"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  p. 502.  Grant Co.

JOHN ZEPH

     It is with a feeling of inability to properly portray the life of thrilling
incidents of the subject of this sketch that we make the attempt.  Having passed
a military career that is seldom exceeded by any man in the United States, being
entirely through the war of the Rebellion and in nearly all of the main Indian
conflicts on the frontier, and experiencing all the strange and trying
adventures that are incident to pioneering.  Mr. Zeph could relate incidents and
accounts of actual experience that would fill a volume with pleasant and
intensely interesting reading.
     The grand little republic across the waters that could produce a William
Tell is the native land of Mr. Zeph, and 1838 was the date of his birth.  When
seven years of age he came to this country with his parents, who settled in New
York.  At the tender age of thirteen years John joined Company I, First Regular
Cavalry, as bugler, and for twenty-two years he served continuously in military
duty, finally being honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.  He is the
oldest white man now living that stepped into the territory that is embraced in
Grant county, having come through it in 1853.  His company was assigned to the
west, being stationed at Boise, to meet the savages in their raids and to quell
them, and here he was employed in various part of the frontier and in the
arduous and dangerous conflicts with the redskins until the breaking out of the
Rebellion.  He was at the Cascades in one battle with the Indians, and there
received an arrow wound in the hand; this was at about the time of the Whitman
massacre.  When the Civil war broke in its fury upon our fair land Mr. Zeph was
ordered with his company to the seat of war, and in the army of the Potomac he
served until the last gun was silenced.  Seven times he was wounded in this
conflict and few men have seen harder service and suffered more pain and
hardship for their country than he.  Following the Rebellion he was sent to Camp
Watson in Oregon, and finally in the centennial year he received an honorable
discharge.  He then came to Canyon City and commenced to operate as a miner, and
later took up gardening.  He has a fine and comfortable home in Canyon City and
is one of the leading citizens of the county.
     In 1886 Mr. Zeph was married to Catherine Rebhorn, but the following year
she was taken from him by death.
     Mr. Zeph was married a second time to  Catherine (Steele) Powers.  After a
life of such vigorous activity and such commendable achievement Mr. Zeph is now
enjoying the fruits of his labors and has the esteem and confidence of all who
know him.  Mr. Zeph can read and write English, German, French and Italian, thus
being a fine linguist, in which study he excels.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.