My Genealogy Hound

John Kepler (father) was a cabinet maker possessed of great skill in his work. He lived in Montgomery county for many years, and made the furniture for all the families living in the vicinity of his home. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran church. John and Sarah (Levy) Kepler had nine children, six of whom are deceased, having died at all ages between twenty years and sixty-three years. The deceased are: Jonathan, Reuben, Copland, Hannah, Sophia, and Isaac. The others are: Edward, married Mary Ann Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, he has always been a miller in Lower Pottsgrove township; Sarah Rebecca, married James Neal (deceased), of Philadelphia, where he was a civil engineer and a magistrate for many years; she survives, and lives sometimes in Philadelphia and sometimes in Atlantic City; Levi Frederick.

The grandparents of Levi Kepler lived at Milltown, New Hanover township, where he engaged in milling, farming, store keeping, and oil dealing.

Levi Frederick Kepler left school when he was thirteen years of age, with a fair education and a determination to accomplish something in this world. He became a miller, and continued as such for about twelve years. When the war of the rebellion broke out he enlisted as a private in Company H, Fifty-fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry. His regiment was engaged in the following battles: New Market, Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, Cedar Creek, Winchester, Lynchburg, Richmond, Fort Hill, Appomattox. He was present at the fall of Richmond, and was taken prisoner after the battle of Appomattox, and at the surrender of General Lee four days afterwards he was only a few feet from the General. He served in an independent division and in the first battle there were 168 killed and wounded. He served throughout the war, and rose from the rank of private to that of lieutenant, being commissioned April 3, 1865.

On returning to his home, he again took up the milling business, and later carried on a produce store in Philadelphia for two years. For the next five years he was clerk in the Security Bank. While thus employed he was married.

He married Miss Mary Ellen Gibbs, daughter of George S. and Ellen (Mattes) Gibbs, of Philadelphia. They later removed to Eddington, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where they died about twenty years ago. They are buried in Bucks county. Both were members of the Episcopal church. John M. and Mary (Matthews) Gibbs (grandparents of Mrs. Kepler) lived in Philadelphia and kept a country seat in Bucks county. He is buried in Monument cemetery, Philadelphia, and his wife in All Saints’ cemetery. John M. Gibbs was the son of a nobleman, and left many thousand pounds, and a family crest which is now in the possession of Mrs. Kepler.

After his marriage Mr. Levi F. Kepler removed to a farm in Bucks county, which had been the home of his mother’s parents. He remained there five years, and then purchased his farm in Lower Pottsgrove township, Montgomery county, where he has lived ever since. In politics he is a Republican and is a member of the Episcopal church.

Mr. and Mrs. Levi Frederick Kepler have three children, namely: 1. Frederick Gibbs, an engineer residing in Philadelphia, he married Maggie Bossert, of Montgomery county, and they have one child, Frederick. 2. George Gibbs, married Jennie Levengood, of Pottstown, and has one child, Emily. He resides in Philadelphia, where he is a hardware merchant. He is in very poor health. 3. Ellen Gibbs, married William S. Peltz, who is engaged in the express business; they reside in Pottstown, and have two children, Louise Crispin Peltz, and Emma Frances Peltz.