BIO: William H. HARPER, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, page 156. __________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM H. HARPER, merchant and farmer, McAlevys Fort, was born in Saulsburg, Barree township, Huntingdon county, Pa., March 18, 1825, son of John and Mary (Borst) Harper. His grandfather, William Harper, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent, and was at one time sheriff of Mifflin county. John Harper, father of William H., was born in Mifflin county, and was a carpenter and undertaker. His services were demanded in all parts of the valley, and he made during his business career no less than five hundred coffins, for which he received $1 per foot. He also owned a small farm in Barree township, and a hotel where Saulsburg now is, which he built, and kept until 1840; it was then burned down; he rebuilt, then sold out, and returned to farming. He was married, first, to Miss Mary Borst, of Huntingdon county, by whom he had five children: Sarah (Mrs. James Love); Anna M. (Mrs. Dr. John Rankin), of Bellefonte, Centre county, Pa.; Elizabeth (Mrs. George Rarer); Nancy (Mrs. Andrew Chaney); and William H., now the only survivor of the family. Mrs. Harper died in Saulsburg in 1850. Mr. Harper married, secondly, Miss Jane Dickey, a native of Huntingdon county, by whom he had two children: Fannie (Mrs. McClintock), of Lock Haven, Pa.; and John, died young. Mr. Harper was a staunch Democrat. His church connection was with the Dunkards and the Baptist church. He was a good man; he died, generally mourned, in Ennisville in 1867. William H. Harper attended the public schools of Barree township and the select school at Manor Hill. During his early life he assisted his father on the farm, and worked for his neighbors, thus earning some money which he wisely used to acquire a good education. He then taught four terms in the public schools at $18 month. He was afterwards for one year clerk in a store at Saulsburg and two years at Ennisville, and then embarked in business at McAlevys Fort, where he remained two years. The next eleven years he was in business in Ennisville, and in 1865 moved to his present location, where he has carried on business continuously ever since. He is the oldest merchant and citizen of McAlevys Fort, and has served as postmaster of the town. His store building was erected at a cost of $2,200, and is 26x40 ft. in size. He has remodeled his dwelling house, and made other improvements. He owns a farm of 37 acres in Jackson township. He was first married in Philadelphia, in 1854, to Mary A., daughter of John W. Myron, a merchant and stock dealer of Ennisville, Huntingdon county, Pa. In 1855, their only child, A. Woods Harper, was born. He attended the public schools of McAlevys Fort, Stone Valley Academy, and Wilmington Academy, Lawrence county, Pa. he then spent some years helping his father in the store and was later a clerk in Harrisburg, and for one year, in Pittsburg. In 1889 he took up the business of harness making; he also spent some time in the printing business. He is apt, and generally succeeds in anything he undertakes. He is a Democrat. Mrs. Mary A. Harper died September 16, 1884, and Mr. Harper married, on November 7, 1886, Mrs. Emma (Burchfield) Shelley, widow of Samuel Y. Shelley, formerly a merchant of Mifflintown, Pa. By her former husband Mr. [sic] Harper had two children; Howard, an employee of the P. R. R. Co., Altoona Pa.; and Mamie. Mr. Harper is a member of Lodge No. 176, I. O. O. F., and of the K. of G. E. He has served as treasurer and school director of his district, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.