The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-07-19
John Kepheart, the Murderer.
A Sketch. of his Career.

A Sketch. of his Career.
On Monday afternoon last we visited Mrs.
Kepheart, who lives with two sons and a
daughter, all unmarried, about three miles
southwark of Washington. She received
us kindly, and on stating the object of our
visit, gave us withoutany reluctance, though
with evident emotion, succinct history OF
her husband, John Kepheart, from her first
knowledge Of him down to the present time.
Going to along used and Anticipated desk
she brought forth the old family Bible,
which contained the genalo ,ical record and
laid it before us. Examining this, we found
that John Kepheart was born in the State OF
Pennsylvania, Aug Sth, 1870, thus making
him about a month less than seventy years
Of age His wife, Mary Babcock, was born
in the State of New York, March 10th,
1907. They were married, Dec. 18th,
1923, and have lived together as man and
wife about SO years. They have had ten
chilIren-thrce sons and seven daughters,
all Of whom except one daughter, are living.
Isaac Kepheart, the Oldest son lives near Mt.
Pleasant, in Henry Co. Two sons, John and
Jacob, aged 16 and 10 respectively, live
at home. OF the daughters, two ore mar
ried and living near Trenton, in Henry Co.,
Another s the wife off. Neff, Oceola clark Co.
and two others are the wives Of respectable
citizens of thus county leaving one of the age
Of Is at home
His acquaintance and marriage with Ms.
X. occurred near Dayton, Ohio, she knowing
nothing against his character at that time
They had been married but about year,
however. before it was discovered that KEEP
heart faithless to his wife, had formed a
shameful liason with woman OF low char
acter near Dayton, the result of which was
an illeci emate child; and the sueing and OBJ
vsning of judgement against kepheart tor
it's maintenance. To satisfy this judge
ment, all the property he had (most of which
was the property of his wife at marriase,)
was sacrificed, and his wife, as she informed
bitterly, worked out to aid in getting money
to pay the demands Of the law against the
diSgracerul infidelity Of her husband Mrs
KS friends at that time desired her to leave
Kepheart and 20 home, which she about de-
ter,nined to do, but was finally induced by
penitential promises still to cling to the I'M
certain fortunes Of her husband.
About this time he began preaching, he
and wife both being members Of the United
Brethren Church, but he was soon dismissed
from that connection on account OF his llcen-
tious conduct, after which he joined the de
nomination known as Complexities or Chris
tians.
During the year 1886, about "a years ago,
he removed to this State with his family and
settled near Trenton, in Henry county, on
what is now the Morehead farm. At that
time Trenton and Mt Pleasant had not been
thought OF, and the country in that vicinity
was almost entirely unsettled. Here they
lived about 10 years, during which time the
family suffered Il great deal from the violence
of his temper, which was most ungovernable
when aroused. He would frequently return
home from suspicious visits about the coun-
try, and drive his family from the house, no
matter how Indictment the weather, causing
them to live in constant fear of their lives
At one time in fit of madness, he struck
Mrs K, breaking her wrist. AT another
time his wife and daughter were spinning
after he had gone to bed. He became an
moved and ordered them to stop, which they
were about to DO, when he sprang from his
bed. dashed the wheels in pieces the floor
and catching Mrs. k, by the hair, tore out
large handful, almost killing her. From an
old trunk in an adjoining room Mrs H.
brought out the long faded tresses of hair
and laid them on the table before US, as evil
dence of the truth of what she had said.-
She also stated in this connection that when
Kepheart left her a year ago, she felt as
though she would like to have secreted that
hair about his person, where he might find 1t
to haunt him when away on his career of crime
and let it recall to him some of the suiferings
ofthose whom he had once promised to love
and cherish.
Eight years ago last March they moved to
this county, near where the family now live.
Here he soon established the reputation OF a
dangerous and degraded character. About
five years ago Mrs. X, discovered that he
was carrying on important intimacy with
the wife Of Mr.. Adams, near neighbour
This was kept up for some time, when the
matter began to come to light and he was
compelled to leave. He induced the unfor-
tunate woman to accompany him to Lower
Canada, where they lived for some months,
he having sold land and property and strip
ping his family ofmany household comforts,
to procure money to carry him through
Leaving Canada, the guilty couple came to
Illinois where getting tired of Mrs. Adams,
he poisoned her, as was generally supposed,
she having died very suddenly. This was
learned by Mr.. Adams, who went after
child whick she had taken with her when
leaving home.
Shortly after this he is said to have mar
ried widow lady in Missouri, and after de-
frauding her out of considerable property,
suddenly left her for other parts.
In 1857 he pursuaded his family to go
n l.