Matthias T. HEPNER Obituary

Matthias T. Hepner

Matthias T. Hepner, son of Matthias and Mary Turnpaugh Hepner, was born near Piqua, Champaign County, Ohio, April 9, 1834 and departed this life at Knox, Indiana, on December 28, 1927.

Mr. Hepner, at the age of nine years, moved with his parents to Wabash County, Indiana, and from there they came to Starke County, Indiana, in 1849 and he has been a constant resident of Starke County, Indiana, for more than seventy-eight years.

On January 2, 1861, Mr. Hepner was united in marriage with Lovisa B. Spoor, daughter of Thomas D. and Sarah Spoor, who were also pioneers of Starke County; and Mrs. Hepner preceeded her husband to the Beyond on January 31, 1919, having lived together fifty-eight years.

There were born to this union, three daughters and five sons. Two of the sons, Elmer Forrest and Reid Bonar, died in infancy. William R. D. Hepner died May 24, 1924. The three daughters, Mattie M. Garner, of Indiana Harbor, Indiana, Etta E. Page, of Marshall, Michigan, and Norma L. Taylor, of Knox, Indiana, and two sons, Ollie D. Hepner, of Knox, Indiana, and Harry G. Hepner, of South Bend, Indiana, survive; also sixteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

All of Mr. Hepner's brothers and only sister have heretofore departed this life, with the exception of one brother, David T. Hepner, of Iowa, and Jonathan Sanford, the surviving husband of his sister, who also resides in Iowa.

Matthias T. Hepner answered the call of his country and enlisted in Company "D", 29th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, on September 10, 1861 and was in the Battle of Shiloh and there received a serious wound and on account of the same was discharged June 27, 1862. After recovering his health, he re-enlisted in Company "H", 151st Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, serving as first sergeant and was mustered out as first lieutenant, on September 20, 1865. Mr. Hepner was in numerous engagements during the war and was discharged with a splendid military record.

Matthias T. Hepner also held numerous civil offices in Starke County, a part of which was held during the time of his service in the army, he being elected Sheriff of Starke County in 1860 and again in 1862, serving in that capacity four years.

On November 17, 1866, he was appointed Commissioner for the second district to fill a vacancy and served in that office until October 9, 1867.

He was elected County Treasurer in 1870 and again in 1872 and served in this office for a period of four years.

In January, 1877, Willoughby M. McCormick, then Clerk of the Starke Circuit Court, departed this life and the Board of Commissioners appointed Mr. Hepner as his successor and he was again elected Clerk at the general election in 1878 and served in that capacity until after the general election in 1882. He also served as Clerk of the town of Knox from 1901 to 1905.

While engaged in the operation of a saw-mill on the Tippecanoe River at a point east of what is now the village of Beardstown, in Pulaski County, he lost his right arm, the arm being amputated near the shoulder.

Matthias T. Hepner was a charter member of the Free Methodist Church of Knox, organized in 1881, and has been a consistent member of that denomination and has lived it every day of his life.

Matthias T. Hepner was always cheerful, of a kind and loving disposition and in his younger days was personally acquainted with practically every inhabitant of the county and was loved and respected by all those who knew him, which love and respect continued to the day of his death, both young and old.

Mr. Hepner will be greatly missed, as the ties that are binding the present generation with the pioneers of the community are passing out rapidly -- not many left.

Mr. Hepner, even at his advanced age, retained his full faculties. He had a remarkable memory and his is a loss to the entire community.

In 1924, on his ninetieth birthday, his family and friends gave him a birthday party which was largely attended by his friends of this community and also a number of old friends from adjoining counties. In token of their esteem, love and friendship for Mr. Hepner, he was presented at that time with a very handsome cane, engraved with his name and the two dates: "April 9, 1834" and "April 9, 1924".

The funeral was conducted Monday afternoon from the Free Methodist Church, in charge of Rev. W. T. Loring, an old time personal church and political friend. Rev. Loring was assisted by Dist. Elder C. S. Huston and Rev. J. A. J. Tannehill. The casket was draped in the American flag and was borne by Ralph and Roland Hostetler, Perry McCain, William Murphy, Herbert Laramore and Dallas Solliday, members of the American Legion of Knox.

The burial was at Oak Grove cemetery where a final salute to the honored veteran was fired by members of the local American Legion Post. "Taps" sounded by Robert Edgell closed the service.

Source: Starke County Republican, Knox, Indiana, Wednesday, January 4, 1928, p. 1