The Peper Family

William Henry Peper was born in Hanover, Germany, October 2, 1861, and came to this country at the age of 18 years. For several years he lived in Adams Township, Defiance County, where he followed his trade as carpenter. On April 23, 1887, he married Wilhelmina Panning, the daughter of Sophia and Dietrick Panning, who came to Henry County from Germany. After their marriage, they lived on a farm in Monroe Township and then moved to Hamler where he engaged in the lumber business. In 1905 he sold his business in Hamler and moved to Holgate where he bought an interest in the Holgate Lumber Company.

Eight children were born to this marriage: Edmund, Arnold, William, Siegmund, Alvena, Lydia, Helen, and Clara.

There were twenty grandchildren: Edmund had three sons (Robert, William, and Edmund, Jr.); Arnold had Craig and Gretchen, Alvena, who was married to Edmund Appel, had Ruth, Leon, Paul, Norine, Irene, Martin, and Walter (these are grandchildren of Jacob Appel, an early pastor of Hope Lutheran Church on Route 18 east of Holgate); William had Richard, Margaret, and Herbert; Siegmund had David, Russel, and Karen; Lydia had one daughter, Dorothy; Helen had no children; and Clara had one son, Jack Yackee.

There are many in the next generation, but the ones remaining in this area are Robert Peper, attorney, died December 1, 1974; William Peper, with the Holgate Lumber Company; and Edmund Peper, Jr., attorney in Napoleon.

Submitted by the Peper Family