Dr James Meek Sheppard

Taken from "Reed-Meek History, Through The Years" by Annie Reed-Royer:

" Dr. James Meek Sheppard and Dr. Julius Kelly Sheppard II practiced in El Dorado many years. Dr. J.M. Sheppard is well remembered by the older members of the First Baptist Church on El Dorado where he served as a deacon for more than thirty years. He is also remembered for his many charitable deeds. He served on the school board for many years.

"During Christmas week of 1902, Jim [J.M. Reed] took his family to El Dorado for a visit. They went to Grandpa Lacy's [Watson E. Lacy], Aunt Mag's and visited his aunts in El Dorado. Jim Sheppard [James Meek Sheppard, 1863-1941] and his wife Amanda [Lydia Amanda Moore, 1865-1950] invited them to spend a night with them. Jim Sheppard was a doctor and was putting most of his savings into real estate. He told Jim 'You have a nice family of children. I would like for you to move them to El Dorado where the school is better. I have some farms I would like to show you.' He showed him several farms. He decided on the old home of John Arnold because it had a large two story house on 220 acres on land. Located three miles east of El Dorado, the setting was beautiful. On a crest of a hill, it was surrounded by large oak trees. It was in need of repairs but he knew when they were made he would have a substantial home for his family.