BIO: Robert Jones HEPBURN, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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ROBERT JONES HEPBURN, whose industry and prudent management in business 
affairs, and many excellent qualities as a citizen, long ago gained for 
him the esteem of the people of Bellefonte, Centre county, is a native 
of Lycoming county, Pann., born Sept. 7, 1822.  He is of pioneer stock, 
his grandfather, John Hepburn, an Irishman by birth, having settled in 
Lycoming county when that region was as yet but sparsely populated.  
Samuel Hepburn, the father of our subject, was born there, and spent a 
long life as a farmer near Jersey Shore, where he was numbered among 
the leading adherents of the M. E. Church, and took an active interest 
in politics as a Democrat.  He lived to the age of ninety-one years, 
three months and one day, and his wife, Mary Crawford, who was born in 
Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish parentage, also attained a good old age, 
passing away in her eighty-seventh year.  Nine children of this 
estimable couple lived to maturity, viz.: (1) William, who after two 
years of gallant service in the Union army died a soldier's death at 
Suffolk, Va.; (2) R. J., our subject; (3) Margaret (deceased), formerly 
the wife of Ira Martin, of New York State; (4) Mary (Mrs. John Gheent), 
of Jersey Shore; (5) Martha (deceased), who married Warren Clark, of 
Limestone Valley; (6) Nancy, now the second wife of Warren Clark; (7) 
Jane, who married Robert Davidson, of Jersey Shore; (8) Charles, who 
resides at Lovel Corners, near Jersey Shore; and (9) John, a resident 
of Linden, Lycoming county.
  As a farmer's son, Mr. Hepburn had an opportunity to acquire 
industrious habits in youth.  At eighteen he began to learn the 
carpenter's trade, and after working at it several years he moved from 
Lycoming county to Centre county.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  245

Locating at Bellefonte, where since 1844, he has been employed by the 
Valentine Iron Co., in the fashioning of the wood work required in 
their business.  He is an expert in this line, and for years has done 
the work of three men.  On December 3, 1846, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary E. Wonsley, who was born March 28, 1828, in Monongalia 
county, W. Va. (then part of the Old Dominion), and came to Bellefonte 
with her foster parents when she was about eighteen years old.  After 
nearly half a century of wedding life she passed away January 26, 1895.
  Ten children blessed this union.  The first two, the younger of whom 
was born May 4, 1848, died in infancy.  (3) J. W., born July 20, 1851, 
is a carpenter near Bellefonte; he was married February 4, 1875, to 
Miss Betty Fall; they have no children.  (4) Thompson, born September 
29, 1855, was married in September, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Walker; he 
died May 10, 1886, leaving one daughter, Maude. (5) Ira M., born May 
15, 1858, died August 21, 1860.  (6) Charles E., born May 4, 1861, died 
October 17, 1864.  (7) Alpheus, born April 12, 1864, a carpenter by 
trade, married Miss Jennie Cushing, a native of Ohio, born July 4, 
1863.  (8) Sanford S., born March 12, 1867, died February 24, 1872.  
(9) Carmina, born June 2, 1870, married Robert Fry, a painter.  (10) 
Samuel E., born November 23, 1872, married Miss Emma J. Bridge, who was 
born near Bellefonte in January, 1867, and they have two children - 
Mary E. and Pearl C.; he was formerly in the grocery business but is 
now a carpenter.
  Mr. Hepburn has been for many years a member of the M. E. Church, and 
all his children have followed his worthy example.  In his political 
views he is a Democrat.