Sunday, February 26, 2017

Early Days in Lyman #51

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster


Continuing . . .
Philip and Margaretha (Stieb) Eppelsheimer, natives of Germany, with their six children (two having died previously) boarded the boat at Hamburg in 1867 and bid their native land "good-bye" sailed for New York where they landed nine days later. They then continued westward to Illinois and stopped at Ottawa, where they made their home for four years. After that they came to Ford County and purchased a farm in s...ection 3, Town of Wall. This was just across the line of Lyman. Their farm was the northwest quarter of the section. Philip Eppelsheimer Sr. took the east eighty and built his house at the west quarter of the section. Philip Eppelsheimer Jr. took the west eighty and later built his house near the middle of the west side. In later life the father and mother made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Philip Eppelsheimer Jr.
In 1874 Philip Eppelsheimer Jr. married Margaretha Waldorf a native of the same town in Germany from which he came. They were married in Ford County. They had no children but adopted two. One of these, Dora Eppelsheimer is married to Charles Rueck, son of the Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Rueck of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rueck live in Roberts and Mrs. Margaretha Eppelscheimer lives with them.
Philip Eppelsheimer Jr. died more than twenty years ago. I visited him a short time before his death and he related to me a vision that he had that removed any beclouded vision he may have had about the remission of sins. This family were members of the Evangelical Church and were good Christian people, kind neighbors and good citizens. He was a very successful farmer and left a farm and other property for his family. Mrs. Eppelsheimer is now more than ninety years old. She is a sister of the late Mrs. Rossbach who lived in Roberts for many years. Mrs. Harrison Shambrook and Mrs. Walter Shambrook are daughters of Mrs. Rossbach. Lawrence Rossbach is a son of Mrs. Rossbach. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Shambrook live on the Jacob Eppelsheimer farm.

Jacob Eppelsheimer, brother of Philip Eppelsheimer Jr. spent many years on his farm here then moved to Gilman. Later he moved to Chicago. His first wife died more than fifty years ago. He married again and has three sons, Frank, George, and Fred. Frank lives in Chicago, George lives in Kankakee....
George Epplesheimer, a brother of Philip Jr. married Amelia Mead, daughter of Beckima and Mary Mead of Chatsworth. A brother of hers, William Mead, lived here many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. George Eppelsheimer farmed in Wall Town until they returned to Roberts some fifteen years ago. Mr. Eppelsheimer is deceased. Mrs. Eppelsheimer lives with her children. They had four sons and five daughters. All are living except Ida, who married Sylvester Havener. Both Mr. and Mrs. Havener died many years ago leaving a son and a daughter, Orville and Evelyn. Orville is married and lives in California. Evelyn married Ernest Wright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard Wright. They live on the Gullett farm here.
Elizabeth Eppelsheimer married Andrew Havener, who was killed by a stroke of lightning many years ago. I was carrying mail and chanced to see the stroke that killed Mr. Havener but did not know it had killed him until I completed my route for the day. They had three sons and one daughter. Pearl is the wife of Harry L. Whorrall. One son is deceased. The others are married.
Mrs. Havener then married Fred Barber, who is now a retired mail carrier. Mr. Barber was a widower whose deceased wife had been Elizabeth Havener, sister of Andrew Havener. Mr. and Mrs. Barber now live in the former O. J. Roberts home. They have three sons and two daughters, Clifford, who works for C. W. Hicks, Aldeen, who married Marion Hodges, Lenmore, Delaine and Betty in school.
Levi Eppelsheimer, oldest son of George and Amelia Eppelsheimer married Zerelda Lesch, daughter of Stephen and Rose Lesch, former Lyman residents. They lived on what in early days was known as the Justin Wyman farm. Zerelda (Lesch) Eppelsheimer was one of my pupils in school and one of the best pupils that I ever had. She would not stoop to do an evil act. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Eppelscheimer have three living children. One died in childhood.

 
--Roberts Herald. 25 March 1936. Bela Foster.

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