Kleppinger, William C.

KLEPPINGER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 14:14:12

William C. Kleppinger

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.496)
WILLIAM C. KLEPPINGER, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie County, is a pioneer settler of Iowa. His grandfather was the founder of the family in America; he was a German by birth and settled on a farm in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and also engaged in the wars with the Indians. He was married to a lady of English parentage, and they had five children: Lewis, Jacob, William, Eli and Catherine. He spent his days in Northampton County, dying at a good old age. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. Lewis KLEPPINGER, a son of the above and the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Northampton County, and learned farming in early life. He was married in his native state to Barbara HARMON, daughter of Jacob HARMON, a hotel keeper at Cherryville, who owned and built the old Stone Hotel in which every stone was the same size, picked and dressed, and which is still standing. He was the father of four children: Barbara, Catharine, Mary and Conrad. To Mr. And Mrs. KLEPPINGER have been born seven children: David, Thomas, Joseph, William C., Lewis, Rebecca and Sarah. After marriage, Mr. KLEPINGER settled in Northampton County, near his two brothers, Jacob and Eli, each locating on a large farm. Both he and his wife were natives of Germany, and were respected by their fellow citizens. Mr. KLEPPINGER was township supervisor eight years, was an industrious and honest citizen and a prosperous farmer. He was a devout Christian and trustee in his church for many years and was also one of the building committee and founders of the church.

William C., the subject of this sketch, was born on the old homestead in a stone house, December 27, 1829, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the coach-maker's trade in Bloomsbury, New Jersey. He was then engaged in driving cattle, horses and sheep over the Alleghanies for three years, having crossed the mountains hundreds of times. After his marriage, he settled at Emaus, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, working at his trade and remaining eight years. In 1859 he moved to his father-in-law's farm, remaining nine years; next he went to Kreidersville where he lived five years, working at his trade; and in 1867 came to Iowa, settling on a farm in Muscatine County, where he lived thirteen years. In 1879 he came to his present fine farm of 160 acres, situated near Walnut.

Mr. KLEPPINGER married Elizabeth SEEM, daughter of Conrad and Catharine (SWORIT) SEEM. She was born in 1829 and was of German descent. Mr. SEEM owned a flax-oil mill and a woolen mill and was also a furniture maker of Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He lived to the great age of ninety-three years, living ninety years on one farm, which he inherited from his father. The last three years, he lived with his son. He was the father of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity: Joseph, John, Samuel, David, Conrad, Reuben (deceased), Lucy, Mary, Patterson (deceased), Elizabeth, Katie, Judy, Polly and Leah. Mr. SEEM was a member of the German Reformed Church, of which he was one of the founders and also one of the builders of the church. He taught school in his early life, and was once a Justice of the Peace. He was truly one of the old patriarch Pennsylvanians, who brought up a large family and taught them industry and virtue. To Mr. And Mrs. KLEPPINGER have been born nine children, seven of whom lived to maturity: Mary A., Adelaide, Abyssinia (deceased at six years), Preston C., Elizabeth C., Rosie B., Robert D., James P., Meda S. (deceased at two years). Mr. And Mrs. KLEPPINGER are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a member of the building committee and was steward and class leader in Muscatine County. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat and is now Road Supervisor of his township. He is an industrious man and honorable citizen, and one of the many self-made men of which Iowa may boast.