FORTY-ONE CHILDREN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2418, 16 December 1880, Page 4

FORTY-ONE CHILDREN.

John Hepner, of Reading, Penn, was born in Germany in 181-3. In 1810 he married. His wife lived eight years, and bore him seventeen children. She presented him with twins the first 3'ear of their marriage. The next year another pair of twins was born. Every year for four years thereafter Mrs Hepncr gave birth to triplets. The seventh year was signalized by the birth of only one child to the couple. Mrs Hepner’s seventeen children, the oldest only seven years of age, were then taken in charge three months alter Mrs Hepner’s death by a young German lady, who became the second Mrs Hopner. The first Mrs Hopner died in February, 1818. In February, 1819, her successor presented MrHcpncr with a boy,and on Christmas of the same year the nineteenth child was added to the Hopner flock. Once a year for five years after the family was increased by twins, and for three years after that one child was born to Mr Hepner. The last three were born in this country, Mr Hepner having emigrated from Germany in 1851, In 1857 his wife died, having been married nine years. Of the thirty-two children that had been born to Hepner, twelve, had died. In 1858 he he married a widow with one child. The third wife bore him nine children in teji years by single births. Mr Hepner and his last wife arc still living. !S T one of the first set of seventeen children survive. Two of tfve second wife's fifteen are alive, and three of the third wife’s nine. With the step-child of the last marriage added to the list, forty-two children hare called John Hepner father.