Introduction

This is a compilation of the information I have gathered on the descendants of Alfred Brunson KEPHART. I have included a little on his forefathers, but so far have not proven any records beyond the marriage of his grandfather, Henry Kephart, Jr. in 1794 at Lancaster, PA. The information concerning Henry, Sr. and Johan Georg Kephart is probably not correct. A descendant of Alfred Kephart's uncle Conrad is also working on trying to prove the line, so maybe between the two of us we will figure it out. However, there are many, many Kepharts, Gebharts, Capeharts, some related, some not; so it is a difficult process.

My research of the KEPHART family probably began in 1976 or 1977 when I inquired of the owner of the Kephart Music Store in Decorah, IA if he had ever done any research on his Kepharts. He hadn't but his sister had, so he gave me her address. I haven't found that we are related, but I was hooked on finding out as much as I could. About a year or two later I received a manuscript of the Kephart family history and I was on my way.

That manuscript I have typed and it is the first two pages of this booklet. I made no corrections in the information, though there are some errors, but the typing errors are all mine.

Towards the back of the booklet I have included some of the Civil War records of Alfred Brunson Kephart who served in Company H, 21st Iowa Infantry regiment from 1862 to 1865. I include a map of his travels, and also a copy of a letter which he wrote to his mother - you will note that it is dated 19 April 1865, but he apparently hadn't heard the war had ended or that President Lincoln had been assassinated for he didn't mention either fact.

I have included as much information as I have on each of the children of Alfred Brunson Kephart. Please let me know of any errors or omissions. I will try to continue to collect the information which I do not have, but not everybody is as interested in it as I am so some of my requests go unanswered. To those of you who have returned the information I have asked for, I thank you. Especially helpful over the years was my dad's Aunt Mae Rost who gave me much information, loaned me pictures so I could make copies and generally encouraged me.

Verla A. Williams
4333 Pine Ridge Trail NE
Iowa City, IA 52240.

[EDITOR'S NOTE (14 Mar 2018): Carl Ingwalson's extensive research into the 21st Iowa Infantry regiment cites a letter from Marion Griffin of Epworth to his brother indicating that the regiment did not receive the "sad intelligence" of President Lincoln's assassination until the evening of April 21, 1865 which is the reason Alfred would not have mentioned it in the letter to his mother.]

Ancestors of Alfred Brunson KEPHART (1842-1921)

Pedigree Chart. Alfred Brunson KEPHART (1842-1921).

St. James Episcopal Church Records

St. James Episcopal Church. Lancaster, PA, est. 1744. Image courtesy of Lancaster County Heritage.

Marriage Record: KEPHART, Henry - Elizabeth EPLEY, Cert. by Elisha Rigg (Lancaster, PA: St. James Episcopal Church, 9 Sep 1794). Image courtesy of Verla Williams (17 Jun 1993).

Baptism Record: KEPHART, Conrad, Cert. by Elisha Rigg (Lancaster, PA: St. James Episcopal Church, 10 Dec 1795). Image courtesy of Verla Williams (17 Jun 1993).

Marriage Record: NAGLE, John - Elizabeth Kiphart, Cert. by Elisha Rigg (Lancaster, PA: St. James Episcopal Church, 5 Nov 1793). Image courtesy of Verla Williams (17 Jun 1993).

Family Group Sheet for Naugle KEPHART (1798-1884)

Husband: Naugle KEPHART

Born: 1 Feb 1798
Place: Huntingdon Co., PA
Married: c. 1820
Place: PA
Died: 5 May 1884
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Husband's Father: Henry KEPHART Jr.
Husband's Mother: Elizabeth EPLEY

Wife: Susan JONES

Born: 11 Dec 1803
Place: PA
Died: 8 Mar 1885
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Wife's Father: Unknown
Wife’s Mother: Unknown

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Children

1. Catherine KEPHART

Born: 8 Aug 1822
Place: Center Co., PA
Spouse: James McELHANEY
Married: Unknown
Died: 8 Oct 1916

2. Mary Ann KEPHART

Born: 22 Mar 1825
Place: Huntingdon Co., PA
Spouse: William REBMAN
Married: Feb 1847
Died: 12 Mar 1907

3. Henry KEPHART

Born: 16 Mar 1828
Place: PA
Spouse: Mary Rutherford
Married: 13 Mar 1855
Died: Unknown

4. Elizabeth KEPHART

Born: 14 Nov 1830
Place: PA
Spouse: William GLEW
Married: 17 Feb 1852
Died: 25 Jan 1911

5. Margaret KEPHART

Born: 18 Feb 1833
Place: Venango Co., PA
Spouse: George SHIRK
Married: 6 Jan 1854
Died: 13 Jun 1891

6. Sarah Hammond KEPHART

Born: 25 Jun 1836
Place: Venango Co., PA
Spouse: Francis Marion ALLEN
Married: 8 Feb 1860
Died: 25 Mar 1927

7. Milton KEPHART

Born: 1 Dec 1839
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Spouse: Margaretha METTLER
Married: 11 Mar 1861
Died: 18 Feb 1933

8. Alfred Brunson KEPHART

Born: 25 Jul 1842
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Spouse: Mary Brown MEYERS
Married: 26 Dec 1867
Died: 21 Dec 1921

9. Levina KEPHART

Born: 25 May 1844
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Spouse: Robert McINTOSH
Married: Unknown
Died: c. 1875

10. Emma Francis KEPHART

Born: 14 Mar 1848
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Spouse: William H. MEYERS
Married: 20 Apr 1865
Died: 25 Feb 1932

1860 US Federal Census: Henry and Naugle KEPHART's Families

Detail of 1860 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Henry Gebhart [Kephart] 30 M
Mary Gebhart 26 F
Franklin Gebhart 4 M
Augustus Gebhart 3 M
Harry Gebhart 1 M

Nogle [Naugle] Gebhart 62 M
Susan Gebhart 57 F
Sarah Gebhart 22 F
Milton Gebhart 20 M
[Alfred] Bronson Gebhart 17 M
Lavina Gebhart 16 F
[Emma] Frances Gebhart 10 F
Mary E Gebhart 3 F

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Concord, Dubuque, Iowa; Roll M653_320; Page: 83; Image: 221; Family History Library Film: 803320.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Obituary: Naugle KEPHART (5 May 1884)

Obituary. Naugle KEPHART (Died 5 May 1884). Dubuque Times (7/8 May 1884). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Death of an Old Settler

Mr. N. Kephert, of Concord township, died at half-past 12 o'clock Monday, in his 86th year. He was one of the prominent pioneers of that township, and leaves a wife and eight children, among whom are, Mrs. Michael Haney, who resides in Pennsylvania; Bronson Kephert, in Minnesota; Milton, of Spirit Lake; Henry, in Texas; Mrs. Glew, Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Wm. Rebman, of this city. The remaining children are at home. Mr. Kephert was born in Pennsylvania. He came to Dubuque county about forty years ago, settled on a farm in Concord township, an lived an honorable, upright life up to the time of his death. He was sick but twelve days. His funeral will occur this morning.