Mathias Epley, born Feb. 17, 1840, in Baden, Germany, is a son of Martin and Barbara (Haman) Epley, who were large farmers for that county.  They had a family of seven sons and one daughter.  The parents, three sons and the daughter died in Germany.  Joseph, Charles, Martin and Mathias came to this county in 1854, landing at Castle Garden June 1.  From there they all went to Cincinnati, where Joseph and Charles are now living, both owning farms in Butler County, Ohio, Charles being married.  Martin enlisted in the Sixty-ninth Ohio, and died at New Orleans of fever.  Mathias lived in Butler and Hamilton counties, farming until 1865, when he came to Gallatin County and bought a farm, and has since resided here.  He married Nancy E., daughter of James H. Lee, who moved here from Arkansas during the war.  They had one child that died in infancy.  His wife died in 1880.  May 21, 1881, he married Susan A. Lee, a sister of his first wife.  Besides carrying on his farm he is one of the firm of J. A. Hinch and Co., in the saloon and light grocery trade.  He received a common-school education in Germany, but his English is pure and fluent.

Submitted by:  Linda Roberts

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