David Keppel

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Nicholas Keppel was born in Germany, and came to this country early in the eighteenth century. His son Daniel, who was David Keppel's father, was born in this state in 1767, and died in 1824. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Yearyan, of Westmoreland county; born in 1770, and died in 1821. Her father, George Yearyan, was a native of Germany, and worked his passage to America, his services being paid, before he left the Fatherland, to a farmer named David Kaufman, for a period of three years and nine months, at the expiration of which he received a horse, saddle and bridle and two suits of clothes. His wife's maiden name was Williams. She was a Welsh woman, who came to this country with her parents and brothers and sisters at an early day.

Daniel and Elizabeth (Yearyan) Keppel were the parents of twelve children, whose names were Susan, Margaret, George, Mary, Elizabeth, Daniel, Frances, Christina, Esther, Philip, Hannah and David. Three of this family are now living, viz.: Esther, wife of John Gumbert, of Westmoreland county; Hannah, widow of George Richer, who resides in the same county; and David Keppel, our subject, who was born February 6, 1818, on the old homestead in Parks township, where he is now living and has always lived. He has never been away from his farm longer than sixteen days, and on the occasion of that absence made a long journey to Iowa, to visit his sister Mary. He has been a hard worker, and by his steady, industrious habits has made for himself a fine farm, and, at the same time, an enviable reputation in the community in which he lives. His farm is one of the best in Parks township.

Mr. Keppel has been twice married. His first wife, with whom he was united in 1844, was Miss Magdalena Hawke, a daughter of Daniel and Mary Hawke, born in Westmoreland county in November, 1816. She died May 17, 1855. By this marriage five children were born, three of whom are now living, viz.: William, Mary, wife of S. S. Marshall, of Beaver, Pennsylvania, and Caroline. In 1858 Mr. Keppel married as his second wife the lady whose portrait appears with his in this work. Her name was Elizabeth Whitesell, and she was the daughter of Jonathan and Susan (Vensel) Whitesell, of Kiskiminetas township, born August 12, 1817. There were no children born of this union.

Mr. Keppel's son William lives upon and carries on the old farm. He was married in 1873 to Miss Susan L. Keppel, who was born in 1848. They have four children, as follows: David James, born April 6, 1874; Albert Jacob, born August 18, 1876; Philip Frank, born October 16, 1878, and Charles Hawke, born August 23, 1881.

Source: Page(s) 156, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 2000 by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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