John Eppinger (born Johannes Eppinger; May 1730 – 1776) was a German
master builder
A master builder or master mason is a central figure leading construction projects in pre-modern times (a precursor to the modern architect and engineer).
Historically, the term has generally referred to "the head of a construction project in the ...
who was prominent in the 18th century. After arriving in
Savannah
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the Canopy (forest), canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to rea ...
,
Province of Georgia
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outs ...
, he became an
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
patriot and served in the conflict. Patriotic meetings were held in his home, then known as the Eppinger Tavern. The building is still standing, believed to be the oldest intact brick structure in
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
.
Life and career
Eppinger was born in the German town of
Winnenden
Winnenden ( Swabian: ''Wẽnnede'') is a small town in the Rems-Murr district of the Stuttgart Region in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany. It lies in a wine-growing area approx. northeast of Stuttgart and has a population of fewer than 28, ...
,
Württemberg
Württemberg ( ; ) is a historical German territory roughly corresponding to the cultural and linguistic region of Swabia. The main town of the region is Stuttgart.
Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, Würt ...
, a son of Johann Michael Eppinger, a mason and stone cutter, and Maria Magdalena Kluss. He was baptized as "Johannes Ippinger" 20 May 1730. He moved to London in 1749, and later that year emigrated to America, arriving on 15 October. He initially settled in
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
but moved south to Savannah, Georgia, shortly thereafter.
He married Anna Barbara Mayers, daughter of Jacob Mayers, who was two years his junior. They had eight known children: Margaret, Anna Magdalina, Wenafoothu (Winifred), John, Sarah, James, George and Matthew.
John Jr. (1769–1823) became a U.S. district marshall.
Late in his life, he built the building, now known as the Eppinger House, at today's 110 East
Oglethorpe Avenue
Oglethorpe Avenue is a prominent street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located, in its downtown section, between York Street to the north and Hull Street to the south, it runs for about from the Atlantic Coastal Highway (U.S. Route 17) ...
in Savannah.
Death
Eppinger died in 1776. His wife survived him by 36 years. She is interred in Savannah's