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Description |
A 5"x7" nitrate negative, portrait photograph of four generations of males in the Harper family, David City, Nebraska. Morgan is holding James with Jack and Phillip standing next to him outside the screened front porch of a wood-frame building (either John Harper's store or residentce) in the snow. Morgan, wearing glasses, a dark suit, white shirt and knotted tie is holding James who is wrapped in a blanket with a knitted cap. Jack and Phillip are wearing dark three-piece suits, white shirts and dark bow ties, holding their hats in one hand. Jack is wearing an overcoat, Phillip a mustache. Standing behind the screen door is an unknown man wearing a mustache, dark suit, white shirt, dark knotted tie and felt homburg hat, with a cigar in his mouth. There is a sign advertising "John Harper" on the clapboard siding inside the porch along with a wooden rocking chair. |
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Historical Notes |
Phillip Harper was born in West Branch, Ohio, October 21, 1840, to Samual and Mary Harper. At age 20, Philip enlisted in the 42nd Ohio Volunteers and was assigned to the regimental band. In an attempt to save money, the Union army discharged the musicians in 1862, but within two days, Philip joined the 94th Ohio infantry. He was sent home by the Army physician with a diagnosis of tuberculosis in March 1863, but Philip disagreed with the surgeon and doctored himself back to health so that he could re-enlist hardly a year later - this time in the 8th Ohio cavalry. His company was captured by the Southern army and held prisoner in Richmond, Virginia, where he nearly starved - losing thirty pounds in thirty days. He was eventually discharged. Phillip was married to Henrietta and had one son, Jonathan (Jack), then married Mary Jane Sinks in Ohio, April 16, 1874. Phillip and his family moved to David City in 1878 where he worked for a short time as a blacksmith. He was in the drygoods business in David City with his brother, John, for over 40 years and also served as Deputy County Treasurer. Phillip died February 27, 1933, and is buried in the David City Cemetery. Jonathan (Jack) Harper was born in West Milton, Ohio, August 29, 1868, to Phillip and Henrietta Harper. He married Nellie Delia Morgan of David City, June 9, 1879. They raised six children: Phillip, Jr. and Morgan of Lincoln; John of David City, Nebraska; Mrs. Steward Rabb and Mrs. Irving Heller of Columbus; and Mary Jane Harper of David City. Jack Harper worked nearly his entire life with his father and uncle, Phillip and John Harper, in their David City dry good store. Jack died March 35, 1932, and is buried in the David City Cemetery. Morgan Harper was born March 9, 1900, in David City, to Jack and Nellie Morgan. He graduated from David City High School and the University of Nebraska, in civil engineering. Morgan served as a civil engineer for the city of Lincoln. He married Avis M. and had three children: James, Thomas and Dorothy. Morgan died November 8, 1984. James Harper was born in 1925 to Morgan and Avis Harper of Lincoln. He married Patricia and had five children: Eileen, Amy, Brian, Patrick & David. He worked in an aviation plant in Seattle, Washington. James is currently living in Bellevue, Washington. |
