KEPLINGER:

Noah Keplinger, 1828~1912, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, son of a Christian Keplinger and his wife a Miss Lance before marriage. The Keplinger family of Virginia were there before the Revolutionary War, several of Noahs ancestors having served with the Virginians as soldiers of that war. Christian came to Grant County when Noah was seven years old and lived there twenty years. At twenty-seven years of age, Noah, having married in Grant County, left that county and came to Barbour County, Western Virginia, remained there only about six months, coming on westward, arriving in what is now Roane County, in the year 1855. A few yet living remember his flowing red beard, in the years 1890 to 1900.

His first work here was as one of the shingle makers for the roof of the new court house; 1860 he settled on Laurel of left Reedy and became the owner of a farm of sixty acres, increasing this by purchase of another tract adjoining, making a farm there of one hundred and sixteen acres, which he and his family improved to what was known as "a good farm." In the year 1869, he purchased the 163 acre farm on Lick Fork of Spring Creek adjoining the Holswade lands, where he lived nearly all the remainder of his years. Of the family reared by Noah Keplinger we can name here: William Edniond Keplinger, father of Rosa, who is the wife of James Vandevender; Gideon Lee Keplinger, who married Della, daughter of Benjamin Greathouse; Sarah Ann, the wife of Henson Bennett; John Franklin Keplinger, whose wife is Sallie B., a daughter of _______ Scyoc, these have a baby daughter named Catherine Irene; they live in a commodious home on West Main Street, City of Spencer. Bertha Lola, second daughter of Noah Keplinger, was the wife of Benjamin N. Bray; she is now dead, leaving two children: by H. Bray and Zenia Bray.


Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 572-573
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999