Kepple House

Okay - I've finally figured this out.

We copied a lot of information while at the Westmoreland County Historical Society without really reading it first. The answer was there, though!

The land on which the Kepple House stands was first settled by Michael Kepple - the one who came from Germany with 4 of his 7 children. The land, however, wasn't available for purchase until after they had already been there for quite awhile. Michael's son, Nicholas, (we descend from son Andrew) bought the land in 1767 (I think). Nicholas died in 1799 - the plaque on the house reads 1799. His son, Micheal (grandson of the first Michael) inherited the land with his siblings but bought them out. Michael (the grandson) is the one referred to in the stories I've found so far. Either Nicholas or Michael (the grandson) is the builder of the brick house we visited. That little stone building behind the main house was not the blockhouse house; it was used for cold storage.

Kepple Blockhouse

Found a lit bit about the blockhouse located on Michael Kepple's land (where we visited the Kepple House).

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/1picts/frontierforts/ff31.html

KEPPLE'S BLOCKHOUSE.
What was known as Kepple's Blockhouse was located on the farm of Michael Kepple in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, about a mile and a half from Greensburg on the road leading to Salem (Delmont, P. O.) It was a stronghouse built of hewn logs on a stone foundation with loop-holes for rifles, and with all the exposures well protected by heavy planking. It was occupied as the residence of the owner, but was resorted to by neighbors during the incursions of 1781-2. The farm is now owned by Mr. Samuel Ruff, whose wife, Sibilla was a daughter of Jacob Rugh, whose wife was the daughter of Michael Kepple, former owner. The remains of this stronghouse were still standing within living recollection. Some of the logs with notches in them which were intended for portholes, may still be seen in a building on the place used for corncrib.

Last minute lead!

Yesterday, while browsing the message board on Ancestry.com, I found a conversation regarding Kepples. Our Kepples! One of the writers is also a great-granddaughter of Samuel Kepple! In her post she reports that she had just been to Greensburg and done a lot of research. The posts were four years old, nevertheless, I emailed her this morning asking if she knew where Sam and Maggie are buried and where there farmhouse was located. I'm also hoping she has pictures of their family!

Westmoreland County Historical Society

Three days before our trip!

On Friday, I'm hoping we get to Greensburg in time to visit the Westmoreland County Historical Society. I've been in contact with them, and they tell me they have a file just about Kepples! We will also be able to look through county photos, diaries, maps, personal papers, church records, and cemetery records.

Still don't know the exact location of Sam and Maggie Kepple's farm house. I took a very old map and figured out where most of the Kepples lived and then compared it to a Google satellite map. So I think I can figure out the boundaries of Kepple land. We have a photo of our grandmother at age 1 standing on her porch with her dog. The porch has columns - so I'll be on the lookout for a farmhouse with columns!

I may have found Sam

According to another family tree on Ancestry.com, Samuel Kepple is buried at Union Cemetary in New Alexandria. Since he was living in Greensburg at the time of his death, I think that it's also a possibility he is buried at the cemetary with the same name in Greensburg. Here's the link to the New Alexandria cemetary. It has a lot of, but not all of the names of people who are buried there.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=46538&CScnty=2305&CSsr=241&

This website also has a couple of Prebyterian churches in New Alex. but neither one list our ggrandpa. But, not everyone is listed.

So now I am going to try to find confirmation. At least it narrows the search a bit!

Revoluntionary war vet

Susie:
I found a soldier in our tree. Henry Allshouse served in the Rev. War - he was Susan Dible's grandfather. If you look him up on my tree, you'll see I saved a "story" about it.

Faust-Kepple Marriage

Ralph and Elizabeth were married in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on August 4, 1928. That is very close to Pittsburg!

Found!

John and Susan (Dible) Kepple (our 2nd great-grandparents) are buried at Congruity Presbyterian Church Cemetary.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1970341&CScnty=2305&CSsr=21&

1867 Salem Township Map

This map includes the names of land owners! Lots of Kepples!

http://usgwarchives.net/maps/pa/county/westmo/1867/salem.jpg

Across the bottom of the map, in large letters, do you see "COAL TERRITORY"? Look just a bit north and east of the E in "Territory." You'll see a J. Kepple living next to a mill. Our 2nd great-grandfather, John Kepple, was a miller!

WAHOO!

Samuel Kepple marriages

I am going through the info collected about eight years ago and had found the following names and dates from FamilySearch. If I recall correctly, there was a Samuel and Minnie in a City Directory but our G...G grandma was Maggie Seanor.

Samuel Kepple married Maggie Harrold Seanor March 19, 1885 and married Minnie Eyring on Oct 7, 1914.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

more about cemetaries

Susie: you'll like this link regarding PA cemetary markers for war veterans

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/tscarvers/veteran-markers/veteran-markers-revolutionary-war.htm

Sam and Maggie Kepple lead

Karen H. talked with her cousin Ernie who thinks our great-grandparents may be buried at their church cemetary in New Alexandria. Karen is contacting the historical society to see if it still exists.

Last night I found confirmation that Community United Presby. Church in New Alexandria has/had a cemetary. The Presbyterian church our g-grandparents attended in Congruity also has/had a cemetary!

http://files.usgwarchives.org/pa/westmoreland/cemeteries/westmoreland-cemeteries-location.txt

James Kirkpatrick

James Kirkpatrick is reportedly buried close to Nottingham, Pennsylvania at Nottingham Presbyterian Cemetery. This is on the southeast part of Pennsylvania.

James was born in Maryland 1777. I found a history book that said these Kirkpatricks are from Scottland and fought with William Wallace.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Family Land - continued

Susie! I found something!

The front:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Book%20%20A1-A89/Book%20A-69/Book%20A-69%20pg%20394.pdf

the back:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Book%20%20A1-A89/Book%20A-69/Book%20A-69%20pg%20395.pdf

The next page:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Book%20%20A1-A89/Book%20A-69/Book%20A-69%20pg%20396.pdf


And the back side:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Book%20%20A1-A89/Book%20A-69/Book%20A-69%20pg%20397.pdf

W A H O O !

Family Land

I'm trying to find the family land originally owned by Johann Michel Koppel. More specifically, though, I really just want to know where my great-grandfather Sam Kepple's farm was so that I can see where my grandmother grew up.

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/WestmorelandPages/Westmoreland76.pdf

View the link! It is to a Warrant Register for Westmoreland County. About 3/4 of the way down the page is an entry for Heirs of Michael Kepple dated November 4, 1822. Now I just need to find the right Survey Book. I think I'm on the right trail! I feel it is close now - but who knows! Research is so frustrating!

Susie: Should I keep looking through the warrent register for Sam Kepple? Would he have had it surveyed again before selling his farm to his nephew?

William Teagarden

Am trying to find out if any of the Kepple ancester's fought in the Revolutionary War. William Teagarden (Samuel U. Kepple's mom was Susan Dible, whose dad was Jacob Dibble, whose mom was Anna Teagarden, whose dad was William Teagarden). That would make him our 5th great grandad.

Found a will from John Gosslin leaving William Teagarden a rifle and "land I was to get for being in the Army in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment. The will is dated Feb 14, 1785 and proved March 7, 1803. Click on the title of this post to go to the link.

Also found where a William Teagarden purchased 150 acres from Jacob Klingensmith in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County in 1786. http://files.usgwarchives.org/pa/westmoreland/land/klingensmith-teagarden1787.txt

Another deed written in 1794 from Hempfield Township, lists the land adjoining William Teagarden and Henary Alshous. Henry's daughter married our Williams grand-daughter. So we are in the right area of Pennsylvania to discover info. http://files.usgwarchives.org/pa/westmoreland/land/klingensmith-keck1794.txt

The family trees on ancestry.com show our William's death as 1778. Would this be a son? Is the death date incorrect? Maybe our William died in service during the war.

The 8th Penn Regiment was formed in 1776 from Westmoreland and Bedford Counties. http://www.brigade.org/barmem/american/8pa.html Am trying to find the muster roll for this regiment.

Cemetary found!

Wahoo! John Jacob Kepple and Eva Catherine Tonney Kepple, our 3rd great-grandparents, are buried in East View Cemetary in Delmont/Salem Township/Westmoreland County!

1749: The Kepples arrive

This is a link to a copy of the S.S. Phoenix's log showing Johann Michel Koppel and his wife, Anna.
http://www.progenealogists.com/palproject/pa/1749phoen.htm

Of their children listed, I was aware of Maria Elizabetha, Maria Catharina, and Johann Jacob and have them in our family tree. Surely, Johann Nickel is also their child. You will notice several other Koppels onboard. Since they are all from the same area, I think it is safe to assume they are related to us as well.

Susie, I was looking for George for you. No luck!

Bev

History of Westmoreland County.

Hot diggidy dog, I found a goldmine! Google scanned this book printed in 1906. Go to http://books.google.com and search for History of Westmoreland County. Look at page 148 for starters.

Susie

Oak Island Treasure

Treasure hunting, secret passages, unsolved history are TV shows that capture my interest. The announcer mentioned a Captain Keppel who lead some kind of expedition to hide, steal, or find a treasure on Oak Island. Luckily, at the time I was really into my IPod and typed it into a memo instead of relying on my memory or a sticky note. Today I brought up that memo and it led me to the attached website. (Click on the title Oak Island Treasure.)

"King George III...arranged to have 3 brothers put in command-the Keppel brothers. I believe the ship that contained the treasure buried on Oak Island was the one under the command of the Keppel brother, George I believe, who had commanded the land forces."

Curiously, there is a George listed as a brother in the biography of Mr. & Mrs. David Keppel. George was the third of twelve children. The youngest, David, was born in 1767. So the Pennsylvania George is old enough to be that Captain. Hmmmm. I always assumed the Kepple's were from Germany because of their Pennsylvania roots, but who knows....the investigation continues.

Susie

Lots of clues!

This is the article that got me started on my quest for more Kepple information. I found it in a drawer of my dad's keepsakes and photos. I know this is really too small to read unless you print it off, so I'll just point out some of the best details.

• Our original Kepples (there are lots and lots and lots of Kepples!) were Johannes Michal Koppel and Anna Benzin Koppel who left Germany in 1749 on the SS Phoenix. I've even found a copy of the ship's passenger list!
• "At one time, only a few miles from Crabtree, a vast acreage was sub-divided into farms that were the properties of five Kepple families, including Samuel Ulysses Kepple...." I want to go there!
• From this article we know that the Sam Kepple family attended the Presbyterian Church in Congruity and later the United Presbyterian Church in New Alexandria.

This story is specifically about Bertha Kepple Dick, and it's her family that we are visiting with next month.

John Kepple

Susie: Don't you think our 2nd great grandad John Kepple looks a bit like my dad and your brothers? I wonder if he was as tall....

Elizabeth Kepple Faust Death Certificate

Next file on Bev’s list is Elizabeth Kepple Faust’s death certificate. I am jealous! I wrote to the state of Missouri as well as Colorado to obtain a copy but they had no record. Glad somebody else had better luck than me. Isn’t the internet fabulous?

Elizabeth's father is listed as Samuel Kepple from Unknown, PA and mother Maggie H. Seanor, Unknown, PA. Elizabeth was born February 20, 1904 and died January 18, 1948 at the age of 43. She is buried in Denver, Colorado even though she died in Rolla, Missouri.

Susie

Mr. & Mrs. David Kepple

Reading the biography of Mr. & Mrs. David Kepple is a challenge. Printed it…got my 3x glasses…not clear enough to read. Will go between the screen and print and figure this out!

A Nicholas Kepple was born in Germany and immigrated in early 1700’s to US. Nicholas begat Daniel (1767-1824). (Pardon me for barrowing the Lord’s way of describing lineage but it will save a lot of typing).

Daniel married Elizabeth Yearyan (1770-1821). Wow! Her father George Yearyan was an indentured servant for 3 years and nine months in order to get to the promised land! OK. Let’s see if this guy is even related to me before we continue. They had twelve children. I look back at my handwritten tree to stay on track. My great-grandfather Samuel’s dad John is reportedly my great-great grandfather. Cool. It will be worth the hour trying to decipher this.

According to this biography, their first child was Susan! They also had a Elizabeth, Daniel, and Hannah. These are names still used in our family today! Awesome!

Focus Susan…the last child listed is David. This still isn’t a guarantee that they are related to me so let’s keep reading. Apparently, this David is a homeboy. Born and lived his whole life on the family homestead in Parks township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. This is really weird – the Faust’s are from Westmoreland County.

David Kepple has been married twice. Once in 1844 to Magdelena Hawke and in 1858 to Elizabeth Whitesell. None of this matches my research, so we put the biography in the maybe file. The area of Pennsylvania matches but maybe I can match Nicholas to John Jacob Kepple, my proposed GGG Grandfather, on the immigration records.

A true researcher will keep digging for the truth…

Susie

In search of the burial site of Samuel Ulysses Kepple.

Bev and I want to visit our family cemeteries in Pennsylvania. The first person to search for is Samuel, our great-grandfather. The first thing to do is look at what we already know. Bev has compiled information online at ancestry.com so I will begin there. This will be much easier than searching through my file cabinets and trunks!
This is what we know.

Samuel U. Kepple was living in Greensburg, PA in 1946, with Minnie E. at 305 Eicher. Greensburg, PA city directory 1942.

In 1944, Charles Wilbur Dick's obituary listed "Also surviving is his grandfather Samuel Kepple of New Alexandria". The Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania) Feb 14, 1944.

John Thomas Dick’s obituary listed his widow as Bertha Kepple Dick and stated that “he was predeceased by a son Wilbur in 1944”. “Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.” The Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania) June 15, 1963.

Whoohoo! Obituary of Samuel U. Kepple – Greensburg, Aug. 2 – 82 years old, lifelong resident, 305 Eicher Avenue. Leaves his widow, seven children, one brother and one sister. The Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania) Aug 2, 1946.

No cemetary listed, so the search will continue online with cemetery records online.

Susie

John Kepple

John Kepple
My GG Grandfather and GGG Grandfather were named John Kepple. Is this my John? Where is he buried? Can I tie everyone together with official documentation?

Anticipation

I'm so excited about this trip that I can hardly sleep at night! Uncle Ray and Aunt Kathy as well as Susie are joining me for this experience. We only have ONE full day and 2 partial days in Westmoreland County. Friday, we arrive late in the afternoon. Hopefully, there will be enough time to stop by the Historical Society. I'm certain that it is swimming with family secrets just waiting to be discovered! Saturday, we have a little time in the morning before driving to Chalk Hill, PA to spend the day with the extended family of our grandmother's oldest sister, Bertha. Then Sunday morning a bit more time before flying home.

I would very much like to find out the location of the farm where our grandmother grew up. I would love to go by there, stare at it, and take pictures. I know that it was located in Salem Township, and that sometime between the 1920 and the 1930 census, our great-grandad Samuel Kepple sold the farm to his nephew Marcus E. Seanor. If anyone has any information about how to find it, please let me know!

Quote makes history.

From the Tribune Review, Sunday, 8/31/75

"... Samuel Ulysses Kepple, years ago made an unsuccessful bid for the office of sheriff in Westmoreland County.
His summation of that campaign still is a classic in the county's political history.
'It was an educational experience,' he said, 'I learned how many liars there are in Westmoreland County.' "

Bev found this information on ancestry.com and it is posted on her family tree. Samuel is our maternal great-grandfather, Elizabeth's dad.

Susie

Road Trip

It is getting close to our trip to the Kepple reunion in Pennsylvania. I am flying from Shreveport to Philadelphia and Bev is flying from Kansas City. We will meet on Friday, July 23rd and the journey begins!

We have never met our grandmother, Elizabeth Lela Kepple Faust. Unfortunately, she passed away ten years before we were born. We only have a few photos of her to imagine her character, her gaze, and her touch.

The Kepple, Faust, Kirkpatrick, Seanor, Jones, Dible, Tweedy families are waiting for us to find them and renew their memory. Genealogy research is an addiction of ours that we want to share with our cousins and our shirt-tail kin, so this blog is a creation to make it happen.

Bev and I spent many years in our youth writing letters back and forth so now we will write to each other hoping that you too will enjoy our conversation and discoveries.

Susie