Bio of Nepper, John P. Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Nepper, John P. (p. 502), a pioneer of Minnieska Township, was born in
Belgium, and came to this country in the middle fifties. After his
marriage in 1858 he settled on his present place in section 32. While the
first settlers had arrived several years before, the country was still
wild. Steamboats were practically the only source of supplies, and
practically the only means of communication with the outside world.
Indians roamed the country at will, for although they had signed the
treaties relinquishing their land, they were still reluctant to be
confined to their reservation on the Minnesota. They were still
uncivilized, living by hunting and fishing, wearing practically no
clothing in summer, and huddling into their skin tepees in the winter.
They were persistent beggars, but were outwardly friendly, and aside from
the fact that their appearance once in a while frightened women and
children, they did no harm. The Nepper family lived in true pioneer
fashion. Mr. Nepper's first home was a log cabin, the primitive structure
having a roof of shakes and a dirt floor. The barn was of straw. The first
crops were planted among the stumps. With the passing of the years, better
conditions came. By hard work, Mr. Nepper made for himself a place in the
community, and built up a good farm with suitable buildings and equipment.
He was esteemed by his fellow men, and after holding various local
positions was elected county commissioner in 1892. In his latter years he
retired from active work. He died in 1905. Mr. Nepper was married in 1858
to Annie Agnes. She was born in Luxemburg, and came to America in 1856.
Making her way directly to Minnieska Township, she took up her home with
her brother, Michael Agnes, who with Louis Krutely was the first settler
in the township. She, like the other members of her family, had all the
experiences of pioneer life, one of her winters before her marriage being
spent in cooking for her brother and his gang of woodchoppers, who were
cutting fire wood for steamers along this part of the Mississippi. Mr. And
Mrs. Nepper had six children, four of whom are living and two dead.