Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 615-616; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Andrew J. Shepley. This name will be at once recognized as
that of a gentleman engaged in the insurance and loan business in
Canton, who, in connection with that work carries on a fine farm of two
hundred and thirty acres, located a short distance west of the
city. Mr. Shepley is a thorough farmer, having been reared to
that occupation and carried it on successfully for a number of
years. His estate is well improved, well stocked, and in all
respects an attractive and valuable piece of property. In the
business in which Mr. Shepley is engaged in the city he is associated
with Daniel Abbott, the firm having been formed in 1884, at which time
our subject became a denizen of Canton.
Our subject is a son of Oliver Shepley who was a native of
Massachusetts, for many years a leading physician in his community
there, and was one of the pioneer doctors of this county. In 1839
he brought his family to the Prairie State, making his home in
Bloomington for a year, and then locating on a farm west of this
city. In 81 he was elected a member of the Legislature and served
faithfully and efficiently for two terms. He was a believer in
the old Jacksonian doctrines. He spent his last days on the farm
dying in 1863. His widow survived until 1874, continuing to
reside on the farm where they first settled on coming to this
county. Dr. Shepley was the son of Wilder Shepley and was of
Scotch descent.
The mother of our subject was Lydia, daughter of William
Lawrence, Esq., was of English ancestry and born at Hollis, N. H.
She lived in her native State until she was eighteen years old, when
she was married to Dr. Shepley and moved to Massachusetts. She
bore her husband four children, three of whom survived him and two are
still living. The family comprised Washington, Andrew J., Lydia
and Thomas J. Lydia is the wife of E. Paull.
In Middlesex County, Mass., July 19, 1833, the eyes of our
subject first opened to the light of day. He was a mere lad when
the family removed to the Mississippi Valley, and he grew to manhood
amid the comparatively primitive surroundings of this region. He
attended school in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer
during his boyhood and youth. He continued to reside under the
parental roof until he attained his majority when he married and
established a home of his own. He became manager of the farm,
conducting its affairs successfully until his removal to Canton and
still overseeing the work which is done there.
The capable wife of our subject was known in her maidenhood as
Miss Jennie Van Arsdale. She is the second daughter born to Peter
B. and Christina Van Arsdale and is a native of New Jersey whence her
parents removed hither in 1837. Her mother is now
residing at Fairview. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Shepley includes
three children – Alice, Adele and Andrew C. The older daughter is
the wife of Daniel Abbott, a prominent attorney of this place. In
politics Mr. Shepley casts his vote and exerts his influence for the
Democratic party.
