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Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 30 Aug 2009 3:47AM GMT
Classification: Query
I am the great granddaughter of William Gepner (son of Karl Gepner). My part of the family is from Central Illinois, but I had heard that some of them went to Kansas and settled around a place called Clay City. My grandfather was named Frank Gepner. He had 2 sons, Max and Robert (my dad). Both are now deceased. Uncle Max lived in Arizona; there was another Gepner there, Leo, with whom he became acquainted. Leo has also passed away. There are no more Gepners around here (except me) that I know of; all this generation were girls so have married names. I did hear--according to family lore--that the Gepner family was originally Jewish and had some connection to Poland. In fact, there is an Abraham Gepner in the Holocaust Museum--he was a member of the Jewish Council in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII and was killed there. I believe he may have also been mayor of Krakow at one time. I'd love to have any information about the Gepners in Kansas, with whom I'm distant cousins. Also about the early history of the family. Does anyone have Dr. Vernon Porter's address. He seems to have information about the family.

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 5 Sep 2009 4:26AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi I am the great grand daughter of Charles Franklin Gepner. His first wife was Sarah. He married My Great grandmother Pearl Edith Soliday(Last name may not be spelt right) Charles f Gepner and Edith pearl had a daughter named Goldie Christeen Gepner, she is my grandmother. I am looking for info on Charles's Mother. I know that his fathers name was Charles Gepner he was born in Germany. His mothers name was Mary she was born in kentucky. any info you have with Mary's maiden name I would Appreciate.

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 5 Sep 2009 2:30PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gepner, Kuhns
Hello Charles L. Gepners wife was Mary Sevilla Edganora Kuhns born july 8 1848 in Kentucky and died after 1888 in child birth in Kansas. She is buried with the child in an unmarked grave in Fairview Cemetary. Kansas. Charles himself was born in France and lived in Germany where his brothers, and sister was born and then moved to the US. Maybe he was born on a vacation when Karl and Louisa were first married because he was born on Nov 28 1841 (according to his death certificate) and died june 14 1919 in Redondo Beach, Ca. I do have a picture of him and his second wife.

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 7 Sep 2009 11:20AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Marshamallow,

Yes, these are the Gepners in my family. My mother's father's mother was Emma Gepner, born to Julius Gepner, son of Karl Gepner. I have hazy information about the Gepner migration from Tempelburg, Poland to Canada to Cincinnati (temporarily) in about 1865 -- and then west. I don't have access to the file right at this moment but I have all the data.

I'd love to hear about this family lore; it's something I never heard. Vernon Porter told me that the research he'd done indicated that the family was Jewish around 500 years ago -- and probably became Catholic on threat of death. You can find Vernon Porter by calling Directory Assistance in Texas -- again, I don't have my files right here. My address is amymillergray at @ gmail.com -- PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ME WITH ANYTHING YOU KNOW/LEARN. I have information for you on the Gepners in Kansas. I don't know that any are left, but my grandfather (who lived just north in Nebraska) spent a lot of time on the Gepner farm when he was young.

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 7 Sep 2009 1:09PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi again,

I accessed the information on my computer.

Julius Gepner (son of Karl) b. 1845 came to U.S. in July, 1868 "with father, mother, brothers and sisters" - landed in Quebec, Canada. They came over in a sail ship and on account of the stormy weather and troublesome seas, they were seven weeks at sea. Instead of landing in NYC, they landed in Quebec, Canada. A few days later, they came to Cincinnati, Ohio and in 1873 they came to Clay Center, Kansas. In November, 1873, Mr. Gepner received his naturalization papers.

In 1874, Mr. Gepner used his homestead rights and homesteaded 160 acres of land six miles west and one and three-fourth miles north of Clay Center.

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 8 Jan 2011 6:23AM GMT
Classification: Query
I am the GGG granddaughter of William Gepner Sr. (b. 2 Oct 1849 in Templeburg, Germany d. 25 May 1936) through the union of second marriage, wife Malinda Kink. The following is the excerpt from a xeroxed copy of the obit for William Gepner appearing in a Kansas newspaper June 4, 1936.

"The life span of William Gepner, Sr. covered the most interesting period in history. At the time of his death he had lived in Clay county more than a half century, and was one of that fast diminishing group of early day homesteaders whose courage, foresight and labor brought civilization into the wilderness of the west. In the early days he tilled the prairie with oxen. He lived to see the old dugouts replaced with modern homes, and the old process of farming has given way to power machinery, tractors and combines. The story of his life is similar to that of most of the fine old pioneers.

"William Gepner, son of Karl and Louisa Gepner, was born in the city of Templeburg, Germany, October 2, 1849, and died at his home in Morganville, Kansas May 25, 1936, at the age of 86 years, 7 months and 23 days.

"In the year 1866 the Gepner family left Germany and sailed for America, landing in Quebec, Canada, July 4, after a voyage of seven weeks. After spending a short time in Canada they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he drove a milk wagon. They lived there until 1871, when most of the members of the family came to Kansas and located in Clay county.

"William Gepner filed on a homestead in Bloom township where he underwent all the privations and hardships incident to the pioneer days of Kansas. His first home was a "dug-out" and in this humble home on September 26, 1876 he was married to Miss Lydia Petermeyer whose death occurred in 1883. To this union were born four children, Frederick W., Fredina, Anna M. and Julius C.

"In due time Mr. Gepner contracted a second marriage, his bride being Miss Malinda Kink, a native of Canada. To them was born one son, Ludwig. Mrs. Gepner passed away eighteen months after her marriage, leaving Mr. Gepner to care for a baby son.

"On September 14, 1887, Mr. Gepner was married to Miss Augusta Fieldbinder, a native of Germany, and they were the parents of one son, William J.

"On February 25, 1897, Mr. eGpner(sic) was married to Florence Bryant and two children were born to this union, Margaret, who died in 1926, and Stillman, whose death occurred in 1912.

"Mr. Gepner is survived by his wife; three sons, Lewis of Clyde; Fred of Oregon, and William of Illinois; three daughters, Mrs. Len Bloom of Idana, Mrs. John Forsythe of Wakefield, and Ruby of Illinois. There are also 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

"When a young boy, Mr. Gepner united with the Presbyterian church and continued to hold his membership in that organization until his death.

"Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, May 29th, at the M. E. church, conducted by Rev. H. R. Campbell, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Clifton. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Alex Purves, Mrs. G. I. Bodine, A. H. Petermeyer and L. D. Huff, with Mrs. Edwin Schwab playing the accompaniment. Interment was made in.....

The rest of the article was cut off.

Hope this helps.

Re: Karl Gepner/ Louisa Knout

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 1:10PM GMT
Classification: Cemetery
Surnames: Gepner, Fieldbinder
I have posted a headstone of Frank Gepner 26 jun 1897 - 24 Dec 1978 who was married to Thelma. He is buried at Ft Snelling National Cem, Minneapolis, MN.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSmpid=...;

MN Death certificates index
GEPNER, FRANK E.
Date of Birth: 26 JUN 1897
Place of Birth: OUT OF STATE
Mother Maiden Name: FIELDBINDER
CERTID# 1978-MN-033627
Date of Death: 24 DEC 1978
County of Death: HENNEPIN
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