Anyone know who E. L. Llewellyn was?
Billie Harris - Jun 3, 2012
I have an old book here dated 1861 entitled "The Little Brown Bible" by E. L. Llewellyn, author of "Mary Humphrey," "Walter Stockton," etc and published by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, No. 821 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
Does anyone know anything about E. L. Llewellyn? I'd like to see the book get into the hands of a descendant so am willing to GIVE it to him/her. But if I don't hear from anyone by June 15th, will sell it.
e-mail me if he's an ancestor or related in some way. halnbillie@sbcglobal.net
Marlea Llewellyn - Jun 5, 2012
Believe it or not there are 3 E.L. Llewellyn writers. One in the 1860s, one in the 1940s and one in the 2000s the last 2 may be the same person but I didn't find that much detail to distinguish. Funny thing is they all are books of education and teaching. 1860s had a lot of the little bibles and hymnals for soldiers to carry with them there were also books on Industry and its results for example in Arlington. Sorry I can't tell what the E. L. stands for or his history. I am sure it is an amazing book, even just for historical purposes.
Billie Harris - Jun 5, 2012
Another writer, more famous, was Richard Llewellyn, although Llewellyn wasn't his last name, who wrote "How Green Was My Valley." I'll post something about him in the History section.
Madeline Holt - Jun 12, 2012
could it be Ewell Lewallen, born 1848
Clete Ramsey - Jun 12, 2012
Billie, Marlea & Madeline,
Curious, I did a little searching for the mysterious author, E. L. Llewellyn.
The Library of Congress’ Name Authority File (http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr92025946.html) lists “E. L. Llewellyn” as the pseudonym for Lydia H. Sheppard, also known as Mrs. Edwin Sheppard.
She wrote several other books in addition to “Little Brown Bible.” By one account, she was born in England and came to the United States in 1860.
Her husband was an illustrator/scientific draftsman known for his watercolors of birds. A native of Richmond, Virginia, he was a longtime employee of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.
In 1900, Edwin Sheppard (65, b. August 1835, VA) was head of a household in Philadelphia Ward 32 that included his wife, Lydia H. Sheppard (59, b. November 1841, England), and son, Frank W. Sheppard (23, b. November 1877, PA). The census reports Lydia had had three children, two of whom were still living in 1900. In 1910, a widowed Lydia (80, b. England) was living in a household headed by her youngest son, William H. C. Sheppard (39, b. PA), that included her son Frank (42, b. PA). William was a painter, illustrator, and lithographer. The 1870 census had artist Edwin Sheppard (33, b. VA) as head of a Philadelphia household that included Lydia (35, b. England), Mary (7, b. VA), and Frank (3, b. PA).
Can’t explain how Lydia chose the Llewellyn pen name.
Regards,
Clete
Billie Harris - Jun 12, 2012
Clete, you should have been a detective ! Thank you for finding that. I suppose now I can sell the book and not feel guilty that it didn't get passed to a Llewellyn descendant. I did look up Edwin Sheppard though since I like to paint. Apparently he was a well known illustrator and since he did birds (lots of duck illustrations) I've probably seen his work without knowing he had anything to do with Llewellyn, even though it is a pseudonym.
Again, thanks for finding the information