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Town of New Haven |
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Elizabeth DeAngelis Wells Shepard |
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November 6, 1830 - September 29, 1922 Mrs. Elizabeth Shepard was raised on her parents farm here in New Haven. At an early age she was sent to Buffalo to finishing school, living with an aunt. She met and married Mr. Shepard at her aunt's house in Buffalo. They had three children. After the death of their first child, they traveled to Europe, they also had a third son, C. Sidney Shepard. In a letter written by C. Sidney Shepard to a reporter, concerning some untruths, he wrote, "My mother was told in effect in Italy by a teacher who brought out all of Rossini's Operas that her voice did not have the great power that it should have had in order to fill an opera house. She was studying merely for pleasure and the suggestion of her instructor was a great surprise. She was married from her aunt's house in Buffalo many, many years before going abroad." This tells of her lovely voice. Mrs. Elizabeth Shepard, was very active in New Haven Congregational Church, having the kitchen and dining room area built onto the church. In 1911, C. Sidney had a Franklin car built to special order for his mothers use. She was chauffeured by the same chauffeur and never over 30 mph. After her death the car was put on blocks and never drove again. In 1934, after C. Sidney passed away, the car was sold. She was very interested in astronomy, so her son had a tower built with one of the finest telescopes in the world for her pleasure. Until 1916 when she broke her hip, she spent many hours in the tower. Mr. Westinghouse, a friend of C. Sidney, was then called upon to design and install a commercial radio for her pleasure. It is said Mr. Westinghouse came to New Haven, himself, to make sure the radio was installed and working properly. Mrs. Elizabeth Shepard, also had a 150 foot flag pole installed. The flag was put up and taken down by six men every day. She always wanted to see an army tank, so her son had one sent from Oswego. She was a lady in every respect and did much for individuals in the community, as for the community itself before her death. Following her death and burial in the family mausoleum in Buffalo, her son suffered depression and spent little time in New Haven the following year. Eventually, he went back to his business as usual spending more time at the New Haven Estate. He died at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York in 1934. Sources: Compiled from C. Sidney Shepard letters, clippings, etc. in the Town of New Haven History files. A box of genealogy and materials in separate file were also used for this article. Written by Nancy Searles, New Haven Historian |
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Town of New Haven © 2004 Town of New Haven |
