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History of the Eppler Family
By Dovie Smith Mitchell Written at San Antonio, Texas, 1921 to 1925 (mostly 1921). George Eppler was the emigrant ancestor, and came from Saxony, Germany, before the French and Indian War, and was at the taking of Quebec by General Wolfe, in 1759. John Eppler was the son of George; Johathan Eppler was John's, and was born in the own of Abbington, Va. (Abingdon). The Eppler's had gone from Pennsylvania to Virginia. Jonathan reared seven sons and two daughters to be grown. One son, William, was bitten by a mad dog and died when twelve years of age. The seven sons who lived to be grown were: Isaac, John, Henry, Marcus, George, Jonathan, and Miles. The two daughters were Ann and Salome, and married two brothers, A.J. and J.M. Speegle. The Epplers went from Virginia to Missouri and settled in Carroll County, where the town of DeWitt now stands, quite and estate. This was sold many years ago for taxes. And the town now stands on land to which the owners have only a tax title. Many years before the Civil War, a number of the Epplers went from Missouri to Arkansas, locating in and near Ft. Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. One son, Henry, never left Missouri. The writer has seen and known descendants of Isaac, John, Henry, Miles, and Ann Eppler Speegle. Has known the descendants of Marcus (Uncle Mac), and of Salome Eppler Speegle. Knows nothing whatever of the families of Jonathan and George. Has been told that George had a number of children, does not remember ever hearing the family of Jonathan mentioned. Isaac Eppler raised a large family, and lost several children before they were grown. His family was reared in and near Ft. Smith, Arkansas. The writer recalls some of the names of the children of Isaac -- who was the writer's great-grandfather -- William, John, Ann, Alec, Miles, and Samuel. Samuel was the youngest of the first wife's children. Then by the second wife, the writer recalls the names as follows: Bennett, Dora, Thomas, Robert, and Susie. The writer has seen Great-uncle Robert, who for many years was editor of a paper at Purcell, Oklahoma. John Eppler reared his family in Scott County, Arkansas. Writer recalls names of following children: Wylie (Wiley), Henry, Ailcie Elizabeth, John, Rufus, Jonathan, and William. All of these raised families except Cousin Willie, the youngest. (Ed. Note: Malcom Marcus and Andrew Murray were also children of John Eppler. Murray died at about age 16, without having married.) Henry Eppler, who never left Missouri, reared a family, two of whose names are known to the writer: Clark and Chalmers. Clark has been dead a number of years; Chalmers lives in Colorado. (Ed. Note: In other sketches, Aunt Dovie mentions Henry's son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Geneva Eppler Shanks.) Marcus Eppler (Marquis) (Uncle Mac) married a Miss Cole the first time, a sister of Lewis Francis Cole, grandfather of the writer. She died in a short time and he married a Miss Shoat (Choate?). (Ed. Note: Another source says she was Miss Martin, married first Mr. Choate, and married second Marcus Eppler.) Two children, Albert and Cynthia, are the only children the writer has heard of in this family to live to be grown. The mother died when the children were small and Uncle Mac raised his children alone. He was dearly loved by my mother and grandmother. Miles Eppler, the youngest of the seven sons and two daughters, of Jonathan, was born 30 June 1830, where the town of DeWitt now stands, in Carroll County, Missouri. He also went to Arkansas, and in an early day left Arkansas and went to Bastrop County, Texas. From there he moved to Cisco, Eastland County, Texas. (ed. note: He married Minerva Awalt?) He reared a large family; the writer has seen one of his grandsons, Jonah Eppler, who now lives in San Antonio,Texas. Ann Eppler Speegle lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She raised five sons and two daughters, names as follows: David, Manuel, John, Jackie, William, Salome, and Margaret. Wiley Speegle, son of David, married Miss Ivy C. Eppler, daughter of Clark Eppler, and grand-daughter of Henry Eppler, who never left Missouri. Wiley Speegle and family are now living in San Antonio, Texas. There are three children: Gilbert, Arthur, and Ivy Hazel. Uncle Henry Eppler was a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, well-known and well-loved. Three of Aunt Ann Speegle's sons are also Cunberland Presbyterian preachers, later going into the union of the two churches, C.P. and U.S.A. Salome Eppler lived for some years in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The writer does not know how many children she had, names of the two known to her: Liza and Susie. Liza married Henry Thomas, and raised a family; never left Arkansas as far as the writer knows. Aunt Salome and Susie went back to Missouri during the Civil War. Isaac Eppler, as has been stated, lived in or near Fort Smith, Arkansas, for many years and reared a family there. He was a cabinet workman of the best. He built both houses and furniture. His honor and honesty were unquestioned. The writer has seen one of the substantial houses he built near Fort Smith so many long years ago. Ann Eppler, daughter of Isaac, was born 24 January 1834, in Missouri, before the family moved to Arkansas. She married, when 16 years of age, Lewis Francis Cole, of Scott County, Arkansas. He was born 21 November 1851, in Scott County, Arkansas. The youngest, William Miles, lived to be 18 years of age, dying 23 May, 1888. Ann Eppler Cole died 31 December 1898, lacking 24 days of being 65 years old. She was buried near Sulphur, Oklahoma . She had made her home with her daughter for 14 years. Lewis Francis Cole died 14 November 1872. He was buried in Scott County, Arkansas. He was a Union soldier during the Civil War. The Cole family to which he belonged was originally from Illinois. These short sketches are given to the best of the writer's ability and with the aid of family records. Will here leave the Eppler and Cole part of the family and take up the Smith side. Abey Singleton Smith was born 18 April 1823, in Tennessee . He went from Tennessee to North Arkansas when but a mere youth; there he met and married a Miss Hannah Dotson when both were in their teens. The Dotsons were people of considerable wealth -- as wealth was considered in those days. As the writer remembers the family story there were four children born to Abey Singleton and Hannah Dotson Smith. The oldest, Joseph James, was born 27 July 1842, in Madison County, Arkansas. The two middle children died in infancy, and the mother died 15 February 1849, leaving Joseph James, a little 7 year old boy and his baby sister Celia Ann. About a year later the father married again; this time he wed a Miss Judy Glenn. They reared seven children, all of whom married and raised families. Their names , in the order of age, are as follows: Mary, Barnett, Lewis, Lottie, Hannah, Martha, and Lily. Celia Ann, baby of the first marriage, married a Mr. Griffith. They raised four children, three sons and a daughter, all of them married. Their names were Wesley, Frank, Laura, and Walter. Abey Singleton moved, some years after his second marriage, to Sebastian County, Arkansas. In early life he became a minister in the Methodist Church and was known and loved by many people. He lived to be nearly ninety years of age. He was buried near the town of Bonanza, about ten miles south of the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Joseph James Smith, oldest of all Abey Singleton's children, married Miss Elizabeth Catherine Cole, daughter of Ann Eppler Cole and Lewis Francis Cole, and grand-daughter of Isaac Eppler, 3 August 1866. To this couple were born nine children, three dying in infancy. There were five boys and four girls. The oldest, who only lived a few hours, Hannah Zennetta Ann. The names of the others, and the dates of their birth, are as follows: Luretta (Etta), b. 17 August 1869 Abey Houston, b. 12 November 1871 Lewis Lee, b. 4 September 1873 Ann Ora, b. 9 October 1876 Ola Dove, b. 7 June 1879 Evert Abigail, b. 11 August 1882 Alvah J., b. 6 February 1885 Edgar Freeman, b. 28 September 1889. Ann Ora died 14 February 1878. Alvah J. died 10 February 1885. Joseph James Smith was converted 25 August 1855, and joined the Methodist Church, to which he belonged until 1875, when he and his wife united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he was ordained an elder at the time of joining. He move d his family to Coryell County, Texas, in May 1876. In 1877 he was taken under the care of the Presbytery (Waco) to study for the ministry. He was licensed to preach by Tehuacana Presbytery in 1884. In November, 1884, he moved his family to the Indian Territory; he being commissioned as a missionary to the Chickasaw Indians commissioned without a salary. He was a missionary four years and did a good work among the Indians; was instrumental in interesting other and younger ministers in the Indian work, causing them to go and help in the Master's work in that country. He had more to do than any other one man in organizing the first Presbytery in the Chickasaw Nation. This Presbytery was called the Chickasaw Presbytery. He was ordain ed by this Presbytery in 1891. After spending about 22 years in the ministry, this good man of God went home to the Master he had served to the best of his ability while on earth. He died 27 January 1899, fifty-six years and six months old the day he died. He was buried in a small cemetery near the town of Sulphur, Oklahoma. He was a Confederate soldier during the entire period of the Civil War. Elizabeth Catherine Cole Smith was converted in September, 1877, and joined the Methodist Church to which her husband belonged. In 1875 they both united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and she remained in that church until the Union was consummated in 1906, when, still loyal to the doctrines and principles of her church and to the General Assembly of the church, she went with it to the Union with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. She was a faithful wife, ever encouraging and helping her husband in his work, and teaching and training her children in the right way, during his long absences from home, in those pioneer days in the Indian Territory. Hers was a lonely life in those days; many hardships were hers to bear, which many times seemed too much for her strength. She had always a strong and abiding faith in her Savior, and on 17 September 1918, she laid all her burdens down and went to join her husband, little ones and other dear ones, and the Savior she so loved. She was buried in the Snyder Cemetery, Snyder, Scurry county, Texas. The six children of this worthy couple who lived to maturity, and all married, are as follows: Etta, Abey, Lewis, Dovie, Evert, and Edgar. Etta Smith married Robert Wright 23 January 1887. They had ten children, all of whom are living at this date; the youngest eleven years old. Their names, in order of age as follows: Alvah McKay, William Miles, Lizzie, Joseph Benjamin, Claude Manford, Ina, Amzie Henry Houston, Carrie Christine, J.C., and Leroy David. Mr. Wright died in 1913. He was buried in the cemetery at the town of Daugherty, Oklahoma. Alvah Wright married Dolly Stanton; they have two boys, Miles Wright married Georgia Goldsbury; they have two little Lizzie Wright married Roy Owens; they have no children. Jo Wright married Jewelle Harrison; they have one boy, Arnold. Ina Wright married Jim Bacon; they had two little girls, lost both of them when less than two years old; their names were Pauline and Eunice. Abey Houston Smith married Clara Launis Eppler, 8 September 1895. She is the daughter of Wylie (Wiley) Eppler, who was the son of Reba Singleton Smith married Ruth Eleanore Bigbee, 24 November 1921. Arlie Bernice Smith married Ortell Smith at Luling, Texas, on 11 October 1925. Alsie Iris Smith married Thomas Earl Thorp, 25 May 1919, at Fort Worth, Texas. They have one child, Margaret Margaret Lucille, who was born 13 February 1921, at Balmorhea, Reeves County, Texas. Don Wayland Smith married Pauline Poston, 1 January 1925, near Dundee, Texas. Lewis Lee Smith married Mary Susan Garrett, 13 July 1892. They have had six children: Rennie Jane, Lucy Clara, Lala May, Stella, Wesley, James Augustus, and Albert Homer. All are living except James Augustus, who died May, 1906, nine months old . Rennie Smith married Richard Williams; they have two boys, Raymond and Whitney. Lucy Smith married Albert McCown; they have five children: Ola May, Nola June, Sherman, Austin, and Noble. Dovie Smith married James C. Mitchell, 12 July 1904. They had one son, Roy Stanley, born 8 January 1906, died 16 February 1906, one month and 8 days old. Evert Smith married Grace McCandless, 24 September 1905; they have three children: James Sumner, Ruby Catherine, John Warren. Sumner is 15 years old at this writing -- the two others are younger than he. Edgar Smith married Bessie Buchanan, 24 September 1913. They have no children. Of the four sons, Abey is a contractor and builder, Lewis is a farmer, Evert a barber, and Edgar a lawyer, who has served two terms as Assistant Attorney General of Texas. Etta's husband was a farmer, and Dovie's husband a paint contractor and decorator. So far as can be learned from all sources, not a criminal in all the great number of people in the connection. None were very famous, but all were moral and Christian people to date, some of them very strict church people. It is the hope of the writer that all of the descendents of the people herein named as yet living may be honorable, upright, and Christian people. There were mechanics, lawyers, doctors, farmers, merchants and preachers among our ancestors and relations, but it almost seems that preachers predominate. And the favorite church seems to be the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the days before the Union, but many have scattered to other churches since. This is written to the best of my knowledge and ability and I sincerely hope it may be of interest and help to future generations of my brothers and sisters descendents. The writer is making six copies of these sketches, one for each family of the six brothers and sisters. The wording may not be the same exactly in each one but the facts are the same in all. Dovie Smith Mitchell Appendage: Facts regarding the family of Abey Houston Smith interpolated by his son, Reba Singleton Smith, in copying, 2 November 1925. Copied by Margaret Curtis Boyce, daughter of Sadie Louise Eppler (Mrs. James O. Curtis), second daughter of Cecelia Cannon and Harmon Rufus Eppler. 17 November 1925. (Note: handwritten into margin -- "I lost my copy. Got this from John L. Eppler, who got it from Mrs. Boyce.") Aunt Dovie wrote many letters, and a few other family history sketches, in the decade of 1920-1930. She did very little additional research, so far as I know, in later years. She died 24 August 1954, at 1218 Paso Hondo St., San Antonio, Texas. Her husband, James Crawford Mitchell, had died there, 18 May 1932. They are both buried in the old cemetery on East Commerce Street, in San Antonio. I have copied this again, after a lapse of more than 46 years, in order to include it in the greatly expanded family history and charts which have been gradually assembled in recent years. Some of the facts regarding the early family have had to be corrected in the light of later research, particularly since Census records have been made available, but, generally, Aunt Dovie's "History" is very sound and accurate, up to the date of her writing. Reba Singleton Smith
LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS The following sketch of the Dotson family was also written by Aunt Dovie Smith Mitchell, and dated December 14, 1925. INCOMPLETE SKETCH OF DOTSON FAMILY HISTORY. The first two named are great-uncles of the father of the writer of this sketch. W.H. Dotson, Park Hill, Oklahoma;D.C. Now to our own branch of the Dotson family as information was given to the writer. W.A. Dotson, Wharton, Arkansas, wrote that his folks all went from East Tennessee, either McMinn or Rhea county, to Madison county Arkansas. His great- grandfather, William S. Dotson, located in what is now Madison county when Arkansas was yet a territory. Stephen Dotson, son of William S. was the first man to enter land in that part of Madison county after Arkansas came into the Union in 1836. Many of the descendants of William S. yet live in that part of Arkansas. Two of his sons, Jeff and Noah came to Texas in an early day and it is not known where they died, it is thought some of their descendants are still in this state, though the writer has failed to locate any of them. Sketch given by D.C. Dotson, Braggs, Oklahoma not given in his exact words but all facts straight as he gave them. His grandfather came to America prior to the Revolutionary war. Could not give his first name. He was Scotch-Irish and English descent and is supposed to have come from the British Isles, just where from is not known. William S. was this man's son. He was born about 1765 in the Cherokee Purchase of North Carolina. He had French and Indian (Cherokee) blood mixed with his Scotch-Irish. His mother's name was either Smith, Spencer or Bowen and she was related to all three families. Had Indian blood. Her given name was Jintz. William S. died in 1861. He was twice married. Went to Arkansas when the Indians left Tennessee about 1828. He was the father of 14 children. The first set all born in Tennessee. Names as follows: Allen, Fountain, Jeff, Edmondson, Arch, Noah, John, James, one daughter named Jintz. Second set of children born in Arkansas. Names: W.H., B.E., G.R., D.C. and Nancy. Twelve sons and two daughters in all. Name of first wife unknown. Name of second wife, Clearcy Cook, she was a young girl of 22 when he married her, he was 71 or 72 at time of second marriage. He was the owner of land and slaves. Information given by W.H. and D.D. Dotsons, sons of Williams S. by the second marriage and who were living in 1924. Arch Dotson, son of William S. by first wife, was twice married, name of first wife, Mary Italy, name of second wife, Kate Bolin. (Aunt Celia Griffith wrote that she was named for her grandmother, if so Celia was one of her names, as the Celia in Aunt Celia's name was for her.) Names of all the first set of Arch Dotson's children are not known, but these given: Fountain, William, Hannah and Polly. Names of second set according to age, Lambard, Nancy and Jim. Hannah Dotson, daughter of Arch Dotson, married Abey Singleton Smith. They had 4 children. Two middle ones died in infancy, William and Sarah. (Aunt Celia gave their names to the writer.) Joseph James Smith, oldest child of Hannah Dotson Smith, was born July 27th, 1842. Died January 27, 1899. The youngest child of Hannah Dotson Smith is yet living, Mrs. Celia Ann Griffith, Huntington, Arkansas. She is 76 years old. Arch Dotson was wealthy prior to the Civil War, but W.H. Dotson wrote to this writer that his wealth was all gone before he died. Writer could not get date of his birth and death. It possibly could be secured from Mrs. Emma Phillips, or Mrs. Matilda Phillipses, or Mr. Doc Dotson, Huntsville, Arkansas, or Mrs. Amanda Smithson, Park Hill, Oklahoma. These names were given to the writer but she did not write to them. Information from D.C. Dotson, Braggs, Oklahoma: Arch Dotson, son of William S. and father of Hannah Dotson Smith, was about 5'4" high and weighed about 160\. Complexion dark, eyes dark, almost black; hair black. --- William S. father of Arch, 5'7", weight 390\. Was operated on twice, first in North Carolina and then in Tennessee to remove excess fat. He had dark complexion, dark eyes, black hair.--- W.H., son of William S., full six feet high, complexion light, black hair, light gray eyes. Weight when in good health 185\. Is growing feeble now. 78 years old. --- David Crockett, (D.C.) son of William S., height 5'5", weight 173\. Complexion fair, gray eyes, black hair, just beginning to turn gray. 71 years old. W.H. Dotson's full name is William Hugh. These two are the only full names given of William S. Dotson's children's names. --- Joseph James Smith, son of Hannah Dotson Smith, grandson of Arch Dotson, great-grandson of William S. was 5'5" high, weight about 149\. Very fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair, reddish brown beard. The various letters the writer has received gives the general idea that the Dotson family in America began in Virginia. But none could give name of first to come over to this country. All the Dotsons were reputed to be wealthy before the Civil War, owning land and slaves. Some are wealthy now. W.H., son of William S. said in a letter to this writer that after the Civil War his mother had two letters from Washington, asking her about the Indian blood in the family and the name of the first wife of William S. But she could not give the information asked for. He said if the writer of this sketch would write to Washington, D.C. and ask for an examination of the old Cherokee rolls, much information about the Dotsons could be obtained. The writer has left that for some one else to do. In all probability though, the name of the first Dotson to come to America could be obtained in that way. Hope some younger member of the family will take the matter up and see what can be learned. E.M. Dotson, Beaumont, Texas, gave quite a bit of information about his father's family. He spoke of the great number of the Dotsons and said: "the Dotsons are a numerous family and not a black sheep among them." H.P. Dotson this city, said he knew of the Indian blood in the family. Aunt Celia Griffith wrote that she had always known of the French and Indian blood in her grandfather's family. Some later information about the Eppler part of our family. The writer had a letter in January 1924, from Rev. W.A. Galt of Decatur, Illinois. His mother was Margaret Ann Eppler. (He spelled the name with only one P.) Her is what he wrote: "Our branch of the Eppler family is as follows: Adam Eppler came from a part of Europe which was Swiss territory by taken by the Germans. A son rather than serve in the German Army came to America. His name was Adam and he came in 1734. Located in Pennsylvania. His son, John Eppler, served in the Revolutionary war and received a commission as lieutenant. Lived in Pennsylvania. His son Abraham, or Abram, moved to Kentucky in 1797. In 1800 moved to what is now Clark county, Indiana and in 1832 moved to Illinois. His son George, born March 8, 1811, lived and died in Illinois. He was my grandfather, I can remember seeing him. His daughter, Margaret Ann Eppler was my mother. She was born in Morgan county, Illinois July 30th, 1841. Died September 24th, 1923. "In 1913 my sister and my aunt, Mother's sister, Mrs. J.K. Knudson, of Farmingdale, Illinois, had a history printed in book form. In it I fin d in a letter written by Dr. F.G. Eppler: When traveling in Europe recently---When Louis 14th of France took many small German Principalities Alsace with others, along the Rhine in 1679-1680, the EPPLER family were driven out and robbed of their possessions and scattered in various parts of Europe. In the family traditions it was held that the name was formerly Alppler, or Appler, signifying Alpine hunters or climbers. --- Esq. Ammeral, of West Leesport, Pennsylvania, sexton and organist of the Eppler Church in Bern township, Berks county, Pennsylvania has written me that the name Eppler and Appler occur interchangeable in the county records. ---My cousin, Miss Mabel Eppler, who has lived many years in Munich, met a Gen. Eppler in Heidelburg, he was an old man. His father was also and Army officer. They were Saxon. --- In the year book "Who's who in America" the name of Rev. Percy Eppler, son of Judge Cyrus Eppler, of Jacksonville, Illinois is to be found. His father and my mother were cousins. --- My grandfather had brothers: Isaac, Jacob, David, John and Abram. Sisters: Elizabeth, Nancy, Catherine, Sarah and Mary. --- I am named for my uncle, John William Eppler, on that side, and Andrew, for my father's uncle who was then a missionary in China. --- There is an Eppler block in Seattle, Washington. Epplers who went from Jacksonville, and Virginia, Illinois." The writer has copied the forgoing sketch just as Mr. Galt wrote it to her. He sent the writer pictures of himself, mother, aunt, and four of his sisters. All are fine looking people. One sister a missionary in China, one a missionary in Siam. All are Presbyterians. Further information has been received through talking with Mrs. Geneva Shanks, daughter of Henry Eppler. Henry was a brother of Isaac, John, Mac, Jonathan, George, Miles, etc. He never left Missouri. Was a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. Mrs. Shanks is the youngest child of Henry Eppler and at this writing is visiting her niece, Mrs. Ivy Eppler Speegle, this city. Mrs. Speegle is a daughter of Clark Eppler, they are mentioned in a former sketch sent out by this writer. Mrs. Shanks is from Mexico City where she has been a teacher for many years. She is a highly cultured lady. It is a pleasure to talk with her. She is a blond, but reminds the writer of her grandmother, Ann Eppler Cole, they are first cousins. mrs. Shanks has a brother living in Oklahoma. Jonathan Eppler, Cyril, Oklahoma, who she says can give much more information than she can about the family. His son George has an Eppler family tree. He lives in Oklahoma. Address unknown to Mrs. Shanks. Mrs. Shanks says the Epplers are all proud of their blood, knowing they have a good line all the way back. Her father told her, once long ago, and again when she was visiting him from Mexico, that the Epplers are descendants of a Prince of Wrtenburg, Germany. She said he knew all the particulars and explained it carefully to her, and why she did not write it down she could not tell. The Epplers are proud, high-stung and quick tempered, there have been family quarrels from time immemorial. Her father quarrelled with his father about slavery, left home when a young man and never saw his father and many of the other members of the family again. She says her brother Jonathan says there is no Indian blood in our branch of the family. An Eppler married and Indian somewhere in the past but our branch does not descend from him. He says the dark skin, hair and eyes of so many Epplers comes from the old Roman blood. That when the Romans overran that part of the world in the long ago, they inter-married with some of the German people and we are descendants of the Roman-German marriage. The blond Epplers show the German strain of blood, the dark ones the Roman blood. The Germans -- pureblood -- are a blond people. Mrs. Shanks says her father was born in Frankfort, Kentucky and that it was there his little brother William, was bitten by the mad dog. She is a widow. Has no children living. Had a daughter and a son, lost both when they were small. She is 68 years old, looks to be about fifty. This sketch is written by Dovie Smith Mitchell. Daughter of Joseph James Smith and Elizabeth Catherine Cole Smith. Grand-daughter of Lewis Francis Cole and Ann Eppler Cole. Grand-daughter of Abey Singleton Smith and Hannah Dotson Smith. Great-grand-daughter of Isaac Eppler. Great-grand-daughter of Arch Dotson. Great-great-grand-daughter of Jonathan Eppler. Great-great-grand-daughter of William S. Dotson. Great-great-great-grand-daughter of John Eppler. So much wish the names of the grandmothers could be given too. December 14th, 1925 1218 Paso Hondo Street, San Antonio, Texas._
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