He was the son of Lewis Shepard and Mary Ann Huffman.
Shepard owned a thousand-acre (4 km2) ranch in the Collin County area.
The Plano area became famous in the late 19th century for mule breeding.
He shipped his mules throughout the United States, and to Mexico and Honduras.
In addition to the town of Shepton, Texas, Shepard Elementary School and Shepton High School were also named in his honor.