Mystery Album

by Myrna Paquette  (June 2013)

Shepard family
Shepard family

The Hemmingford Archives has a number of unidentifed photos. Among these is an old photo album that was purchased at a garage sale many years ago in Hemmingford. The 9” x 11” album is leather with a clasp. The contents are 34 professional 4” x 6” framed portraits and two death notices. There are beautiful original photos of the “Shepard Family Concert Company”, a travelling music group clearly identified, and many other portraits of members of that family. There are also many unidentified portraits. The Death Notices are for “Amanda Boynton” died 1891 and “Mrs. Henry Soper” died 1890. James Monroe Shepard was born in Lawrenceville, NY in 1848 and died in South Royalton, Vermont in 1916. His wife, Mary Emily (“Minnie”) Barnard was born in NY in 1853 and died in South royalton in 1934, Their children Laura Belle, Kittie, Georgia, Burtie and Flossie, were all members of the musical group. They spent 12 years on tour from 1885 until 1897. By 1910, only Flossie, age 21, was living at home with her parents in South Royalton, Vermont. James was employed as a Mail Carrier, Minnie as a Dressmaker and Flossie was teaching in a rural school. Flossie married a Mr. Perkins. Laura (Lessie) married a Mr. Badger. If anyone has information on a Hemmingford connection, the Archives would like to know about it.
Please contact Myrna Paquette : myrbran@sympatico.ca or (450) 247-3357.