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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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I am thankful and appreciative to the late Edna Epperson Brinkman for researching and writing the book The Story of David Epperson and His Family of Albemarle County, Virginia, 1933. This book is an excellent family history and was very helpful in establishing my ancestry in America. Several references are made to this excellent book; and most of the individual genealogy records in it are included, herein. Through the contributions of other Epperson's, several hundred additional descendants have been added to supplement Edna's work. However, she gives many historical accounts and photos that are not covered in my research. I recommend her book for anyone who wants to know more about this branch of our family. It is available on microfilm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and through any of their local Stakes. The book can also be purchased through the Internet at "amazon.com." I am thankful and appreciative to the late Vera Apperson English for researching and writing the book The Apperson Family in America. Whereas Edna Epperson Brinkman's book was professionally published in hardback, Vera's book was self-published in copies of type written pages. Therefore, I can not direct the reader to a source for the book. No copy or microfilm is available at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's Library. Vera's book is the most complete history on our family that I have found. Though not professionally written or organized, it is, nevertheless, filled with wonderful historical stories and extensive research. Unfortunately, the book is not written in genealogy format, and the data is difficult to extract. Since Vera's book is not readily available to researchers, I have extracted the individual records of all the Apperson's and repeated or abridged many of the stories of historical interest. Through the contributions of other Apperson's, several hundred additional descendants have been added to supplement Vera's work. As far as I know, her book is only available through relatives who may possess a copy. I am thankful and appreciative to the late Orlan Hassett Epperson for researching and writing the book The Short and Simple Annals of the Epperson Family of Hamilton County, Illinois, 1961. Like Vera Apperson English's book, Orlan's book is self-published. The book is not written in genealogy format, and the data is difficult to extract. The book is a narrative that gives an excellent history of this branch of the family. I have extracted the individual genealogy records of all the Epperson's in the book and many of the historical stories. Through the contributions of other Epperson's, several additional descendants have been added to supplement Orlan's work. As far as I know, Orlan's book is only available through relatives who may possess a copy. I am thankful and appreciative to Vaughn Elmo Epperson of Salt Lake City, Utah. His research made possible the genealogy links from our family in America to our roots in England and France. While Edna Epperson Brinkman gave us the traditional history of our European ancestry, it was Vaughn Epperson's research that gave us the names, dates and places. I would like to express my appreciation to my late first cousin, two times removed, Lillian Nelly Apperson. Her father, Young Apperson, was the brother of my great grandfather, Jesse Lee Epperson. Like myself, Lillian is a descendant of William Apperson who was the first Apperson of our family to be born in the New World (at sea). She was an encyclopedia of knowledge of our family. Lillian graciously contributed her family research and advice to this work, and many of the Apperson family stories and family groups came from her. I will be eternally grateful that fate led me to her in my quest to learn more of my family's history. I truly regret that she died before seeing this completed work. I would like to thank a very special cousin, Lisa Beth Epperson Fillers of Church Hill, Tennessee. Beth is a descendent of John Epperson, half-brother of William Apperson, my ancestor. I learned of Beth through a letter she sent to a relative, seeking information on her Epperson ancestors. She has graciously shared her genealogy and assisted me greatly in compiling this research. I have never met Beth. I have only communicated with her by phone, the mail and the Internet. Yet, I feel as though I have known her all my life and love her like a sister. Last, I would like to thank another cousin, Charlotte Apperson Vento of Beaver, Pennsylvania. In every genealogy work, you have to be fortunate as well as diligent. In my case, Charlotte was my fortunate find. In my research I had a weak link with the family of my great, great, great, great grandfather, Gabriel Apperson who lived in Washington County, Virginia in 1830. Gabriel's children were a mystery, and I couldn't find other descendants who could help identify this family. My only proof that the family existed was through Census records. As a last effort, I called every Epperson and Apperson that lived in southwestern Virginia looking for descendants. I didn't find a descendant, but one person told be of an Apperson who lived in Pennsylvania who had done genealogy work on Apperson's. To my good fortune she gave me the name of Charlotte and her phone number. Charlotte had extensive research on the Apperson's in my branch of the family. The information she graciously provided added many names to this work and helped me identify some of Gabriel Apperson's children. Many others cousins contributed to this work, and I will be eternally grateful for the research they shared on their families. Their goal was the same as mine: preserve our family's history for future generations of our children.
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