Bryson F. Shepherd, longtime resident of the Middle Creek and Licking River section, was born in 1841 on the Licking, son of David and Barbara Watkins Shepherd. He was a colorful character. Somewhere and sometime he had the nickname "Flitterfoot" bestowed upon him. He carried it all his life. Flitterfoot served in the Confederate Army.
He was first married to Loueaster "Esther" Salyer, daughter of William W. ("Wee Willie") Salyer and Luquena Howard, daughter of John Howard and Nancy Cameron. Twelve children were born to this union: Jackson, married first Catherine Baldridge, second Mollie Shepherd; Luquena, married Harris Arnett; David, married Evaline Allen; William, never married; Sally, married Nero Howard; Barbara, married Felix Allen; Martha, married Charles Howard; Mort, married Mollie (note the spelling) Howard; Mary, married Leck Conley; Lewis, married Susan Watson; Phoeba (note the spelling), died as a child; Lula, married Lewis Collins (parents of Sadie Collins Davis).
Following the death of his wife, Bryson remarried to Lucinda Ratliff, and they became parents of the late Robert (Bob) Shepherd, one of the most beloved members of the Kentucky Extension Service. At the time of the birth of Robert, his father was 75 years old. Robert, too acquired a nickname. Newspapermen and his co-workers called him "Green Thumb" Shepherd because of his successful work in agronomy. He was associated with the Kentucky Extension Service at its Quicksand Experiment Station, at Jackson, where he died a few years ago.
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(According to personal 'Family' accounts of Bob, he also carried his father's
nickname, "Flitterfoot". He would visit his kinfolk in Michigan and Indiana, and on
occasion he stayed with Mabry & Viola Shepherd. Mabry's daughter, Louise Craft
and her husband, Ben, also visited with Bob in his Kentucky home, and Louise
exchanged correspondence with Bob over the years. She still fondly refers to the
letters he wrote her, now treasured and priceless keepsakes of her visits with her
Great Uncle Bob.)
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