ITEMS OF INTEREST

Welcome to the 2nd edition of The Harper Family Newsletter. This newsletter is for all descendants and researchers of Philip Harper the Pioneer and his brother, Jacob Harper the Pioneer, who immigrated from Germany in 1750. Bless all of you for the many wonderful letters and photographs you have sent me over the past year. As always, I'm behind in my correspondence so bear with me in receiving an answer.

During my recent trip to visit my sister in Southern California, we held the 2nd Annual West Coast Harper Reunion. Eleven Harper descendants gathered at The Cheesecake Factory in Newport Beach. We spent a delightful afternoon getting to know each other and sharing memories. Jack Nelson and his family traveled all the way from Oxnard to be there, and Marilyn Lynde drove up from San Diego. Look for the photograph later in this issue. If you, or anyone you know, would like to be in on the festivities next year, please drop me a line.

Cynthia Pence Cox of Puyallup, Washington writes: "Yesterday my father stopped by to give me a beautiful treasure than he and my mother found while going through some old things. It happened to be an old picture of my great-great-great grandparents, Elizabeth Teter and Samuel Conner Shortle. Elizabeth Teter is Sarah M. Harper and George Teter's daughter. This picture is so well preserved. It was taken about 1860 on silver plate and encased in a beautiful frame. The frame closes like a book with little hooks to close it. There was a note behind the picture so that's how we know the date and who it is of. I will treasure this for a long time."

From Douglas A. Harper, Col. USAF Ret., (descendant of Jacob Harper the Pioneer who went to Kentucky) comes this Christmas letter: "Now 18 years after my first retirement, I am beginning my second one. I turned the corner at age 65 in November...when everyone celebrated my birthday, but they thought it was Thanksgiving. My last call for jury duty did not result in my having to serve and now I can decline because of age. Medicare is started. After 15 years of volunteer work with the Red Cross, I retired and declined to be treasurer of the Ocean Springs Genealogical Society which I had held for 10 years. When my tenure as President of MSSSAR is over in March, most of my time consuming jobs will be over and I can get back to my genealogy work on all my ancestors."

Bill Woods, grandson of Mary Harper Lawrence (7th Child), reminisces for us: "I used to visit Uncle Minor's home. Aunt Lula [Lawrence] took me there one summer and we spent a week. I burned my fingers on the globe of a kerosene lamp. (I didn't know they got that hot.) He kept honey bees in hives in front of the house and taught me not to be afraid of them."

Joseph Bishop, descendant of Jacob Harper and Margaret Simmons through their son, Jacob Harper Jr., sent this story of his ancestor: "History of Jacob and Delilah Harper Kimberlin - by Hallie Kimberlin Collins - Jacob Kimberlin came to Missouri from Virginia when a teen-age boy. His parents settled on Indian Creek near what was later known as Hulsey Post Office. The wild game was plentiful. Not far from home, Jacob and his small brother, Joe, found a little bear cub. They were trying to catch it and had almost succeeded when the Mother bear appeared and was about to eat 'Little Joe but brother Jacob barely saved his life by picking him up and running for home with the bear hot on his heels.' Later, the Kimberlins moved to Brazil Creek and Jacob lived in this vicinity the remainder of his life. He was the son of Rhinard and Phoebe (Peters) Kimberlin and has three sisters and four brothers. Delilah Harper was the daughter of Jacob and Phoebe (Harmon) Harper. With her parents, she came to Missouri from Ohio when she was a small girl. She remembers the trip in a covered wagon and crossing the Mississippi River on a ferry. They were making their way to the pine forests near the head waters of Brazil Creek (later known as Undine Post Office) to make their living making tar and pitch from the pines to waterproof boat bottoms. The making of boats was the main industry of that time as every-thing possible was transported by water. They hauled this tar and pitch to St. Louis, MO. on ox wagons which was a trip of about 100 miles. The Harper Family Newsletter is published yearly by The Harper Cemetery Association.

Editor: Marsha L. Fuller P.O. Box 3623 Hagerstown, MD 21742 mfuller@fred.net

Phoebe (Harmon) Harper (Delilah's Mother) has come to America from Germany and could speak German but was very reluctant to do it. 'Grandma Delilah' said they always had to bribe her and, if they laughed, she stopped immediately. Jacob Harper (Delilah's Father) had borrowed a stallion from his brother for the trip to Missouri. After the family was settled, Jacob started back to Ohio to return the stallion and was never heard from again. Delilah, her Mother, and two sisters and three brothers remained in Missouri to make out a living in the new location."

On my last visit with her before her death, Mary Wimer Lacy, daughter of Susan Harper Wimer (18th Child), remembered visiting Grandma Susan at her house in Harman after she moved from the farm. Mary would take the jitney from her home in Hendricks all the way to Harman to pick up eggs fom Grandma Susan. She says that Grandma always wore an apron and that she kept snuff (chewing tobacco) in her apron pocket.

Our Harper family owes a large debt of gratitude to Ted McDonald of Dryfork, WV. For the past year, Ted has been doing research and making many trips to interview people all over West Virginia and Maryland. He has found out quite a lot of things. Ted is related to many of us through both the Harpers and the McDonalds.

Our family also owes a great debt of gratitude to Bill Painter who, in his 96th year of life, was kind enough to ride around with Ted and me in March to point out the original loop-holed log house of Philip Harper the Pioneer. Bill remembers going there the day after the house burned down around 1913. Another house was built directly on the foundations of the original house by the Joshua Day family. (Eli Bennett's widow and children presently live there.) Bill's uncle, John Painter, rebuilt the stone chimney on the burned out foundations. (John Painter was married to Rosie Harper, niece of Jacob C. Harper. Rosie's mother was Mary C. Harper, daughter of Moses Harper and his second wife, Phebe Conrad.) Bill Painter is the uncle of another Harper descendant, Pauline Hedrick. She and her husband, Joe, are the present owners of the McDonald farm in Macksville where Susan McDonald Harper grew up. Sadly, Pauline's mother, Ella Grace Sites of Seneca Rocks, recently passed away at the age of 98 years.

Ted's uncle, Wade McDonald, remembers accompanying his grandfather, Job McDonald, when he treated the skin cancer on Arissa Hinkle's face with a salve. An article in the Pendleton Times from 1922 says that Job McDonald bought this "receipt" from Drs. Coleman and Wendzell. He says that it took several treatments, but it worked! Wouldn't it be nice if we could find this "recipe" now!?

Albert and Gladys Harper were telling me about when they set up housekeeping on their farm in 1932. They didn't have a refrigerator (or even electricity) so they kept their milk and eggs in the springhouse where the water was a constant 40° year round.

Marilyn Lynde of San Diego, California is a descendant of Jacob Harper and Margaret Simmons through their son, Henry Harper, who lived in the Elkins, WV area. Marilyn has done an excellent job of researching this branch of the family and she gave me some very interesting information on her great, great grandmother, Emmeline Harper Hall McCormick.

Holton Recorder, Feb. 3, 1958 - Kansas' First Woman Register of Deeds Served in Jackson County Jackson county was the first county in Kansas to have a woman serve as register of deeds. She was Mrs. Emeline Hall who was appointed by governor Thomas A. Osborn in 1876 to fill the unexpired term of her husband, Harry McCormick, who died in office. The following obituary of Mrs. Hall was published in the Holton Recorder at the time of her death in May 1924. After a brief illness Mrs. Emeline Hall passed away Sunday morning, Mary 25, 1924, at her home on the parallel near Ontario, Kansas. She was born in Beverly County, West Virginia, April 16, 1843. She taught school in her home county and in 1864 was married to Harry McCormick, a soldier in the Union Army. Three children were born to them. Willie Averill died in infancy. Others are Mrs. Tulliola Conner of Lawton, Okla., and Mrs. Lucilla Butt of Goff, Kansas. The family came to Kansas in 1870 where Mr. McCormick served as Register of Deeds for Jackson County, dying in office, in 1876. Gov. Thos. A. Osborn appointed Mrs. McCormick to fill the unexpired term, saying that he would in this establish a precedent for this Soldier's widow, giving her the honor of being the first woman to serve as Register of Deeds in Kansas. In 1878 Mrs. McCormick was married to Armstead Hall and they moved to a farm in Nemaha County. Three children were born to this union and they survive. Mrs. Minnie Lynde, Topeka; Mrs. Ernestine Sourk, of Goff; and Armstead Clyde Hall, who has lived with and cared for his mother most devotedly since the father's death in 1913, there on the farm which was their home for more than forty years. Mrs. Hall became a Christian in early life and ever was true to her faith throughout. Her aim was to do good to all and to see only good in folks, overlooking their faults. Her innumerable acts of kindness and her faculty for making friends earned for her the loving title of 'Aunt Em. Hall', a name she prized. Besides her children she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Rebecca Hart of Circleville, now in her 90th year, and a brother, Wm. N. Harper, Yakima, Wash. There are thirteen grandchildren, and one great grandchild living. A grand daughter and a grandson preceeded her in death. The funeral service was held Monday morning, May 26 in the Ontario church. The unusually large attendance of people indicated the host of friends that Mrs. Hall had made. Rev. Wm. Mayfield of Soldier Christian Church preached the sermon. He was assisted in the service by Rev. Grant Hamm of Ontario and Rev. Paul Durham of the Soldier and Ontario Methodist churches. The body was laid to rest in the Ontario Cemetery."

Khlar E. and Opal Russell Harper celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on April 28, 1996 at the Brushy Fork Community Building in Buckhannon, West Virginia. The couple has two sons and four grandchildren. Khlar is a descendant of Minor Harper (11th Child).

Internet: If you're on the Internet and want to communicate with me (I answer much faster than letters), try: mfuller@fred.net

Remember last year's Item of Interest about exactly what year Jacob C. and Susan McDonald Harper moved to Allegany Mountain in Randolph County? Well, I've found yet another piece of supporting evidence for the 1861 date. Family legend has it that The 20 Children were born at Days Mill. It was previously supposed that Days Mill was in Pendleton County. Joshua Day lived in Pendleton County on the old Philip Harper place and had a mill there. I think that has been mixed up with the Days Mill on Allegany Mountain. I located a Days Mill on the Randolph County Surveyor's map at the Courthouse. It's just below the Harper farm going towards Harman.

Check with your brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren to see if they received the 1996 newsletter. If not, please send me their addresses. Even if they don't seem interested now, we'd like to keep them on the mailing list so we don't lose track of them. You never know when someone's interest may re-awaken.

Kevin Dye of San Jose, California is descended from Jacob C. Harper's sister, Mahala Harper Wilson. You may recall reading in The Harper Family History that Mahala and her sister, Margaret, moved to Iowa in the 1830's. Iowa wasn't even a state then - it was an Indian territory and still very wild. It must have taken a lot of courage to leave her home in Virginia and travel there on horseback.

Grace Boggs Dyer of Franklin, WV, daughter of the well-know author, Elsie Byrd Boggs, was kind enough to give me a photograph of the Leonard Harper homeplace that was built around 1800. Leonard Harper was an uncle of Jacob C. Harper and lived near Circleville, WV. The house is no longer standing. (Photograph later in this newsletter.)

If anyone has a Family Bible for any Harpers born before 1900, PLEASE photocopy the family births, deaths and marriages and send it to me. Thanks!

Charlotte Harper Gibson, granddaughter of Walter Harper (15th Child), published a wonderful book on the Harper family in November 1995. She has kindly granted permission to reprint the memories she gathered of Jacob C. and Susan McDonald Harper:

"Jacob C. Harper's corn kept disappearing from his corn crib, so he set a bear trap. Early the next morning he heard a man yelling. Jacob and some of his sons ran to the corn crib and found a man caught in the bear trap. They removed the trap, took the man into the house and gave breakfast to him. They also gave a sack of corn to him to take home. They were never bothered again with anyone taking corn. The Harper Family History Update Kits for The Harper Family History are now available for $8.00. If you purchased the 1st edition of the book (before May 1996), this kit will give you the new information that's been added since then. They contain new pages with the holes already punched to fit right into your book. Just slide the old pages out and put the new ones in. An Index alphabetized by last name is also in this Update Kit. Order from Marsha L. Fuller.

"Grandma Susan Harper baked a cake in a large pan and didn't put icing on it. A man visitor was eating with the Harpers and he seemed to think the cake was cornbread, so when bread was passed to him, he would say, 'No, cornbread is good enough for me,' and he would take another piece of cake.

Change of Address: Remember to send your new address to the Editor if you move!

Mason Kisamore, who lives in the Harman Hills near Seneca Rocks, recently showed me a charcoal drawing he has of Philip Dice Harper (1813-1898) and his wife, Martha Harman. Mason is descended from their daughter, Mary S. Harper, who married Joab Kisamore. I am going to make a copy of this picture on my next visit and will print it in next year's newsletter.

Kent B. Fuller remembers his grandmother, Elizabeth Harper Cooper (16th Child), telling him that her older brothers took turns teaching at her school, the Harperton School. I recently attended Sunday School there and we sat at the old school desks. The lesson was led by Kitty Harper Judy, descendant of Walter Harper (15th Child).

Several people have asked me if they could sit down and type up all the names in The Harper Family History and display them on the Internet. No, they can't. It is a violation of copyright laws. It also doesn't promote what family ties are all about. I believe that it is important for people to be able to participate fully in the activities of The Harper Cemetery Association. We don't want to encourage "hit and run" genealogy. This is where a surfer on the Internet jumps around from site to site gathering as many names as he can and then boasts to everyone about how many people he has in his database. This is not research or genealogy. Real genealogy is a process of carefully checking each bit of information for accuracy and learning its source. Of constantly updating family information as new sources become available. Of being in touch with other family members to experience the closeness of family ties. We want to encourage everyone to become a member of The Harper Cemetery Association, to order a copy of The Harper Family History, and to make plans to attend the Annual Harper Reunion every May, as well as the big Reunion in 2000. That's the Harper family!

As promised in last year's issue, here is the letter that Peter Harper (3rd Child) wrote to his son, Branson, during the 1920's. This letter comes to us courtesy of Emily Harper, wife of Willis Branson Harper, who found this in her husband's possessions and kindly sent a copy to me for inclusion in the newsletter. The letter is typewritten on letterhead stationery from "The Atascosa County State Bank, Jourdanton, Texas." I have copied it exactly as it is written - you will notice some typos and misspellings, but I suspect this had more to do with an unfamiliarity with the typewriter than with a lack of education.

"Branson Harper. Covington Ky. Dear Son. I will try and answer your letter. My great grandfather's name, I think was Jacob. He was in the revolutionary war, or the war of eighteen and twelve I am not certain, as a captain and was captain of the squad that drove the Indians out of Virginia after the massacre of the people at Fort Seibert Virginia. He married a Randolph of Virginia, I think a sister of Senator John Randolph. Jacob Harper's descendants were, Adam Harper of Clover Run then Randolph County, now Tucker county. Henry Harper of Huttonsville Randolph County, Leonard Harper of Circleville then Hampshire County now Pendleton County, and another brother, I can't recall the name and one sister that I know of. My great Aunt Lair, who married a Trimble of Highland County Virginia, She took the old family Bible and her descendants live at Hightown Virginia or Monterey Virginia.

"My grandfather's name was Moses Harper and inherited the same place on the north fork of the Potomac river then in Hampshire County Virginia now Pendleton County West Virginia The house was a block house with port holes or an old Indian Fort. My grandfather was twice married. His first wife was a Hinkle and his second wife a Conrad. His first wife's children were Aaron who died in Iowa, Moses, who died at the old homestead, Margaret and Mahala, the latter married a Wilson and then moved to Iowa, or rather rode horse back from Virginia to Iowa. Wilson was a member of the Iowa Legislature. My grandfathers second wife, a Conrad, eight children were born, Jacob C. Harper, my father, Abe Harper, who died at the old homestead, Pernene, who died at Nevada, Missouri, where her descendants live. Malinda Carr, who died on the north fork of the Potomac in Pendleton County, Sofiah Hedrick who died at the same place, also Annas and Mary, old maids, both died at the old homestead. Isom Harper, who died in Farmercity Illinois, where his descendants live. One boy Otto is still there I think. Leonard Harper had several sons and daughters, some whom live at Doves Mills and Circleville Pendleton County West Virginia - Leonard and Amby, also Henry and Sylvenus at Doves Mills who are all dead. Their descendants live in that neighborhood. Adam Harper, the son of Sylvenus, lives in Hendricks, Tucker County West Virginia, and Miles who died at Doves Mills then Harpers Mills in Pendleton County. S. Watson Harper, of Elcampo Texas. Henry Harpers people live in or around Elkins West Virginia. They are Randolph, Henry, and Daniel Harper. Adam Harpers descendants were Ruth, who married her first cousin, Sylvenus, and another who married Captain Wamsley of Huttonsville Randolph County West Virginia. His descendants live there or can be located from there. His boys were Jacob, who died on the desert in the California gold rush. Ezekial Jerome, and Thad who established a gold camp in California; but at the outbreak of the Civil war Ezekial returned to care for his parents. The other two remained in California and became quite wealthy also both remained bachelors. One son Samuel who lived and died in Illinois. He had two daughters who married and live in Harlingen Texas. My father who was Jacob C. Harper married a Mcdonald and to that union were born twenty children - eleven boys and nine girls. The sons names were, Jeremiah, who is dead, has one son, J.C. Harper, Cumberland Maryland. Adam Harper, Hendricks, West Virginia, P.H. Harper Jourdanton, Texas, A.L. Harper, Elco, Nevada, Seymour Harper, Baltimore Maryland, Riley Harper, Parsons, W.Va., Isom Harper, Harman, W.Va., George Harper, Elk Lick, W.Va., Henry Harper, Columbus, Ohio, Minor Harper, Harman, W.Va., Walter Harper, Whitmer W.Va., The girls were as follows; - Mary Lawrence Cumberland Md., Elmira Harman, Davis W.Va., Ida Harper, deceased, Elizabeth Cooper, Cumberland Md., Gettie Monteney, Harman W.Va., Annie Harman, deceased, Virginia Montoney, Grove City, Ohio, Susan Wymer Hendricks, W.Va., Delphia Harrison Cumberland, Md., I had a list made out before father died of all the families and the date of their births, but they have been mislayed and am unable to find them. I hope Myrtle is improving nicely and will soon be able to be out again I am well am not able to work. If you will correspond with the Trimble family in Highland County Virginia, or the Sheriff at Staunton Virginia, you can get some information. Your Father P.H. Harper"

Copies of The Harper Family History are still available for $36.25. Order from: Marsha L. Fuller P.O. Box 3623, Hagerstown, MD 21742

------------------------------------------------------------------- Our mailing list has grown to almost 450 names this year! We have been joined by many more members of the Harper clan from all across the United States. Donations to cover the costs of the newsletter will be appreciated by The Harper Cemetery Association. Even though I donate the time I spend writing it (about 100 hours per issue), there are still actual costs such as photograph halftones, printing and postage. The Harper Cemetery Association c/o Albert J. Harper HC 66 Box 64 Dryfork, WV 26263

Countdown: Only 3 more years until our Philip Harper and Jacob Harper the Pioneers 250th Reunion on August 11-13, 2000.

The official travel agency for the 2000 Reunion will be The Cruise Company, a full-service travel agency owned by Julie Fuller. Julie can be reached at: The Cruise Company 13106 Winchester Rd. LaVale, MD 21502 (800)420-7245 cruise_co@netbiz.net

ADDITIONS TO OUR FAMILY TREE

* Marriages: Rosalie Harper Curtis married George LeRoy Barber on May 7, 1996 in Riverside, California. George was born on January 16, 1934 in Adrian, Michigan and is the son of LeRoy Arthur Barber and Frances Adelaide Toms Barber. Rosalie is the granddaughter of Minor Harper (11th Child). Rebecca Jean Ferguson married David Clements Carswell, Jr. on Jan. 6, 1996. Rebecca is a descendant of Adam Harper (2nd Child).

The Stork has been very busy this year: * The former Lori Lynn Brown and her husband, Eric Robert Miller, are pleased to announce the birth of Rachel Marie Miller born December 4, 1995. (Minor Harper - 11th Child) * Kaylin Rae Pennewill was born May 16, 1996 to the former Rebecca Elaine Tenney and her husband Brian Pennewill. (Minor Harper - 11th Child) * Jeffrey King Fuller and his wife, Brenda Kay Dye Fuller announce the birth of their second child, Dalton Wayne Fuller on May 7, 1996 in Cumberland, Maryland. (Elizabeth Harper - 16th Child) * Olivia Michele Fuller, arrived in the world on May 2, 1996 at Frederick, Maryland. Proud parents are Carl Craig Fuller and Michele Lynn Rakowski Fuller of Thurmont, Maryland. (Elizabeth Harper - 16th Child) * Samuel Dennis Yokum and wife, Laura, announce the birth of Luke Thomas Yokum on March 18, 1996 in Petersburg, WV. (Minor Harper - 11th Child) * Rebecca Ferguson Carswell and husband, David, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Jeanlyn Elizabeth Carswell on July 8, 1996 in Gainesville, FL. (Adam Harper - 2nd Child) * Proud parents of Kelsey Madison Ferguson, born April 11, 1996 in Oceanside, California, are David Ferguson and wife, Lisa. (Adam Harper - 2nd Child)

SORROWS:

© We lost Winifred Irene Triplett Harper, widow of Stelman Harper of Parsons, WV, on July 24, 1996. This bright-eyed family historian will be sadly missed by all who knew her. © Nannie Harman Muse Yost, daughter of Elmira Harper Harman (12th Child), passed away on September 9, 1996 in Florida. She was just a few months shy of her 100th birthday. She is deeply mourned by her son, Ed Muse. © Mabel E. Hamilton, first wife of Earl C. Harper, son of Seymour Harper (5th Child), departed this earth on December 18, 1996. She was 98 years old. She is sadly missed by daughters, Jackie and Joyce. © Mary Wimer Lacey, daughter of Susan Harper Wimer (18th Child), left us on June 22, 1996 in Cumberland, Maryland. She will be missed by sons, Bob and Dale.

FAMILY TREE (Refer to book pages 104-105 and 138) Philip Harper the Pioneer / \ \ Nicholas Philip, Jr. Jacob 1. Henry 1. Adam 1. Henry 2. George 2. Philip, III 2. Adam 3. Peter 3. Elias 3. Jacob,Jr. 4. Peter 4. Nicholas 5. Moses 6. Leonard Jacob Harper the Pioneer

1. George 2. Nicholas 3. Adam 4. Jacob Jr. 5. Henry 6. William D. 7. John M.

For all of you City Folks who think you could never have the time to make "country food," here's a recipe that is incredibly easy and requires no canning. This comes to us courtesy of Arlene Hogue Ferguson of Elkins, WV.

7 cups cucumbers, sliced thinly

1 cup onions, sliced thinly

1 green pepper, diced small

1 T. salt

1 T. celery seed

1 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar

2 cups sugar

Combine the last 4 ingredients. Stir until sugar is dissolved. (Heat, if necessary, to dissolve sugar.) Cool and pour over vegetables. Put in airtight containers in refrigerator. Will keep up to a year.

Copyright 1997 Marsha L. Fuller. All rights reserved.

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