Greenbrier County, West Virginia    Biography: John Thomas HARPER

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Transcribed and submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook @earthlink.net>, 1998.
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JOHN THOMAS HARPER - son of Thomas and Mary A. (MITCHELL) HARPER, 
was born at Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, (then) Virginia, on the 1st 
of February, 1827. His parents were natives of Montgomery County, Maryland,
his father born in 1798 and his mother in 1800. His father's death was on
the 26th of March, 1848, and his mother died August 23, 1876. In Cumberland, 
Maryland, August 1, 1849, John T. HARPER married Mary B. HORNBACH, who was born
in Baden, Germany, on the 13th of June, 1830. Their children were ten born: 
Mary Elizabeth, November 16, 1850, died September 22, 1852; John Williams, 
November 25, 1852, lives at home; Emma J., January 7, 1855, lives at Buchanan, 
Virginia; Fannie A., August 9, 1857, lives at home; George T., February 12, 1860,
lives at Buchanan; Susie I., August 28, 1862; Robert Lee, October 22, 1865; 
Mary A., April 9, 1868; Charles S., September 24, 1870; Ida F., June 21. 1875
 - these five at home. Jacob F. and Mary J. (ACKERMAN) HORNBACH were the parents 
of Mrs. HARPER. Her father was born in Baden, Germany, in 1793, and her mother 
was born in the same city May 9, 1794, and both died in Alleghany County, 
Maryland. His death occurred February 27, 1850, and his wife died September 
13, 1845. Mr. HARPER enlisted in 1861, and served through the war between 
the States in the Confederate army.  John W.,the oldest son of the family,
is a young man of great business promise, and has charge of the J. T. 
HARPER & Sons' store at White Sulphur Springs, dealing in Dry Goods,
Groceries, Boots and Shoes, Tobacco, etc. John T. HARPER owns 775 acres 
of land on Anthonys Creek, and 700 acres in Monroe County. His land is all 
well-timbered or under cultivation, with croppings of iron ore. He receives
his mail at Mill Hill, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and his wife is 
postmistress at that point.

Source:  Hardesty, Henry H.  Hardesty's Historical and Geographical
Encyclopedia.  New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884.
Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia.  Ed. Jim Comstock.
Richwood: Comstock, 1974.