Shep's Place Family Tree

Mary was very devout, and practiced her religious beliefs. When her children were very young she rode horseback with one child in front and one behind her to church services in a little log chapel near the mouth of Middle Island Creek which is near the Ohio River. This little church was probably the first church in what is now Pleasants County, West Virginia. Mary must have gone only during dry spells, because the sticky mud of Broad Run would be difficult to cross when wet.

Sometime after Daniel's death in 1839 a log building was erected at Clay Point. This was not far from the home place, and Mary took her brood there for religious instruction. This building was also used as a school some of the time.

About 1850 a Methodist church was erected at Grape Island. It was known as Bethesda Chapel, and Mary like to attend. To get there Mary would have to cross Middle Island Creek, so again she could probably not attend when the creek was high.

About 1890 the little church at Clay Point burned to the ground. In 1907 the Rev. E.D. Fellers, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Marys, became interested in again organizing a place of worship at Clay Point. The old M.E. Church in St. Marys was torn down and hauled to Clay Point where it was erected on land donated by Lloyd Bailey.

I have been told that Mary spoke very little English, but that she understood it perfectly. Even so, she impressed upon her children that they were Americans. She did not want anyone to think of them as foreigners.

Location deduced from Hardesty's Pleasants County History, From Hardesty's Biographical Atlas, Volume V, 1882