Biography of William H. Van Epps of Dixon
William H. Van Epps, born December 18, 1842, in East Bethany, New York, was a prominent merchant and farmer in Dixon, Illinois. Descended from early Dutch settlers, he witnessed the area’s growth from a village to a thriving community. After briefly serving in the military during the Civil War, he joined his father’s mercantile business and later operated his own. Van Epps contributed to local development, building several commercial properties. He married Leah Emery in 1877, and they had a daughter, Charlotte Isabel. He passed away after 37 years of active involvement in Dixon’s business landscape.
