The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-03
From the Ripley Ohio, Bee.
NINETIETH BIRTHDAY
OF an Estimable Ripley Lady
Fittingly Observed.
Mrs. Harriet Campbell Visited by
Her Sons and NeighbOrs.

lOudy mdrks du lIHpOEbdHl cpoSH
in the life of one of Ripley's oldest
and most respected citizens. Ninety
years ago, Jan. 2s, in Northumber-
land county, Pa, Harriet f. Kephart
was born. Today. at her home on
Third street, surrounded by children
and friends. she is receiving their
on reaching the 9Oth
milestone on life's journey, while
grandchildren and great grandchil-
dren and absent children are repre-
sented in letters, kilograms and num-
erous gifts-conveying loving re-
membranes.
The Bee representative, who called
to pay his respects, was agreeably
surprised at the vigorous and active
appearance of Ripley's only nono-
genariau. Erect of figure, vigorous
in body, unimpaired in mind, her fac
ulties bright-with a face remarka-
bly, free from wrinkles for her age,
she cheerfully conversed with all,
and in her modest way told the Bee
representative a brief story of her
long and eventful life.
In 1918, when five years of age, her
parents, Thomas and Mary Kephart,
removed from Pennsylvania with
their seven children. intending to
found a home near Chillicothe, in
the newly founded State of Ohio.
This was before the days of steam
boats, and travel was mostly by kiel
and flatboats, or with teams over
land. Disposing of most of his house
hold goods. with the balance in wag-
.ons, they started on perilous jour
ney to the great. West, over l, zoe
miles. The first part of the journey
was up the west branch of the Sus-
quehanna. in kiel boats, and by wag,
ons to the summit near Olean, n. Y.
On the mountains their camp was
protected at night by fires from the
wild beasts that howled around them,
frightening the children.
On the headwaters of the ALE.
gheny they had a small Hatboat
built, in which, with their household
goods, they foated down the ALE.
gheny and the Ohio, through a coun-
try that was then a wilderness OF
forest, with only a very few sparse
settlements along the whole route
Yet they were not alone. The desire
to "go West was in the air. Two
hurley fellows manned, the oars
anxious to work for passage. Ar
aged couple, anxious to reach a sor
in the West, were taken aboard, and
on bright autumn day in 1918, they
pulled" out into the stream and
started on the long journey to tn,
great West, followed by the goot
wishes of few friends who had com,
the bank.
Nearly a month was required t,
make the trip. Down the CHINA
Mahoning, into the Allegheny, the.
leisurely pursued their journey t.
Pittsburg into the great Ohio. Afte
replenishing their larder the journe.
was resumed. The monotony of boa
life was frequently broken by tn
mother and children taking TIL
beach and footing it for miles wher
possible, gathering nuts. berries an
flowers. On one of these trips the
ran on to a veritable flower kingdom
in the great wilderness, dedicate
heretofore to the Indian and the viii
beasts. Awhile man lived here, an
with a handsome squaw and a bev
of pappooses, had subjugated tn
soil and made it blossom as the rose
Captured when a boy and raise
among the Indians, after a return t
civilization, he longedi for the free
dom of the trail and the camp, an
returned to his old haunts and tn
"girl he left behind him." and her
was working out life's problem, wit
none to molest or make afraid. n
timid squaw refused to permit th
white intruders to fondle the littI
fellows until her "brave" gave wor
that removed her fears; then all W;
lovely-pappooses. posies, everythir
was at the feet of the "pale faces
Late in the fall the tired emigrant
; landed under the bank at the villal
> of Portsmouth, expecting to go
Chillicothe to the home of Mrs. Ke
hart's father. Thomas Hines, bl
hearing there was shorter and be
ter trail from Ripley they resume
the journey. and in a few days land'
I here and gave the infant settlemel
Y a boom, as nearly dozen new eli
: zens marched up the banks and foul
a home on Market street. on Il
alley above Second. For nearly
Years Mrs. Campbell has had h
home within block of this locatio
Il With true frontier generosit
Thomas Kephart took the ag
couple in his boat to their son
> Evansville, Ind, leaving his boat, /
, ceiving for it couple of old gun
which he carried to protect hims'
from the Indians and wild beasts,
= he tramped the entire distance ba
- to Ripley alone.
A few days later, leaving the ia
lily safely housed in Ripley, TAXI
the baby Billy, the parents re
horseback to Chillicothe, 100 mil
IN received a parental blessing ant
on bag of silver yard long. They
he turned in a jumper, the mother he
he ing down the money and baby, 4
re driving, the father bringing up
NO rear with the other horse.
nd The Kephart family have occup