Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Harper, W. T. 1868 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 4, 2013, 12:30 am

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

W. T. HARPER.

Among the successful business enterprises of Ottumwa none is more prominent than
that of J. W. Edgerly & Co., wholesale druggists of whom W. T. Harper is the
president. It is largely due to his initiative and business understanding that
the firm has succeeded in attaining its foremost position.

Mr. Harper was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, June 16, 1868, and is a son of W. T. and
Jennie (Shaul) Harper. The former was born April 12, 1833, in Muskingum county,
Ohio. He was one of Iowa's eady pioneers, arriving in this state in 1854, and
for the first years after his coming was engaged in teaching. He subsequently
found work in a drug store in Eddyville, there laying the foundation for the
knowledge which brought him prominence in the drug business. In 1861 he entered
the employ of the drug house of J. L. Taylor & Company, with whom he continued
until 1875, gaining not only wide experience but a position of trust with this
firm. In the latter year he entered the linseed oil business in which he
continued until he sold out his interests, to the National Linseed Oil Company.
He afterward continued with that corporation until 1898, in which year they
discontinued the manufacturing business in Ottumwa. Already in 1888 Mr. Harper
had formed a partnership with J. W. Edgerly and Charles F. Harlan in the
establishment of the firm of J. W. Edgerly & Co., which succeeded to the
business of Blake, Bruce & Company, wholesale druggists. Mr. Harper, Sr., became
one of the foremost business men of Ottumwa and enjoyed in full measure the
trust and confidence of all those who had relations with him. He died in 1900.
His first wife, Mrs. Jennie (Shaul) Harper, passed away in 1869, and to that
union were born two children, the sister of our subject being Emma, who married
Edwin A. Jones, of Great Falls, Montana. W. T. Harper, Sr., married, in 1872,
Mary E. Knight, who bore him five children, four of whom are yet living. The
three sons, Harry C., Ralph S. and Charles K., are all connected with J. W.
Edgerly & Co., while the daughter, Mary E., is librarian of Parsons College at
Fairfield, Iowa.

W. T. Harper of this review received his early education in the public schools
of Ottumwa, graduating from the high school with the class of 1884. He then
attended for one year Ames College and subsequently pursued his studies at the
State University at Iowa City. In January, 1886, he entered the linseed oil
business, in which his father had already attained prominence. He remained
active along that line until February 15, 1890, when his connection with the
firm of J. W. Edgerly & Co. began. He started in as invoice clerk, and as proof
of his ability, his faithfulness, his aggressiveness and his sound business
principles it is but to be stated that he is now president of that concern, and
the firm of J. W. Edgerly & Co. is largely indebted to him for the prominent
position which it has attained in the business world of the state.

Mr. Harper was married on June 18, 1889, to Miss Alice Beaman, who was born in
Van Buren county, this state, and is a daughter of D. C. and L. A. (Smith)
Beaman. The former is now a well known attorney of Denver, Colorado. Mr. and
Mrs. Harper have three children: Ruth B., Dorothy S., who attends school in
Ames; and Alice L., who is pursuing her studies at Ottumwa.

Mr. Harper has always taken a deep and helpful interest in the progress and
welfare of his city and state. He readily gives his material and moral support
to worthy public enterprises, although he has never sought public prominence for
himself. He is a republican and faithfully upholds the principles and candidates
of that organization. The city of Ottumwa is largely indebted to men of the
stamp and character of W. T. Harper for its rapid growth and, while he has
attained to individual prominence and yet has not been an official factor in the
growth of the city, he has been a vital force in making Ottumwa what it is today.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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