James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications, November 1891-November 1892
Processed by Sonoma County Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Geoffrey Skinner.
This work is licensed by Sonoma County Library under a
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Published Dec. 20, 2019
James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications, November 1891-November 1892
Sonoma County Library
Title: James H. Shepard register of Civil War pension applications
Date (inclusive): November 1891-November 1892
Identification: SPC.00049
Recorder:
Shepard, James H.,1843-1917
Researcher:
Owen, Ray
Physical Description:
1.2 linear feet
1 oversize flat box (5 x 33 x 41 cm)
Language of Material: Materials are in English and Spanish..
Repository:
Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library
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.
Alternate title of ledger: Register of Civil War pension applications,
Date: November 1891-November 1892
Biography/Organization History
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.
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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.
California--Genealogy
United States--History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Veterans
Military pensions--California--History--19th century
Veterans--California--Sonoma County--Registers
Veterans--California--Registers
Veterans--United States--Registers
Survivors' benefits--California--History--19th century
Registers (lists)
Application forms
Archival materials
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Access Information
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
Conditions of Use
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
[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.
Gift: Sonoma County Museum,
Aug. 5, 2014
Custodial History
Ledger book and form likely donated to the Sonoma County Museum by the Shepard family.