L E P E R E     F A M I L Y

 

Compiled by Robert Buecher, 5400 Pernod Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63139-1537

E-mail:  rgb7847@aol.com

[revised:  23 August 2007]

 

[This information corrects and updates the family sketch that was published on page 380 of the HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IL, VOLUME 1, published in 1988]

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Johann Philipp LEPERE was an early settler and longtime farmer in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, Illinois.  He was born on Wednesday, 13 April 1785 in Steinweiler, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany and was baptized on 17 April 1785 in Steinweiler by the protestant minister [1].  His parents were Bernhard LEPER and his wife, Maria Magdalena, nee HAUCK.

 

Steinweiler is a small village located between Landau and Kandel in the “Landkreis” [County] of Germersheim.  Steinweiler is 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) west of the Rhine [Rhein] River and 22 kilometers northwest of the city of Karlsruhe.  In July 1993 after the reunification of Germany, its postal code number was “76872 Steinweiler”.  The Evangelical Church records for Steinweiler are included with the records of the “Evangelische-Reformierte Kirche of Rohrbach”.  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, have filmed these records from 1694-1804.

 

The marriage of “Jean Philipp LEPERE” to “Anna Cath. NUSS” occurred on Tuesday, 6 November 1804 and is recorded in the records of the Evangelical Church of Erlenbach [2].  Little else is known about Anna Catharina except that she was the mother of at least 8 children born between 1805 and April 1818 in Erlenbach.  She probably died in Erlenbach sometime after April 1818 but certainly before 1824.

 

Erlenbach is a small village located between Landau and Kandel in the "Landkreis" [County] of Germersheim.  Erlenbach is a neighboring village to Steinweiler and only about 4 kilometers away.

 

The second wife of Johann Philipp LEPERE was Margaretha SUTTER, also a native of Erlenbach, who was born ca. 1793.  The marriage probably took place in 1823 or 1824 at Erlenbach  [3].  The second marriage produced one child, Peter LEPERE, born in Nov. 1824.

 

It is believed that the LEPERE family settled in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, Illinois, sometime in 1835 or early 1836.  No ship passenger list has yet been located for them  [4], but many other German immigrants who settled in St. Clair County arrived at the port of New Orleans and then traveled by boat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where they journeyed overland to St. Clair County.

 

So far, no record has been found that documents Johann Philipp LEPERE ever becoming a naturalized United States citizen. 

 

The earliest record that has been found of this family in St. Clair County, Illinois, is a deed dated 8 April 1836 for land that Johann Philipp LEPERE bought in Section 22 of Stookey Township from Wm. Duckworth.  There is also recorded the marriage of a daughter, Elisabetha Maria LEPERE who married Friedrich LINDAUER in St. Clair County on 21 July 1836  [5].

 

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    The 1840 Census of St. Clair County, IL; page 253, numbers the LEPERE family as:

 

              "John P. LEPERE"    [head of the house]

 

           1 male, 15-20 years       [son, Peter, born 1824]

           1 male, 20-30 years       [son, Johann Georg, born 1810]

           1 male, 50-60 years       [husband & father, Johann Philipp, b. 1785]

           1 female, 40-50 years    [2nd wife, Margaretha, b. ca. 1793]

 

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The LEPERE family were early members of Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, Illinois, which had been founded in January 1836 south of Millstadt, by Pastor Johann Jacob RIESS [6].  Later the family were members of Concordia Evangelical Church when it was founded ca. 1851 in Stookey Township  [7].

 

The 1850 Census of St. Clair County, IL [Roll 126; District 11, Centreville (Millstadt area); page 260 handwritten number; family # 2022] lists the Johann Philipp LEPERE family as:

 

                LEPIER, John P.      66  M  farmer      Germany

                        Margaretta       56   F                   Germany

 

No children are found residing with them, although 3 are listed living near them in the census:

 

            family 2021  Margaretta SINGER [ZAENGER] born 1812

            family 2023  Peter LEPIER [LEPERE] born 1824

            family 2024  George LEPIER [LEPERE] born 1810

 

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In the 1860 Census [Roll 224; St. Clair Co., IL; Stookey Township (Township 1 North, Range 9 West); page 405; family # 862] Johann Philipp LEPERE and his 2nd wife, Margaretha, were living with their son Peter and his family:

 

           family # 862  LEPERE, Peter                 age 35              born Germany

                                                Louisa              age 30              born Germany

                                                Margareth        age 10              born Illinois

                                                Louisa              age 8                born Illinois

                                                Peter                age 6                born Illinois

                                                Charlotte          age 5                born Illinois

                                                Jacob               age 3                born Illinois

                                                Philip P.            age 1                born Illinois

                                                Phillip               age 77              born Germany

                                                Margaret          age 60              born Germany   [NOTE 1]

                                    STEFFER, Henry         age 30              born Germany

 

           NOTE 1: her age was probably 66 NOT 60.

 

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Several months after this census, his second wife, Margaretha, died.  Her burial record at Concordia United Church of Christ, Stookey Township, stated that she died on Wednesday, 24 October 1860 on the farm of her son, Peter LEPERE [in Stookey Twp.] and that her age was 67 years, 4 months, and 12 days.  This would make her birthdate “12 June 1793”.  She was buried on 25 October 1860, probably in Concordia Cemetery, although the church death record does not give the name of the cemetery.

 

Sometime after 1863, the Peter LEPERE family moved to St. Louis County, Missouri. Peter’s father, Johann Philipp LEPERE, who was then close to 80 years old, moved with them.  The family is listed as follows in the 1870 Census [Roll 808; St. Louis, Mo.; Central Township; page 186 (written no.); Dwelling no. 1103; Family No. 1160]:

 

 

           LEPERE, Peter             age 46  M         Farmer             born Bavaria

                        Louisa              age 40  F          Housekeeper    born France

                        Peter                age 16  M                                 born Ills.

                        Louisa              age 17  F                                  born Ills.

                        Charlotte          age 14  F                                  born Ills.

                        Jacob               age 13  M                                 born Ills.

                        Philip                age 11  M                                 born Ills.

                        Edward            age 7    M                                 born Ills.

           KOESTER, Henry        age 19  M   Farm laborer          born Hesse Cassel

                        Charles             age 40  M   Farm laborer          born Prussia

           LEPERE, John P.          age 87  M   Farmer                   born Bavaria

 

 

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There is a “Proof of Death” record [8]  filed by Peter LEPERE on 16 April 1872 which states that his father, "John Phillip Lepere" aged about 92 years, died "on or about the 22d. [Thursday] day of February A. D. 1872" at St. Louis County, Mo.  His place of burial is presently unknown.

 

The will of Johann Philipp LEPERE gives all his property, both real and personal, to his youngest son, Peter Lepere.  The will was written on May 24, 1861 when Johann Philipp LEPERE was age 77.  It was entered into probate on April 16, 1872  [9] and was copied from the original by Robert Buecher in December 1993.

 

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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN PHILLIP LEPERE DECEASED

 

 

    In the name of God, Amen:  I, John Philipp Lepere, of the County of St. Clair, and State of Illinois, of the age of Seventy seven years, and being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, in manner following, that is to say:

 

    I give and devise to my youngest son, Peter Lepere, all my personal property, and also all of my real estate, consisting of the South West quarter of the North West quarter of Section Twenty two (22) Township One (1) North Range Nine (9) West [Stookey Township].

 

    And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Son Peter Lepere as some executor of this my last will and testament, without security.

 

    I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.

 

                                                Jh. Ph. Lepere

 

    The above instrument, consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof, signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said said John Phillipp Lepere, as and for his last will and testament, in presence of us, and in presence of each other, who at his request, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

 

            Theodore Dauth   )

            Seb Fietsam      )   residing in Belleville

 

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The following 8 children were born to Johann Philipp LEPERE & his first wife, Anna Catharina, nee NUSS:

 

1A.  Margaretha Catharina LEPERE

            born:  1 March 1805 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  between 1844 & 1846 in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, IL

            married:  Peter George VOGT on 28 Dec. 1826 at Erlenbach

 

2A.  Catharina Marie LEPERE

            born: 13 June 1806 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  after the 1860 census

            married:  Jacob CONRAD on 14 June 1850 by the pastor of Zion Evangelical Church,                         Millstadt, IL

 

3A.  Johann Philipp LEPERE

            born:  12 May 1808 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  3 March 1871 in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, IL

            married:  Christina EBEL on 24 August 1837 in the Millstadt area by the pastor of Zion                         Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL

 

4A.  Johann George LEPERE

            born:  20 Sept. 1810 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  10 August 1866 in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, IL

            married:  (# 1)  Christina WAGNER on 6 April 1843 in St. Clair County, IL

                          (# 2)  Mariah Barbara BIRKNER on 9 April 1847 by the pastor of Zion                                             Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL

 

5A.  Esther Margaretha LEPERE

            born:  17 May 1812 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  ca. 1851-1853 Stookey Township, St. Clair County, IL

            married:  Christoph ZAENGER before 1836

 

6A.  Jacob LEPERE

            born:  9 May 1814 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  11 April 1846 in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, IL

            married:  Katharina WAGNER on 25 Feb. 1840 by the pastor of Zion Evangelical                                Church, Millstadt, IL

 

7A.  Elisabetha Maria LEPERE

            born:  17 November 1815 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  31 January 1853 near Millstadt, IL

            married:  Friedrich LINDAUER on 21 July 1836 by the pastor of Zion Evangelical                    Church, Millstadt, IL

 

8A.  Eva M. LEPERE

            born:  11 April 1818 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  unknown

            marriage:  unknown

 

The follwing son was the only child born to Johann Philipp LEPERE & his second wife, Margaretha, nee SUTTER.

 

1B.  Peter LEPERE

            born:  24 Nov. 1824 at Erlenbach, (Germersheim), Germany

            died:  27 August 1900 at De Peres, St. Louis County, MO

            married:  Louisa FRANTZ on 24 April 1848 by the pastor of Zion Evangelical                          Church, Millstadt, IL

 

 

 


[1]  Evangelische Kirche, Steinweiler (Kreis Germersheim); “Taufen” (Baptisms), 1785.  Microfilm # 193,132.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

[2]  Evangelische-Reformierte Kirche, Erlenbach (Kreis Germersheim);  “Heiraten” (Marriages), 1804  [top of page is marked “1804 - XIII ”].  Microfilm # 193,838.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

[3]  The marriage records for Erlenbach for the years 1823-1838 are missing and could not be researched.

[4]  There are many missing New Orleans passenger ship lists for the years 1835 and 1836.

[5]  Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL;  Marriage Records, 1836

[6]  Zion Evangelical Church was the first Evangelical church founded in St. Clair County.  The first service was held on January 17, 1836 in the log cabin home of Johannes Freivogel.  The first church was built of logs in 1837 and located south of Millstadt near the intersection of the Douglas Road and the Saxtown Road.  Johannes Freivogel donated the ground where the church was built.  Farmer Johann Nicholas Schmahlenberger donated a plot of ground near the church which was dedicated in 1837 as the Freivogel Cemetery.  Zion’s second church was of brick construction and located in the 100 block of West White Street in Millstadt.  It was dedicated on  Sunday, May 11,  1851 and used until a third church was built in 1863.  Zion Church has baptism records that start in 1835;  marriage and death records that start in 1836;  and confirmation records that begin in 1866.

[7]  The 1945 centennial history of Concordia Church indicates that the church developed from a “School and Meeting house [called] Concordia” which in Nov. 1845 bought 1  1/2 acres to be used as a cemetery.  The first church was built of brick and dedicated in June 1851.  The church has baptism, marriage, and death records which start in 1851 and confirmations which start in 1866.

[8]  PROOF OF DEATHS, BOOK A, 1870-1879, page 93, no. 370 filed with the Clerk of St. Clair County, IL.

[9]  “Will Record of St. Clair County, Ill.”;  Book F, page 212.