Franklin D. Shepard was born around 1844 in Ohio to Luther and Elizabeth Shepard. His father was a farmer who owned $5,000 of real estate and $530 of personal property by 1860. His mother died on September 19, 1853. He grew up and attended school in Gallipolis, Ohio. He enlisted in the Union army on February 25, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company E of the 60th Ohio Infantry later that day. He mustered out on November 10, 1862. He died sometime after 1862.