Biography of Francis W. Shepardson
Franklin County, VT Biographies





Shepardson, Francis Wayland, youngest son of Ansel and Lu Ray (Story) Shepardson, was born February 26, 1836. When a child nothing seemed to satisfy him quite as well as constructing miniature saw mills, foundries, fulling mills, turning lathes, and such like, and he set them all running on a little waterfall near by. At an early age he became familiar with the details of all the business carried on by his father. At the age of twenty one he took up the woolen manufacturing business at the old stand in Shepardson Hollow, carrying on the business there for eight years. Being unable to meet the constantly increasing demand for his goods on account of limited power and old machinery Mr. Shepardson purchased new and the most approved machinery that could then be found, and forming a copartnership with Saumel N. Gaut, owner of the great falls, they proceeded in 1865 to put in operation the "Lamoille mill." This mill turned out yearly about $30,000 worth of fancy cassimeres, flannel, and yarn, nearly all of which was ordered and purchased by the local trade. The mill gained the reputation of supplying people with the best and most serviceable goods made in Vermont. In 1881 he sold his interest in the Lamoille mills, purchased the old Hiram Bellows place at the village, and has since resided there. Mr. Shepardson is a Republican and cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has held nearly every office of honor and trust in town. In September, 1890, he was elected a member of the legislature. At the age of fourteen he united and became identified with the interests of the Baptist church in Fairfax, and has ever been one of its hearty and earnest supporters. He married, in 1860, Miss Jennie Kinney, of Milton, and two daughters have been born to them, of whom the youngest, Fannie V., eighteen years of age, is now living.

From:
History of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties Vermont
Edited by: Lewis Cass Aldrich
D. Mason & Co., Publishers
Syracuse, N. Y.
1891


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