 One of the politicians that the Shepherds established a good friendship with was Henry Clay (1777 – 1852), who represented the state of Kentucky in both the Senate and House of Representatives and was eventually elected to Speaker of the House.With Clay's help, they were very influential in diverting the National Road to pass through Wheeling in Ohio County rather than Wellsburg in Brooke County in 1818.In fact, the National Road passes right by Shepherd Hall (Monument Place).