherford. In 1817, he was apprenticed by his father to Abraham Statler to learn the mastery and art of hat making. The apprenticeship contract was binding until James reached the age of 21. In 1821, James began a courtship with Rebecca Sloss, daughter of Joseph Sloss, who was born in Ireland and migrated to Tennessee. On February 1, 1822, he married Rebecca at the town of Middleton in southern Rutherford County. James followed the hatters trade for a few years and then diversified into the merchantile store business, selling everything typical of a dry goods and hardware store of that era. James’ younger brother Tomas Paine Shapard resided at their house in the late 1820s and early 1830s. Over the years, James bought and sold numerous parcels of land in Rutherford County, mostly around the Middleton and Fosterville areas along the West Fork of Stones River. James Shapard was elected as a Judge of Rutherford County in 1833, an office that he held until May 19, 1835 when he tendered his resignation. On May 31, 1839, James Shapard was a trustee of the newly established Methodist Episcopal Church built on land donated by Benjamin Blankenship. The Church was located in Bedford County, just below the Rutherford County line near Middleton. In 1840, Mr. Shapard was growing his family and had acquired four slaves. Interestingly, he appears to have sold all of his slaves in 1842 to his brother Lewis. For 49 days in 1846, James P. Shapard and his family traveled by wagon from Rutherford County, Tennessee, to settle in Washington County, Texas, near Chapel Hill. He died only a few years later on October 18, 1850. It was reported that, during the later part of his life, James practiced medicine as a physician. James and Rebecca had ten children: Joseph Campbell (1823-1892), Louis James (1825-1896), Joshua Harrison (1827-1910), Sarah Jane (1828-?), Susan (1830-?), Juliette Rebecca (1834-?), Martha (1836-1920), James Paine, Jr. (1838-1929), Charles (1844-1929) and Thomas Texas (1846-1922).  

BOOKER SHAPARD (February 28, 1803 – December 28, 1872) was born in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was named after his uncle, Booker Shapard, who died in 1802 in Caswell County. He migrated at the age of 10 with his family to Williamson County, Tennessee. Over the next few years they moved to Wilson County, then Smith County and finally Rutherford County.  In 1817, Booker was apprenticed by his father to Charles Niles, of Murfreesboro, to learn the trade of ‘saddler’, until he was 21 years of age. In 1820, he professed religion and joined the first Methodist church. He was described as “having the stuff of which martyrs were made. Convicted that a thing was right, he was steadfast, immovable.”  He married Mary Clay on November 10, 1825, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. They lived in Old Jefferson (Smyrna, Rutherford County, Tennessee) and moved to Shelbyville, Bedford County Tennessee in 1830. Booker’s brother Lewis Shapard lived with him in the late 1820s and early 1830s. Mary died of cholera during the outbreak in early 1833, and Booker married her sister, Sarah Broyles, on December 31, 1833, in Mulberry, Lincoln County, Tennessee. In 1835, they moved to Mulberry, in Lincoln County, and built the first house in that village. In 1840, Booker moved to Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, and engaged in merchandizing. In 1847, he was a founder of the Huntsville, Pulaski, and Columbia Telegraph Company that brought the telegraph wire from Huntsville, Alabama through Pulaski to Columbia. His wife Sarah died in 1849, and Booker married Ann Leftwich on February 8, 1855, in Florence, Alabama. He was the Mayor of Pulaski, Tennessee in 1853. In 1861, he was exiled from the state and his store was robbed by the Federal Army. After the war he had lost his fortune and health and found comfort in religion. He was bed ridden for 8 months and died on December 28, 1872, in Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee. Booker and his first wife, Mary, had the following children: Martha Jane (1826 – 1860), Eliza Clay (b.1829), John Thomas (b. 1830) and Joshua Clay (1832 – 1833). Booker and his second wife, Sarah, had the following children: Isaac Lewis (b. 1834), Mary Margaret (1836 – 1848), Margery Ann (b. 1838), Robert Booker (b. 1839), Louisa Matilda (b. 1841), James Broyles (b. 1843) and Sarah Eugenia (b. 1846). 

ROBERT PAINE SHAPARD (January 9, 1805 – September 18, 1871) was born in Caswell County, North Carolina. At the age of 8, he migrated with his family by wagon from North Carolina to Tennessee. After his mother died in 1813, his father moved the family frequently from Williamson County, to Wilson County, To Smith County and finally to Rutherford County. On February 1, 1817, Robert was apprenticed by his father to Joshua Harrison to learn the art and mastery of nail making. The apprenticeship contracted bound Robert to Mr. Harrison until Robert reached the age of 21, and stipulated that Mr. Harrison fully provide for his food, board and education. Interestingly, Mr. Harrison was Robert’s brother-in-law, having married Sophia Shapard in 1816. When the Panic of 1819 decreased the demand for locally produced nails, Mr. Harrison began diversifying and opened a mercantile store, teaching Robert its operations. Mr. Harrison died on Christmas day in 1825, just a few months before the end of his apprenticeship. To help his widowed sister, Robert became guardian of the two minor Harrison children, William and Mary. After the death of Mr. Harrison, Robert did not follow the nail makers trade, but instead pursued the dry goods and hardware business at Murfreesboro, under the name of R.P. Shapard & Co. In 1829, Robert partnered with James Mitchell, son of William Mitchell of Rutherford County, under the name of Shapard & Mitchell, selling all the goods typical of a merchant during that era. Through his associating with Mr. Mitchell, Robert was introduced to his sister Parthenia and a courtship developed. They married on November 12, 1829, at her father’s plantation northwest of Murfreesboro. Robert’s early success had allowed him to purchase some land and acquire four slaves by 1830. Later that same year, R.P. Shapard was appointed by the County Court as a Constable of Rutherford County. In 1831, he was elected to another County office as Rutherford County Coroner, whereby, he was to hold inquests over the deceased to determine the cause of death. Another interesting facet of his office was that when the County Sheriff was away, the Coroner became acting Sheriff. In the mid to late 1830s, Robert became affiliated with the Whig political party and, over the years, attended conventions as a delegate to nominate candidates for office. During the economic Depression of 1837, Robert became bankrupt and lost is house, his store his slaves, his horse and all his furniture, and was forced to seek refuge at his brother Booker’s home in Fayetteville in Lincoln County, Tennessee. With his brother’s help, Robert started business again as a merchant in a corner storefront on the Fayetteville public square, in what would eventually become known as “Shapard’s corner.” His brother also proved to be a significant influence on Robert’s Christian life, leading Robert to become highly active in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became a fervent member of the Lincoln County Bible Society. While in Fayetteville, Robert also joined the Sons of Temperance Division No. 52, a secret society which proclaimed abstinence from liquor for the betterment of society. Robert also became a founding Board of Trustee member of the first college in Fayetteville, originally named Fayetteville College but later changed to Milton College. In 1853, Robert was a delegate of the Fayetteville Railroad Convention, the object of which was to bring the railway to Fayetteville. Robert moved his family and four slaves to Shelbyville, Bedford County in 1855, and purchased Town Lot No. 97 for his family home. There he partnered with his brother-in-law Calvin Green Mitchell creating the wholesale grocer and commission merchant firm named “Shapard & Mitchell.” During the Civil War, Shapard & Mitchell did much business with the Confederate States, however, Robert did not believe that dissolution of the Union was the best course of action. Business continued until 1863, when Union troops invaded Shelbyville and were confronted by Confederate resistance. It was reported that saber fights occurred during the battle in front of Shapard & Mitchell store on Depot Street. In the final days before the battle, Robert and his family and slaves fled to Louisville, Kentucky to ride out the rest of the war. After the war Robert returned to Shelbyville to reclaim what vestige of his life still remained. His store had been robbed clean by the Federal soldiers so he commenced business again selling whatever he could obtain in dry goods, clothing, groceries and hardware. He focused whole heartedly on rebuilding his beloved Shelbyville Methodist Episcopal Church South that had been so badly damaged during the occupation. He became one of the leading spirits of the church, and even spearhead the Sunday School programs. Robert Paine Shapard died on September 18, 1871 at 66 years of age and was buried in Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He and Parthenia had ten children: William Shapard (1830 – 1894), James Hodge Shapard (1832-1856), baby female (1835-1835), Avarilla Elizabeth (1836-1854), Edwin Ruthven (1838-1889), Robert Addison (1841-1871), Evander (1843-1921), David Green (1846-1919), Sarah (1848-1933), John Mitchell (1851-1858).

LEWIS SHAPARD, JR.. (November 8, 1806 – June 10, 1848) was born in Person County, North Carolina, and was raised on his parent’s plantation in Caswell County until the age of six. In 1813, he settled in Williamson County, Tennessee, with his family. Over the years, he moved to Wilson County, Smith County and finally Rutherford County. In January of 1827, at the age of 20 years old, he was arrested and charged by the State for inciting a riot in Rutherford County, of which he was found to be not guilty. It appears that he went to live with his older brother Booker Shapard for the next three years. On October 25, 1830, Lewis Shapard, Jr. married Thursa Burdette (1813-1883) in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Lewis bought Shelbyville Town Lot No. 82 as his first home shortly after marriage. In the late 1830s, numerous people became indebted to Lewis of which he filed lawsuits in order to collect. By 1840, Lewis had acquired two slaves, was living on Shelbyville Town Lot No. 53, and was employed as a Constable of Bedford County. Lewis Shapard, Jr. died on June 10, 1848, at the age of 41 years old. He is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Lewis and Thursa Shapard had six children: Williamson (1831-1886), Maria (1834 – 1838), Margaret (1836-1870), Thomas (1839-1839), Charles (1840-1888) and Henry Clay (1843-1913).

MARTHA SHAPARD (April 1808-February 23, 1853) Martha Shapard was raised in Caswell County, North Carolina, until the age of five, when she moved with her family to Williamson County, Tennessee. After the death of her mother in 1813, Martha migrated with her father and siblings to Wilson County, then Smith County and finally Rutherford County. In the mid to late 1820s, Martha may have been living with her older brother William B. Shapard in Maury County. On

April 28, 1828 Martha married Joshua W. McCown (1804-1896) of Williamson County, the ceremony being held in Maury County. A year after their wedding, Martha’s husband moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and commenced business as a commission merchant. Martha visited him there often. Unfortunately, Mr. McCown’s business failed which necessitated his returned to Williamson County, Tennessee. About 1832, the McCown family moved to Rutherford County, where Mr. McCown farmed 40 acres on Bradley Creek and was employed as a teacher for two years. They followed the Methodist Episcopal faith. During the 1830s, Mr. McCown was plagued with lawsuits, eventually causing him to lose everything. In an attempt to better their luck, Martha and Joshua moved their growing family to Texas, in 1837, settling in Washington County, where Martha’s brother Thomas Paine Shapard had settled a few years earlier. Thomas P. Shapard and Joshua McCown were not only good friends and business associates, but also purchased land adjoining each other at Washington on the Brazos. Martha’s husband farmed and engaged in the business of hauling and selling freight from Harrisburg (Houston) to Washington. In 1853, The McCown family moved to Houston to run a hotel. Unfortunately, Martha (Shapard) McCown died on February 23, 1853 and was buried in Houston, Texas. She and her husband had 16 children: William B. (1829-1830), Joshua Wilson, Jr. (1830-1894), Alexander (1831-1844), Margery (1832-1891), Thomas Paine Shapard (1834-1914), Mary Eliza (1835-1895), James (1836-1917), Sophia Athelia (1837-1877), Robert (1839-1845), Martha Ann (1840-1915), Jane (1841-1927), Samuel Houston (1842-1844), Jerome Robertson (1844-1857), Robert Alexander (1847-1853), Frances New (1850-1909), Susan Rebecca (1851-1876).

THELIA "AVILLA" SHAPARD (1810 - April 1850) was born in Caswell County, North Carolina and, at the age of three, was brought by her parents to Williamson County, Tennessee. After her mother died in 1813, she moved with her father to Wilson County, then Smith County, and finally Rutherford County. There is some evidence to suggest she may have lived with her older brother William B. Shapard in Maury County in the mid to late 1820s. On October 29, 1829, she married James Payton Bone in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Thelia was 19 years old at the time of her marriage. This was Mr. Bone’s second marriage, after his first wife Catherine died only a few months earlier in March of 1829, leaving him with numerous children. Mr. Bone was a veteran of the War of 1812, and operated a tanning business in the town of Murfreesboro. He sold his business in 1831, and thereafter sustained his family through farming. Thelia died, at the age of 40, of unknown causes in April of 1850, in Rutherford County. She helped raise numerous stepchildren and at least six children of her own. Her natural children were: Mary E. (1831-?), William Shapard (1834-1880), Thomas (1836-?), Bailey Peyton (1838-1913), Henry (1840-?) and Athelia (1842-?).    

THOMAS PAINE SHAPARD (July 22, 1811 – June 13, 1859) was born in Caswell County, North Carolina. In 1813, he was brought by his parents to Williamson County, Tennessee. His mother died shortly after they settled in Tennessee, and the family relocated to Wilson County, then Smith County and finally to Rutherford County. Very little is known of Thomas’ youth, however, there is evidence that he lived with his brother James P. Shapard, of Rutherford County, in 1830. Thomas was well educated and studied law, perhaps under his brother James who was a Rutherford County Judge from 1833 to 1835. In the spring of 1836, at 25 years of age, Thomas embarked on grand adventure and left Tennessee, settling in Washington County, in the Republic of Texas. He served in Army of the Republic of Texas the year he arrived, being honorably discharged and granted land for his service. Thomas pursued a law career at the town of Washington on the Brazos, under the firm name of “Hood, Shapard & Co.” His bravery to settle in Texas provided a beacon for other siblings to migrate there over the years. In 1837, his sister Martha and her husband Joshua W. McCown relocated to Texas, purchasing land adjoining Thomas’ property. Many years later, in 1846, Thomas’ older brother James P. Shapard also moved to Texas, residing in Washington

County close to his brother. On May 31, 1838, Thomas Paine Shapard married Ann Hope, the daughter of James Hope and Lady Mary England. Thomas became a Court Clerk in 1837, and held that office for many years. Thomas was the secretary of the Washington County Jockey Club, which had built a race track in 1838 and ran races until 1845. He became a Master Mason, and was a member of Washington Lodge No. 18. He and his family were Methodists. Thomas Paine Shapard died on June 13, 1859, at 48 years of age. He and his wife had six children: Eleanor (1839-1906), Amanda (1841-1842), Martha John (1844-1886), Ann (1852-1922), Mary Peebles Catherine (1854-1935), Richard Robert Peebles (1858-1923).