Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion, Ralls and Pike Counties, 
Missouri, 1895,  C. O. Owen & Co., Chicago, pp. 637-638.  Jessamine Co.

William W. Epperson is a native of Ralls County, born January 4, 1850.  
His grandfather, Richard Epperson, was born in Virginia October 2, 1772, 
and there married Rebecca H. Headen, [sic] and moved to Jessamine County,
 Ky., where he acquired a large tract of land and a number of slaves.  In 
1829 he moved to Ralls County, Mo., being accompanied by his children, 
some of whom were married.  The first year of his residence here he 
rented a farm in Spencer Township.  The following year he entered 
Government land in the same township, the farm now known as the Ardery 
place being a portion of the tract.  Here he spent the remainder of his 
life and died August 30, 1841, his wife having died November 21, 1838.  
Both were or many years members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  
Their children were:  John H., born July 15, 1799, married in Kentucky, 
moved with his family to Missouri and located in Ralls County, and later 
moved to Macon County, Mo., where he died in 1866;  Joel H., born 
February 3, 1801, married in Kentucky and removed to Ralls County, 
where he died;  James and Richard, twins, born November 22, 1803, James 
locating in Ralls County and for years having charge of a toll bridge on 
the gravel road between Hannibal and New London, where he died before the 
late war;  Richard never came to Missouri, but engaged in boating on the 
Mississippi River and was killed at New Orleans while loading a boat;  
Little Berry, born August 22, 1805, married in Kentucky and located in 
Ralls County, at the mouth of Salt River, which was his home until his 
death;  Samuel, born January 5, 1808, located in Ralls County, near his 
brother, L. B., and has since died;  Dock Anthony, born April 10, 1810, 
located on a part of the old homestead in Ralls County, moved to 
California during the gold fever and died there;  Washington, born July 
4, 1812, was the father of our subject;  Parthenia, born October 11, 
1815, married Richard Chickwood, [sic] and moved to Southwest Missouri, 
where she died;  Harrison, born May 20, 1818, died December 21, 1821, in 
Kentucky;  Rebecca, born January 12, 1821, married Richard Chickwood [sic]
after the death of her sister;  William, born November 12, 1823, located 
first in Ralls County, Mo., and later moved to Macon County, Mo., where 
he died in 1889.

Washington Epperson, the father of our subject, was born in Jessamine 
County, Ky., and at the age of seventeen came to Ralls County with his 
parents.  His boyhood days were spent on the old Kentucky farm, and his 
education was received from his older brothers after he was twenty-one 
years old.  He remained with his parents until February 8, 1838, when he 
married Nancy Jeffries, who was the first white child born in Ralls 
County, August 6, 1818, and consequently is the oldest living native born 
person in the county.  Her father, Robert Jeffries, was born in Kentucky, 
while her mother, Elizabeth Jamerson, was born in St. Louis County, Mo.  
After their marriage Mr. And Mrs. Epperson located in Jasper Township, 
near Madisonville, where he bought eighty acres of land which had been 
entered the year previously, and had five acres cleared.  On this place 
he erected a huge log house, eighteen by eighteen feet, one and a half 
stories high.  This was considered a fine residence at that time, being 
both better and larger than most of the houses in that section of country.
Here he commenced housekeeping and spent the remainder of his life, dying 
December 21, 1885.  His wife still survives him and until 1890 remained 
where she first commenced her wedded life, making a continuous residence 
there of over fifty years.  Here, too, all her children were born and 
reared.  Her husband was a man of quiet and domestic habits, and lived 
a peaceful home life, and by industry and good management acquired a 
competency.  His upright and honorable character gained the respect and 
confidence of all who knew him.  For twenty years he held the office of 
Justice of the Peace, and was repeatedly chosen administrator of estates 
and guardian of children.  Notwithstanding his Southern birth, and the 
fact that he had relatives in the Confederate Army, he adhered to the 
Union, and in 1862 enlisted in the Federal Army.  In early life he united 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he remained until after his 
marriage, when both he and his wife united with the Salem Baptist Church, 
of which she is still a member.  They were parents of seven children:  
Anne E., born November 19, 1838, married William Chilton and died in 
Ralls County, March 12, 1876;  Robert, born August 2, 1842, died November
9, 1844;  John J., born August 23, 1846, married Rosanna Seely and died 
March 15, 1874;  William W., our subject;  Nancy E., born January 2, 1853,
married H. C. Wooten and now resides on the homestead;  Mary L., born 
February 9, 1857, died November 28, 1870.

Mrs. Epperson, the mother of our subject, as already stated, bears the 
distinction of being the oldest native white person in the county, and is 
probably the most sprightly and active lady of her age living here, as she
still attends to all of her household affairs without assistance, living 
alone near her son William.  Her father, Robert Jeffries, in company with 
his two brothers-in-law, Robert and William Jamerson, came from St. Louis 
County in 1817 on a flatboat, landing at Louisiana, which at that time had
a mill and a few houses.  William Jamerson entered land which is now the 
site of New London, and built the first house in the town.  In this house 
Mrs. Epperson, the mother of our subject, was born, and in her uncle's 
house was held the first sessions of court after the organization of the 
county.  Her father and two uncles were on the first grand jury.

 William W. Epperson, of whom we now write, was educated in the common 
schools of Ralls County, and remained on the old farm until of age.  In 
1872 he left the home roof and, being impressed with the idea that a large
city was the proper place to commence in business, went to St. Louis, 
where he remained for a short time, and from there went to Petersburg, 
Ill., where he remained about eighteen months, engaged in mining.  He then
returned to the old home and February 6, 1873, was married in Pike County 
to Sarah A. Turley, a native of Pike County, born July 4, 1849, and a 
daughter of Harrison G. and Mary A. (Fowler) Turley, who respectively 
natives of Ralls and Pike Counties, Mo.  After his marriage he located 
first in Pike County, Mo., near Spencersburg, renting land and farming for
about eight years.  In 1882 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land
in Ralls County, three miles south of Center, where he made his home until
1889, in the meantime adding forty acres, making a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres.  He followed general farming and stock-raising, but made a 
specialty of stock.  In a889 he concluded to give up farming and bought 
property adjoining the thriving village of Center.  The same year he built 
his present fine residence and, in company with Mr. Osterhout, built the 
first livery stable in Center, conducted the business one year, then sold 
out, and, in company with William Utterback, engaged in the hardware and 
grocery business under the firm name of Utterback & Epperson, continuing 
until 1892, when he sold out.  Since his residence in Center he has helped
to build the fine brick block south of the railroad.  In 1891 he was 
appointed Postmaster of Center, which office he retained until he retired 
from business.

Mr. Epperson is one of the organizers of the Center Bank, of which he is a
stockholder and director.  He has twice been a delegate to the Republican 
State Convention, and has three times received the nomination for Sheriff 
on the Republican ticket.  For three years he has been a member of the 
Town Board, and is now City Treasurer.  In 1890 he was elected Marshal 
and Street Commissioner, and ever since coming to Center he has been one 
of the active and leading citizens of the place.  He still owns his farm, 
which he rents to other parties and has one of the prettiest and most 
comfortable places in town, having in connection with his fine residence 
five acres of land.  Both Mr. And Mrs. Epperson are members of the 
Christian Church.  His  is also a charter member of Center Lodge No. 230, 
K. of P., and is a member of Triple Alliance, Center Camp No. 322.  The 
have but one child, Edward C., who was born December 30, 1873, and who 
still makes his home with his parents.

Epperson Haden Chitwood Wooten Jeffries Jamerson Chilton Turley Fowler
Osterhout Utterback Seeley
=
Ralls-MO Macon-MO Pike-MO


http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jessamine/epperson.ww.txt