George Harper

George Harper

Male 1801 - 1843  (41 years)

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  • Name George Harper 
    Born 19 Sep 1801  Berks County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Died 20 May 1843  [1
    Buried Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I776  Kreider Moyer
    Last Modified 24 Sep 2020 

    Family Elizabeth Kreamer,   b. 28 Dec 1804, Berks County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Sep 1892  (Age 87 years) 
    Children 
     1. Isabelle Harper,   b. 26 Aug 1830, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Dec 1918, Clinton County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 88 years)
    Last Modified 17 May 2018 
    Family ID F361  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 19 Sep 1801 - Berks County, PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Headstones
    Harper, George and Elizabeth Kreamer
    Harper, George and Elizabeth Kreamer

  • Notes 
    • Simon was a son of George Harper.
      SIMON HARPER, president of the Penn Valley Banking Co., Centre Hall, and a retired merchant, is one of the substantial citizens of Penn's Valley, and few as good examples of self-made men are to be found in the locality, certainly none better.
      Mr. Harper comes of an old family, and was born July 31, 1842, at Spring Bank, Miles township. Centre county, youngest living child of George Harper, who was born in Berks county, Penn. , a son of Henry Harper. George Harper received but limited schooling, chiefly in the German language, and was reared to farming pursuits. In Brush Valley he married Elizabeth Kreamer, who was born, in 1804, in Bethel township, Berks county, Penn., a daughter of Jacob Kreamer, who. came to Brush Valley in 1814, and where Mrs. Harper was reared from the age of ten years. Her youth was passed amid pioneer times and scenes, and she was well fitted to endure the hardships and trials destined for her later life. At the time of their marriage, her husband had little or no means, and his parents were not in a position to aid him. However, nothing daunted, Mr. Harper bought a farm, at Spring Bank, in Brush Valley, going heavily in debt for the same; but he prospered, and with the help of as noble a wife as ever lived, the debt was soon decreased. He died May 20, 1843, at the comparatively early age of forty-one years, leaving a widow with a family of children, our subject being but an infant. The husband and father was buried in the cemetery at Rebersburg. The following is a brief record of the children: Sarah married George Weaver, and lives in Rebersburg; John, a farmer, died in Potter township; Mary A. married Jonathan Gramley, and died in Brush Valley; Jonathan, by occupation a merchant, died in Bellefonte; Isabella is the widow of Philip Royer, of Nittany Valley; William is retired, and makes his home in Bellefonte (he served three years, during the Civil war, in Company A, 148th P. V. I.); Rebecca married Absalom Harter, and died in Millheim, Centre county; Jared, a merchant, lives in Bellefonte; Simon, our subject, comes next; and George, the youngest in the family, died in infancy. Of these, Simon bears a striking resemblance to his father, who was a man of slight build. He was a Democrat, but took no especial interest in politics, simply recording his vote quietly and unostentatiously. In religious faith he was a member of the Reformed Church, which his wife also attended, although not a member thereof, she being a Lutheran, but later also joined the Reformed Church.
      Dying a comparatively young man, George Harper had not opportunity to pay off all the indebtedness on the farm, and his dying request to his wife was that the homestead should not be sold, as he felt certain that by her careful and frugal management the debt thereon would before long be cancelled. It was a heavy undertaking for her, the widowed mother of a large family, none of whom yet out of their "teens;" but her husband's dying words inspired her with fresh hope and courage, and with a will she went bravely to work. Early and late she "kept her shoulder to the wheel," doing a man's labor in the fields, and in the evening returning to the home never so wearied but that she would complete the domestic duties of the day. In course of time her self-denying efforts were crowned with success, and this noble woman found herself and children under a roof free at last of all encumbrance. The homestead property remained in the family until 1856, in which year they moved to Rebersburg, and there Mrs. Harper resided until 1866, when she removed to Bellefonte with her son Simon, to whom her attachment was very great. Our subject paid for her support until, in 1866, he got a home of his own, from which time she passed her declining years with him, dying September 27, 1892. She was laid by the side of her husband in Rebersburg cemetery, an elegant monument, erected by our subject, marking their last resting place. Mrs. Harper was a true Christian woman, a constant reader of the Bible, in both English and German, while during the later years of her life a great part of her time was spent in prayer.
      Simon Harper, the subject proper of these lines, received his education in part at the schools of the Harter district, in Miles township, in part at those of Rebersburg, whither the family had removed when he was about fourteen years old, and as a farmer's boy his boyhood days were passed. At the age of seventeen we find him, for the first time in the arena of business life, in the capacity of clerk for Thomas Wolf, at Wolfs store, Brush Valley, his first salary being $75.00 per annum, with four weeks vacation during the harvest season, although the usual amount paid a new clerk was $50.00, so valuable already were his services, and so well appreciated. Later he clerked for W. J. Hosterman, in Rebersburg, from there going to Bellefonte, where he was in the employ of John Awle, when, the Civil war being at its height, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, 148th P. V. I. In this regiment he served faithfully until compelled by sickness to retire into the Veteran Reserve Corps, much against his inclination, for he persisted in remaining with his company longer than his health warranted. At the close of the war he was a member of Company E, 3rd Veteran Reserve Corps. After the war was over he was sent to Augusta, Maine, to muster out Maine troops, after which he was mustered out at that city, and he then returned to Rebersburg.
      On May 18, 1866, Mr. Harper and his widowed mother removed to Bellefonte, where, along with his two brothers, Jonathan and William, he commenced the general mercantile business, with which he was identified some fourteen years. During that long period of activity, his natural industrious disposition and consequent hard work impaired his health so much that he had to retire from the firm. In March, 1880, he took up his residence in the village of Centre Hall, where he recuperated, buying a nice home, to the improvement of which he spent no little time and money. At this time there were but two stores in Centre Hall, and after four years Mr. Harper decided to open a third, trusting to his previous experience and natural business qualifications for success of his venture. It required enterprise and energy, both of which characteristics he amply possessed, and possesses, and in 1884, in partnership with H. W. Kreamer, he opened a general merchandise store, which ere long became the leading one of the kind in the vicinity. In April, 1896, our subject disposed of his interest therein, and retired from active business life. He still owns a one-half interest in the store building; a one-fourth interest in the bank building and bank at Centre Hall; a substantial residence in the same village, and 350 acres of land in Potter township. As already stated, he is president of the Penn Valley Banking Co., at Centre Hall, and is a leader in enterprises tending to the advancement of his section of the county.
      On December 28, 1879, at Bellefonte, Simon Harper was married to Miss Maggie E. Klinger, who was born at Buffalo Run, Penn., May 29, 1854, youngest in the family of ten children — five sons and five daughters — born to Jesse and Mary (Kocker) Klinger, who came from Dauphin county to Centre county some years ago. Mr. Klinger was a blacksmith by trade, in politics a stanch Republican, and for several years was justice of the peace at Bellefonte, where he died October 1, 1889, his wife passing away March 18, 1893, and they sleep their last sleep in the cemetery at Bellefonte. They were members of the Reformed Church. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have one child, Harry W. , born October 17, 1882, living at home. In politics Mr. Harper is a lifelong Democrat, always interested in the success of the party, but never an office-seeker. For one term he served as chief burgess of Centre Hall, and has been elected to other offices, which, however, he declined to accept. Socially, he is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge at Centre Hall, and of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 153, at Bellefonte.
      In matters of religion he and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, and he was one of the committee who had charge of the church building, a handsome one, at Centre Hall, and it was at his suggestion that brown stone was used in its construction. He is an elder in the Church, and is one of the most liberal contributors and leading members, and has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Taken all in all, Mr. Harper is a typical representative self-made man, One who by his own perseverance, energy and sound judgment, has risen, rung by rung, to the summit of the ladder of success. On business and financial matters he is an acknowledged authority, and his opinion and counsel, which are often sought, are sure to be respected. His acquaintance in Penn's Valley is thorough, and he is held in the highest esteem. [2]

  • Sources 
    1. [S29] Headstone photograph on findagrave.

    2. [S5] Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers & Co., (Name: Beers & Co, 1898;).