For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 685
ALFRED H. KLEPPER....One of the most useful and energetic citizens of Muscatine county is Alfred H. Klepper, who comes of rugged Teutonic ancestry and has been for many years a prosperous farmer of Sweetland township. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1849, his parents being Christian and Annie ( Kutz ) Klepper. The father was also a native of the Keystone state, having been born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1811. The paternal grandfather, Christian Klepper, was a native of Germany, born November 12, 1784, and died in his early manhood on the 9th day of February, 1813. The father of our subject came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1857, and subsequently purchased two hundred acres of land on section 17, Sweetland township. Here he lived for more than forty years, assisting materially in the development of this region and serving as a member of the school board and as pathmaster. He was called from earthly scenes January 1, 1900. He was an active worker in the ranks of the republican party and a valued member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Klepper, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, was a woman of the pioneer type and possessed many noble traits of character which greatly endeard her to all with whom she came in contact. She departed this life July 28, 1897. There were five children in the family : Jacob, Benjamin and Amos, deceased ; Emanuel, of Everett, Washington ; and Alfred H., our subject.Alfred H. Klepper was eight years of age when he came to Muscatine county with his parents. He was educated in the public schools and has been connected during his entire life with farming interests. In 1880 he began farming on his own account on the home place and now owns two hundred and fifty acres of land which he has carefully cultivated and improved so that it is one of the desirable farms of Sweetland township. He is a general farmer and in the addition to raising cereals always keeps on hand good grades of live stock, which he sends to the market in perfect condition. It is acknowledged by his friends that no man in the township is better qualified for farming than the subject of this sketch. He is a stockholder in the Muscatine State Bank and the Hershey Bank and a director of the White Pigeon Insurance Company, of Wilton, Iowa.
On the 16th of October, 1878, Mr. Klepper was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Gray, a daughter of Hon. F. A. J. Gray, a native of Graysville, Pennsylvania, and two children have blessed this union : Fred, who married Edith Crull, a daughter of Rev. L. A. Crull, of Malcolm, Iowa ; and Adalene, who married W. D. Vannatta, a marble manufacturer of Muscatine and departed this life June 23, 1907. She was the first female child born in the Klepper family for seventy-five years, three generations having been passed without the birth of a girl in the family.
Mr. Klepper is fraternally identified with the Knights of Pythias of Muscatine, the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Muscatine and the Modern Brotherhood of America of Sweetland, and served as treasurer of the last named organization for several years. Politically he is in sympathy with the republican party and by his vote and influence assists if forwarding the interests of its candidates. He has never sought public office but has served to the general satisfaction of the tax-payers as trustee of the township and also as pathmaster and member of the school board.
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