Terms of Service

• Senate, 14th ^{(1) (2) (3) (4)} Legislature
  3/26/1874 - 4/18/1876
  Democrat
  

(1) Entire Senate went up for reelection due to Senatorial redistricting. Ordinance adopted by Constitutional Convention of the State of Texas, 1875. Remained in effect from its passage until first reapportionment after 1880 Census. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History. Apportionment Laws of Texas, 1836-1950 1950.
(2) Seth Shepard, in special election 2/17/1874, seated 3/26/1874, succeeded T.G. Davidson, refused to qualify 1/14/1874. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004 2005.
(3) 14th Legislature, Regular Session - Seth Shepard and Matthew Gaines election contest: Memorial of Shepard protesting the seating of Matthew Gaines, 3/17/1874, pp. 176-178. Presentation of Gaines' credentials, 3/20/1874, pp. 189-190. Shepard prevailed in election contest over Gaines, report of Committee on Privileges and Elections 3/24/1874, printed in journal 3/25/1874, pp. 207-217. Memorial of C.B. Francis, claiming to have been elected Senator from the 16th District, does not delay seating of the Hon. Seth Shepard as Senator from said district; Shepard qualified and was seated immediately, 3/26/1874, pp. 220-221, 225-226. Gaines never seated. Senate Journal .
(4) "Because of the adoption of the new constitution [of 1876], any member of the 14th Legislature who wished to continue to serve had to run for reelection," p. 220. The Texas Senate: Volume II, Civil War to the Eve of Reform, 1861-1889 1999.

Biographical Notes and Resources

Other Resources

• "Body of Judge Shepard is Buried in Washington," 12/7/1917, p. 2. Dallas Morning News .
• Seth Shepard (1847-1917), marker in Greenwood Cemetery, Dallas. "The last of the original members of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. According to articles in the Dallas News he is actually buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington. Despite the above his death certificate indicates 'remains moved to Dallas, Texas.'" Includes portrait of the Honorable Seth Shepard, Chief Justice of the Court of Civil Appeals of the District of Columbia, about 1916 or 1917. Find a Grave .
• "Former Texan Dies After an Operation: Seth Shepard, Chief Justice of District of Columbia, is Dead," 12/4/1917, p. 1, born 1847, died 12/3/1917; Obituary, "Sketch of Life and Work of One of Texas' Honored Sons," 12/9/1917, p. 3, former Chief Justice Seth Shepard, member of Texas Senate in 1874, appointed associate justice of Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia by President Cleveland in 1893, then chief justice by President Roosevelt on 1/5/1905. Galveston Daily News .
• SHEPARD, SETH (1847-1917). Handbook of Texas Online .
• Confederate States Army, Company F, Tom Green's 5th Texas Cavalry. Brief biographical sketch, p. 209. The Confederates of Chappell Hill, Texas: Prosperity, Civil War and Decline 2005.
• Biographical sketches of Chauncy B., James E., and Seth Shepard, pp. 84-87. Relatives: James E. Shepard and Chauncy B. Shepard - brothers; Chauncy B. Shepard - father, Seth Shepard - son; James E. Shepard - uncle, Seth Shepard - nephew; "To Judge [Seth] Shepard the State owes a lasting debt of gratitude for having found the original manuscript of the Declaration of Texas Independence, which was lost for more than sixty years." The History of Brenham and Washington County 1915.
• Mentioned in Chapter VI, "Black Belt Politics." The Negro in Texas, 1874-1900 1971.

Committee Information

• 14th R.S. - 1874
• Asylums (Chair) 
• Constitutional Amendments  
• Internal Improvements  
• Judiciary  
• State Affairs