Kepler, Alfred

KEPLER, MILLINGER, DIRRIM

Posted By: Laura Schnabel (email)
Date: 2/14/2007 at 18:09:28

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa
Published 1888

Page 232

Alfred Kepler, Clear Lake Township, was born in Summit County, Ohio, April 20, 1838, a son of George and Catherine (Marsh) Kepler. He was reared in his native county and was given good educational advantages. He was married, when but twenty-one years of age, to Susan Millinger, and soon after moved to Steuben County, Indiana, where he lived four years. In the meantime the war of the Rebellion was in progress and Mr. Kepler was drafted a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry and was in a camp at Cleveland, Ohio, about seven weeks, when on account of the ill health of his wife he procured a substitute, paying him $225. He returned home and soon removed to DeKalb County, Indiana, where his wife died. October, 1868, he started for Iowa and landed in Hamilton County the 12th of the month. He first located in Webster township, and subsequently bought land in Clear Lake Township, on which he located in 1871. He has 158 acres of valuable land, the town site of Stanhope being on a part of his land. He is an influential citizen of the township and has served as a member of the school board and as road supervisor. He was married in March 1864, to Eliza Dirrim, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, a daughter of Isaac and Eleanor Dirrim. Mr. and Mrs. Kepler have seven children--Isaac G., Ida Ella, Edward, William B., Jay, Alta May, and Lizzie Dell. Mr. and Mrs. Kepler are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.