Bio of Kepler, S. S. (b.) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Kepler, S. S., now and since 1876 of the Eau Claire "News," Eau Claire,
Wisconsin, and also member of the firm of Kepler & Co., drygoods, was for
twenty years a resident of this city, and for the greater part of that
time actively engaged in trade on his own account. Mr. Kepler is a native
of Pennsylvania, and having become acquainted with the conduct of
business, as clerk, came to Wabasha in the spring of 1856 as clerk for the
mercantile house of H. S. Allen & Co., lumbermen on the Chippewa, who had
established a house here for the sale of general merchandise, and also a
lumber yard. The manager of the business here, W. H. Creamer, went to New
York in the summer of 1856, and dying there, the charge of affairs here
was committed to Mr. Kepler until the arrival of W. J. Arnold that fall,
who was at the head of business here until the stock was removed to
Chippewa Falls, the following spring, and the business at Wabasha closed.
In the fall of 1857 Mr. Kepler started trade on his own account, and the
following spring was joined by W. S. Jackson, with whom he was associated
in business directly until 1876, and indirectly until the time of Mr.
Jackson's death some years later. Their first business house was on the
south side of Main, just east of Hurd's Hotel, and from this location they
removed in 1864 to the corner of Main and Alleghaney streets, where in
1879 they built what is now the corner storeroom of Masonic block, and
occupied by E. J. Dugan, dry goods merchant. The firm of Kepler and
Jackson shipped the first wheat ever shipped from Wabasha market in the
fall of 1858, and were very actively identified with all the business
interests and educational and religious affairs of the city. In addition
to the lots and buildings owned by Mr. Kepler on the east side Wabasha, he
has a tract of about fifty acres on the west side, platted in part, and
containing some of the most eligible building sites in the city. Though no
longer a resident, Mr. Kepler takes a deep interest in all that concerns
the life of the city, and his face is frequently seen on these streets.
Mr. Kepler was married in the city which for twenty years was his home,
August 20, 1868, to Miss Kate McDougall, also a native of Pennsylvania.
They have one son, W. S. Kepler, born in this city November 18, 1870.