The Keplinger Line

[ Up ] [ Families ] [ Photo Album ] [ Mayfield1 ] [ Brown ] [ Groves ] [ Keplinger ]

The name Keplinger appears with a variety of different spellings in America, i.e., Kepplinger, Keplinger, Kiplinger, Caplinger, Kiblinger, Caplenner, Camplin, and even Heplinger in some census records. 

The First Generation in America

Most researchers tend to agree that the earliest of this line to arrive in America was Johan Leonhard Kepplinger, who was born in Germany about 1688, was married to Maria Elizabetha, born about 1692, arrived in Philadelphia PA with his family on the ship Thistle of Glasgow on August 29, 1730 and settled in Berks Co., PA.  Their children, all born in Schweigem, Kraichgau, Germany, are shown as:

• Johannes Kepplinger/Caplinger, b. June 1, 1713, m. Lydia (unknown), and d. about 1787 in Rockingham Co., VA
• Johan Georg Kepplinger, b. February 27, 1718/19, m. (1) Barbara Avensheen and (2) Maria Elizabetha Umbenhauer
• Johan Paul Kepplinger, b. November 7, 1721, m. Maria Catharine Kuhn April 23, 1749, d. 1776 in Berks Co., PA
• Johan Leonhard Kepplinger, Jr., b. January 20, 1723/24, m. Anna Maria Rausch November 28, 1749
• Maria Elizabetha Kepplinger, b. March 17, 1725/26, m. Jacob Rausch
• Christian Kepplinger, b. May 14, 1728, d. May 20, 1728

The Second Generation

Johannes "John" Keplinger/Caplinger moved from PA to Rockingham County, VA by 1757, where he bought 157 acres in Brocks Gap area (then Augusta County).  In 1761, John Caplenner and wife, Lydia, bought 206 acres in what is now Hardy Co., WV (then part of Hampshire Co., VA).  This land was sold in 1773 and they appear again in the Brocks Gap area in land records until 1788, which may be when John died.

Various records indicate that John and Lydia were the parents of:

• John Keplinger, Jr., b. March 14, 1747 in Lancaster Co., PA, m. Barbara Reager about 1770 in Augusta Co., VA, and d. before 1818 in Wilson Co., TN

• George Keplinger, b. about 1749 and d. after 1835

• Christian Keplinger, b. March 10, 1750 in PA, m. (1) Ann? unknown (2) Magdalene Zirkle 1794 in Shenandoah Co., VA, and d. in Rockingham Co., VA

The Third Generation

Christian Keplinger (I) served in the Revolutionary War.   Pension application number S8776 for "Kapplinger, Christopher/Christian/Christly" states that he was born March 10, 1750 in PA and was brought to Rockingham County, VA with his family in 1752.  He served as a private in Captain Riddle's Company, with Colonel Nall for 6 months in 1780 under General Muhlenberg.  In 1781 he served with Captain Cowger in the march to Yorktown under General Washington.  His pension was approved in 1835 at age 84 years, and he died in Rockingham County before 1846.

There are some discrepancies in the research as to the wives and children of Christian Keplinger I, and confusion based on the common use of the same names.  There was also a Christopher Keplinger born about June 29, 1750, a descendant of Paul Kepplinger.   

Records indicate that Christian I married Magdalene Zirkle in 1794 and researchers list her as the mother of his children.   Magdalene Zirkle was b. about 1764, and some of their alleged children were born in the 1770's, making it more plausible that Christian I was married and had children prior to his marriage to Magdalene Zirkle.  A John Caplinger, son of Christian and wife, Ann, was baptized May 1, 1774 at the age of 6 months in Shenandoah County, VA.  A Christian Caplinger II was born about 1775 in Rockingham Co., VA.  

Moses Caplinger/Keplinger

    Moses Caplinger/Keplinger was the son of Christian Keplinger and Catherine Sonifrank.  He was born September 29, 1804 in Rockingham County, VA.  On February 24, 1830, Moses married his first cousin, Mary Ann Lantz, daughter of Julia Ann Sonifrank and Jacob Lantz, Sr., in Rockingham County.  Moses and Mary Ann were the parents of ten children, three of whom were deaf:

• Julia Ann Keplinger, b. ca 1831 in VA (deaf and dumb)
• Susannah Keplinger, b. ca 1833 in VA (deaf and dumb)
• Caroline Keplinger, b. ca 1835 in VA, m. Isaac S. Powers April 27, 1854 in Hardy Co., VA
• Priscilla Keplinger, b. February 24, 1837 in VA, m. Frederick W. Berg December 20, 1870, and d. June 2, 1907 in Maysfille, Hardy Co., WV
• Christian Keplinger, b. ca 1839 in VA, m. Mary Matilda Whitacre August 25, 1874 in Hampshire Co., VA   (Christian and Matilda were both deaf and met at a school for the deaf)
• Jacob Markwood Keplinger, b. ca 1841 in VA, d. April 10, 1864 in Andersonville Prison, GA, during the Civil War
• Mary Catherine Keplinger, b. January 20, 1843 in Hardy Co., VA, m. (1) Jesse Veach and (2) Martin Franklin Hott, d. April 15, 1883 in Grant Co., WV (Jesse Veach also died in Andersonville Prison during the Civil War)
• Moses M. Keplinger, b. December 25, 1844 in Hardy Co., VA, m. Belinda Catherine Rohrbaugh February 23, 1868 in Grant Co., WV, and d. August 13, 1882 in Grant Co.
• Annie Elizabeth Keplinger, b. December 3, 1846 in Rockingham Co., VA, m. (1) Gabriel Thomas Groves and (2) Alton King, d. March 30, 1929 in Nocona, Montague Co., TX
• Gabriel Stickley Keplinger, b. ca 1850 in VA

Moses and Mary Ann were respected in the communities where they lived.  Moses died February 1, 1855 and is buried in Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Hardy Co., WV.  The following obituary appeared in the Seymourville paper February 7, 1855:

"Bro. Moses Keplinger died at his residence in Hardy Co., VA on the 1st of inflammation of the lungs, aged 50 years, 4 mo's and 3 days.

"Bro. K. was born in Rockingham, Va., where he seldom heard the sound of the gospel.  Prayer and class meetings were strangers there; but through the providence of God some of the young men of that country were brought to a sense of their deep depravity; they commenced holding prayer meetings, which resulted in the conversion of some precious souls.  Bro. K., though a youth, was one of that number.  They sent for a United Brethren preacher to come and establish a class and preach for them; their request was complied with.

"In 1829, in company with his brother, he emigrated to Hardy county, Va., where they found no United Brethren; they commenced holding meetings, and exhorting the people to flee the wrath to come, and the ark of the everlasting covenant began to move onward, but at that crisis ... began to pour forth in torrents upon them, so that they were compelled to go back to Rockingham county, to get authority from the church to hold meetings, which they obtained; they again resumed their labors, having on the breast plate of righteousness.  They waded through many deep waters trusting the result to God.   Thanks be to the King of Kings, their labors were not in vain. -- They resulted in the formation of South Branch circuit, and the establishment of a commodious church on their own lands the members of their class are about 80 in number.

"Bro. M. Kaplinger's life truly was a pattern worthy of imitation.  He was upright in all his dealings; he adorned his christian profession by an upright walk, and a chaste conversation; his house was a home for the weary preacher.  I called to see him a few days before his death; I asked him whether he was ready to be offered up, to which he replied:  -- 'Never, in all my life, could I say anything with a clearer conscience, than I now can say, the messenger of death is welcome.  Truly', said he, 'I am glad that I was born to die.'

"He died in the triumphs of a living faith, leaving a testimony behind that his deathless spirit was escorted to the realms of glory.  On the 3d inst., his remains were followed by a wife and ten children and a large number of friends, to the graveyard of Mount Hebron church. -- Never has the church lost a more worthy member, but their loss is his eternal gain.

"A funeral discourse will be delivered when the preacher returns from Conference.  JACOB A. BOVEY.  Seymourville, Va., Feb. 7th, 1855."

Mary Ann Keplinger died of liver disease on November 3, 1874 in Grant Co., WV, as evidenced by the following obituary:

  "MARY ANN KEPLINGER, consort of Moses Keplinger, deceased, died near Seymoursville, Grant County, West Virginia November 3d, 1874, aged 63 years, 11 months, and 29 days.  She embraced religion and joined the United Brethren Church about 50 years ago, in Rockingham County, Virginia.  She was an exemplary Christian:   none knew her but to love her.  She was a great favorite of the people of the surrounding country in which she lived, and was known to all by the name 'Aunt Mary'.   The sick and afflicted most invariably preferred her to a regular physician, and it was a perfect delight to her to relieve suffering humanity.  Many of the old pioneer ministers of Virginia Conference found shelter by her fireside from the fierce winds of the Alleghanies.  Though she has passed away to the better country and we deeply deplore our loss, yet she still lives in our memory, and her name will ever be cherished by all her acquaintances.  The Church, the community, and her afflicted family sustain a heavy loss.  May our heavenly Father pour the oil of consolation in the hearts of sorrowing friends."

The will of Moses Caplinger was probated, and is found in Hardy County Will Book 1852-1856, p. 330, as follows:

"I, Moses Caplinger, Senior, do hereby make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say First, I desire that what moneys may be left after my decease shall be applied to the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses.   If, however, they prove not sufficient, then the perishable property I may leave, I wish sold and applied to those purposes, or so much thereof as shall be necessary.   Secondly, After the payment of my debts and funeral expenses, I give my wife Mary Ann, all my estate, real and personal to hold in trust for her maintenance and the benefit of herself and our children, during the period of her widowhood and as long as she shall live.  but in case of her decease or contraction of a second marriage, then in either event, all of said property shall be sold and the proceeds divided equally among my children.  My wife is thus constituted executor of this portion of my will and guardian of the interests of our children, -- in the faithful discharge of which duties I have all confidence.
Thirdly, In case of either of the events mentioned transpiring, by Death or marriage of my wife Mary Ann -- then I desire the Executors I have appointed and hereinafter name to dispose of all my property, real and personal, to the best advantage they are able, and make equal division of the proceeds among my children, namely, Juliann, Susan, Caroline, Priscilla, Christian, Jacob Markwood, Mary Catharine, Moses, Ann Elizabeth, and Gabriel Stickley, ten in all.  And I desire the Executors (continued) to make such arrangements as shall best conduce to the interests of any of the children as shall not be of age at the time when it shall be necessary to make the division as I do not wish them to enter upon the possession of their shares until they become of lawful age.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends Snowden Scott and Moses Keplinger, Junior, executors of this my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the twenty seventh day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty-fifth year.
                                                                Moses Caplinger snr (LS)

"Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Moses Caplinger Senior in the presence of us all.
                            Peter Hott, Gideon Keplinger, Charles W. Scott"