Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-28
SAMUEL JePsoN.
Death Of one OF wheeiing's Oldest aud
Best Known Citizens.

Best known Citizens.
Samuel Jepson died yesterday at
noon. In the S5th year OF his age.
Deceased was one of the oldest ,cltl-
zens of Wheeling, and one of the most
widely known and highly respected.
He was born September "a, 1905, al
Ipswich, Alfreton, England. After at
tanning his majority, he sailed for
America, landing at Baltimore In 1880.
He remained in that city short time
and then removed to Philadelphia
and later to Pittsburg, where he
was married. de came TO Wheel
ing in 1880, and has remained
here ever since. He followed his trade
OF cordwainer until 1855, when he en-
gagged in the variety and notion business
at l6o Market street, the site now oc-
cupied by the Atlantic tea house. In
1860 he entered the service OF the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad Company as
store keeper for the machine shops,
where he remained until he was retired
and pensioned about seven years ago.
He was appointed notary public by
Gov. Wilson about that time, and acted
in tina. capacity up to the time OF his
death.
Two children were the result Of his
marriage, Frank P, who Is the Cashier
of the Bank of the Ohio Valley, and
Mrs. David Williamson, who is now Nv
ing in South Dakota.
Mr.. Jepson was distinguished during
his life for his deep religious convlc-
tions. He was conscientious, faith
full, unvarying Christian man. In no
instance did he ever fail to practice
what he held up for others to do. He
Joined the Wesleyan Methodist church
in England, when nineteen years OF
age. Immediately after his arrival in
Wheeling, in 1884, he joined the Fourth
Street M. Z. Church, and re-
NAMED faithful mem Der up to the time
of his death. He was, perhaps, the most
active layman in that large church. he
filed the offices of class leader and eX-
horter in the Fourth Street church for
more than half a century. In his ca
pacity as lay preacher he did vast
amount of good. He was the author
lied minister to the prisoners In the
iail and workhouse of Wheeling for the
past thirty-five years. He rarely failed
to preach once every Sunday to those
unfortunates confined in the county
Jail and city workhouse. He was al
ways a welcome visitor at those places.
The most hardened men were impressed
by the simplicity and earnestness OF
the "Old Jail Preacher" as they called
him.
He also spent much time in distribut-
ing religious tracts wherever he went.
In passing men on the streets he would
quietly hand them tract If he was i'm
pressed that il was his duty to do so.
While not an educated man, Mr.. Jep-
son was nevertheless an intelligent
man. He was thoroughly read up in
the Bible, and was ready and forceful
speaker. No layman in Wheeling for
the last half century has done as much
religious work among the people, in a
general way, as Mr.. Jepson. There
was one popularity about his church
work. He never got old. Nothing was
stereotyped with him. His talks and
prayers and addresses were always
fresh.
Mr.. JeDson's funeral will take place
Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. Ser
vices will be held at the Fourth Street
NJ. Z. Church, and the interment will
be at Greenwood cemetery.