The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Shepard, Edward Morse

SHEPARD, Edward Morse, American lawyer: b. New York, 1850; d. 28 July 1911. He was graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1869, studied law and was admitted to the bar. He established a practice in Brooklyn, and was an active member of the Democratic party there, being one of the organizers of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Brooklyn. He held no public office except as member of the civil service commission of the city in 1883-85, and chairman of that commission in 1888-90. In 1884-85 he was a State forestry commissioner, and was the author of the commission's report for that year. In 1901 he was the regular Democratic nominee for mayor of Greater New York, but was defeated by Seth Low. For several years he was counsel for the New York Rapid Transit Commission, and resigned that position in March 1904 to become general counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He wrote ‘Martin Van Buren’ (in American Statesmen Series; rev. ed., 1900); ‘Dishonor in American Public Life’ (1882); (‘The Work of a Social Teacher’ (1884).