E. KEPLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 27, P. O. Berlin, is a native of Davidson, N. C., born in 1825. In 1835, he moved to Greene County, Mo., and in 1854 came to Kansas. He first located in the southeast quarter of Section 10, Timber Hill Township. They were unmolested here for a while. Mr. Kepley and Tom Whitlock explored all this country before locating, and E. Kepley built the first cabin on the Osage River, claiming all the land they wanted, as there was no one to dispute. In 1856, the family moved to Drywood Township, where they stayed some four or five weeks, and then returned to the farm. In the fall of 1857, a party of eighteen armed men visited the place. Four of them came into the cabin and engaged in conversation, while the others ran off his horses. As soon as he found out his loss, being a man of decision and iron nerve, he at once went to the nearest village, Mapleton, and rallied a force for the purpose of following the robbers. He then proceeded to Fort Bayne, where Col. Montgomery was in command. There Mr. Kepley found two of the men, whom he recognized, but was referred to Gen. Lane, who, when he heard the particulars, said he would help no Democrat. The horses were returned. In 1859, not having any horses, as he could not keep them, his steers were taken. About this time a vigilance committee was organized. Mr. Kepley and a friend, J. B. Dejarnett, at once traced the steers to Osawatomie, but found they were not able to procure the arrest of the thieves, who were supposed to be Pat Devlin and Steele. The cattle were returned to Mr. Kepley's wife, and he gave the man the reward offered, $75. In 1860, the family moved to the State of Missouri, Mr. Kepley being about ruined. But the troubles ceasing, he returned in 1861, and served during the war in the State militia. Mr. Kepley's misfortunes did not cease with the coming of peace in 1865, but in 1866 his house was invaded by two desperadoes, who compelled them to deliver $670 to them at the muzzle of a pistol, but, singular as it may appear, he has continued to prosper, and since his last reverse, has steadily gained, until to-day we find him the owner of 1,200 acres, located in the richest and most fertile portion of Bourbon County, stocked with the finest Durham cattle, premium Poland-China and McGee hogs, which he thinks excel all others. His herd of Short-horns numbers 60, while he handles about 200 head of stock cattle a year, with from 200 to 500 hogs. His corn will average sixty bushels to the acre, and in every respect he is the leading farmer of the county. In 1849, he married Miss Pipkin, of Tennessee. They have nine children living and five deceased. Mr. Kepley belongs to the Masonic lodge.