52 Cousins~John Peter Kepley

Early Life and Family Origins

John Peter Kepley was born on March 8, 1795, in Rowan County, North Carolina. He was the son of Killian Keppel (born around 1757), though his mother's name is not recorded in the available documents. John was baptized shortly after his birth, on May 29, 1795, at the Organ Lutheran Church in Rowan County. His baptismal sponsor was listed as "P. Keppel," most likely his father. 

Growing up in late 18th century North Carolina, John would have experienced life in a rural farming community. The 1800 census shows him living in Salisbury, Cabarrus, North Carolina, as a young child of about 5 years old. At this time, he would have been part of the household headed by either Peter Kepley Sr. or Peter Kepley Jr., suggesting these men might have been relatives, possibly uncles or older brothers.

Marriage and Family

On April 9, 1821, at the age of 26, John married Rachael Simison in Rowan County, North Carolina. Rachael was born around 1799. Dunigan Dunn served as bondsman for their marriage, with Henry Giles as witness, as was customary for marriage bonds of that era.

John Peter Kepley and Rachael Simison had the following children:

i. Anna Kepley, born abt 1823, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Tobias Goodman, 14 Mar 1842, Rowan County, North Carolina; died bef 13 Nov 1852.

ii. Nancy Mariella Kepley, born abt 1825, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Daniel Harkey, 1 Aug 1861.

iii. Milas Alexander Kepley, born 1 Nov 1825, Davidson County, North Carolina; married Margaret Lyerly, 21 Jul 1850, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 19 Aug 1862, North Carolina.

iv. MaryAnn Kepley, born abt 1831, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Samuel Canup, 8 Mar 1850, Rowan County, North Carolina; died May 1880, Rowan County, North Carolina.

v. Jacob Nathaniel Kepley, born 25 Apr 1832, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Delia Loretta Johnson, 26 Feb 1856, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 26 Feb 1888, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina.

vi. Jane Catherine Kepley, born 29 Aug 1834, Gold Hill, Rowan, North Carolina; married Noah Canup, 20 Dec 1851; died 29 Oct 1909, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina.

vii. Christal Lavinia "Crissy" Kepley, born 2 Sep 1839, Rowan County, North Carolina; married James Isaac Eller, 5 Feb 1866; married Jacob C. Brown, 23 Feb 1871, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 2 Jan 1904, Rowan County, North Carolina.

viii. Robert Warner Kepley, born 21 Apr 1839, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Sarah Louvina Holshouser, 17 Mar 1859, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 24 Jul 1872, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina.

ix. George Calvin Kepley was born about 1843 in Rowan County, North Carolina. 14 He served in the military on 28 Feb 1862 in Civil War. He died on 16 Sep 1862 at the age of 19 at Sharpsburg, Maryland.

Raising nine children would have kept John and Rachael busy throughout their adult lives, with their children spanning a 20-year age range from oldest to youngest.

On December 19, 1808, John Kepley of Rowan County sold a tract of land consisting of 300 acres of land located both sides of Abbots Creek in Rowan County for $600.00 dollars. John Kepley granted full ownership rights to Frederick Michael, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns. The deed includes a warranty clause where Kepley promises to defend the title against all lawful claims.

The census records from 1830 and 1840 show that John continued to live in Rowan County, North Carolina, throughout his adult life. As a man born in the late 18th century, John likely made his living as a farmer, which was the predominant occupation for men in rural North Carolina during this period.

The 1830 census lists John as between 30-39 years of age, with his wife Rachael also between 30-39. At this time, they had three young daughters and one young son living in their household.

By the 1840 census, the Kepley family had grown. John and Rachael, now in their 40s, had several more children: three sons of varying ages and four daughters. The growing family reflected the typical pattern of large families common in rural America during this era.

Final Years

John Peter Kepley died before August 24, 1849, at approximately 54 years of age, in Rowan County, North Carolina. The exact date of his death is not recorded, but probate proceedings for his estate began on August 24, 1849, when Lewis Rothrock (Justice of the Peace) along with Henry Lentz, Leonard Klutz, and James Porter (freeholders) proceeded to view his estate.

Isaac Ribelin was appointed as the administrator of John's estate. The probate records indicate that provisions were made for his widow, Rachael, who survived him. The settling of his estate would have included the distribution of his "Crop Stock and provisions" among his heirs, according to the customs and laws of that time.

John's life spanned a period of significant change in American history. Born just a few years after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, he lived through the War of 1812, the presidency of Andrew Jackson, and the growing tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War, though he did not live to see the conflict itself. Two of his sons, Milas Alexander and George Calvin, would die in 1862, likely as casualties of the Civil War.

Through his nine children, John Peter Kepley left a significant legacy in Rowan County, with many descendants continuing to live in the area long after his death. His connection to the Organ Lutheran Church also reflects the strong German Lutheran heritage present in this part of North Carolina.

John Peter Kepley is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed. 

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1. Bernard Cruse, Records and Minutes of The Organ Lutheran Church: 1774-1955 (Wilmington, North Carolina: Self-Published, 1957), Page 49, Image 114 of 322.

3. 1800 U S Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Salisbury, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 713; Line 4, NL, Household of Peter Kepley Sr.; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com: online February 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm M32, Roll 29.

4. 1830 U S Census, Rowan County, North Carolina, population schedule, Rowan, North Carolina; Page NL, Line 6, Household of John Peter KEPLEY, John Peter KEPLEY; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com: online December 2023); citing National Archives Microfilm M19, Roll 124.

5. 1840 U S Census, Rowan County, North Carolina, population schedule, Rowan, North Carolina, Page#22 (Stamped); Line#30 (Last Line), Household of John Peter KEPLEY; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com: online December 2023); citing National Archives Microfilm M19, Roll 124.

6. Rowan County, North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979, Peter Kepley; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: online 23 August 2024); Estate Inventory completed by administrator, August 24th, 1849.

7. "North Carolina, Marriages Index, 1741-1868," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: online February 2024), Marriage: Pater Caply & Rachael Simison, Bond date: 9 Apr 1821.

8. 1850 U. S. Census, Rowan County, North Carolina, population schedule, School District 37, Rowan, North Carolina, Page: 229A(Stamped), Line 28, Dwelling 1832, Family 1858, Household of Rachel KEPLEY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 3 March 2021); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 643.

9. Rowan County, North Carolina, Probate Office, Will Book "K", page 271 Rachel KEPLEY Last Will; Salisbury, North Carolina.

10. Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Last Will and Testament of Rachel Kepley; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: online February 2024); Estate of Rachel Kepley, 1859.

11. Claude.ai aided in the outline and creation of this blog post.