Surnames: Shepler, Hill, Wakefield, Blackburn, Steele, Stephens, Jones, Coulson, Claywell.
CAPT. JOSEPH SHEPLER.Capt. Joseph Shepler was born in Rostraver township, Westmoreland Co., Pa., March 6, 1807, the eldest in a family of seven children of Isaac and Sarah (Hill) Shepler. His ancestors on both his father's and mother's side emigrated from Germany and settled in Virginia, in the neighborhood of Winchester. His grandfather, Matthias Shepler, with two brothers, Peter and Philip, moved from Virginia before the war of the Revolution and settled in Rostraver, taking up farms on the Monongahela hill in that township. He married Margaret Houseman, whose family was one of the early settlers of the township. Their children were John, Philip, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mary, Margaret, and Catherine. All were married and raised families, and all are deceased. Isaac Shepler married Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Mary Hill. Her father at the age of eighteen came to Rostraver township, several years before the Brad-dock expedition, the first white settler of the township. The children by this union were as follows: Joseph, subject of this sketch. Lewis, a farmer, died December, 1881; children, Bela Wright, I. Hill, and Frances. Bela Wright married the youngest daughter of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wakefield. They have two sons and four daughters. I. Hill is deceased. Frances, wife of Samuel S. Blackburn, one son and two daughters. Mary, deceased, wife of James Wright, the latter now living in Carmichael's, Greene Co., Pa.; children are Frances, Homer, Elizabeth, John, and Anson. Samuel, born July 13, 1814, owning and living on a farm adjoining Capt. Joseph, being a portion of the land taken up by his grandfather, Joseph Hill. Has been twice married. First wife, Eveline Steele, whom he married Dec. 12, 1839. By this union three sons and three daughters, viz.: John Walker, Mary E., deceased, Olive J., Dr. Joseph Taylor, Samuel W., deceased, and Eveline. His wife died April 18,1850. Jan. 29, 1852, he married Elizabeth Couldren; by this union, two children, Irvin S. and Anna C. Margaret died at the age of eighteen. Elisabeth, deceased, wife of Davis Shepler; children, Lewis, Sarah Ellen, Margaret Jane, deceased, Samuel, Lewis M., deceased. Sarah E., wife of John Stephens, a farmer living in Washington, Fayette Co., Pa.; children, Eltess C., Margaret, Elizabeth, Levi, deceased, Fitch, deceased, " Doe," and Ada.
Isaac Shepler died Dec. 10, 1837. His wife survived him many years. She died July, 1869, aged eighty-seven. Both are buried at the Fell's Church. Capt. Joseph Shepler has spent his whole life in Rostraver; received his education in the district schools of the town. To the age of twenty-two lived on the homestead farm now occupied by Bela Wright Shepler. He married, April 16, 1829, Mary, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Blackburn. Mrs. Shepler was born in Rostraver, March 28, 1807. Her family were among the early settlers of the township. One year after marriage he lived at home, then moved on one of his father's farms, which he carried on for eight years. In 1838 he moved on the farm where he still resides. In 1836 he located three hundred and sixty acres in Putnam County, Ohio, with the intention of moving there, but on account of the death of his father was persuaded by his mother to remain in Rostraver.
In politics the captain has been a lifelong Democrat, and has always taken a lively interest in local politics. He has been called to fill most of the offices of the town. He has been a member of the Fell's Methodist Episcopal Church forty-nine years, and one of its staunchest supporters. His wife has also been a member for the same period. At the age of twenty-one he was chosen captain of the first company, Eighty-eighth State Volunteers, which position he held for seven years; was captain of the Monongahela Blues five years, and first lieutenant of the Rostraver Cavalry seven years. His children are as follows:
Sarah, born Jan. 7, 1830, wife of William Jones, farmer and banker, residing in Rostraver township; children, Ella Jane, Joseph Shepler, and Samuel Jones. Violet, born Aug. 20, 1833, wife of Capt. Martin Coulson, a resident of Allegheny City; children, Joseph S., Margaret E., and Alfred Kerr. John B., born Feb. 18, 1835, married Josephine Claywell, of Jo Daviess Co., Ill.; children, Shedrach
Claywell and David Richey. Isaac Hill, born March 20, 1840, married Eveline, daughter of Samuel Shepler; children, James Kerr, Mary Blackburn, and William Jones.