Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 209 - 210

 SAMUEL R. HEPBURN, Mayor of the city of Valley Center, and a leading merchant of that place, is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and first drew the breath of life Jan. 21, 1847, in Lycoming County, where his parents, Charles and Margaret (McMeens) Hepburn, were prominent people.  Charles Hepburn was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and followed that vocation until a few years before his death, when he retired from active business.  He was a strong Republican in politics, and quite an influential factor in the councils of that party in the central part of the Keystone State.  He was honored by having had bestowed upon him several local offices, the principal one of which was that of County Commissioner, which he held for some three years.  He was a representative man of the State, and took an active interest in all public affairs.  His father, Hon. William Hepburn, was the first County Judge of Lycoming County, and held the position for two or three terms.  The latter's son, Huston Hepburn, the brother of Charles, succeeded his father in the Judgeship, and held the office until the law was changed in regard to that position, when he resigned.

      The subject of our narrative, Samuel R. Hepburn, was the youngest child in a family of seven born to his parents, one of whom died in infancy.  He remained at home assisting in the arduous duties attendant upon farm life until 1861.  Although but fourteen years of age at that time, he went to Ft. Scott, Kan., where he was employed for about three years as clerk in a large dry-goods store, after which he spent a year as salesman in the grocery store of J. R. Morley & Co., of the same city, and then worked for William Schooler & Co., with whom he remained about six months.  At the expiration of this time he became interested in the hotel business at Ft. Scott, and continued for about eighteen months in that capacity.  The next three years were passed by him as a member of the police force, after which he removed to Linn County, Kan., where he was engaged in the mercantile trade for about a year.  Grand Rapids, Mich., having attracted him at this time, he made a visit there, and finding employment as bookkeeper for George Voorhis & Co., made a stay of some two years.  The city seeming to offer superior inducements, and having become considerably acquainted with the people, he engaged in the grocery business on his own account, and successfully operated the store for about a year and a half.  He then sold out, and returned to the place of his birth, where he was employed for about four years in a large grocery establishment at Williamsport.

      Having seen the West, however, and lived among its people, Mr. Hepburn felt a strong desire to return to that section, so at the expiration of his engagement he returned to Michigan, and was employed as foreman in the lumber and shingle yards of Montgomery, Haire & Giddings, with whom he remained some three years.  March 1, 1886, he made his first appearance at Valley Center, Sedgwick County, and for the first sixteen months acted as salesman in the store of Cox & Massey.  At the end of that period he purchased the establishment, since which time he has been operating the business, and has the largest and finest store in the village, carrying full lines of dry-goods, groceries, etc.

      Mr. Hepburn was united in marriage, Jan. 27, 1869, with Miss Sarah A. Taylor, a native of Washington, Guernsey Co., Ohio.  At the time of their marriage the bride was a resident of Paola, this State, where her father, who was a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held a charge.  She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas J. and Jane (Rosemond) Taylor, both of whom are now deceased.  On the 18th of February, 1882, Mr. Hepburn had the misfortune to lose his wife.  She was a most estimable woman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a sincere, consistent Christian.  Feeling that it was not well to live alone, Mr. Hepburn again entered into a matrimonial alliance, this time with Miss Nettie E. Ward, a native of Lycoming County, Pa., born March 20, 1855, and a daughter of Justin A. and Rebecca K. (Fahnestock) Ward.  The date of the ceremony which united their lives was Sept. 4, 1884.  Her father was engaged in the occupation of house and sign painter in his early life, but lived a retired life in his declining years.  He was quite a literary man, having written for a number of publications; the latter business he followed for a great many years.  Mr. Ward was totally blind for about three years previous to his death, which affliction he bore with exemplary Christian fortitude.

      Mr. Hepburn adheres closely to the principles of the Republican party, and at the election which took place in April, 1887, was chosen Mayor of Valley Center.  On Monday, April 2, 1888, he was re-elected to the office.  Since coming to this county he has always held a prominent and influential position, and stands remarkably high in the estimation of the community as an honorable, upright and trustworthy man.  He is the father of six children, five of whom are living, as follows: William S., George V., Mary R., Edward M. and J. Massey. Clara M. died in infancy.

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