William J. Leeper
Born: July 18, 1849 in Guernsey Co., Ohio
Died: April 13, 1933 in Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa1
Buried: Lot 39
Married: Katherine McCunn in 1885
Children: Loren Ray, Albert Jay, James M, and Nellie Mulhern
Married: Emma Jane Wheeler May 3, 1899
Parents: John and Jeannette (McCartney) Leeper1
Biography: Standard Historical Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, 1901.
W. J. Leeper, 84, Dies Early Today
Well Known Jasper County Farmer Dies
Following Prolonged Illness
W. J. Leeper, 84, long time resident of Jasper County, died this morning at 8:20 o'clock at his home west of Newton, following an extended illness. Mr. Leeper had been partially paralyzed since a stroke suffered three years ago next July and had been bedfast for the last three weeks.
Funeral services are to be held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock from the Morgan Funeral home, with Rev. Willard Wylie of the United Presbyterian Church in charge. Interment will be in the Sugar Grove cemetery.
Mr. Leeper was born July 18, 1849 in Guernsey county, Ohio, coming to Jasper county in the fall of 1866. The railroad terminated at Kellogg at that time and he remained there for the winter before locating on a farm near Newton.
He was a member of the Newton United Presbyterian church.
Surviving relatives include a daughter, Mrs. Nellie Mulhern of near Newton; three sons, Ray and Jay Leeper of near Clinton and James Leeper of near Newton; two sisters, Miss Jennie Leeper of Newton and Mrs. Elizabeth Hyson of Santa Cruse, Calif., and a brother, Charles of Newton. ~ The Newton Daily News, April 13, 1933.
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Conduct Leeper Rites in Newton
Services For W. J. Leeper, 84, are Held Saturday
Afternoon at 2:00 O'clock
Funeral services for W. J. Leeper, 84, were held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock from the Morgan Funeral home, with Rev. Willard Wylie of the United Presbyterian Church in charge.
A male quartet, composed of Ray Denniston, A. B. Shepherd, F. E. McClean and Robert Miles, furnished the music, singing "Oh God, Our Help," and "That Beautiful Land," Mrs. Edgar Sabin played the piano accompaniment.
Interment was in the Sugar Grove cemetery, with the following serving as pallbearers: Curtis Moffitt, Willis Bodley, George Campbell, T. J. Campbell, J. C. Haifleigh and Homer Denniston.
Mr. Leeper died at his home west of Newton Thursday morning following an extended illness. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Nellie Mulhern of Newton; three sons, Ray and Jay Leeper of near Clinton and James Leeper of near Newton; two sisters, Miss Jennie Leeper of Newton and Mrs. Elizabeth Hyson of Santa Cruse, Calif., and a brother, Charles of Newton. ~ The Newton Daily News, April 17, 1933.
Emma Jane (Wheeler) Leeper
Born: March 15, 1860 near Victor, Poweshiek Co., Iowa
Died: March 29, 1927 Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 39
Married: William J. Leeper on May 3, 1899
Children: Raised William's children as her own
Parents: J. R. and Anna (Boyd) Wheeler2, 3
Leeper Services Are Held Today
Funeral services for Mrs. William J. Leeper, who died Tuesday noon, were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Morgan Funeral home, in charge of Rev. S. A. McCollam, pastor of the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Sam Miles, accompanied by Miss Vera Trevitts, sang "Face to Face" and "The Twenty-Third Psalm."
Burial was made in Sugar Grove cemetery. The pallbearers were W. E. Denniston, Roy Denniston, L.N. Mateer, Lou Edge, T.J. Campbell, and George Campbell.
Emma Jane Wheeler was born near Victor, in Poweshiek County, Ia., March 15, 1860 and died March 29, 1927 at home near Newton. She united with the Methodist Episcopal church in early life and remained a member of this church until her marriage when she affiliated with the United Presbyterian church of Newton.
On May 3, 1899 she was united in marriage to William J. Leeper, helping to rear his four motherless children.
She is survived by her husband, William J. Leeper, three sons, Ray Leeper of Lynnville, Ia., Jay Leeper of near Clinton, Ia., and James Leeper near Newton, and one daughter, Mrs. B.E. Mulhern of Newton.
She is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Grace Slaymaker of Brooklyn, one brother, Charles Wheeler of Belle Plaine, IA. and 10 grandchildren. - Newton Daily News March 31, 1927
1. Jasper Co., Iowa Death Record, Book 2, page 77
2. Jasper Co., Iowa Death Record, Book 1, page138
3. 1900 Census, Jasper Co., Sherman Township says her father was born in Maryland and her mother in Pennsylvania.