Kepner Ancestors - What a great novel this would make! There were only two Kepner ancestor found in www.rootsweb.com that could be identified as living in Markelsville: Jacob Kepner 1806-1888 buried in St. John's and a Jacob KEPNER (1793-1871) died in Markelsville. Every Kepner male had a son named Jacob! And every Jacob had an ancestor named Benedict or Bernard!

Referenced Facts: On 17th of April, 1849, Edward Kepner was confirmed at St. John's Church. During the winter of 1851, Rev. Martin instructed a class of catechumens in the Catechism, and on Saturday, the 22d of March, the same year, the following William T. Kepner was confirmed at St. John's Church. After having been instructed in the Catechism about four months, and being found possessed of the requisite doctrinal and spiritual attainments, on the 24th of November, 1860, Mary Kepner was  confirmed  at St. John's Church.Jacob Kepner was an Elder of St. John's Church from 1855 to  1859

St. John's Cemetery Markers

Let's start with the Jacob buried in St. John's. His great-grandfather was Bernard Kepner.

Bernard KEPNER  Birth: in Germany. He married twice and had seven children. His first son, Jacob John1 married twice and had twenty-seven children. His grandson, Jacob John Kepner2, married twice and had seven-teen children. His great-grandson, Jacob John Kepner3 (b. 1806), married only once and had eleven children. That's 51 Kepners, just from this branch of Keplers, living in central Pennsylvania during the last half of the 1700s.

1. Benedict KEPNER b: 1714 in of Berne Twp., Berks, PA. 
2.   Simon KEPNER b: 1716 in of Berne Twp., Berks, PA
3.   Martin KEPNER b: 1718 in of Berne Twp., Berks, PA
4.   Bernard KEPNER b: 8 Jun 1720 in Berks Co., PA
5.   John Jurg KEPNER

Note: THEY WERE ALL BORN IN BERKS CO. PA, AMERICA !!  Did Barbara and Benedict leave Germany and sail to America before 1714, bringing young Jacob John Kepner with them?

I believe Bernard Kepner's children, by his second marriage, were born in Germany because no birth place is listed in RootsWeb. However they had children who died in PA.

Marriage 2 Barbara C??.  Children

1. Johannes KEPNER b: ABT 1728  Death: in Cumberland Co., PA
2. Magdalene KEPNER b: ABT 1731
3. Henry KEPNER b: ABT 1733 d. 1779
4. Jacob KEPNER b: ABT 1735 d. 1805
5. Margaretha KEPNER b: ABT 1738
6. Bernhard KEPNER b: ABT 1736
7. John KEPNER b: ABT 1743 had a son, John Kepner, b. 1784 in Cumberland Co., PA

Note: Johannes Kepner: 28 Sep 1753 landed in America on Ship Hallifax, Thomas Coatam Master from Rotterdam and after lived some years in Perkiomen Twp., Montgomery, PA. They left between 1769 and 1775, moved to Milford, Mifflin, PA where they lived until 21 Mar 1796. Deed book C, p. 329 in Lewistown, PA shows that John Kepner & wife Christina of Greenwood Twp., Cumberland Co., PA.

It appears that Bernard Kepner's children came to America in 1753. Did Bernard Kepner die in Germany?

Children with his first wife (married about 1730) were:

1.  Jacob B. KEPNER b: ABT 1734 in of Pfoutz Valley. Perry Co., PA
2.  Samuel KEPNER b: ABT 1736 in Pfoutz Valley, Perry, PA
3.  Michael KEPNER b: ABT 1739
4.  Johannes KEPNER b: ABT 1742
5.  Catharine KEPNER b: ABT 1745
6.  Maria Barbara KEPNER b: ABT 1753
7.  Susannah KEPNER b: ABT 1754
8.  John Christopher KEPNER b: ABT 1756
9.  Benjamin D. KEPNER b: 1 Mar 1758 in Pfoutz Valley, Perry, PA
10.  David KEPNER b: ABT 1759
11.  Catharine KEPNER b: ABT 1761
12.  James Michael KEPNER adopted b: ABT 1763
13.  William KEPNER adopted b: ABT 1765
14.  Andrew KEPNER b: ABT 1767
15.  Benjamin KEPNER b: 1848 in Jaunita Co., PA

1.  George KEPNER b: 1771 in Jaunita Co., PA
2.  Mary KEPNER b: 1773 in Jaunita Co., PA
3.  Elizabeth KEPNER b: ABT 1775 in Jaunita Co., PA
4.  Jacob John KEPNER b: 15 Jul 1777 in Photz Valley, Perry, PA
5.  Hannah KEPNER b: ABT 1780 in PA
6.  Christina KEPNER b: ABT 1782 in PA
7.  Heinrich KEPNER b: ABT 1785 in PA
8.  Samuel KEPNER b: ABT 1788 in PA
9.  Margaret or Mahalia KEPNER b: ABT 1792 in PA
10.  Tobias KEPNER b: 27 Oct 1793 in PA
11.  Benjamin KEPNER b: 11 Oct 1795 in Schuylkill Co., PA
12.  Jacob KEPNER b: 13 Jun 1800 in Schuylkill Co., PA

Jacob John KEPNER 1777-1845 (son of Jacob John Kepner) was born in Photz Valley, Perry, PA. and died in Turbett Twp., Juanita, PA and buried in Lutheran Ch. Hill Cem. Note: Had four children by first wife, and thirteen children by second wife.

Marriage 1 Una Marie GROSS b: 1778 in Snyder Co., PA. Children:

1.  David KEPNER Twin b: 19 Aug 1802 in Near Old Port Royal, Juaniata, PA
2.  John Daniel KEPNER Twin b: 19 Aug 1802 in Near Old Port Royal, Juaniata, PA
3.  Samuel D. KEPNER b: 22 Dec 1804 in near Port Royal, Junita, PA
4.  Jacob KEPNER b: 21 Jul 1806 in Juanita Co., PA
5.  Mary Magdalena KEPNER b: 1817 in Sandy Hill, Perry, PA
6.  Samuel Doups KEPNER b: 5 Aug 1824 in JuanitaCo., PA

Marriage 2 Sara Eliza DUPES b: 1 Mar 1789 in PA. Children:

1.  Elizabeth KEPNER b: 1808 in Juanita Co., PA
2.  Henry KEPNER b: 1810 in Juanita Co., PA
3.  Sarah KEPNER b: 1812 in Juanita Co., PA
4.  Solomon KEPNER b: 1814 in Turbett Twp., Juanita, PA
5.  Christina KEPNER b: 27 Oct 1815 in Turbett Twp., Juanita, PA
6.  Mary Magdalena KEPNER b: 1817 in Turbett Twp., Juanita, PA
7.  Susannah KEPNER b: in Turbett Twp., Juanita, PA
8.  Benjamin D. KEPNER b: 6 Aug 1820 in Turbett Twp., Juanita, PA

CHECK OUT HIS CHILDREN'S BIRTH DATES. DID HE HAVE TWO WIVES OR A WIFE AND A MISTRESS!

Jacob KEPNER (1806-1888) was the son of (Jacob John Kepner) born 21 Jul 1806 in Juanita Co., PA. He died in 1888 and buried in St. John's Cemetery. He married  Catharine KNAWEL or KANAWELL b: 11 Nov 1808 in McAllisterville, PA. They lived in Markelsville and had eleven children:

1.   Willamina KEPNER b: ABT 1831 in Juanita Co., PA
2.   Edward KEPNER b: ABT 1834 in Juanita Co., PA d. 1850
3.   William T. KEPNER b: ABT 1836 in Juanita Co., PA
4.   Harrison Augustus KEPNER b: 14 May 1837 in Perry Co., PA
5.   Margaret KEPNER b: ABT 1839 in Juanita Co., PA
6.   Martha KEPNER b: ABT 1841 in Perry Co., PA died 1862
7.   Carherine KEPNER b: ABT 1843 in Perry Co., PA
8.   John KEPNER b: ABT 1845 in Perry Co., PA
9.   Theodore KEPNER b: ABT 1846 in Perry Co., PA
10.   Samuel KEPNER b: in Perry Co., PA died 1862
11.   Lloyd L. KEPNER b: in Perry Co., PA

------ There were lots of Kepners in Perry County. But could only find one other recorded as being in Markelsville ----

Benjamin D. KEPNER Birth: 1 MAR 1758 in Pfoutz Valley, Greenwood Twp., Perry Co., PA.Death: 1 MAR 1854 in Turbett Twp., Juniata Co., PA.[almost 96 years old] Father: Johannes KEPNER b: APR 1737 in Berks Co., PA. Marriage 1 Spouse Unknown, Children:

1.  Jacob KEPNER b: 1793 in Saville Twp., Perry Co., PA
2.  Benjamin KEPNER b: 11 OCT 1795 in Turbett Township, Juniata Co., PA
3.  Jane KEPNER

1.  Mary Jane KEPNER b: 4 FEB 1808 in Turbett Township, Port Royal, PA
2.  Euphemia KEPNER
3.  Catherine KEPNER b: 27 OCT 1810 in Juniata Co., PA
4.  William KEPNER b: 1813
5.  David KEPNER b: 6 OCT 1812
6.  John M. KEPNER b: 27 JUN 1815
7.  Henry KEPNER b: 16 OCT 1818 in Turbett Twp. Juniata Co., PA
8.  Philip McCullough KEPNER b: 8 JAN 1821 in Juniata Co., PA
9.  Sidney KEPNER b: 1823

1.  Anna Maria "Mary" KEPNER b: 7 SEP 1771 in Cumberland Co., PA
2.  Samuel KEPNER b: 7 AUG 1775 in Pfoutz Valley, Greenwood Twp., Perry Co., PA
3.  Johann Jacob KEPNER b: 15 JUL 1777 in Millerstown, (Pfoutz Valley), Perry Co., PA
4.  Johannes KEPNER b: 4 FEB 1778 in Pfoutz Valley, Greenwood Twp., Perry Co., PA
5.  Maria Christina KEPNER b: 7 DEC 1779 in Pfoutz Valley, Greenwood Twp., Perry Co., PA
6.  David KEPNER b: 10 MAY 1787 in Pfoutz Valley, Greenwood Twp., Perry Co., PA
7.  Margaretha KEPNER b: 1792
8.  Elizabeth KEPNER b: 1800

Benedict KEPNER  Birth: 29 JUN 1714 in Sulzfeld (now Germany), Death: AFT 1778 in Berks Co., PA.  Father: Hans Bernhard KEPNER b: JAN 1673 in Sulzfeld (now Germany)
Mother: Anna Barbara SCHLAGMANN b: 28 DEC 1672 in Sulzfeld (now Germany)
Marriage  Maria Salamone WEICKER b: 1721 in Wattenheim (now Germany). Nine children all born in Berks Co. PA.