Adam Harper (d.1820)

Introductory Note

At around the same time, three distinct families named Harper settled on the upper waters of the South Branch of the Potomac River in what is now Pendleton County, WV. The patriarchs of these three Harper families were named Philip, Jacob, and Adam. Records prove that Philip was born in Germany. His surname Harper was anglicized from the German Herber or Herper.  Probably Jacob and Adam were also German since the settlers in this area were predominantly German and Swiss. Philip's family arrived in Philadelphia on 11 August 1750 on board the ship Patience. All three patriarchs first appear in records of Augusta County, Virginia in 1758. The patriarch Philip is commonly referred to as Philip Harper the Pioneer, and the patriarch Jacob as Jacob Harper the Pioneer. Adam has never been designated Adam Harper the Pioneer. Hence, I refer to him simply as the Adam Harper who died in 1820. 

The family of Jacob Harper the Pioneer moved to Kentucky after April 1793, when he and his sons were listed in the Pendleton County personal property tax list for that year. They are all absent from the 1794 tax list. Pendleton County marriage records show that Nicholas (the son of Jacob the Pioneer) married Elizabeth (the daughter of Nicholas, who was the son of Philip the Pioneer) on 22 March 1794 in Pendleton County. [See  http://users.fred.net/mfuller//home9.html .] This was just before the 1794 personal property tax list was begun. In his Revolutionary War pension declaration, Adam (b.1759), a son of Jacob the Pioneer, stated that he removed to Woodford County, Kentucky in 1794. [See his pension application at http://www.revwarapps.org/s30453.pdf ] Adam's brother John (b.1762), also made a Revolutionary War pension declaration, likewise stating that in the year 1794, he removed to Woodford County, Kentucky. [See John Harper's pension application at http://www.revwarapps.org/s30454.pdf ]

Philip Harper the Pioneer died 12 February 1798 in Pendleton County. His three sons were Nicholas (1747-1818), Philip (1750-1832), and Jacob (1752-1826).

Timeline for Adam Harper

The first record we have for Adam Harper is in March 1758. According to the Preston Register, on 19 March 1758 Indians came to the South Branch and killed Peter Moser, Nicholas Frank, and John Conrod. In addition they wounded Adam Harper and George Moser and took captive John Cunningham and two others. Oren F. Morton states that Peter Moser was shot dead while unloading corn at his crib (A History of Pendleton County, p.41). It would seem likely that George Moser was a relative of his. John Conrod (also called Hance in the records but actually Hans in German) was the brother of Ulrick (Woolery) Conrod. A family tradition says that John Cunningham's son James was also taken by Indians. The name of James Cunningham later becomes closely associated with the Upper Tract, but where the Cunninghams were living in March 1758 is unclear, given that several Cunninghams had land surveys on the North Fork. Neither Nicholas Frank nor Adam Harper had yet made any known attempt to acquire land, and consequently where they were living when attacked in unknown, although the Register might suggest that they lived within a day's journey of Peter Moser.

Note: The patriarch Jacob Harper had a son named Adam, but he was not born until 1759. Therefore, it is presumed that the record referred to the patriarch Adam Harper. 

In September of 1758, the Virginia Assembly authorized three payments to Adam Harper for his services as a militiaman.

On 18 May 1762, the settlement of the estate of Roger Dyer indicates that Adam Harper was paid 9 shillings for horse hunting.

On 16 October 1765, Adam Harper purchased from Ephraim Richardson 200 acres on the South Branch of Potomack at the mouth of the Dry Branch.

On 9 December 1766 Adam had a survey made for 126 acres between the head of Dry Run and Crab Apple Waters. His patent for these 126 acres was dated 14 July 1769, but in the meanwhile, on 23 August 1768, he had purchased from Leonard Simmons 104 acres on the North Fork of the South Branch of Potomack about two miles below the mouth of Seneca Creek. It was on the waters of the North Fork that he would spend the rest of his life.

On 17 August 1773 he purchased from Jacob Aberman (aka Eberman) 71 acres on the North Fork.

On 17 May 1774, Adam sold his 200 acres at the mouth of Dry Branch to Nicholas Harper, a son of the patriarch Philip Harper. In this transaction Adam's wife was identified as Kathrine.

From 1754 to 1778, the boundary line between Hampshire and Augusta County coincided with the Fairfax line. On 1 March 1778, the county of Rockingham was created from the northern part of Augusta County. On the waters of the South Branch, the boundary line between Hampshire County and Rockingham was shifted fourteen miles to the southwest of the former Hampshire-Augusta line. This new line began "at the north side of the North Mountain, opposite to the upper end of Sweedland Hill, and running a direct course so as to strike the mouth of Seneca creek, on the north fork of the south branch of Potowmack river, and the same course to be continued to the Allegheny mountain, thence along the said mountain to the line of Hampshire county; and all that part of the said county and parish of Augusta which lies to the northward of the said line shall be added to and made part of the said county and parish of Hampshire."

Thus Adam Harper, former resident of Augusta County, became a resident of Hampshire County. When Hardy County was created in 1786 from the western part of Hampshire County, the boundary line remained the same, and so Adam next became a resident of Hardy County--but for just two years. In 1788, Pendleton County was created. The Pendleton-Hardy boundary line was moved seven miles back to the northeast (to its present location). Half of the territory which had been lost in 1778 was regained. The shift now placed Adam Harper's land in Pendleton County.

On 11 March 1783, at a court held in Hampshire County, Michael Everman, Daniel Mouse, and Adam Harper returned an inventory and appraisment of the estate of Martin Judy Junr. (Hampshire County Will Book 2, p.73-74. 

See the original document at

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18272-77785-5?cc=1909099&wc=14030824  or 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-CSST-DR?i=105&wc=Q816-MTY%3A179685701%2C179706501&cc=1909099

Image 106 of 283

West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971 > Hampshire > Will book, v. 002 1780-1794

p.73

The Appraisment of the Estate of Martin Judy Jur. Decesd.

...

p.74

...

The above Estate was Appraised by us According to Law

                                                                    Michael Everman

                                                                    Daniel Mouse

                                                                    Adam Harper

At a Court held for Hampshire County the 11th day of March 1783

This Inventory & Appraisment of the Estate of Martin Judy Decesd.

Was returned and ordered to be recorded.

...

In 1784, the Hampshire County list in the district of Job Welton indicated that the household of Adam Harper contained eight white souls. Adam had one dwelling and one other building.

[source: page 70 of Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790 ..., Volumes 5-6 United States. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1908. Link: https://books.google.com/books?id=EM-kyHJ7HXUC&pg=PA70&dq=%22Harper,+Adam%22 .

Comment on page 4: "As the Federal census schedules of the state of Virginia for 1790 are missing, the lists of the state enumerations made in 1782, 1783, 1784, and 1785, while not complete, have been substituted ..."

See also https://books.google.com/books?id=YphUAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA3-PA70&dq="Harper,+Adam" : Statistical Pamphlets, Volume 2, 1908 ]

On 18 November 1791 Adam received a grant of 72 acres on the head of Ragged Bottom Run, a west branch of the North Fork.

By this time his son Adam Jr. had come of age. On 29 June 1793, Adam Sr. and his wife sold to Adam Jr. the 126 acre tract between the head of Dry Run and Crabapple waters which he had had surveyed in 1766. In this transaction Adam's wife was now identified as Christina. This suggests that Adam Harper may have been married twice, although it is also possible that his wife's name was recorded incorrectly in one instance or the other.

On 30 March 1796, Adam received a grant of 20 acres on the southeast side of his "Home Place and adjoining the same on the North Fork".

The Pendleton County Personal Property Tax List for 1817 records the male descendants of the of Philip Harper the Pioneer (d. 1798) as well as listing Adam Harper (d. 1820) and three of his sons, Daniel, Philip, and Jacob. (Adam's oldest son Adam Jr. was living in Ross County, Ohio.) 

In 1817 Nicholas Harper had three white males (himself and two sons) above the age of sixteen living in his household. All the other Harper households contained only one white male above the age of sixteen.

Adam Harper wrote his will on 21 February 1820. He described himself as "weak in body but sound in mind". On April 4th, he was recorded as "Adam Sr." in the 1820 personal property tax list of Oliver McCoy. However, his name is missing from the 1820 census of Pendleton County, for which the enumeration date was August 7th. Thus he apparently died after April 4th but before August 7th. His will was proved in court on 2 January 1821. He indicated in his will that he had four sons, whose names were given, and six daughters, whose names were not given. If Adam was indeed married twice, then certainly the older children were Kathrine's. Possibly all of the children were Kathrine's, depending on when she might have died.

The children Adam Harper (d.1820)

Adam's sons were Adam Jr. (the eldest), Daniel, Philip, and Jacob (evidently the youngest). 

Adam Jr.

Adam Harper Jr. married Barbara Fleisher. After selling his lands to Nicholas Harper on 3 July 1804, he emigrated to Ross County, Ohio. His name is no longer present in the Pendleton County personal property tax lists of 1805 and thereafter. He died January 11, 1847 and was buried in the Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lattaville, Ross Co., OH. See http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=45663001. His headstone inscription calls him Adam Harper Sr., probably because he himself had a son named Adam. His age is given as 81 years, 4 months, 6 days, giving his calculated birthday as September 5, 1765.

Jacob

Adam's youngest son Jacob Harper first appeared in Pendleton County records on 3 September 1805, when he purchased 50 acres on the head of Roaring Spring from John and Catharine Briggs. (It is believed that two of John's brothers married two of Jacob's sisters. See below.) 

Jacob first appeared in the Pendleton County personal property tax lists in 1807 as "Harper Jacob son to Adam". 

Although no marriage record has been found, it is likely that by 1808 Jacob Harper had married Phebe Harman, daughter of Isaac Harman and Christina Henkel. The 1810 census of Pendleton County shows the household of Jacob Harper containing two males age 0 to 9 years, as well as one male age 16 to 25 (Jacob himself) and one female age 16 to 25 (his wife Phebe).

On 19 September 1829 Jacob sold some of his North Fork lands to his eldest son Jesse W. Harper. On 6 September 1830, Jacob and Phebe sold to her brother Reuben Harman her share of lands inherited from their father. On 21 September 1830, Jacob sold the rest of North Fork lands to Thomas Miller. Sometime thereafter Jacob's family (except Jesse) moved to Fayette County, Ohio. 

In the latter part of 1839 or the early part of 1840, Jacob, his wife, and their unmarried children moved to Crawford County, Missouri. Mahala, Simeon, Enos, and Elon had gotten married in Ohio and remained there. Simeon did come to Missouri a year or so later. Enos and Elon evidently also spent a few years in Missouri but returned to Ohio, Elon back to Ross County and Enos back to Fayette County. 

Jacob died in Fayette County, Ohio in 1847 while visiting his children. He is buried in Sugar Creek Baptist Cemetery. According to his headstone, he died Nov. 20, 1847, at the age of 58 years and 4 months. (See http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26517611) This implies he was born in July 1789. So perhaps his mother was Christina rather than Kathrine. However, the headstone inscription would have made him only 16 years old when he purchased those 50 acres in September 1805. If he had to have been age 21 to purchase land, then he may have been born in July 1784.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGX-Z9VM-G?i=451&cat=82800

Film # 008219251

Pendleton County, Virginia Deed Book 8, p.245

5 September 1822

Isaac Cannell Trustee for Simon Wilmer and Rebecca his wife to Jacob Harper Jr

For 55 dollars, Two certain Tracts or parcels of Land on the East side of the North Fork, containing in the whole 110 acres, the one containing 6 acres, and the other 104 acres and Bound as follows to wit:.

…

the said 110 acres is part of a Tract of 22750 acres.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://files.usgwarchives.org/wv/pendleton/land/1823LB.txt [old link]

http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/pendleton/land/1823LB.txt  [new link]

1823 LAND BOOK FOR PENDLETON COUNTY, WV

The original order of the entries in the Land Book is recorded in the first column. The second column lists the District (i.e. U=upper and L=lower), followed by the Last Name, First Name, Acreage, Location of the parcel, Direction (i.e. distance from the courthouse), and Notes.

EST = estate of; FR = from

ENTRY #  DIST  LAST NAME   FIRST NAME            ACRES  LOCATION            DIR           NOTES

301                L      HARPER           ADAM EST                   52         N FORK                19 NW      52 OF 104 AC TO SON JACOB

302                L      HARPER           ADAM EST                   72         N FORK                19 NW

303                L      HARPER           ADAM EST                   20         N FORK                19 NW

304                L      HARPER           ADAM EST                   71        ALLEGHENY MT

ENTRY #  DIST  LAST NAME   FIRST NAME            ACRES  LOCATION             DIR           NOTES

379                L      HARPER           JACOB OF ADAM       50      ALLEGHENY MT   25 NW

380                L      HARPER           JACOB OF ADAM       23      N FORK                    20 NW

381                L      HARPER           JACOB OF ADAM       52      N FORK                    20 NW      FR FATHER, DECD

382                L      HARPER           JACOB OF ADAM         6      N FORK                    20 NW      FR CANNELL

383                L      HARPER           JACOB OF ADAM     104      N FORK                    20 NW      FR CANNELL

384                L      HARPER           JACOB OF ADAM       32      ROARING RIDGE   20 NW      NEW GRANT

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pendleton County Deed Book 9, p.14

4 May 1823

Jacob Harper and his wife Phebe to Philip Harper. Three tracts totaling 23 acres for $11.50.

1. 15 acres adjoining his former land on the southeast side of his house.

2. 2 acres lying between and adjoining his home place and the river at the division line between him and Jacob Harper.

3. 6 acres lying on each side of his up land place (corner to Jacob's 23 acre grant dated 1 Aug 1817).

[tracts were purchased from Isaac Cannell, trustee for Simon Wilmer, who purchased them from Joseph and Benjamin Chambers]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pendleton Deed Book 10, p.121

19 September 1829

Jacob Harper and his wife Phebe sell to Jesse Harper for $100 four certain

tracts of land:

1. 32 acres on Roaring ridge between and adjoining his own land and Jonas Miller's.

[note: These 32 acres were granted to Jacob on 1 Oct 1822 Grants No. 71, p.166-7).]

2. 18 acres situated on the west side of roaring ridge, on the south side of Hickory lick.

[note: These 18 acres were granted to Jacob on 1 Oct 1822 Grants No. 71, p.162-3).]

3. 50 acres more or less lying on the head waters of roaring spring at the hickory lick.

[note: These 50 acres were originally patented by John Skidmore Jr. on 7 Oct 1796 (Virginia Land Office Grants No. 37, 1796-1798, p. 181). On 2 Dec 1800, John and Nancy Skidmore sold this land to John Briggs for 14 pounds (Pendleton County Deed Book 3, p. 211-2). Then on 3 Sept 1805, John and Catherine Briggs sold this land to Jacob Harper for $18.]

4. 21 acres, a part of a 72 acre tract.

[note: The 72 acre tract was granted to Adam Harper on 18 Nov 1791. After Adam's death in 1820, the land was divided between his three sons Philip, Daniel, and Jacob. Jacob sold his portion, 21 acres, to his son Jesse. Daniel and Philip received an undivided share of 51 acres. On 26 Aug 1825, Daniel sold his half of these 51 acres to Philip for $16. (Adam's eldest son, Adam Jr., had moved to Ross County, OH by 1810.)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pendleton County Deed Book 10, p.245

21 September 1830

Jacob Harper and his wife Phebe sell to Thomas Miller for $1200 four tracts of land on the east side of the North Fork:

Two tracts, 6 and 104 acres, totalling 110 acres [both tracts purchased from Isaac Cannell 5 Sept 1822]

1. 6 acres lying on the west side of his home and on the east side of the [fork??]

2. 104 acres lying on the east side of his home place and on the SW side of the mountain.

3. 23 acres on the east side of the North Fork [granted to Jacob on 1 Aug 1817 (Grants No. 66, p.426)]

4. 52 acres "which said tract of land was willed to his son Jacob Harper by his father Adam Harper by his last will and testament."

[This was half of a 104 acre tract patented by Leonard Simmons on 10 July 1767. On 23 Aug 1768, Simmons sold the land to Adam Harper (Augusta Co. Deed Book 15, p.145).]

================================================================================

================================================================================

Ross County Data

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohross/Cemetery%20Inscrip/concord_presb_cemetery.htm

Concord Presbyterian Cemetery

Concord Twp, Ross County, Ohio

Name                                 Born            Died                    Notes

Harper, Ada Porter          1885            1925

Harper, Adam                                       28 May 1846      16y4m21d; s/o Joab and Lydia

Harper, Adam Sr                                  11 Jan 1847         81y4m6d [calculated date of birth = 5 Sept 1765]

Harper, Barbara

Harper, Dwight Caleb     1884            1959

================================

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47008205

Ray Fleisher and Zoe Tom discussion regarding Adam Harper and wife Barbara of Ross Co., OH

--------------------------------------------------------

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=45663001

Adam Harper, Sr

Birth: Sep. 5, 1765 Death: Jan. 11, 1847Married: Barbara Fleisher AKA Flesher

Inscription:

Aged 81 Yrs 4 months 6 days. [which, counting back from his date of death, gives us his date of birth as 9-5-1765]

Children:

Benjamin Harper m Catherine Stookey 30 Sep 1816 in Ross County, OH - Went to Tippecanoe Co., Indiana

Joab Harper born 15 Aug 1795 in Pendleton Co., VA. - Went to Iowa

Adam Harper, Jr.

Family links:

Parents:

Adam Harper (1741 - 1820)

Children:

Susannah Harper Jones (1787 - 1864)*

Joab Harper (1795 - 1882)*

Note:

Joab's gravestone says: DIED SEP 17, 1882 AGED 87 YRS. 1 Mo. 2 Ds

So his calculated date of birth is 15 Aug 1795

Spouse:

Barbara Fleisher Harper (1765 - 1834)*

*Point here for explanation

Burial:

Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery

Lattaville

Ross County

Ohio, USA

Created by: Zoe Tom

Record added: Dec 21, 2009

Find A Grave Memorial# 45663001

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohross/Cemetery%20Inscrip/day_cemetery.htm

Day Cemetery

Concord Twp, Ross County, Ohio

Harper, Elon Oct 12 1817 - Mar 21 1881; same stone as Barbara & Elizabeth Harper

Harper, Barbara w/o Elon, Oct 25 1819

Harper, Elizabeth d Oct 28 1878 ag 18y6m5das

----------------------------------------------------------

Day Cemetery, Concord Twp, Ross County, OH

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11325012

Elon Harper

[Note: Elon was a son of Jacob Harper and Phebe Harman. Jacob was the younger brother (or half brother) of 

Adam Harper of Ross County who died 11 Jan 1847. Elon married Barbara Ross on 21 Mar 1839 in Ross County, 

 Ohio.]

Birth: Oct. 12, 1817Death: Mar. 21, 1881See Samuel Wilges for picture

Family links:

Children:

Amos Harper (____ - 1923)*

Phebe Harper Drais (1842 - ____)*

John Harper (1846 - 1852)*

Adam Harper (1852 - 1944)*

Elon Harper (1856 - 1928)*

*Point here for explanation

Burial:

Day Cemetery, Concord TWP

Ross County

Ohio, USA

Created by: Franklin Conner

Record added: Jul 09, 2005

Find A Grave Memorial# 11325012

==================================================================

These 1900 newspaper articles and the 1905 biography of William Harper tell of some of the descendants of Adam Harper Jr.:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95079246/1900-07-27/ed-1/seq-3/

Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 

 July 27, 1900, Image 3 of 4

column 1

...

   David N. Heizer*, Esq. and two

daughters, Misses Dall and Francis

Heizer of Colorado Springs ar-

rived here this week to visit rela-

tives in Virginia. At present they

are stopping with their cousin Mrs.

John Trimble. Mr. Heizer's great-

grandfather was a Harper and lived

on what is now known as the Key

farm on South Branch. His great-

grand mother lived at the home

now owned hy Mr. H. C. Fleisher.

Mr. Heizer is president of the Crip-

ple Creek Gold Mining Co.

...

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95079246/1900-08-03/ed-1/seq-3/

Highland Recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972

August 03, 1900, Image 3 of 4

column 2

Old Highland History Linked

         with the Far West.

   The visit of D. N. Heizer*and

his daughters, Misses Francis and

Dell, with Mr. John Trimble** and

his family, Dr. Isaac Trimble and

Cyrus Fliesher, has been an unusu-

ally interesting one, as it brings

together again the blood of the

old Harper and Fleisher families

after part of it had been carried a-

way from Old Virginia for about a

Century. Mrs. John Trimble was

Hannah Harper daughter of Leon-

ard Harper, who was the son of Ja-

cob Harper***, who was a son of Ad-

am, who acquired land on South

Branch as early as 1765, and prob-

ably settled in Pendleton County

at a much earlier date. Cyrus

Fleisher's father was Adam Fleish-

er, son of Benjamin Fleisher, who

was a son of Maj. Henry Fleisher,

who came from Germany in the

Ship Phoenix, in 1742, and settled

on South Branch soon after, im-

mediately above and adjoining the

old Adam Harper plantation.

   Mr. Heizer's great grand father

was Adam Harper Jr. a Son of Ad-

am Harper and was born on South

Branch in 1765, the same year that

the record shows Adam Harper's

first ownership in land.

   Mr. Heizer's great grand mother

wasBarbara Fleisher, a sister of

Major Henry Fleiser, and she and

Adam Harper were married on

South Branch in the year 1786,

land in 1805 migrated with a fami-

ly of nine children to Ross County

Ohio, where they were pioneers in

the wilderness.

A son Jacob[sic-Joab] Harper, in 1849

moved to Des Moines Co. Iowa,

his children having preceeded him

as pioneers in the early settlement

of that Territory, and Mr. Heizer

who lives at Colorado Springs Colo.

is of this branch.

   On Saturday the 28th. Mr. John

Trimble and his wife, Dr. Isaac

Trimble and family, Mr. Cyrus

Fleisher and wife, with Mr. Heizer

and daughters, spent the day pic-

nicing on South Branch, on the

old Adam Harper and Maj. Henry

Fleisher homestead, and took their

dinner under an old Sugar tree on

the old Harper homestead, whose

kindly shade had been bestowed

upon their people for the last 135

years at least .They found at the

old homestead, where lives Mr Mar-

ion Moyers, many interesting old

relics, the chief ones being the lit-

tle old log house where the first

Adam Harper lived, a part of the

loom and the old spinning wheels

of both the Harper and Fleisher

families. The old Harper spinning

wheel, Mr. Heizer's daughters will

carry home with them to Colorado.

   Mr. John Trimble and family

have devoted themselves to the en-

tertainment of their guests, and

Mr. Heizer assures us they will car-

ry away with them the most pleas-

ant impression of their visit to

Highland County and of the warm

heartedness of old Virginia hospi-

tality.

                                        X X

_______

*David Newton Heizer was the son of Edward Heizer and Anna Harper. Anna was the daughter of Joab Harper, son of Adam Harper Jr., son of Adam Harper Sr.

**John Trimble (b.1823) was the son of James Trimble (b.1795) and Catherine Seybert. James Trimble was the son of James Trimble and Susanna Shinneberger. (Morton, History of Highland County, Virginia, 1911, p.342)

***The article has confused two different Jacob Harpers. Hannah Harper Trimble's father Leonard Harper (who married Phoebe Hinkle) was the son of the Jacob Harper who was the son of Philip Harper the Pioneer. This Jacob Harper (i.e., the son of Philip Harper) is said to have married Margaret Simmons.

The other Jacob Harper, who was the son of Adam Harper Sr. and brother of Adam Harper Jr., married Phebe Harman.

Adam Harper Sr. was a contemporary of Philip Harper the Pioneer, but as far as is known, they were unrelated. Records show that Philip came from Germany. Adam Sr. probably did also, although we have no records to verify this.

-----------------------------------------------------

Land Patent

grantee: Harper, Adam.

date: 14 July 1769.

Location: Augusta County.

Description: 126 acres between the head of Dry Run and Crab Apple Waters.

Source: Land Office Patents No. 38, 1768-1770, p. 689

Pendleton County (West) Virginia Deedbook Records, 1788-1813 by Rick Toothman, p.22:

Pendleton County Deed Book 1, p.265-267

29 June 1793. Adam (Sr) and Christina Harper to Adam Harper Jr. 126 acres between the head of Dry Run and Crabapple waters, no adjoiners named. Consideration: £80, [current money of Virginia]. Signed: Adam [A] Harber, Christina [X] Harber. Witnesses: none. Acknowledged by both in court, 5 August 1793. Delivered: 13 September 1794.

Pendleton County (West) Virginia Deedbook Records, 1788-1813 by Rick Toothman, p.120:

Pendleton County Deed Book 4, p.103-105

3 July 1804. Adam and Barbara Harper to Nicholas Harper. 3 tracts on Dry Run and Crabapple Bottom: 120 acres between the heads of Dry Run and Crabapple, no adjoiners named; patented to Adam Harper Sr, 14 July 1769. 45 acres west of the previous tract, adjoining Wimer; patented to Adam Harper Jr, 2 March 1795. 100 acres adjoining Philip Wimer, George Yeager, and the previous tract; patented to Adam Harper Jr, 13 March 1790. Consideration: £200, VA [current money of Virginia]. Signed: Adam [A] Harper, Barbara [+] Harper. Witnesses: none. Acknowledged in court by both, 3 July 1804. No delivery shown.

Note: This Nicholas Harper was a brother Jacob Harper (b.1752), who was the father of Leonard Harper, who was the father of Hannah Harper Trimble mentioned in the 1900 article.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a 1905 biography of William Harper, son of Joab Harper, son of Adam Harper Jr., son of Adam Harper Sr. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=j080AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA21

Title: Biographical Review of Des Moines County, Iowa: Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Many of the Prominent Citizens of To-day and Also of the Past.

[Volume 1, Pages 1-598]

Publisher: Hobart Publishing Company, Chicago, 1905

[biography of HON. WILLIAM HARPER on pages 18-30.]

p.18 [left column]

          HON. WILLIAM HARPER.

   HON. WILLIAM HARPER, full of years and honors, having passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life’s journey, has lived and labored to goodly ends, his life work becoming an integral chapter in the history of Des Moines county and the State of Iowa. He has contributed to its pioneer growth, its business development, to its political and educational progress. The contemporary and friend of many of the most distinguished men of the State, he has been accorded a place in their ranks by reason of his ability to handle questions of great importance affecting the weal or woe of the commonwealth, and by reason of a character that, viewed in the light of the past eighty-five years,

p.18 [right column]

seems without a blemish. No historian would claim to write of a faultless man, and yet the mistakes that Mr. Harper may have made have been those of judgment rather than intention; for a kindly spirit, a sense of justice, unfaltering integrity, and an indomitable adherence to upright principles have ever been salient features in his career, and in all Des Moines county there is no man held in greater love and respect than this venerable citizen of Mediapolis.

   His life history began Nov. 3, 1819, in Ross county, Ohio. His ancestral history through many generations, both lineal and collateral, has been distinctively American. although farther back the line can be traced to Germany. His paternal great-grandfather, Adam Harper, a resident of Pendleton county, West Virginia, settled on the headwaters of the south branch of the Potomac River, and became a land owner in 1765. This place is twelve miles north of the town of Monterey, the county-seat of Highland county, old Virginia. He was among the first settlers of this point, west of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and went through the hardships and dangers incident to pioneer life in that country at that time; for in 1767 those settlers were exposed to the attacks of the Indians, who waged a murderous warfare all along the line of that settlement.

His farm was located across the south branch of the Potomac valley, in a most beautiful, picturesque country, and in 1900 the old original log cabin in which he dwelt as a pioneer was still standing. There were abundant portholes in it, through which he could fire his flint-lock rifle in defense of his home against the

[continued on p.21]

p.21  [left column]

incursions of the Indians. A large orchard was on the place, located just northwest of the house, which stood on a bench overlooking the lower bottom; and in one corner of this orchard the old people (Adam Harper and wife) were buried. There was a cold spring on the place, and a log milk-house was built near it, which also was still standing in the year of 1900.

   Adam Harper, Jr., married a Miss Flescher, whose parents came from Germany about 1735, and established their home in the Old Dominion, then a part of the colonial possessions of Great Britain. Adam Harper, Sr., came to America soon after the arrival of the Flescher family, and also established his home in Virginia. On Jan. 2, 1821, the last will and testament of Adam Harper, deceased, was presented in court, proved by oath of Jonas Harmon and Solomon Harper, two of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. Henry Flescher became a major in the War of the Revolution, when the colonies entered upon the struggle that brought independence to the nation. He was a brother to the wife of Adam Harper, Jr.

   Adam Harper, Jr., grandfather of William Harper, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, and became a farmer by occupation. He removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio in 1805, settling in Ross county. Joab Harper, son of Adam Harper, Jr., was a native of Pendleton county, Virginia, now West Virginia. In 1805 he was brought by his parents to Ross county, Ohio, where for many years they carried on agricultural pursuits. Having arrived at years of maturity, he [Joab] was married to Lydia Jones, a native of Augusta county, Virginia.

p.21 [right column]

   In 1849 Joab Harper came with his family to Iowa. He lived a quiet life, and possessed a conservative nature; yet no man was more stanch in support of the principles in which he believed. ’He was a devoted and loyal member of the Presbyterian church, having united with that body after middle age, adhering to that faith until his death, which occurred Sept. 17, 1882, when he was eighty-seven years of age. He had for several years survived his wife, who passed away at the age of seventy-four years. They reared a family of six children, of whom we have William, of Mediapolis; John, also residing in Mediapolis; Robert J., of Manhattan, Kans., who was formerly judge of the probate court of Riley county; Joab, Jr., who was engaged in the furniture business in Great Bend, Kans., and later moved to Hutchinson, Kans., where he died in June, 1901; Anna, the deceased wife of Edward Heizer†, of Mediapolis; and Adam, who died at the age of seventeen years. The mother, Mrs Lydia Jones Harper, died Aug. 26, 1867, at the age of seventy-five years, and, as before stated, the father passed away Sept. 17, 1882, at the home of his son, Joab, with whom he had spent the evening of life.

...

†Anna Harper married Edward Heizer 18 Nov 1845 in Ross Co., OH.

[See Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994 > Ross > Marriage records 1840-1852 vol E-F > Image 165 of 365

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-17957-97642-27?cc=1614804&wc=M9MV-WNP:n2070594792 ]

Edward was the son of Samuel Heizer and Mary "Polly" Ware. Edward's sister married William Harper. (See page 23.)

p.23 [left column]

...

   Returning to Ohio in 1843, Mr. [William] Harper won a companion and helpmate for the journey of life, being married Aug. 7, 1844, to Miss Harriet Heizer, who was born Oct. 8, 1819, in Ross county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel and Polly Heizer, who were natives of Virginia, and of German descent. The wedding journey of the young couple consisted of a trip across the prairies by team, to the home which he had prepared in Des Moines county. They reached their destination Oct. 3, 1844, took up their abode in the little cabin, and for four years lived in true pioneer style. ...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15964744

JOAB HARPER

Birth: Aug. 15, 1795, Virginia

Death: Sep. 17, 1882

Burial: Kossuth Cemetery, Mediapolis, Des Moines County, Iowa

The cemetery inscription for Joab Harper says he died Sep.17, 1882, aged 87 Yrs., 1 Mo., 2 Ds.

=====================================================================

Sources discussing Jacob Harper, son of Adam Harper:

http://books.google.com/books?id=1NwyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA505

The County of Ross: A History of Ross County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on the Bench and Bar, Medical Profession, Educational Development, Industry and Agriculture and Biographical Sketches, Volume 2

Henry Holcomb Bennett

Selwyn A. Brant, 1902 - Ross County (Ohio) - 736 pages

p.505

...

   Jacob Harper was born in Concord township, Ross county, February 9, 1849. His father, Elon Harper, was born in Pendleton county, W. Va., about 1819, being a son of Jacob Harper, whose birth occurred in Virginia about the year 1832[sic!]. The latter removed with his family to Ohio, first settling in Fayette county where he remained

p.506

a few years and then went to Missouri. He spent the rest of his days in that state, his death occurring while back on a visit to relatives in Fayette county, Ohio. His son Elon received but a limited education and grew to manhood in the counties of Fayette and Ross. He learned the blacksmith trade, but followed it only irregularly as he made farming his principal occupation. His wife was Barbara, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Michael) Ross, who were among the first settlers of Ross county, coming here form Maryland. Elon Harper died in 1881, his wife surviving him but a short time and passing away in 1882. They had a family of ten children, of whom seven are living and all in Ross county. Among them is Jacob Harper, the subject of this sketch. He received the ordinary education in the common schools of Concord township, and upon his arrival at full age became a. farmer, like his ancestors before him. In 1875, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Thomas Ware, of Frankfort, and the union resulted in the birth of two children, whose names are Edna and Corda. Mr. Harper is a member of the Masonic order, being connected with the Frankfort lodge, No. 326.

...

-------------------------------------------------------------

http://books.google.com/books?id=SBgVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA408

History of Fayette County, Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions

Frank M. Allen

B. F. Bowen, Incorporated, 1914 - Fayette County (Ohio) - 756 pages

p.407

                              AMOS THORNTON.

...

   Amos Thornton was born in Union township, Fayette county, Ohio,

p.408

within three miles of the court house, on November 27, 1833. His parents were Thomas B. and Mahala (Harper) Thornton, who were born and reared in Virginia. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Amos, the subject of this sketch: James, of Oklahoma; John Anderson, deceased; William H., of Washington C. H.; Elon, living in Washington C. H.; Thomas, of near Gallatin, Tennessee; Austin, deceased, and Noah, of Union township. Thomas B. Thornton was a farmer and acquired the ownership of about six hundred acres of land in Union township, which he improved and developed into a valuable estate, and there he died in the ninetieth year of his age. His widow, who died at the age of eighty-six years, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, and was a Baptist in her religious faith. Thomas B. Thornton was a man of good business judgment and unquestioned integrity and served his county efficiently as county commissioner.

   The subject's paternal grandfather came from Norfolk, Virginia, with his wife, and they settled near Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, where he died. Eventually his widow came to Fayette county and married again, her second husband being Mr. Coyle. She died near Van Wert. To the first union were born two children, James and Thomas. The former possessed a roving disposition and he drifted away, his subsequent history being unknown. The subject's maternal grandparents were Jacob and Phoebe (Harmon) Harper, natives of Pendleton county, Virginia. They came to Fayette county in 1829, but subsequently moved to Missouri, where the wife died. Mr. Harper returned to Fayette county and his death occurred in Union township. To him and his wife were born the following children: Sabina, Mahala. Tana, Phoebe, Delilah, Simeon, Enos, Elon, Isaac, Jacob, Noah and John.

...

=====================================================================

Sources which indicate or suggest that Jacob and John Peterson married two Harper girls: 

According to p.144 of the Peterson family history by Clyde S. Boots, Martin Peterson (b.1730) had two sons who married Harper girls, but their parentage is unidentified:

Jacob Peterson married Elizabeth Harper, Jan. 28, 1785. 

John Peterson married first Mary Harper, 1789. 

---------------------------------------------------------------

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gen2/index.htm or

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Portrait_and_Biographical_Album_of_Green/nRVAAQAAMAAJ

Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio

Chapman Bros., Chicago, Copyright 1890.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gen2/petersonezram.htm

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gen2/151.jpg

p.148

EZRA M. PETERSON. ...

   The father of the gentleman of whom we write 

was Felix Peterson, who was born in Hardy 

County, Va., May 18, 1809, and died April 9, 

1874, and came with his parents, Jacob and Eliza-

beth (Harper) Peterson, to this county in 1815, 

the party also including John PETERSON, a brother 

of Jacob, and a cousin. The fraternal group, of 

p.151

which he was the youngest member, comprised also 

Catherine, Mary, Christina, Samuel, Joel, Moses, 

Jacob and Hannah, the latter being the only one 

now living, her age being eighty-seven. Jacob 

Peterson died on the farm now occupied by his 

grandson, our subject, in July, 1859, at the ex-

treme age of ninety-three years, having been born 

in March, 1766. His wife had breathed her last 

in 1833.

   Felix Peterson grew to man’s estate in this 

county, spending nearly his entire life on Caesar's 

Creek, where his father had located in his boyhood. 

He married Mary S. Weaver, who is yet living. ... 

... The 

family of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Peterson comprised 

seven sons and daughters, the subject of this 

sketch being the youngest and the others bearing 

the names of Martha, Lewis, Catherine, James, 

John and Harper.

Note: The full name Felix's son Harper was Felix Harper Peterson (b. 14 Feb 1845). 

---------------------------------------------------------

Below is a parttial transcription of a letter loaned by Mrs. Samuel W. Kerr of Waynesville to the Indiana State Library "for xeroxing". The letter states that the wives of Jacob and John Peterson were daughters of Adam Harper. Mrs. Samuel W. Kerr was Mildred Peterson Shelby (Shelby presumably being her first husband). Mildred was the daughter of Hugh Peterson, son of Solomon W. Peterson, son of Solomon Peterson, son of John Peterson and Mary Harper. (John Peterson was the son of Martin Peterson b.1730). Mildred Peterson had been born about 1908 but had not married Samuel W. Kerr until 4 Sept 1965. 

The actual author is this handwritten, six-page letter is uncertain. It is undated, contains a number of misspellings, is repetitive, and appears to be missing some text. 

Note that this letter incorrectly indicates that Jacob Peterson's wife was named Sarah Harper rather than Elizabeth Harper.

MARTIN PETERSON FAMILY NOTES

                             OF

                      VIRGINIA,

NORTH CAROLINA  (SOUTH CAROLINA?)

                           AND

                      INDIANA

The text below is handwritten.

Page 1

Written vertically in the left margin: 

Loaned for xeroxing by Mrs. Samuel W. Kerr, R. R. 2,

                                                   Waynetown, Ind.  

     Martin Peterson

Second son of John Jacob

Peterson of Switzerland, 

was married in North 

Caroline to a Lady by

the names of Teter,

after which he returned 

to Virginia ware he 

resided, the remained the 

rest of his life, and 

rais a family of six 

children three sones 

and three daughters.

      The names of the 

sons was John, Jacob 

and Joseph, the daughters

Elisabeth, Barbara, & Rosanna.

Page 2

John Peterson and Jacob

Peterson, brothers, Married

two sisters by the name 

of Harper, Mary and 

Sarah Harper, Daughters

of Adam Harper.

Rosanna Peterson Married

      Daniel Huffman

Elisabeth Married Garrett

Boots, Barbara Married

   Peter Huffman

...

Page 4

...

      Jacob Peterson whoes wife 

was a sister to John Petersons 

wifis the Miss Harpers raised 

a family of four sons and 

three daughters, names of sons 

was, Samuel, Moses, Phelix 

and Jacob the daughters 

ware Catharine, Mary 

   and Hannah

Page 5

This page appears to continue with a story 

which was begun on another, missing page. 

Presumably the story told of John Jacob 

Peterson taking his family, including his 

son Martin, from Switzerland and ultimately 

moving to North Mill Creek, a branch of the 

South Branch of Potomac in Virginia (now 

West Virginia), 

Whare he purched a farm 

of four hundred acres for 

which he paid ninety 

pounds, making about five 

hundred dollars.

      Here he lived in peace 

and plenty until the 

Indians tried to drive them 

from their homes by making 

raids killing the settlers and 

taking prisoners, John Martin 

was taken prisonor and was 

prisoner six months  , with them 

with . He  finally made his

escape. He then went to South 

Carolina, while there he made 

the aqaintence of a Lady by the 

name of Teter. He maried her. 

   He then returned to Vergenia

Whare he spent the 

remainder of his life

Page 6

And raised A family of 

Six children three sons 

and three daughters

   The names of the childrin 

was Jacob,    John   and 

Joseph. Names of Daughters 

was Elisabeth, Barbara,

And Rosanna.

   Jacob son of Martin Peterson 

and John, his brother, 

Married two sisters by 

the names Mary, and 

Sarah Harper, Daughters, 

of Adam Harper

   The daughers Married as 

follows, Elisabeth Married Garret 

Bootes, Rosanna Married 

Daniel Huffman,

Barbara Married Peter Huffman

END OF TEXT

Note: See another transcription of this letter at

http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.peterson/1554.1555/mb.ashx

Subject: (John) Martin Peterson notes IN State Library

Author: John Krall

Date: Tuesday, November 21, 2000

Classification: Biography

Surnames: Peterson, Teter, Harper, Huffman, Boots, Coiner, Harpole, Bootes 

From a copy of a handwritten document which was sent to the Indiana State Library by Mrs. Samuel W. Kerr, Waynetown, IN. Undated, unattributed. I have attempted to transcribe this exactly as written with the spelling and punctuation uncorrected. It is not in a clear or logical order. Anything in square brackets, [ ], is a comment or addition of the transcriber. JAK.

[page] 1

Martin PETERSON

Second son of John Jacob PETERSON of Switzerland, was married in North Carolina to a Lady by the name of TETER, after which he returned to Verginia ware he resided, the remained the rest of his life, and rais a family of six childrin, three sons and three daughters.

The names of the sons was John, Jacob and Joseph, the daughters Elisabeth, Barbara & Rosanna.

[page] 2

John PETERSON and Jacob PETERSON, brothers. Married two sisters by the name of HARPER, Mary and Sarah HARPER. Daughters of Adam HARPER.

Rosanna PETERSON Married Daniel HUFFMAN.

Elisabeth Married Garrett BOOTS, Barbara Married Peter HUFFMAN.

...

[page] 4

...

Jacob PETERSON whoes wife was a sister to John PETERSONs wife, the Miss HARPERs raised a family of four sons and three daughters, names of sons was Samuel, Moses, Phelix [Felix] and Jocob the daughters ware Catharine, Mary and Hannah

[page] 5 [this seems out of order with the other pages but this is the way they were labeled]

Whare he ["he" evidently referring to Martin's father John Jacob Peterson Sr.] purched a farm of four hundred acres for which he paid ninety pounds, making about five hundred dollars

Here he lived in peace and plenty untill the Indians tryed to drive them from their homes by making raids killing the settlers and taking prisoners. John Martin was taken prisonor [in February 1757] and was prisoner six months, with them [unreadable]. He finally made his escape. He then went (to) South Carolina. while there he made the aquaintence of (a) Lady by the name of TETER. he maried her

He then returned to Verginia Whare he spent the remainder of his life

[page] 6

And raised A Family of six childrin three sons and three daughters

The names of the childrin  was Jacob, John and Joseph Names of Daughters was Elisabeth, Barbara, And Rosanna.

Jacob son of Martin PETERSON and John, his brother, Married two sisters by the name Mary and Sarah HARPER, Daughters of Adam HARPER.

------------------------------------------

[note: The John Peterson mentioned below was the son of Martin Peterson, who was the second son of Jacob Peterson Sr.]

http://books.google.com/books?id=gS4uAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA875

History of Greene County: Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio.

R. S. Dills

Odell & Mayer, 1881 - Greene County (Ohio) - 1018 pages

p.875

...

   John Peterson was born in Hardy County Virginia, in June, 

1867, and was married to Miss Mary Harper in 1789. By her he 

had six children: Solomon, Elizabeth, Martin, Phebe, Jonas, the 

subject of the original sketch, and John. John remained in Vir-

ginia until October 18, 1806, when he came to Ross County, near 

Chillicothe. He remained at this place about four years, and then 

went to Franklin County, within seven miles of where the city of 

Columbus now stands. He only remained there over winter, how-

ever, and returned to within two miles of where he had come from 

in Ross County. At about this time his wife died, May 26, 1811.

In -----, 1813, he was again married, to Miss Elizabeth Wells, by 

whom he had eight children: Sarah, Delilah, Susan, Margaret, 

Mary, Jessie, Abram, and David. Of the first children Jonas is the 

only one alive; of the latter Abram, David, Susan, and Margaret 

are alive. John remained in Ross County until July 17,1817, when 

he came to the place where Jonas resides. This land at that time, 

with little exception, was in woods, and all manner of game was 

yet plentiful. Here he remained for quite a while, but eventually 

went west into Indiana, and then to Illinois, where he died in

p.876

March, 1839. His wife had previously died March 26,1837. ...

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42864274

Mary Peterson

Birth: 1770

Death: 1811

Inscription:

Wife of John Peterson

Note: The headstone has two inscriptions.

The uppermost says 

ELIZABETH PETERSON   [This was Elizabeth Coyner Peterson, widow of Martin Peterson (19 May 1795 - 23 Mar 1868), son of John Peterson and Mary Harper]

      DIED

Mar. 8, 1888

      AGED

91YR 8MO 1D

Then near the base is another inscription:

MARY WIFE OF

JOHN PETERSON  

1770 ---- 1811

Burial:

Greenlawn Cemetery 

Frankfort

Ross County

Ohio, USA

=====================================================================

Additional notes:

Jacob Judy and wife Christina (daughter of Adam Harper):

This deed suggests that Jacob Judy was the son of Nicholas Judy.

Pendleton County, VA Deed Book 9, p.241

This indenture made 31 December 1825 made between Martin Wise & John Hoover

Executors of the estate of Martin Judy dec'd, an heir of Nicholas Judy dec'd, and

Jacob Judy and his wife Christina, Nicholas Judy and wife Mary of the one part, and

Adam Judy, George Judy, Eve Judy, Henry Judy, George Full and his wife Margarette

of the other part ...

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18273-17193-36?cc=1909099&wc=14030853

Pendleton County Will Book No 9

Judy Jacob will 395-396 [image 218] written 25 August 1745; proved 3 September 1855

"beloved wife" not identified by name. "I will and bequeath to my youngest son Zebulon Judy my home place and the adjoining surveys on both sides of Mill Creek ...";

apprmt 417-418 [image 229] 24 September 1855; recorded 3 Dec 1855

sale bill 419 [images 230] 25 September 1855; recorded 3 Dec 1855

-------------------------------------------

Toothman, Rick, Pendleton County, (West) Virginia Probate Records: Wills, 1788-1866;

Inventories, Sale Bills, Settlements, 1788-1846, p.136:

Will Book 4, p.409 - 1 October 1860. Christenah JUDY. Forward in years and declining

in health. Daughters: Sidney, Amanda, Malinda, Mahala, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ellen,

Mary: all property, equally divided. Sons: Jesse, George, Zebulon: $1 each.

Executor: Jonathan Hiser. Signed: Chrintenah [x] Judy. Witnesses: Miles Dahmer,

Noah Mallow. Proved by Mallow, 19 February 1866, and by Dahmer, 2 March

1866.

[See actual will online at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18271-33685-43?cc=1909099&wc=14031308 ]