BIO: Robert Jones HEPBURN, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ROBERT JONES HEPBURN, whose industry and prudent management in business affairs, and many excellent qualities as a citizen, long ago gained for him the esteem of the people of Bellefonte, Centre county, is a native of Lycoming county, Pann., born Sept. 7, 1822. He is of pioneer stock, his grandfather, John Hepburn, an Irishman by birth, having settled in Lycoming county when that region was as yet but sparsely populated. Samuel Hepburn, the father of our subject, was born there, and spent a long life as a farmer near Jersey Shore, where he was numbered among the leading adherents of the M. E. Church, and took an active interest in politics as a Democrat. He lived to the age of ninety-one years, three months and one day, and his wife, Mary Crawford, who was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish parentage, also attained a good old age, passing away in her eighty-seventh year. Nine children of this estimable couple lived to maturity, viz.: (1) William, who after two years of gallant service in the Union army died a soldier's death at Suffolk, Va.; (2) R. J., our subject; (3) Margaret (deceased), formerly the wife of Ira Martin, of New York State; (4) Mary (Mrs. John Gheent), of Jersey Shore; (5) Martha (deceased), who married Warren Clark, of Limestone Valley; (6) Nancy, now the second wife of Warren Clark; (7) Jane, who married Robert Davidson, of Jersey Shore; (8) Charles, who resides at Lovel Corners, near Jersey Shore; and (9) John, a resident of Linden, Lycoming county. As a farmer's son, Mr. Hepburn had an opportunity to acquire industrious habits in youth. At eighteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and after working at it several years he moved from Lycoming county to Centre county. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 245 Locating at Bellefonte, where since 1844, he has been employed by the Valentine Iron Co., in the fashioning of the wood work required in their business. He is an expert in this line, and for years has done the work of three men. On December 3, 1846, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Wonsley, who was born March 28, 1828, in Monongalia county, W. Va. (then part of the Old Dominion), and came to Bellefonte with her foster parents when she was about eighteen years old. After nearly half a century of wedding life she passed away January 26, 1895. Ten children blessed this union. The first two, the younger of whom was born May 4, 1848, died in infancy. (3) J. W., born July 20, 1851, is a carpenter near Bellefonte; he was married February 4, 1875, to Miss Betty Fall; they have no children. (4) Thompson, born September 29, 1855, was married in September, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Walker; he died May 10, 1886, leaving one daughter, Maude. (5) Ira M., born May 15, 1858, died August 21, 1860. (6) Charles E., born May 4, 1861, died October 17, 1864. (7) Alpheus, born April 12, 1864, a carpenter by trade, married Miss Jennie Cushing, a native of Ohio, born July 4, 1863. (8) Sanford S., born March 12, 1867, died February 24, 1872. (9) Carmina, born June 2, 1870, married Robert Fry, a painter. (10) Samuel E., born November 23, 1872, married Miss Emma J. Bridge, who was born near Bellefonte in January, 1867, and they have two children - Mary E. and Pearl C.; he was formerly in the grocery business but is now a carpenter. Mr. Hepburn has been for many years a member of the M. E. Church, and all his children have followed his worthy example. In his political views he is a Democrat.