Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Gephart, Frank 1860 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 11:04 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

FRANK GEPHART.

Frank Gephart is the owner of an excellent tract of land on section 1, Center
township. It was upon this farm that he was born, but the place bears little
resemblance to the old homestead of fifty or more years ago. It was in a
two-room log cabin, fifteen by twenty feet, that he first opened his eyes to the
light of day on the 9th of April, 1860. That primitive home remained the
dwelling of the family for about seven years thereafter, when the father erected
the present brick residence, which was considered one of the best homes in the
county at that time. His parents were David and Sophia E. (Blake) Gephart. The
father was born in West Virginia, about nine miles from Harpers Ferry, August
27, 1820, and the mother was born near Minden, Germany, March 4, 1833. She was
about four years of age when her parents crossed the Atlantic. They located
first in Hamilton county, Ohio, and three years later settled in Indianapolis,
Indiana. They removed to Ottumwa, February 18, 1845, being among the first
residents of this city. Mrs. Gephart passed away near Ottumwa on the home place,
August 31, 1871.

David Gephart was a lad of nine years when he went to Circleville, Ohio, with
his widowed mother, who had a family of ten children. At the time of the Mexican
war Mr. Gephart enlisted at Cincinnati for service at the front and was with the
army for a year. About 1849 he came to Ottumwa, where his remaining days were
passed. He resided in the city until the spring of 1857 and then took up his
abode upon what has since been known as the old homestead, his death here
occurring June 21, 1901. He owned one hundred and eighty-five acres, which he
devoted to general farming and stock-raising, and he was also a carpenter and
contractor, in which connection he formed a partnership with N. C. Hill under
the firm name of Hill & Gephart, which relation continued until 1857. They were
leading builders of Ottumwa of their day and ranked high among the business men
of that period. Mr. Gephart also took an active interest in affairs relating to
the welfare and upbuilding of his community and was especially helpful to the
public schools, serving as director for many years. His political allegiance was
given to the democratic party, and during the greater part of his life he
belonged to the Masonic fraternity, being one of the first representatives of
the craft in Ottumwa and at all times one of the exemplary members. To him and
his wife were born nine children: Agnes, who became the wife of Joseph Kitchen
and died in 1891; Mary, who is the widow of W. H. Carpenter and resides in
Greeley, Colorado; Arthur, a resident of Spokane, Washington; Charles, who died
October 13, 1877; Frank; Walter, who is living in Inglewood, California; Anna,
the wife of F. E. Baldwin, of Kansas City, Missouri; Worth, who died in infancy;
and Xelis, of Los Angeles, California.

Frank Gephart has spent his entire life upon the old homestead farm on section
1, Center township, which he now owns. He has one hundred and eighty-five acres
of fertile land and has always carried on general agricultural pursuits,
bringing his fields to a high state of cultivation. His methods are both
practical and progressive and result in the production of excellent crops.

On the 23d of December, 1903, Mr. Gephart was united in marriage with Miss Alma
Demster, who was born in Center township, September 26, 1864, a daughter of John
and Mary (Alexander) Demster, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of
Jefferson county, Iowa, born January 15, 1844. Mrs. Demster was brought to
Wapello county in the same year by her parents, who located on a farm in Center
township and there spent their remaining days. Her father, John Alexander, was a
native of eastern Tennessee and arrived in Iowa in 1843. The following year he
came to Wapello county and settled on a claim just north of Ottumwa. In their
family were five children: Mary Elizabeth, who married John Demster, and long
surviving her husband, resided with her daughter Mrs. Gephart until the final
summons came May 9, 1914, her demise being sincerely mourned; Mrs. Tulia H.
Christie, deceased; Mrs. Laura Jolliffe, of California; Rinnie, twin sister of
Laura and now deceased; and Alice, who has also passed away. Mr. and Mrs.
Gephart have but one child, a daughter, Margaret.

In his political views Mr. Gephart is a democrat and keeps well informed on the
questions and issues of the day. He served as township trustee for three years,
as assessor four years and has been secretary of the school board for
twenty-eight years. He is a Master Mason, and he belongs to the Methodist
Episcopal church at Salem, of which he is a trustee. Sterling principles have
guided him in all of his life's relations and in this county, where he has
always lived, he has a circle of friends that is very extensive.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914



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