Leonard Israel Kapp, a substantial farmer of Marion township, Berks Co., Pa., who is cultivating an excellent tract of 140 acres of farming land, was born July 10, 1860, in Jackson township, Lebanon Co., Pa., son of Leonard and Maria (Mosser) Kapp.

Leonard Kapp, the great-grandfather of Leonard I., was a son of Michael Kapp, a native of Germany, who emigrated to Heidelberg township, now embraced in Jackson township, Lebanon county, long before 1752, in which year Berks county was organized, that section of land being taken from Lancaster county.  Leonard Kapp owned much land in Jackson township, where he died.  He had a brother Frederick, who had two sons ? George and Andrew.

The grandfather of Leonard I. Kapp, also named Leonard, was born May 24, 1780, in Lebanon county, and died at Reistville, on the old homestead, Sept. 30, 1853, being buried at Christ Lutheran Church at Myerstown.  He owned large properties in Jackson township and was considered a very wealthy man for that day.  Mr. Kapp married Anna Yundt, and they had the following children: John, born July 18, 1807; Henry, Dec. 3, 1808; George, Aug. 21, 1810; Catherine, May 10, 1813; Jacob, Nov. 11, 1814; Leah, July 16, 1817; Elizabeth, May 29, 1821; Lydia, Nov. 27, 1823; and Leonard, Feb. 24, 1826. 

Leonard Kapp, father of Leonard I., was born Feb. 24, 1826, in Lebanon county, and died Sept. 10, 1882, at the age of fifty-six years, six months, sixteen days, on his farm in Marion township, being buried in the Kapp family lot at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church.  In 1872 Mr. Kapp moved to Marion township, and settled on a farm of 140 acres, four years later purchasing the farm adjoining, which was the property of Jacob Scheetz, who had obtained it from Adam Schuetz, who had originally settled on it in 1723.  The southern part of this farm originally belonged to the Balthaser Anspach, as is shown on the Lindenmuth map of early settlers.  The property on which Mr. Kapp first settled belonged to one Samuel Scheetz, a brother of Jacob, the latter of whom owned an ox during the latter forties or early fifties, weighing 3425 pounds, the largest animal that Berks countians ever saw. Mr. Scheetz had a special shed in which the ox was kept, and a special wagon was constructed, on which the animal was hauled to Philadelphia, where after exhibiting it for some time, Mr. Scheetz sold it.  Admission was charged to view this great beast, and the country people for miles around rode in on horseback to see it.  Later it was killed and mounted and stood on exhibition in Horticultural Hall, at Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.  Leonard Kapp was a prosperous farmer and well-known man in his vicinity.  He was a Lutheran member of Christ Evangelical Church, in which he was a deacon and elder, and in politics was a Democrat, serving his township as school director for some years.  He married Maria Mosser, daughter of John and Sarah (Schuetz) Mosser, and they had these children: Sarah; John L., of Reistville, Lebanon county; Emma, m. to Christ Bucher, of Reistville; Amanda, m. to John Krall, of Reistville; Simon C., an iron worker of No. 521 East Cumberland street, Lebanon; Leonard I.; Maria, who died in infancy; and Annie, m. to Frank Treida, of Mount Aetna, Pennsylvania. 

Leonard I. Kapp was born on Israel Day, according to the Almanac, from which he received his middle name.  When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Marion township, where he worked for his father until the latter's death, at which time he was bequeathed the original farm, and his sister Sarah the second farm.  Each of these properties consist of 140 acres, and are in a high state of cultivation.  Four years after his father's death, Mr. Kapp's farm stock was sold at public vendue, and Mr. Kapp, his sister and mother removed to Stouchsburg, where Mrs. Kapp died Nov. 22, 1906, aged eighty-three years.  In the following spring Mr. Kapp and his sister returned to Miss Kapp's farm, and on account of the scarcity of farms in this neighborhood the original homestead was rented. 

In politics Mr. Kapp is a Democrat, and he has always been a leader in movements that promise to be of benefit to the community in which he resides. He is a good, practical farmer, and his sister's property, which he cultivates, is one of the fine farms of this section of Marion township.  Mr. and Miss Kapp are members of Christ Lutheran (Tulpehocken) Church, where he has been a deacon since 1901.  Both are greatly interested in the work of the Sunday-school, of which Mr. Kapp is an official. 

Leonard KAPP & Maria MOSSER

Leonhardt KAPP & 

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