ROBERT PAINE SHAPARD (Chapter 6) 1865-1871 Returning Home to Shelbyville

CHAPTER 6

RETURNING HOME TO SHELBYVILLE

1865 – 1871

 After the War, as the citizens and soldiers returned home to rebuild their communities and lives, no one knew what was to become of the devastated South. President Lincoln, who was a moderate Republican, wanted to reunite the country quickly and painlessly; however the Radical Republicans of Congress demanded that the South be punished under stringent Reconstruction laws. After Lincoln’s assignation on April 15, 1865, Vice-President Andrew Johnson, who was formally the acting Military Governor of Tennessee and also a moderate Republican, assumed the presidency. Johnson was able to thwart off the harsh agenda of the Radical Republicans until the election of 1866, when the Republicans gained the majority of seats in both houses of Congress, giving them enough power to override President Johnson’s vetoes. In July of 1867, Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts, whereby the South was placed under the military control of U.S. Army. The army removed the elected officials of southern governments and replaced them with officials loyal to the Federal government, known as ‘Carpetbag’ officials. To ensure these officials remained in power the right to vote was denied to many white southerners through Franchise Laws.

Because Tennessee was the first Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union, on July 24, 1866, prior to the passing of the Reconstruction Acts, the state did not share the same degree of punishment as the other Southern states and was not part of an official military district. However, from 1865 until 1869, William G. Brownlow, who was a Radical Republican and stern Reconstructionist, was placed as the Governor of Tennessee. He enacted numerous extremist laws, such as, depriving the right to vote for most white southerners and denying free speech with threats of imprisonment for anyone ‘guilty’ of writing or speaking against the Federal Government. He also established a police and military force to suppress anti-radical behavior and enforce the Reconstruction agenda. As a means to oppose these unjust laws, and give protection to the life and property of ex-confederates, the Ku Klux Klan rose up, from a grassroots movement in Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, and spread quickly throughout the state. Rev. J.W. Cullom, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, remarked that, “The Klan was organized for a worthy purpose and was useful in restraining certain troublesome characters, but it fell into the hands of a lawless element and became a terror to the best citizens…The best men in the country were members of the Klan, but they were helpless to restrain the lawless ones.” There was much civil unrest in Tennessee between the Klan and the imposed governing forces, until 1869 when the carpetbag politicians were finally being replaced by local politicians who gradually brought order to the state. General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Grand Wizard of the Klan ordered the disbandment of the organization in Tennessee after order was becoming restored in 1869.

It is of interest to note that Booker Shapard’s sons, Isaac Lewis Shapard (1834-1912) and Robert Booker Shapard (1839-1891), were of the first to join the original Pulaski Den of the Ku Klux Klan shortly after its initial meeting in the autumn of 1865. Both men were ex-Confederate soldiers of Tennessee. The original by-laws for the organization were created by the Pulaski Den and were set in type and printed in secrecy in the back room over the store owned by, Booker Shapard. It was from this location that the movement of the Klan spread throughout the South.

In August of 1865, Robert Paine Shapard returned to Shelbyville, Tennessee, with his wife, Parthenia, and son David Green Shapard. His daughter, Sarah “Sallie” Shapard remained at Louisville Female College to finish her education, and returned home to Shelbyville after her graduation in 1866. His son, Robert Addison Shapard continued to work as a clerk for ‘Gardner & Co.’ in Louisville, Kentucky. On September 15, 1865, Robert Paine Shapard purchased a house in Shelbyville from John T. Stephens for $1,000, located near the residence of Dr. Thomas Lipscomb, which became the new Shapard home. In January of 1866, Mr. Shapard had reestablished his business as a grocer and merchant in Shelbyville. The old store location of ‘Shapard & Mitchell’ on Depot Street was now occupied by the firm of ‘Nash & Fowler,’ so he rented a new storefront on the east side of the Public Square. The location, which was next door to U.E. Peacock’s grocery store, was easily identified due to the large yellow-tinted windows that flanked both sides of the front door. Shapard’s merchandise varied from month to month, as business was unpredictable and money was scarce; however, it mainly consisted of a small lot of staple dry goods, an assortment of boots, shoes and hats, hardware, nails, castings, tinware, stoves, and a general assortment of groceries.

Many of Shelbyville’s most respected and influential men returned to the town after the war, Robert Paine Shapard, being one of them. As the terms of Reconstruction were implemented by the Radical Republicans upon the citizens of Tennessee, some of these men who were loyal to the United States, and known as “Union men” during the war, convened to object to these unjust laws upon the South. In February of 1866, a meeting of “loyals” convened at Shelbyville, composed of Robert Paine Shapard, Hon. Thos. H. Caldwell, Judge Henry Cooper, Joseph II. Thompson, Esq., Colonel Robert Galbraith, Captain E. Frierson, L. P. Fields, Thomas W. Buchanan and R. H. Lewis. They publically resolved that, “…we believe that the entire people of Tennessee, including those hitherto considered as disloyal, are now, as a mass, determined to maintain quiet and good order, and in all things faithfully to obey the laws of the United States. That the enactment by the Congress of the United States, of any law imposing upon the loyal people of Tennessee any conditions, rest notions or restraints which do not, and which are not intended to apply with equal force to the loyal people of every State of the Union, would be unjust to us, and in our opinion, unconstitutional. That we were in no wise responsible for the rebellion, and that while we utterly repudiated the doctrine of "State Rights'' as adhered to by Jefferson Davis and other leading spirits of the South, we nevertheless, insist that each State has certain rights under the Constitution; and that these rights are equal one State with another. Entertaining these views, we do most heartily approve of, and endorse, the principle enunciated by Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, to the effect that the hitherto insurrectionary States of the Union are not to be held as conquered provinces or as colonial dependencies of the general Government, but that they, upon their own application, will be allowed to return to their full, true and legitimate relations to the Union, upon terms of equal rights with all other States.”

At this time, the former Shelbyville Methodist Episcopal Church, South was in dire condition. Structurally, the church was in ruins, and approximately one-third of its membership had been killed or relocated during the war.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church opened its doors to the remaining Methodists while the citizens built a new church. However, the Federal Secretary of State and Tennessee Governor W.G. Brownlow had directed that the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South be replaced with northern preachers of known loyalty to the Union. Shelbyville received one of these northern missionaries, by the name of Rev. W.Z. Ross, from 1866 to 1867. For the time being, Shelbyville southern Methodists would have to meet outside the church in private homes or campgrounds to worship, until the carpetbag minister relinquished ownership of their church building. Mr. and Mrs. Shapard could not endure the forced corruption of their Methodist faith, nor escape the pressure to appear “loyal” to the Union regarding their choice of religion; and on June 23, 1867 they became members of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville through a Profession of Faith.

            After the War, Robert’s son, Evander Shapard, attended Lebanon Law School in 1866 and then returned to Shelbyville to continue the study of law under Judge Henry Cooper.  He was admitted to the bar and successfully engaged in the practice of law in Shelbyville, building up an extensive and lucrative clientage.  On March 15, 1867, Evander purchased the house that Robert Paine Shapard bought upon his return to Shelbyville, for $1,000, the same amount his father paid for it. Robert and Parthenia moved to a new home in Shelbyville located on the Murfreesboro Pike and lived there with their children, David and Sallie.

            A year later in June of 1868, Mr. Shapard received word that his son Robert Addison Shapard, who was living in Memphis Tennessee with a wife Imogene and child, had become addicted to opium and alcohol and was destroying his family and his career. Mr. and Mrs. Shapard made plans to move to Memphis in order to care for Robert. Mr. R.P. Shapard left his house in the care of his son David and sold his business to his son Evander Shapard. Evander moved the business from the east side of the Square to the west side in an area known as ‘Mathew’s Corner.’ On July 3, 1868, Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Shapard were dismissed, at their own request, from the Shelbyville First Presbyterian Church and connected with the 2^nd Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Tennessee. They remained in Memphis for many months before returning to Shelbyville. Their son Robert, who had, for the time being, ceased his addictive habits and signed a Temperance Pledge, like the prodigal son, decided to briefly move back to Shelbyville to be among his family’s care and accountability. Sadly, years later Robert Addison Shapard would regress and die of a laudanum overdose in Memphis.

Upon their return to Shelbyville in 1869, Robert Paine Shapard resumed work in his store as a merchant and did some farming. His household consisted of he and his wife, and two of his children; David and Sallie. Mr. Shapard had also employed and boarded a 25 year old black servant, by the name Bell Little, who had a 4 year old son named Henry.  Bell Little was hired for domestic work around the house, helping Mrs. Shapard with the cooking and cleaning. The economy of Shelbyville was improving in direct correlation with the expulsion of the carpetbag government, and Mr. Shapard’s business was on the rise. Since the war, Mr. Shapard had acquired $2,000 in real estate and $4,000 in personal estate.

These were gradually becoming good times for the Shapard family. In June of 1869, while the family was preparing for the wedding of their son, Evander, to Miss. Emma Lipscomb, Mr. and Mrs. Shapard received word that their son, Rev. Edwin Ruthven Shapard, was soon to marry Miss. Jennie Neely Hall. The ceremonies were held two days apart; Edwin’s wedding took place on June 15, 1869, at the Neely Plantation in Madison, Davidson County, Tennessee, and Evander’s service was held on June 17, 1869, in Shelbyville Tennessee and was officiated by his brother Rev. William Shapard, who was in town from Alabama.

            An interesting outcome of the carpetbag-government leaving Shelbyville was that the Methodist Episcopal Church, South finally regained possession their church building, and were able to reinstate their rightful minister at the pulpit. As if a means to celebrate, Shelbyville hosted the Annual Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South on October 14, 1868. Hundreds of ministers and laymen descended upon the town and invigorated the citizens with the spirit of religion.  In September of 1869, Robert’s son, Rev. Edwin Ruthven Shapard, was appointed, for one year, as the minister of the small communities of Bellbuckle and Wartrace stations, which were situated approximately 10 miles northeast of Shelbyville. During the year, Edwin and his wife, Jennie, lived at his parent’s house; and although Edwin traveled a great deal, he was able to spend some quality time with his parents and siblings. It was during this time, among his son’s influence, that Robert Paine Shapard returned, with a servants heart, to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Robert was essential in rebuilding the Shelbyville Methodist Church and securing its future prosperity. He was one of the leading spirits and spearheaded the Sunday School programs, as he did before the War. Rev. P.A. Sowell who was assigned to the Shelbyville southern Methodist Church in the early 1870s recalled that, at that time, “The main religious resources in Shelbyville were Brother R.P. Shapard, Brother Brown Knott and Brother M.B.  Moorman.”

On July 26, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Shapard’s daughter, Sarah “Sallie” Shapard, married Mr. Thomas C. Whiteside, Jr. This wedding was significant, as it was the marriage of their youngest child. The wedding was hosted at Mr. R.P. Shapard’s residence on a Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock. Thomas was a merchant for the firm of Ely & Whiteside in Nashville, Tennessee, and was the son of the former Attorney General of Bedford County. This wedding was a joyous occasion at the Shapard residence, endorsed with a tremendous outpouring of support from friends, family and the general community.

Sadly, this wedding would be the last great joyous event in the life of Robert Paine Shapard. On September 16, 1871, Mr. Shapard, developed a serious bacterial infection of the skin, known as ‘erysipelas,’ which caused a high fever, chills, fatigue, headache and vomiting all within 48 hours of contraction. The main symptom was that his skin became red and swollen in patches, resulting in a painful rash. Mr. Shapard was sick for two days and died, at his house among his weeping family, on September 18, 1871, at 66 years of age. The funeral was held the following day at 3:00 P.M. at the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and was officiated by Rev. T.H. Hinson. The community of Shelbyville testified their respect and esteem by suspending business and attending his funeral. He was buried at Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville, Tennessee, next to his son, John Mitchell Shapard. On October 1, 1871, a tribute of respect for Robert Paine Shapard was held by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South Sabbath School group in Shelbyville, Tennessee. His son, Rev. Edwin Ruthven Shapard, preached Matthew 18:20 at this solemn occasion, to bid farewell to a remarkable and much loved father, friend and Christian gentleman, whose example in life was worthy of imitation.