Ephraim Earp, son of Charles William Earp (1808-1873) and Esther Morledge (1809-1892) was born 2 June 1840 in Carroll County Ohio. The 1850 census for Carroll County OH lists Sarah Earp 75 b. England; Mary Earp 40, b. England; and Ephraim Earp 10 b. Ohio all in the same household. In 1860 Ephraim is found in Amity Township, Livingston County in his parent’s household listed as a farm laborer, 20 years old and born in OH.

In the 1863 draft registration for Livingston County taken in June he is listed as single and formerly being in the 129th IL Vol. and that he had been discharged. Ephraim marred Lydia Nigh 27 Aug 1863 in Livingston County. He is listed as the original owner of 40 acres in the NW quarter of Section 32 in Amity Township but the original owner book says that Illinois Central RR was the original owner. Ephraim's widow married William Martinson and moved to Kansas. It appears that Ephraim and Lydia had 3 children: Mary Jane, George, and Nancy.