Lepley Family History

Janelle's mother was Jane Alice Taylor, who was born to Paul Daniel Hines, and Irene Belle Mankamyer.

Irene was the daughter of Josiah Mankamyer and Ida Belle Bittner, who was born to Nathaniel Bittner and Lydia Lepley.

-- But the story doesn't end here. Ida died in 1898, and when Josiah remarried in 1902, Janelle's grandmother, Irene, went to live with Lydia Lepley's sister, Alice Lepley-Blume, who was married to William H. Blume. Then in 1923 William and Alice legally adopted Irene.

-- Thus began our Mankamyer ~ Bittner, and Lepley ~ Blume relationships.


Hans Michael Läpple

-- Janelle's maternal 6th great grandparents were Hans Michael Läpple and Margaretha Ursula from Diefenbach, Württemberg, Germany.


Hans Michael never made it to Colonial America. Hans Michael died November 18th 1750. After Hans died, Margaretha Ursula married Adam Schatzmann August 24th 1751.

Margaretha, and her new husband, immigrated to America with her childen from her 1 st husband, Hans Michael Läpple: Dorothea, Agnes Dorothea, Johann Michael, Johann Jacob, Johann Adam, and Maria Barbara.

The ship was called Windsor, commanded by Captain James Good. It set sail from Rotterdam via Cowes England, and landed in Philadelphia on September 27th 1753. The family settled in Eastern Pennsylvania.

-- Michael was killed by the Indians at Bloody Run, now Everett in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He had three sons. Michael Lebele belonged to the state militia serving at Fort Freeland, Pa. where he was slain by Indians during a mission to milk cows outside of the fort.

In Northumberland County, Pa. records at Sunbury, Pa. we found the original application of Mary Anne, widow of Michael Leipley asking for help because of Michael's death. She states that he was killed by the Indians on April 16th 1779 near Fort Freeland and was aged 41 years.

-- The other son, Jacob, had seven sons and four daughters, and they moved to Ohio.


The Lepley family has a rich German lineage, and is another large influence on Janelle's German heritage. What follows is Janelle's Colonial Pennsylvania Lepley family line.

-- Here's a research paper on Johann Adam Lepley (1745-1831), and the family directory.

-- Here's a research paper on the history of the Läpple Family, and the family directory.


Johann Adam Lepley

-- Janelle's maternal 5th great grandparents were Johann Adam Lepley and Barbara Bucherin.


Johann Adam Lepley was born and christened February 3rd 1748 in Stuttgart, Germany. He went by the name of Adam Lebele.

-- Adam became a pioneer and settled in present day Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Somerset was formed out of Bedford county in 1795, and was considered the wild open west.


Adam married Barbara Bucherin on March 14th 1773 in a Lutheran Church in Frederick County Maryland. She was born May 29th 1755 to Peter Bucher (Bucherin) in Cumberland County (present day Bedford county).

-- Janelle's maternal 6th great grandfather was Peter Bucher (Bucherin).

-- Peter Bucher emigrated on the ship "Loyal Judith" September 3rd 1739 from Strassburger Germany.

-- The marriage record from the Lutheran Church of Frederick, Maryland reads, "Adam Lebele, the late Michael Lebele's legitimate son, to Barbara Bugherin, Peter Bucher's legitimate single daughter, both of Frederick Co., Maryland, Proc. 3rd , 7th and 14th of March, married March 14th 1773, Oculi Sunday."

-- Note that the Proc. were formal announcements of the impending wedding giving people the opportunity to show cause why the two should not be joined.

-- This is reported to be the Lepley Family that dates back to 17th century Germany.


The entire family as well as Adam's brother, and sisters, moved to Ohio about 1806. Their son Adam (Adam II) remained in Somerset County, Pennsylvania where he owned a considerable tract of land.

Adam was 86 years, 6 months, and 20 days old when he died August 26th 1831. Barbara was 87 years, and 19 days old when she died April 17th 1842. Adam and Barbara were both laid to rest in the Bethel Cemetery in Knox County Ohio.

Adam Lepley and Barbara Bucher had nine children.

i. Adam Lepley II (1776-1853)

ii. Peter Lepley was born March 15th 1774. In 1810 he lived in Brothers Valley, Somerset County Pennsylvania.

iii. John Jacob Lepley. In 1810 he lived in Brothers Valley, Somerset County Pennsylvania.

iv. John Michael Lepley.<

v. Catherine Lepley.

vi. Joseph Lepley was born May 8th 1788.

vii. George Lepley

vii. John Lepley

ix. Elizabeth Lepley was born 1797. She was christened March 15th 1797 at Salt Lick Township, Good Hope Lutheran Church in Fayette County Pennsylvania. Elizabeth married Jacob Baker March 21st 1816.

Adam Lepley II

-- Janelle's maternal 4th great grandparents were Adam Lepley II and Elizabeth Horn.


Adam Lepley was born August 5th 1776 to Johann Adam Lepley and Barbara Bucher near Willard's Gap in Larimer Township area of Bedford County Pennsylvania. In 1790 Adam and his family lived in Bedford County, which in 1795 became Somerset County.

Adam married Elizabeth Horn on August 8th 1798. Elizabeth was born July 26th 1870. The family lived in present day Londonderry and Southampton Township Somerset County Pennsylvania.

-- Here's a biography on the Korn Family.

-- Here are photos of Michael Korn and his wife, and their family farm.


Adam became a prominent man in the community, and was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Governor and served in this capacity for twenty-five years. He also was a farmer, blacksmith, and a gunsmith, known for his fine silver inlays.

Adam died March 7th 1853, and Elizabeth died at 82 years old in 1862. They both were laid to rest in the Lepley Cemetery in Southampton Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

Adam and Elizabeth Lepley had eleven children.

i. Daniel Lepley was born August 12th 1799. He moved to Greenville Township Somerset County. Daniel married Elizabeth Beal. Daniel died March 7th 1892.

ii. Jacob Lepley was born June 7th 1801.

iii. Valentine Felty Lepley (1803 - 1894). He 1st married Lydia Beal, and 2nd to Maria Baker.

iv. Johannah Lepley was born February 2nd 1805. She married Michael Korns Jr. Johanna died January 8th 1894.

v. Catherine Lepley was born September 18th 1807. She lived with her mother and never married.

vi. Susannah Lepley was born June 3rd 1810.

vii. Joseph Lepley was born November 26th 1812. He married Delilah Beal. Joseph died January 18th 1878.

viii. Adam Lepley III was born March 5th 1821. He married Sarah. He died in 1903 and was laid to rest in the Lepley Cemetery.

ix. Barbara Lepley was born December 28th 1824.

x. Harmon Horn Lepley

xi. Amanda Lepley


Valentine Lepley (1803 - 1894)

-- Janelle's maternal 3rd great grandparents were Valentine Lepley and his 2nd wife, Maria Baker.


Valentine Felty Lepley was born April 3rd 1803 to Adam Lepley II and Elizabeth Korn in Wellersburg, Southampton Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Valentine was named after Elizabeth’s father, Valentine Korn.

Valentine married Lydia Beal, who was born May 20th 1810 to John Beal (1781-1825) and Mary Magdalene Korn.

-- The Beal, Korn, and Lepley families are intertwined.


The Valentine and Lydia Lepley family lived in present day Londonderry and Southampton Townships, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. It would be in this area where Lydia Beal-Lepley, at 30 years, 10 months, and 9 days old, died on March 22nd 1841; shortly after the birth of her son Simon.

Lydia was laid to rest in the Lepley Cemetery in Southampton Township, Somerset County. Her headstone had this inscription; Valentine “I live & your son lives too”

Valentine Lepley and his 1st wife Lydia Beal had 8 children.

i. Dennis B. Lepley was born January 6th 1830. He died August 3rd 1831.

ii. Josiah Valentine Lepley was born August 1st 1831. He married Missouri Ohley.

iii. Elizabeth (Betsy) Lepley was born November 23rd 1832. She married Dennis Cook.

iv. Hannah Lepley was born November 30th 1834.

v. Susanna Lepley was born August 1st 1836. She married Adam Troutman.

vi. John H. Lepley was born November 5th 1837. He married Susannah Reiber.

vii. Jacob Lepley was born May 5th 1839, and died in 1864.

viii. Simon Lepley was born July 29th 1840, and died February 20th 1846.


About 1843 Valentine remarries to Maria Baker. Maria was born June 23rd 1823 to John Baker and Mary Polly Albright in Southampton Township, Somerset County.

-- Janelle's maternal 4th great grandparents were John Baker and Mary Polly Albright.


Valentine and Maria continued to live on the Lepley farm, where Maria died at 61 years old on March 4th 1884.

in Southampton Township Somerset County Pennsylvania. she was laid to rest in the Lepley Cemetery.

Valentine died August 8th 1894 in Southampton Township Somerset County Pennsylvania. He was laid to rest nect to hios wife in the Lepley Cemetery.

Valentine Lepley and Maria Baker had 8 children.

i. Lydia Lepley was born November 29th 1844. She married Nathaniel Bittner. Lydia died September 14th 1914, and was laid to rest in the White Oak Church Cemetery.
  -- Janelle's maternal 2nd great grandparents were Nathaniel Bittner and Lydia Lepley.

ii. Daniel Valentine Lepley was born February 10th 1846

iii. Amos Lepley was born June 14th 1847, and died April 16th 1863

iv. Lavina Lepley was born May 1848. She married Joe Shoemaker

v. Augustus Lepley was born August 8th 1851. He married Minerva Bittner. Augusts was 37 years, 1 month and 7 days old when he died September 11th 1888. He was laid to rest at the White Oak Cemetery in Larimer Township Somerset County Pennsylvania.

vi. Eleanor Lepley was born June 16th 1853. She married Jesse Kennel who died in March 1908

vii. Millard F. Lepley was born August 6th 1856. He married Emma Burkett

viii. Alice Lepley was born March 29th 1858 to Valentine Lepley and Maria Baker. Alice married William Blume. Alice died December 21st 1932 in York, York County Pennsylvania. She was laid to rest in Lot 10 of the White Oak Church Cemetery in Larimer Township, Somerset County.