http://books.google.com/books?id=bZl4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=%22Dutton+Shannon%22+fallowfield+pa&source=bl&ots=TE-BHOp3m7&sig=8Pe3VMmlNbqp1UD_AkH8fMUUk-M&hl=en&ei=nLoXTq2-GdG_gQf7j6XzDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=snippet&q=cyrus%20underwood&f=false The old and new Monongahela, By John Stogdell Van Voorhis, 1893, Pittsburgh pg. 468 (From Bellevernon Enterprise, May 20, 1892) Capt. Joseph Shepler Died Sabbath, May 15, 1892, at his late residence in Rostraver township, Westmoreland Co., PA. He was b. Mar. 6, 1807, on the old farm recently owned by his brother, Lewis, but now occupied by David Deaterly. He was the oldest of 7 children of Isaac and Sarah H. Shepler. His ancestors on both sides of the family emigrated from Germany and settled in VA, near Winchester. The grandfather of the deceased, Mathias Shepler, with 2 brothers, Peter and Philip, moved from VA before the war of the revolution and settled in Rostraver, taking up farms on the Monongahela Hill in that township, on part of which his descendant, Philip Shepler, now resides. Mathias m. Margaret Houseman, whose family too was one of the early settlers in the township. Their children were John, Philip, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mary, Margaret and Catherine. All were m. and raised families, and all are deceased. Isaac, the father of Joseph, the subject of this sketch, m. Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Mary Hill. Her father, at the age of 18, came to Rostraver township, before the Braddock expedition, and is supposed to have been the first white settler in the region included with the township. Isaac had as children Joseph, Lewis, Samuel, Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah and Polly. Lewis d. Dec. 1881, on the farm on which he was born, now owned by David Deaterly, above named. Polly m. James Wright, and are both dead. Samuel, brother of Joseph, was b. July 14, 1814, and resided on and owned the farm adjoining Joseph, being a portion of the land taken up by his grandfather Hill. He is now deceased. He had been twice married. His first wife was Eveline Steele, whom he m. Dec. 12, 1839. She d. Apr. 18, 1850. Jan. 29, 1852, he m. Elizabeth Couldren. Elizabeth, now deceased, was the wife of Davis Shepler, now deceased. He lived on and owned the farm recently sold by his heirs to David W. Owens, in Rostraver. Sarah, another sister of Joseph is the wife of Jehu Stephens, a farmer living in Washington township, Fayette Co., PA. Isaac Shepler, father of Joseph, d. Dec. 10, 1837, and his wife survived him many years, dying July, 1869. The remains of both are interred in the graveyard at Fell's church. Capt. Joseph Shepler passed his whole life in Rostraver township; he was educated in the schools of the township, and always attended church within its limits. Until the age of 22 he lived on the homestead where he was born. He m. Apr. 16, 1829, Mary, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Blackburn, who lived on a farm not far from what is now known as Rostraver postoffice. Mary, wife of Joseph Shepler, was b. Mar. 28, 1807, being 22 days younger than her husband and she survives him. Her family was among the early settlers in Rostraver. For one year after marriage Joseph and wife lived in the house of his father, then went to housekeeping on one of his father's farms, where he resided and carried on farming for 8 years. In 1838 he moved to the farm on which he died. Capt. Shepler had been a member of Fell's M. E. Church over 60 years, and one of its chief supporters. His wife joined the church at the same place and time and remains in its membership to this day. Joseph Shepler had 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters. Sarah b. Jan. 7, 1830, is the wife of William Jones, of the Bellevernon banking house of S. F. Jones & Co. They have 3 children, Ella Jane, Joseph Shepler and Samuel. Violet another daughter of Joseph Shepler, was b. Aug. 20, 1833 and is the wife of Capt. Martin Coulson, now residing on a farm near Monongahela City, PA. They have as children Joseph S., Margaret E. and Alfred Kerr. John B., son of Capt. Shepler, was b. Feb. 18, 1835, m. Josephine Claywell, of Jo Daviess County, IL. Their children are Shedrack Claywell and David Richey. Isaac Hill the remaining son was b. Mar. 20, 1840, m. Eveline, daughter of Sameul Shepler, to them were b. James Kerr, Mary Blackburn, William Jones and Elizabeth. The death of Capt. Joseph was the first in his family or in any of his descendants. He left 12 grandchildren, 8 of whom acted as pall bearers at his funeral - 2 sons from each of his children's families. In the church Joseph Shepler had acted well his part in the offices of Trustee, Steward and class leader and in all other church work to which he was called. In his native township, to which he was so devoted, he held every office and performed his duties with fidelity. He was a man of undoubted and well known integrity. He was a military man of nature and disposition. He received the sobriquet of Captain by serving at the age of 21 in that capacity in the first company 88th regiment of State Volunteers. He held the position of Capt. for 7 years in this company; was afterwards Capt. for 5 years of the Monongahela Blues and 1st Lt. of the Rostraver Cavalry for 7 years. His voice and commanding appearance, together with his knowledge of military tactics, gave him a first rank as an officer. He had a wonderful memory, especially for the things of long ago. He seemed to have never forgotten the incidents of the neighborhood from boyhood to the day of his death. He was firm in his convictions of right, yet gentle and hospitable in the inner man. He was a Jackson Democrat, having voted for him twice, and always voted for the Democratic candidate for President since he cast his first vote in 1828. He believed the hope of the country was in the carrying out of the principles of Democracy as first enunciated by Jefferson and confirmed by Jackson in his 2 administrations. He recalled to mind very vividly the incidents of the Sabbath day in 1825, when Gen. LaFayette passed through the Forks by way of Rehoboth Valley. His funeral took place on Tues, May, 17, from his late residence. His remains were interred in Bellevernon Cemetery. His pastor, Rev. Hildebrand, and his old friend, Rev. Mellyar, officiated at the last rites.