Historical Tidbit For June

Francis Wayland Shepardson

Francis "Frank" Wayland Shepardson was born on October 15, 1862 in Cheviot, Ohio; a small town that began as a tavern & inn turnpike stop in west-central Hamilton County near Cincinnati. He was the son of Dr. Daniel and Mrs. Eliza Smart Shepardson. FWS came to Granville when his father was hired as the second principal of the Young Ladies Institute. (This school would later be named Shepardson College and eventually, merge with Denison University.) 

Francis Wayland Shepardson was a scholar, and a gentleman, and perhaps a saint. Shepardson graduated from Denison in 1882, earned a second degree from Brown in 1883, and an artium magister (AM) from Denison in 1886. After completing his studies, like his father, he taught at the Young Ladies Institute. A gifted writer, FWS served as the editor of The Granville Times for three years. In 1890, he left Granville for Yale to obtain his Ph.D. After completing his Ph.D., from 1892 until 1917, Dr. Shepardson  was a history professor at the University of Chicago. In addition to teaching, he also served in several administrative roles, including Dean of the Senior Colleges. He was a writer. His works included Abraham Lincoln, a Character Sketch, Scripture, and song in worship : a service book for the Sunday school as well as many pamphlets regarding the genealogical history of the Shepardson family. Shepardson was actively involved with his fraternity; for almost 30 years he served as either General Secretary or President of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Known as "Mr. Beta Theta Pi," according to fraternity lore, no man embodied more the principles of Beta Theta Pi. He authored several books regarding Beta Theta Pi such as Songs of Beta Theta Pi and The Story of Beta Theta Pi. He was extremely active with Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta. During his time in Chicago, he wrote for The Chicago Tribune as an editorial writer. 

In his retirement, about 1927, he and his wife returned to Granville, and Denison. He served on the Denison University Board of Trustees. In 1931, he authored the centennial history of Denison. He was a founding member of the Granville Historical society and served as its first president. He was an active parishioner at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Along with Robbins Hunter, Jr., Shepardson was a key member of the group working to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the church building. It is recorded in the August 8, 1937 vestry minutes that Shepardson donated $100 for purchasing new globes for the chandelier. He died the next day of an apparent heart attack while traveling to Chicago. Francis Wayland Shepardson is buried in Maple Grove cemetery. His tombstone reads, "I have finished my course." -RIP