Biography of James Berrien Harper, Baxter Co, AR

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Submitted by: Joy Fisher < >
        Date: 1 Jan 2008
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   CAPT. JAMES BERRIEN HARPER. He whose name heads this sketch is one of the
substantial citizens and successful agriculturists of Barren Creek Township,
Baxter County, Ark., but was born in Franklin County, Ga., November 17, 1833, a
son of Andrew Knox and Anna (Little) Harper, natives of Virginia and Georgia,
respectively. When a young man the father went to Georgia and was married in
Franklin County, and in 1839 moved to Pontotoc County, Miss., where he made his
home until his death in 1851, at the age of fifty-six years, his wife having
died in Pontotoc County when forty-one years old. The father was a successful
business man, was original and independent in his views, and was an active and
earnest member of the Methodist Church. Six children were born to himself and
wife, only two of whom are now living: James Berrien and Hattie T. (Bacon), the
latter residing on Florida coast. The Harpers are of Irish origin. Capt. James
Berrien Harper was educated in the common schools of Pontotoc County, and since
his sixteenth year he has had the cares of a family on his shoulders, for after
the death of his father, he took his place as well as he could and cared for the
younger members of the family. In January, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, of
the Third Mississippi Infantry, but after the capture of Ft. Donelson he became
a part of the Forty-third Mississippi Infantry, and was elected first lieutenant
of Company E, just before Gen. Grant closed the lines around Vicksburg. He was
also at Corinth, Abbeville and Grenada, was in all the engagements of the
Atlanta Campaign, Jonesboro, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville. At the close of
the war he was with Capt. Gamble. He was captured twice during the war but
succeeded in making his escape each time, and was not wounded during his
service. He returned home to find himself totally without means and once more
had to begin at the bottom of the ladder. Instead of being discouraged he at
once began the work of hauling cotton to Memphis, at which time that commodity
brought a large price. In that humble way he once more secured a start in the
world, and in 1866 he made a fair crop. He then sold out and came to Arkansas,
locating on the farm where he is now living, where he owns 240 acres of fine
farming land, of which 135 acres are under cultivation, although at the time of
his purchase but twenty acres were under the plow. Aside from this all the
improvements on the place have been made by him and are of such a nature that
the place has been greatly increased in value. On May 20, 1856, he led to the
altar Miss May C. Little, who was born in Georgia, and to them seven children
have been given: J. K., who is a tiller of the soil and makes his home with his
parents; C. B., is in the stock business in Marion County, Ark.; Crawford
Winston is a farmer of Ellis County, Tex.; Lily Maud is the wife of Lee Gardner,
of Laclede County, Mo.; Anna Dora, is the wife of Ham Strait, of Johnson County,
Tex., and Minnie, is the wife of Hiram Irvin, of this county. Lula (deceased),
was the wife of L. E. Hopper, of Mountain Home. Capt. Harper and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a steward, and
politically he has always been in sympathy with the Democrat party.


Extracted from:

A REMINISCENT HISTORY OF THE OZARK REGION

COMPRISING A CONDENSED GENERAL HISTORY, A BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY OF EACH
COUNTY, AND NUMEROUS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS OF SUCH COUNTIES.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS.
1894.