Johann Georg Eppich

The Shoemaker
Portrait of Vassarion by Konshalovsky, 1926

 Johann George Eppich
cir. 1887 

Johann Georg Eppich was born 20 April 1840 in Schweinsberg, Kuhr Hessen, Prussia to Michael and Anna Katharina Trimmner Eppich.

Johann Georg [known in America as John G.] and his brother Johann Christopher Adam Eppich [known in America as Christopher Adam] immigrated to Canada in the year 1854 in order to escape service in the German army. They settled in Wellesley, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada. Both brothers learned the shoemaking trade and worked as such.

In the 19^th century, vast numbers of Germans immigrated to America.

They left their home country for a variety of reasons including religious

and political freedom and raising their standard of living through land

ownership.

In terms of freedom, many German men of this era were being forced

into the Prussian military. Immigration from Germany, then, was one

of the only viable options to escape this fate. The desire to improve

their standard of living began for Germans as they learned of vast

opportunities available through hard work in America.

Johann Georg worked for Justus Werner, a wheelwright and met his daughter, Katharina Rau Werner from Wellesley. Ontario, Canada and married her on 22 March 1863 in Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada. Katharina was born 30 June 1845 in Berlin, Ontario, Canada to Justus and Sophia Willamena Rau Werner—both of which were of German ancestry.

Johann and Katharina had three sons while living in Waterloo County, Canada:  Christopher Marion, 1 March 1864, Georg Justus Eppich, 22 May 1867 and Henry Ludwig Eppich, 18 August 1869.

In 1865 John’s brother Christopher Adam relocated to Chicago, Illinois, United States and worked for a time as a shoemaker and later in hotel keeping. Johann followed his brother to Chicago in 1870 and continued his occupation as a shoemaker and helped his brother run a hotel in the best part of the city. 

Chicago Tribune, 10 May 1874

Johann and Katharina had two more sons while living in Chicago:  Michael August Eppich, 9 May 1874 and Charles Julius Eppich 8 July 1877. 

Chicago Tribune

30 April 1879

By 1879, Christopher Adam had moved his family to Denver, Colorado where he engaged in the real estate business. Johann G. relocated his family to WaKeeney, Trego County, Kansas in 1879 where he homesteaded with the hope of land ownership. He left his wife and children in Kansas for a time working in Denver to earn a living.

During this year there was a rush of immigrants to Trego, most of whom were from Chicago and vicinity. The influx continued through the first half of 1879 and Trego’s population reached 3,500 by midsummer. But poor crops of 1879 brought about a reaction. Settlers who had come with the expectation of raising a field crop were obliged to leave, and they went in large numbers.

John G. and his family were found on the June 1880 census in Trego where he and his oldest son, Christopher was listed as farmers. But as previously mentioned, crops were poor in Trego County. John G. moved his family to Denver, Colorado in February of 1885 where he continued shoemaking. 

 Denver, Colorado 1880

Oscar Wilde, on his 1880s visit to Denver, characterized Denver as one of the few cities in the world where practically none of the adult residents were native-born. From the beginning, Denver has been a city of newcomers. More people have been residents by choice than by accident of birth. Many Denverites, including the pioneer generation, came from New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri. 

Johann George Eppich Family cir. 1887

Back left:  Christopher Marion, George Justus, Henry Ludwig

Front left:  Charles Julius, Katharina, Leonhard Ernest, Michael August, Johann George

On 15 December 1886, John and Katharina had their sixth son, Leonhard Ernest. Leonhard lived only five years dying on 24 January 1892. 

 Verne Eppich, Johann George Eppich, Katherine Rau Werner Eppich, 

Sheldon Eppich, Christopher Marion Eppich, Katie Hodges Eppich, Leonard Eppich

1915

Johann and Katharina lived out their days in Denver close by the majority of their children and grandchildren. Johann died in Denver on 29 December 1926 still working as a shoemaker. Katharina lived her last years with her son, Charles and his wife Olive until she died on 28 January 1932 in Denver. 

Eppich Brothers

Back left:  Charles Julius, Henry Ludwig

Front left:  Christopher Marion, George Justus

 

The couple’s oldest son Christopher Marion relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 3 March 1890. It was in Salt Lake City that he met and then married Katie Hodges on 6 June 1892. Christopher made his living in various ways i.e. baking, freighting and farming. He and his wife Katie reared three boys. Christopher died 13 February 1946 in Ogden, Utah. 

Georg Justus married Elizabeth Meade on 28 September 1889 in Denver, Colorado. Georg worked as an upholsterer in a dry goods store in Denver. He and Elizabeth reared four children. Georg died 16 July 1925.

Henry Ludwig Eppich married Evalina Tyson on 18 August 1892 in Denver. He worked as a barber there. Henry died at the early age of 31 on 20 October 1900. He and Evalina had no children. 

Michael August died on 14 September 1890 at the early age of 16 years. 

Charles Julius married firstly Mary Louise Corbin on 31 January 1903 in Denver. They were the parents of three children. Mary died in 1918. Charles worked as a barber, a post office clerk and as the financial clerk of the post office in Denver. He married secondly Olive Hodges. Charles died on 21 January 1959.