Frank S. Shepherd

Birth: July 24, 1859 - Wisconsin
Marriage: October 13, 1879 (?)
Death: October 13, 1916 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Frank Shepherd

What has struck me about my second great grandfather Frank S. Shepherd is that he seems like so many great people I’ve known in my life. People like my dad that make hard work look easy. His profession was dangerous and demanding, especially back then, but in every photo he looks proud and comfortable in his position.

Frank Shepherd can be seen in many family photos proudly holding his granddaughter, May Anderson. As far as I can tell he was a loving family man and in one newspaper article from the St. Paul Dispatch it states that he died on the same day that he “was to have celebrated his thirty eighth wedding anniversary.” I have been unable to find anything that corroborates this incredible coincidence.


Frank died on Friday the 13th, 1916. It was a Friday the 13th in the month of October. In most people’s minds there could be no more unlucky a date on the calendar than this. He died a hero when he tried to stop the train he was on as it derailed. Frank was an engineer working for the Milwaukee Railway and had worked on the railroad for nearly 30 years.

Frank Shepherd with his granddaughter May on the steps of his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota

According to at least one newspaper he died saving the lives of 500 passengers and crew. However, according to a representative of the National Railway Historical Society; Ray Cooney, it was unlikely that this line was carrying that many passengers. He noted that back then newspapers inflated fatalities to sell more papers. Based on my own research into the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway I'm not so sure. It seems that the primary use of the rail was passenger transportation.




What isn’t in question is that Frank Shepherd died trying to avert a catastrophic accident. His was the only immediate fatality and without his heroic efforts the death toll would have likely been much higher.

Frank Shepherd was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Frank Shepherd (left) standing in front of his engine.
The photo reads "Waiting for CM&StP train 'Olympian Coast Flyer.'"
CM&StP stands for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway.

Frank Shepherd (left) standing in front of a steam engine. The identity of the man on the right is unknown.



The Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul coast flyer "Olympian" leaving Minneapolis. March 22, 1912

Frank Shepherd (left) standing in front of his engine in the snow.
The identity of the man on the right is unknown.

Frank Shepherd (left) standing in front of a steam engine.
The identity of the man on the right is unknown.
This photo was likely taken in 1912.

Frank Shepherd (left) standing in front of a steam engine. The identity of the man on the right is unknown.

Frank Shepherd (left) standing in front of a steam engine. Notice he is holding an oil can.
The identity of the man on the right is unknown.

This photograph shows the wreckage of the accident which took the life of Frank Shepherd.