Mary Methenia (Smith) Eppard Hepner (1913)
EPPARD, HEPNER, WEAVER
Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 8/12/2004 at 10:50:28
Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
January 1913Grandma Hepner was born in Virginia, on January 22, 1816, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Weaver, ten miles southwest of Earlham, January 5, 1913, aged 96 years, 11 months and 14 days.
She was married in 1832 to John Eppard, to which union ten children were born, fife of whom survive her. One son resided in Virginia, on in Canada, and the other three live in Iowa. She was left a widow in middle life and in 1858 married John Hepner, with whom she lived until again left a widow, by the death of her husband in 1867, one child was born to this union, dying in infancy. Since the death of Mr. Hepner, grandma has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Weaver in Madison County, where she was loved by all who knew her because of her pleasant smile and kindly words. She will be missed by all her many friends.
Grandma Hepner was converted at the age of twelve years and untied with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she remained a faithful member of 85 years, till God called her to membership in His Church above.
The funeral services were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Weaver Tuesday afternoon, January 7, 1913. Rev. Keast, pastor of the Penn Center M. E. Church was in charge of the services, using for a text the words, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.”
The remains were laid to rest in the Pitzer Cemetery, to await the Resurrection Day.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, January 15, 1913
Page 4, Column 3OBITUARY OF GRANDMA HEPNER
Mary Methenia Smith was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, January 22, 1816 and departed this life at the home of her daughter Arminda Weaver, January 5, 1913 aged 96 years, 11 months and 17 days.
She united with the Methodist church at twelve years of age. She loved Christ and his church as she loved her own life, always attending church as long as she was able and sang “Jesus Lover of My Soul” her favorite hymn, almost every day until a short time before her death.
In 1832 she was united in marriage to John Eppard. Ten children came to bless this union, four sons and one daughter surviving her. They are Layton of Virginia, John of Canada, William, Andrew and Arminda Weaver of Iowa.
She was separated from John Eppard by death in 1855. She was again married to John Hepner in 1858, who departed this life January 1867. To this union one child was born, dying at five years of age.
She came to Iowa in 1866 by wagon and settled in Madison county, in the community where she lived until the time of her death, being one of the oldest pioneers in Madison county, and the head of five generations of living descendants.
There remain to mourn her death, her children, all of whom were able to be present excepting John of Canada and Layton of Virginia, her grand children, great grand children and a host ot friends.
She was a loving mother, kind indulgent grandmother, and a faithful friend to all who knew her, always ready to lend a helping hand to everyone.
The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. W. Weaver, conducted by Rev. Keast of Earlham, and interment made in the Jackson township cemetery.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, January 15, 1913
Page 5, Column 3Mrs. Hepner, the aged mother of W. S. Eppard and Mrs. J. W. Weaver of Jackson township died at the home of the latter on the 5th inst. Burial at the Pitzer cemetery. Grandma Hepner, as she was called, was at the time of her death, one of the oldest, if not the oldest person in Madison county. She was born in Virginia in 1816, and would have been ninety seven years old on the 22d of this month.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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