"Morning Fred,

Your post on the Keppler farm brings back a few story’s from my youth. My grandmother was Adeline, next to the youngest daughter. She spoke very little of her childhood and I think for good reason.

Although her parents had to speak English to immigrate, they never taught the children English. The oldest boy showed up at school the first day not knowing a word. As he learned, he taught the others. Even Adeline’s birth certificate is totally in German.

I never met any of her brothers and she never spoke of them.

My great aunt was Pauline, who was often around.

My mother did speak of once taking them back the long driveway to see the old home place and how they sat there and remembered their childhood. My mother's father was a founding member of the old St John’s church on Front Street, in Hamilton, and his name is on a stained glass window in the church.

As to all the John Dillinger talk, about them using the old farm house, my grandfather never spoke of it - nor did any of his friends, nor my dad or uncle. All I know of the history of Darrtown is from them and there were lots of stories. I’m not saying it’s not true - just that his presence there would have been kept quiet.

As to the story about Denny’s Tavern, and that’s what it was called, the old neon sign was still hanging in the 70’s, his trouble with the law was do to the fact he never had a liquor license, beer was all he could legally sell. He did sell liquor and not sure IDs were checked. My mother told me a couple underage were involved in a accident after leaving there and one was killed and that is why he was closed.

Red Huber told me that Denny himself came in the Hitching Post one night and accused Red of keeping him from getting a liquor license. I don’t know if any direct threats were made. But, Red told him to never come through the door again.

Well, Fred, enough rambling on my part. Just a little that I know.

Andy"

Recollections of Andy Popst

The following narrative was written and contributed by Andy Popst, via email on December 9, 2020.

Andy wrote to the Darrtown webmaster, after receiving a copy of the November 20, 2020 Darrtown Website newsletter, which included info about the Keppler family.

If you desire to see the Kepler family branch of the Darrtown Family Tree, use the link in the footer of this page to send a request to the webmaster.

If Andy agrees to contribute more of his Darrtown memories, they will be posted here.