BIO: Jacob M. KEPLER, 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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  JACOB M. KEPLER. There are few men more worthy of representation in a 
work of this kind than the subject of this biography, who is passing 
the later years of his life on a comfortable homestead in Ferguson 
township, Centre county, the land of which he commenced operating in 
1892. His has been a long and busy career, rich with experience, and in 
which he has established himself in the esteem and confidence of all 
who know him.
  Mr. Kepler was born in Ferguson township, March 9, 1833, a son of 
Jacob and Katharine (Musser) Kepler, both of whom were natives of 
Centre county, and of German extraction. In their family were five 
children, who in order of birth were as follows: (1) Mrs. E. K. 
Shadman, of Conneaut, Ohio, who is still living, and who raised a large 
family. (2) George M., a resident of Corry, Penn., is married and has 
two children-one son and one daughter. (3) Jacob M., subject of this 
sketch. (4) John M., of Shippensville, Clarion Co., Penn., who died in 
the summer of 1897, was married and reared a family; his wife is also 
dead. (5) Mary became the wife of Corthlow, of Clarion county, but died 
several years ago.
  The primary education of our subject was obtained in the common 
schools, and this he supplemented with an academic course in the Pine 
Grove Mills and Potters Mills schools. When a young man he successfully 
engaged in teaching during the winter seasons, while the summer months 
were spent in farm labor. In 1859 he embarked in the hotel business at 
Philipsburg, Centre county, which he continued until 1871, when he went 
to Petroleum Center, Venango Co., Penn., where for some time he was 
successfully engaged in the oil business. Removing to Tionesta, Penn., 
he associated himself with N. S. Foreman, of that place, in the lumber 
trade, and was also connected with the Salmon Creek Lumber and Mining 
Company, serving as their superintendent for seven years. In 1880, Mr. 
Kepler founded the Forest National Democrat, the first Democratic 
newspaper in Forest county, and continued in the capacity of editor and 
proprietor until 1892, when he suspended its operation on account of 
ill health. Leaving Tionesta, he removed to his large and fertile farm 
in Ferguson township, Centre county, where he has since been actively 
and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.
  In 1863, Mr. Kepler was united in marriage with Mary Jane Hutton, and 
to them were born four children, two of whom are still living, namely: 
Nellie, wife of James D. Davis, a bookkeeper of Tionesta, Forest Co., 
Penn., by whom she has one child; and John W., who was born August 26, 
1873, a printer by trade, who is associated with his father in the 
agricultural business, and who was also associate editor of the Forest 
National Democrat for four years; he completed his education at 
Chamberlain Institute, at Randolph, New York, and is still under the 
parental roof.
  Mr. Kepler has never cared for official distinction, but has always 
taken an active part in promoting the interests of the Democratic 
party, which he supports by his ballot, and has served 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  423

as chairman of the County Democratic Central Committee. He has ever 
cheerfully given his support to those enterprises that tend to public 
development and, with hardly an exception, he has been connected with 
every interest that has promoted general welfare. His name is a synonym 
for honorable business dealing; he is always mentioned as one of the 
invaluable citizens of this section of the State, and on the rolls of 
Centre county's most honored men his name should be found among the 
foremost.