Shep's Place Family Tree

1860: John's first wife Regina Burns had died, and he had remarried Diana, who was now 37. All five of Regina's boys were at home: William 20, Alfred 18, George 16, James 14 and Charles 12. Also in the household were Jacob Hull 60 ‎(born Virginia)‎ and Margaret Baker 18 ‎(born Ohio)‎. Perhaps Diana was at Hull. John was a prosperous farmer with the value of real estate owned at $10,000 and other assets $800. In the census his birth place was Pennsylvania.

1870: Sadly, John's second wife Diana had died, probably giving birth to Frederick, who was two years ‎(although Frederick could be the son of John's third wife Sarah H. 42 (born Ohio)‎). His second son Alfred, was "idiotic." John's assets were $15,000 of real estate owned and $600 of other assets.

1880: Here we find John, 67, had "general debility." His wife Sarah H., 42, was keeping house and her son John F. Cook, an engineer, was 23 yrs. Frederick C. Caldwell was now 12, and Alfred B., 39, was "insane." One shudders to think how difficult that home situation must have been. Families had to cope with mental illness at home as best they could, or send a loved one to an institution.