James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications, November 1891-November 1892, November 1891-November 1892

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Summary

Title:
James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications and Register of Civil War pension applications, November 1891-November 1892
Dates:
November 1891-November 1892
Creators:
Shepard, James H.,1843-1917 and Owen, Ray
Abstract:
This collection contains several items related to the work of San Francisco pension attorney James L. Shepard (born Jan. 1843 in Bergen, New Jersey; died Apr. 10, 1917, in Oakland, Calif.). The primary item is a ledger book of clients containing 559 chronological name entries from Nov. 9, 1891 to Nov. 7, 1892 of Civil War veterans that identifies them by name, service unit, residence, pension application/certificate numbers, disability and other data. The collection includes a partially-completed form filled out by Abby (aka Abbie) L. McChesney (nee Abigail Lincoln Hunt; Aug. 31 1856-Oct. 5, 1917) of San Francisco, Calif. , widow of Robert Watson McChesney (Aug. 17, 1831-Nov. 23, 1908), full 2nd Sergeant in Company B, Iowa 36th Infantry Regiment. Also included are a memo from Ray Owen, researcher, to Tony Hoskins, Local History and Genealogy Librarian, dated Agu. 5, 2014, providing a summary of information on Shepard, and several pages of background information printed from Ancestry.com and other sources.
Extent:
1.2 linear feet 1 oversize flat box (5 x 33 x 41 cm)
Language:
Materials are in English and Spanish. .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications, November 1891-November 1892 . SPC.00049, History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Items related to the work of San Francisco pension attorney James L. Shepard (born Jan. 1843 in Bergen, New Jersey; died Apr. 10, 1917, in Oakland, Calif.), including a ledger book of clients and a partially-completed form filled out by Abby (aka Abbie) L. McChesney (nee Abigail Lincoln Hunt; Aug. 31 1856-Oct. 5, 1917) of San Francisco, Calif. , widow of Robert Watson McChesney (Aug. 17, 1831-Nov. 23, 1908). Also included are a memo from Ray Owen, dated Agu. 5, 2014, providing a summary of information on Shepard, and several pages of background information printed from Ancestry.com and other sources.

Biographical / historical:

Prior to an Act of Congress in 1892, a veteran had to demonstrate a service-related disability to be eligible for an "invalid" pension-- the only type available to veterans. Many petitioners engaged the service of an attorney, commonly called a "pension attorney" (the 1892 Act eliminated the disability requirement, though "invalid" pensions could result in higher allotments). James L. Shepard of San Francisco and Oakland was one such "pension attorney," apparently working on his own in San Francisco in 1891 and as a partner of Shepard & Norton, Oakland, Calif., in 1892. Shepard was married to the much younger Eliza London Shepard (1866-1939) and they were listed as living in Oakland with their two children in the 1900 Census; Eliza Shepard was the step-sister of Jack London. James E. Shepard had reportedly accompanied Jack London to the Yukon during the 1898 gold rush. Their marriage ended in divorce before Shepard's death in 1917. Eliza Shepard and a son, "Irving," moved to Glen Ellen and was associated with his ranch and the construction of the "Wolf House." She remained associated with the London estate and Jack London's widow, Charmian, until Eliza's death in 1939.

Acquisition information:
Gift: Sonoma County Museum, Aug. 5, 2014
Custodial history:

Ledger book and form likely donated to the Sonoma County Museum by the Shepard family.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard, Second Edition (DACS)

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Sonoma County Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Geoffrey Skinner.
Date Prepared:
Published Dec. 20, 2019
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was created by Geoffrey Skinner in December 2019 and encoded in EAD from MARC records created by Sonoma County Library Special Collections and Cataloging staff, December 20, 2019 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is partially processed. Please contact the Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library for access; for contact info and current hours, see https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library

Terms of access:

Collection does not circulate and may be photocopied or photographed by arrangement only.

Property rights reside with the Sonoma County Library. The Sonoma County Library has made this collection available and believes that the collection is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Collection may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Preferred credit line is: Courtesy, the Sonoma County Library. Please see additional reproduction and reuse information at https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library/order-photo

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications, November 1891-November 1892 . SPC.00049, History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA.

Location of this collection:
6135 State Farm Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928, US
Contact:
(707) 545-0831
digital@sonomalibrary.org
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