The parents came from Rhode Island to Story county in 1874 and took up their residence at Nevada. Two children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Knepper: Fred, deceased; and Sayre. The mother of these children departed this life in April, 1894, and the Doctor was married March 17, 1909, to Miss Maud Pence, a daughter of William J. Pence, a carpenter, now living at Cedar Rapids but formerly a resident of Collins township.
Professionally Dr. Knepper is a valued member of the Iowa State Medical Society and the Story County Medical Society and fraternally he is identified with Fervent Lodge No. 513, A. F. & A. M.; Amity Lodge No. 361, I. O. O. F.; and Crescent Camp No. 2358, M. W. A. He gives his earnest support to the republican party but has never sought political honors, as his time and attention are almost wholly given to the duties of his profession. He was the pioneer physician of Collins and has witnessed the great transformation from a struggling hamlet to a beautiful modern town supplied with all the comforts and conveniences of an up-to-date city. During this time he has made a host of friends by his kindly ministrations and public spirit and he ranks today as one of the most honored citizens of a section noted for the intelligence and progressiveness of its people.
SEYMOUR W. Hix.
The life record of Seymour W. Hix spanned the years from the 20th of August, 1830, to the 7th of October, 1907. He was born at Medina, Orleans county, New York, his parents being Ephraim and Laura (Williams) Hix, natives of Michigan and Connecticut respectively. The father was a shoemaker by trade but after his removal to Illinois took up the occupation of farming, which he followed until his death. Both he and his wife died in Illinois.
Seymour W. Hix was the third in order of birth in a family of seven sons and three daughters and resided at the place of his nativity until nineteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Sycamore, De Kalb county, Illinois. In early life he had learned and followed the shoemaker's trade and after becoming a resident of Illinois he engaged in the produce business, shipping butter, eggs and poultry both during and after the war. He remained a resident of Sycamore until 1873, when he removed westward to Story county, Iowa, settling in Sherman township, where he purchased and improved a section of land. Later he bought six quarter sections. He had five hundred and twenty acres in his home place and resided thereon for sixteen years, during which period three children were added to the family, while six children had been born ere the removal to Iowa. Upon the home farm Mr. Hix built the largest farm house in the county. It was three stories with basement in height and there were nine rooms on the first floor. There were two rooms, twenty feet