Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-04-14
J. W. EppersOn.

a resident of this county, occur
red Saturday morning at 1890,
a. the home of his son, Z. E. Ep-
person of this city, Rev. West
wood of the Presbyterian church
conducting the same. We take
the following from the Galesburg
Republican in which city the de-
ceased was making his home
with his daughter at the time of
his death.
Oneida, ILL.,, Apr. 6.-ShOrt
funeral services of the late James
W. EppersOn was held today at
10 o'clock at the residence Of his
daughter. Mrs. L. B. DeFOrrest,
Rev. c. +. Wilson, pastor of the
Presbyterian church. conducted
the service. A quartette compOS-
ed of Mrs. A. R. st. John, Mrs. d.
P. Bacon and MessrS |. W. Ne
: OOrmack and J. E. Cunningham,
sang "Nearer, My God to Thee"
and Sometime Well Under
stand"
Mr.. and Mrs. L. B. DeFOrest
. left on this evenings train with
the remains for Great Bend, Kan
Sas, for burial in the family lot
at that place.
James W. EppersOn, the fourth
child of Pedro and Elizabeth Ep-
person, was born in Montgomery
county, Ind, November I, 1890.
and died at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. L. B. DeFOreSt,
Oneida, ILL.,, April 5, 1911.
The EppersOn family left their
Indiana home in 1886. with OK
teams as motive power, and head
ed west. The same year they set
tied in Rio township, Knox Co.,
Illinois, where James and his bro
. theirs and sisters grew to maturi-
ty. Many were the struggles of
these. pioneers to leave us this
gOOdly heritage.
The deceased was married in
1855 to Harriet Goodman, in Ok
ford, Henry county, III. To them
We're born four children. Lillian,
who died in infancy; Elmer Els
worth, of Great Bend, Kansas; !;
Mrs. Effie L. DeFOrest, and Mrs.
@. Blanche Glenn, of Oneida.
Mr.. EppersOn engaged in farm
Ing near Oxford, ILL.,, from 1855
to 1858. In 1888 he engaged in
the mercantile business where he
remained until 1864 when he NOV.
ed to a farm near Woodruff. III.
When President Lincoln called
for volunteers, James with his
three brothers, enlisted, but was
rejected as he could not stand the
physical examination. During his
residence on the farm near Wood
hull, 1854 to 1873 he served as
deputy sheriff for Henry county.
In 1873 he moved to the village
Q OF Woodruff and engaged in the
hardware and implement business
which he conducted until 1882.
In 1882 he entered the employ of
Warder. Bushnell and GleSSner
as travelling salesman, and expert
Tor their harvesting machinery,
known as the Champion binders
sand mowers. remaining with then
. three years.
During his residence in Wood.
hull he united with the PreSby.
terian church, later taking his
letter to Great Bend, Kansas. He
was an active member of the
Woodruff board. He was also 8
member of the Masonic body Of
WOOdhll. The Chapter at Rit
and the cOmmandry Of GaleSburg
He took his demit from these
bodies when he moved west.
In 1885 Mn. and Mrs. EppersOr
with their two children at home
Elmer and Blanche, moved to ct
Bend Kansas, and engaged il
farming. January. 10, 1882, hi
wife died, and for the next sew
enn0 years he made his home witt
: his son on the home place.
In 1899 he came to Oneida ant
has since made his home with hi
daughters.
Mr.. Epperson was a kind and in
dulgent husband and father font
of his home and proud of his fan
ily, He was progressive in hi
ideas, and always ready to d
more than his part. He was pei
ofectly familiar with all the earl
history Of Knox county and coul,
ot tell many interesting events no
recorded in the various histories
10 was our good fortune t
rax,o haa,, ooouo,n+oJ x,,.+b M,