THE PIPER FAMILY

The immigrant ancestor of this line was Johann Frederick Piper (Pieper) (Direct Ancestor), the son of Conrad Piper (Direct Ancestor). He was called John in America. He was born 24 Oct 1784 in Alswede, W. Falen, Prussia. He married Caroline Friederike Itzenplitz. No immigration records have been found for Caroline, so it is probable that she died before Johann Frederick came to America. He brougt at least two small sons with him to America, Charles Frederick Piper, born abt 1829 in Hanover, Germany and William Frederick Piper born 20 Aug 1832 in Hanover, Germany. No other children are known however in the 1850 Montogmery county , NY, federal census, he is living in the home of a German family. The name was not readable by this researcher. The wife of that family was named Sophia and was born in 1823 in Germany. There is a possibility that this was his daughter. His son Charles, had a daughter named Sophia. He listed his occupation as a laborer. He appears in the 1860 and 1870 Van Buren County, IA, federal census in the home of his son, Fred Piper, and lists his occupation as a "sheppard". He was probably also a cobbler in the Old Country. He does not appear on the 1880 census so he probably died before 1880.

John's son, Charles Frederick "Fred" Piper, (Direct Ancestor) born about 1829 in Hanover, married Mary Ann Gardner in New York. Mary Ann, the daughter of Jacob Gardner, was INDENTURED to Joshua Webster from the age of 7, in 1842, until 18. She was born 8 Jun 1834 in Bavaria, or Hanover, Germany. The original indenture was found in an old German book in the possession of her son, John Piper, and is now in the custody of the researcher. In the 1850 federal census for Montgomery County, NY, she appears on the census with Catherine Webster in the household of David Ervin, in Minden, Montgomery, NY. She probably married Fred after her indenture was up in in 1852. Their first three (of 10) children were born in NY between 1852/1856. Charles lists his occupation as a farmer and cobbler.They migrated to Van Buren County, IA in 1857. They are buried in IA.

John's second son, William Frederick Piper was born 20 Aug 1832 in Hanover, Germany. He married Wilhemina "Mina" Correll 12 May 1853 in Lebanon, Warren County, PA. They were living in Warren County, OH, when their oldest children were born and then they also moved to Van Buren, IA. He lists his occupation as a farmer. He and Mina are buried in the Troy Cemetery, Troy, Van Buren, IA.

John Piper (Direct Ancestor), son of Charles Frederick Piper was born 24 Mar 1861 near Cantril, Van Buren, IA. He married Josephine "Josie" Wollam 24 Sep 1884 in Kesauqua, Van Buren, IA. She was born 9 Aug 1865 and was from Mt. Sterling, Van Buren, the daughter of Josiah and Maria (Clifford) Wollam. Shortly after they were married they moved to Palisades, Hitchcock County, NE, where their six children were born. In April, 1893, Josie died giving birth to twin sons. One of the twins, Josiah Beitel Piper, died in July of the same year. Josie's parents, Josiah & Maria Wollam, traveled to Palisades and brought the children back to Iowa to care for until John could move back there. In 1894 John married Alice Roberts from the Mt. Sterling area. In the 1900 federal census they, and the five children, were living near Keosauqua. John sold out (sale bill dated 1902) and moved his family east of Douglas, Garfield County in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). John was also a cobler and kept his family's shoes in good repair as well as the shoes of his Oklahoma grandchildren. He did some farming and also operated a grocery store in Covington, OK with his son-in-law ,Joe Gibson. He moved into a newly built house in Douglas, about 1904 and became the manager of the first Telephone Exchange in Douglas. History books say his wife and daughter, Dora, were the first telephone operators in town. There are photos of John and Alice sitting at the switchboard in their home and the calendar on the wall gives the date as 1912. John & Alice were active in the Douglas Christian Union Church. Alice died in 1932 and John died in 1941. They are both buried in the Douglas Union Cemetery.