JACOB HEPNER

JACOB HEPNER.

John Hepner, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Germany, and on his emigration to America settled in Shiloh, Cumberland Co., where he cultivated a farm. He married Mary Hitchner, and became the father of children, -- Matthias, John, Jacob, Barbara, Margaret, Betsey, and Mary. He served during the war of 1812, in which he was wounded, and subsequently removed to the West, where his death occurred. His son Jacob was born Sept. 11, 1787, in Shiloh, though his life was principally spent in Deerfield, where he succeeded to the occupations of his father. He was on the 7th of June, 1794, married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick Fox, and had children, -- John, born in 1813; Mary, whose birth occurred in 1816; Frederick, born in 1819; Elizabeth, in 1821; Catharine, in 1825; Lydia Ann, in 1828; George, in 1831; Matthias, in 1833; David, in 1836; and Jacob, who is the subject of this biography. Mr. Hepner's death occurred in Deerfield township in 1876. Jacob, his son, was born Oct. 9, 1823, on the homestead in the latter township, where his youth was principally devoted to labor, with such limited advantages of education which were afforded by the neighboring schools. At the age of twenty-one he left home, and was employed in various capacities until twenty-seven years of age, when his present productive farm in Hopewell township was purchased, which has since been his home. In 1873, Mr. Hepner, in connection with his brother Matthias, erected a saw-mill in Jericho, where they are now actively engaged in the lumber business. Jacob Hepner was married, March 14, 1850, to Lucinda M., daughter of John Randolph, of Shiloh. In his political views he is a Democrat, though the close attention paid to his own business leaves no time for participation in political or public life. Mr. and Mrs. Hepner are members of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeton.