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.