Cora Viola (Strauch) Sheppard was born on July 18, 1873 in Bullskin Township, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of John H. and Catherine (Martin) Strauch. Her mother died when Annie was an infant, and her father later married Mary Hester McKnight.

In about 1896, Cora married Harry Sheppard (April 1, 1871-1936), son of William and Alice (Bryan) Sheppard. He earned a living as a carpenter.

They had seven children -- William Sheppard, Lela A. Sheppard, Anna Bell Rock, Martha G. Crislip, Laura V. Torriston and Harry G. Sheppard, plus one who died young prior to 1910.

Over the decades, the Sheppards resided in Dawson, East Liberty and Dickerson Run, Fayette County -- commonly known as the "Tri-Town Community."

Sadly, stricken with prostate and urinary tract problems, Harry underwent surgery in November 1930. He survived for six more years in their home in East Liberty. Sadly, he died on Nov. 21, 1936 at the age of 65. Burial was in Dickerson Run Union Cemetery. An obituary in the Connellsville Daily Courier noted that his survivors included his mother and siblings Thomas J. Sheppard of Chicago and William Sheppard of Hopwood, Fayette County.

Cora survived her husband by 21 years and resided in Dickerson Run. She was active with the Willing Workers group of the Bryan Methodist Church of Dawson.

Burdened with uremia and heart issues, she succumbed in Connellsville State Hospital at the age of 83 on Jan. 9, 1957. [Find-a-Grave]

~ Son William Sheppard ~

Son William Sheppard (1897- ? ) was born in about 1897.

~ Daughter Lela A. Sheppard ~

Daughter Lela A. Sheppard (1899- ? ) was born in about 1899.

She became a teacher and in 1920, at the age of 21, taught in the Lower Tyrone Township schools.

~ Daughter Anna Belle (Sheppard) Rock ~

Daughter Anna Belle Sheppard (1899-1973) was born on Oct. 12, 1899 in Dawson.

As with her elder sister Lela, Anna Belle was a teacher in the Lower Tyrone Township schools in the years prior to her marriage.

She was joined in wedlock with Charles "Pete" Rock ( ? -1973).

Their four offspring were Beryle Morgan, William James Rock, Harry Edward Rock and Donald Allen "Don" Rock. Sadness blanketed the family when son William succumbed in infancy.

They lived in Layton near Perryopolis, Fayette County. For a quarter of a decade, Anna Belle served there as postmistress, while Charles was a foreman with a brick company. In his free time, he was active with the Layton Rod & Gun Club and served as president in 1948.

Anna Belle died at the age of 73 in Frick Community Hospital in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA on May 19, 1973. Rev. Charles Fowler and Rev. Francis Culler co-officiated at her funeral service, followed by burial in Mount Washington Cemetery in Perryopolis. An obituary was printed in the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Charles only outlived his wife by a few months. He passed into eternity on Sept. 2, 1973.

Son Harry Edward Rock (1926- ? ) was born in about 1926. He made his home in 1973 in Brooklyn, NY. He was deceased by 2017.

Daughter Beryle Rock (1930- ? ) was born in about 1930. She married David Morgan ( ? - ? ). They lived in Layton in 1973-2017.

Son Donald Allen "Don" Rock (1932-2017) was born on March 26, 1932 in Layton, Fayette County. During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Army. Donald married Dolores A. "Dee" Muccioli (Jan. 29, 1931-2003). They dwelled in Star Junction, Fayette County and produced three sons -- Mark Rock, Michael Rock and David Rock. Over the years, Donald was employed by Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel as a crane operator. Sadly, Dolores died on April 19, 2003. Donald survived his wife by 14 years. He was admitted to Hillside Manor in Uniontown where he passed into eternity at the age of 85 on Oct. 24, 2017. Bryce King officiated at the funeral service, with additional military rites provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion at the interment in Mt. Washington Cemetery in Perryopolis.

• Grandson Mark Rock married Betty Ann and lives in Perryopolis.

• Grandson Michael Rock wedded Tami and dwells in Perryopolis.

• Grandson David Rock was joined in marriage with Sherry. They make a home in Perryopolis.

~ Daughter Martha G. (Sheppard) Crislip ~

Daughter Martha G. Sheppard (1902-1973) was born on Sept. 5, 1902 in Dawson. She pursued teaching as her occupation as a young woman.

When she was 21 years of age, on June 18, 1924, Martha married 24-year-old Herman A. Crislip (1900- ? ), son of James B. and Margaret L. (Hinkle) Crislip. The nuptials were held in Washington, Washington County, PA, with Rev. F.W. Perkins officiating.

A native of West Virginia, Herman lived in Dawson at the time of marriage and was employed as a railroad conductor.

The couple did not reproduce.

By 1930, they moved to Austintown near Youngstown, Mahoning County, OH, with a residence on North Main Street. Herman's work that year was as a railroad brakeman. They remained in Austintown during the decade of the 1930s -- and the grip of the Great Depression -- and in 1940, he continued his labor as a brakeman on the railroad.

Herman's fate is not yet known.

Martha passed away in Youngstown at the age of 71 on Feb. 8, 1973.  

~ Daughter Laura V. (Sheppard) Torriston ~

Daughter Laura V. Sheppard (1904- ? ) was born in about 1904.

She was united in matrimony with (?) Torriston.

Her residence in 1936 was in Dickerson Run.

~ Son Harry G. Sheppard Jr. ~

Son Harry G. Sheppard Jr. (1907-1973) was born on Aug. 21, 1907 in Dawson. As a boy, he attended Dawson Public School and Dunbar Township High School.

As a young man, perhaps lured by the prospect of a good-paying job, he relocated to Wisconsin and made a home in Cudahy, Milwaukee County. Others from Dawson made a similar move to Cudahy in the 1920s, among them a distant step-cousin, Charles S. Luckey.

Harry wedded Lucille (1912- ? ), a Wisconsin native.

The couple produced four sons -- among them Rupert Sheppard, Terrance Sheppard and Dennis Sheppard.

They lived in Cudahy in 1936-1940. The federal census enumeration of 1940 shows that Harry was employed as a laborer in a meat-packing plant.

The Sheppards migrated to California and settled in Salinas. Harry died there in Valley Memorial Hospital on April 16, 1973. Burial was in Salinas. An obituary was printed in his hometown newspaper, the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Son Rupert Sheppard (1933- ? ) was born in about 1933 in Cudahy, Milwaukee County, WI.

Son Terrance Sheppard (1935- ? ) was born in about 1935 in Cudahy, Milwaukee County, WI.

Son Dennis Sheppard (1937- ? ) was born in about 1937 in Cudahy, Milwaukee County, WI.

Copyright © 2003, 2018 Mark A. Miner