JOSEPH AND FRANCES (STOVER) HARPER My Ancestors By Beverly J. Thomas The Harpers and the Stovers are two of the oldest families found in Raleigh County today. The earliest Harper in that part of what is now Raleigh County was John Harper, Jr., father of Joseph Harper; and he was born about 1760 in Maryland. The place of his birth is based on the 1880 Raleigh County census. His daughter, Nancy Harper Stover, reported that her father was born in Maryland and her mother was born in South Carolina. The subject of who were the parents of John Harper, Jr., has been one that has been debated among the Harper researchers. I personally believe he was the son of John Harper, Sr., of Monroe County, Virginia, by his first wife who is unknown at this time. John Harper, Sr., married for a second time to Jean Logan Raeburn. Jean, the second wife of John Harper, Sr., was the daughter of William Logan and the widow of Robert Raeburn. Jean and Robert Raeburn s daughter, Margaret, married Samuel Sams in 1785 in Augusta County, Virginia; and she was listed on her marriage record as the stepdaughter of John Harper. Samuel Sams is listed on the 1810 census for Monroe County and was a witness to the will of John Harper, Sr., found in the court records in Monroe County. John Harper, Sr., is found on the 1777 Tax List of Augusta County. He bought land on Moffet s Creek, South East of the North River, where he resided until 1795. He and wife Jean sold this land to David Byers, the father of his future son-in-law, John Byers. In 1796, John, Sr., and wife, Jean, settled in Monroe County in what is known as the Second Creek District on a draft of Plank Cabin Creek Run. In 1799, they sold, for one dollar, 104 acres of the 236 acres they owned to their son James. In 1798 John, Jr., and Samuel Harper were also residing in the same area according to the 1798 Tax List. Jean Harper is believed to be deceased by 1813 when John Harper, Sr., sold another parcel of his land, 69 acres, to a neighbor Philip Beamer. The will of John Harper, Sr., was dated in 1819, and his estate was settled in 1824. His will did not mention John Harper, Jr., and he left Samuel Harper $1.00 while the rest of the estate went to his son James Harper s surviving widow, Hannah, and their two daughters; to his daughter Polly Byers and to friends. Since John, Jr., was not mentioned in John, Sr. s will, some Harper researchers believe that there is no connection between John Harper, Sr., of Monroe County and John Harper, Jr., of Giles County, Virginia. The children of John Harper, Sr. are as follows: First Marriage - Wife Unknown - John Harper, Jr. was born about 1760 in Maryland. Second Marriage - Jean (Logan) (Raeburn) Harper
- Samuel Harper, born about 1772 in Augusta County, married Ann Braford or Brawford. - James Harper, born about 1774 in Augusta County, married Hannah Crozier. - Mary Polly Harper, born about 1778 in Augusta County, married John Byers. John Harper, Jr., was first found on the Montgomery County, Virginia, Personal Property Tax List for 1788. In 1790, there was a survey of his land on Turkey Fork of Elk Creek. John, Jr., is found in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in 1798 and in Monroe County in 1799, where he is fined $0.75 for missing muster of the militia. He settled on his land on Dry Creek of Coal River in Giles County, later to become Logan County, then Fayette County, and now Raleigh County. His son, Joseph Harper, had settled on the adjoining land in 1823. By 1825, John Harper, Jr., is no longer found on tax lists in Giles or Logan Counties and is thought to be deceased or have moved on, possibly to Ohio, where his son, Hamilton Harper, was residing, or to Indiana where his daughter, Jane (Harper) McGhee and husband, William, had settled. The 1810 Giles County census lists John Harper, Jr. with the following: 3 males under 10; 1male 16-25; 1 male 45 and over; 1 female under 10; 1female 0-15; 1 female 16-25; and 1 female 26-24. The 1820 Giles County census listing for John Harper, Jr.: 3 males under 10; 2 males 10-16; 1 male 16-26; 1 male 45 and over; 2 females under 10; 2 females 10 but under 15; 16 but under 26: and 1 female 40 but under 50. John Harper, Jr. cannot be found in the 1830 census for Logan County. Logan County was formed from Giles, Cabell, Tazewell, and Kanawha Counties in 1824. That part of Giles where John Harper, Jr., and his son, Joseph, settled became a part of the newly formed Logan County. The 1830 census for Logan County lists son Joseph Harper only. John Harper, Jr., is believed to have been married three times. His last wife was Elizabeth Hailton. Her name was taken from the McGee Bible that is in possession of the greatgranddaughter of Jane Harper McGee and who resides in South Dakota. She was also listed along with John in the Monroe County Birth Records as the parents of Jane Margaret Elizabeth Harper, born 27 November 1800. There is some speculation that the name of Hailton could be a misspelling of Hamilton or Hylton. The children of John Harper, Jr., are as follows: First Marriage (Wife Unknown): - Hamilton Harper was born about 1784, died about 1873, and married Catherine Adkins on July 23, 1803, in Monroe County. - Eleanor Harper was born about 1786, died about 1863, and married John W. Scarborough on May 20, 1805, in Monroe County. 2
Second. Marriage (Wife unknown): - Celia Harper was born about 1790, died on February 15, 1871, and married Zachariah Scarbrough on December 28 1805, in Kanawha County, Virginia. - Joseph Harper was born about 1791, died on November 30, 1877, married Frances Stover about 1815, Giles County. - Nancy Harper was born about 1793, died about 1896, married John Stover, Sr., on February 25 1816, Giles County. Third Marriage (Elizabeth Hailton): - Jane Margaret Harper was born November 27, 1800, died on 27 June 1891, married William McGee on August 12, 1820, in Monroe County. - Elizabeth Harper was born about 1802. She married John Meadows on June 20, 1802, in Monroe County. Hamilton Harper married Catherine Adkins on July 23, 1803, in Monroe County. Witnesses were John Harper, Lewis Adkins, and Nancy Acord. Hamilton and Catherine left Monroe County for Galia County, Ohio. In the late 1820 s, they went to Lawrence County, Ohio, residing there until 1849, when they moved to Delaware County, Indiana. Children of Hamilton and Catherine: - Mary Polly Harper married Job Acord, Sr. - Sarah Nancy Harper married John Old Jack Acord. - Leatha Harper married William Rawlins. - Henderson Harper married Elizabeth Thompson. - Katherine Harper married David Rawlins. - Rebecca Harper married William Yingling. Eleanor Harper married John W. Scarborough on May 20, 1805, in Monroe County. John was the son of Isaac and Mary Scarborough. John and Eleanor lived in the same area of Giles County as John Harper, Jr., and son, Joseph, according to 1815 Giles County Tax List, on Sycamore Fork and Clear Fork of Cole River. Children of John and Eleanor: - John Bryant Scarborough married Lucrezia Dickens. - Mary Scarborough married Patrick Williams. - Elizabeth Scarborough. - Catherine Scarborough married Lewis Williams. - Robert Scarborough. - James Scarborough. - Jane Scarborough. Celia Harper married Zachariah Scarborough or spelled Scarberry on December 20, 1805, in Kanawha County. Zachariah and Celia are listed in the 1815 Giles County Tax List for the same area as John and Eleanor, John Harper, Jr., and son, Joseph. 3
Joseph Harper married Frances Fannie Stover, the daughter of Jacob Stover and Sarah Sallie (McGhee) Stover. Children of Joseph and Frances: - Jacob Harper - Joseph Harper, Jr. - Sarah Harper - James Harper - Samuel Harper - Emily Harper - Hamilton Harper - Daniel Harper - Elizabeth Harper - George Harper - John Harper - Wesley Harper Nancy Harper married John Stover, Jr.n on February 25, 1816, in Giles County. John was the son of Jacob Stover and Sarah Sallie (McGhee) Stover, and the brother to Frances who married Joseph Harper. Children of John and Nancy: - Sarah Stover - Eliza Stover - Burrell Stover - Irvin Stover - John Stover - Minerva Stover - Lewis Stover - Stephen Stover - Daniel Stover - Silas Stover Jane Harper married William McGee on August 12, 1820, in Monroe County. William and Jane lived in Monroe County until 1828 when they moved to Fountain County, Indiana, where they settled on Coal Creek not far from the Wabash River. William died on April 18 1850, in Indiana. In 1855, Jane took her family to Iowa. Jane purchased land in Section 6 in the northwest corner of Montgomery County. She died June 27, 1891, and was buried in Farm Creek Cemetery near Henderson in Mills County, Iowa. Children of William and Jane: - Catherine McGee married David Silkett, II. - Jane Elizabeth McGee married James S. Watson. - James McGee married Lydia Davis. - Elenor McGee never married. - John McGee. - William McGee. - McManual McGee. - Margaret McGee married Constantine S. Watson. - Edward Hamilton McGee never married. - David married Eiza Baker. Elizabeth Harper married John Meadows on August 29, 1821, in Monroe County. A John Meadows is listed on the 1815 Giles County Tax List for the area of Loop Creek and Lick Branch and Clear Fork of Guyandotte River. The Harper and Stover lines came together when brother and sister married sister and brother. Joseph Harper married Frances Stover, and Nancy Harper married John Stover, Jr., in Giles County. Joseph Harper is listed on the 1815 Giles County Tax List. He owned 54 acres of land located on Clear Fork of Coal River. On September 4, 1831, he was commissioned as an 4
acting justice of Fayette County. He received a land grant in 1834 for 82 acres on Paint Creek; and in 1837, he received a land grant for 90 acres on Paint Creek, Fayette County. In March 1837, the General Assembly authorized the people of Fayette County to fix the site for the seat of Justices by a majority of their vote. There were six election precincts located in Fayette County at this time. They were located at the Courthouse, Gauley Bridge, George Alderson s, Elizabeth Gwinn s, Joseph Harper s, and Clarkson Prince s. In March 1849, Joseph Harper was commissioned to execute the office of Sheriff for the ensuing year. He was the ninth Sheriff of Fayette County serving from 1848-1850. He was the only person from Raleigh County to serve as Sheriff of Fayette County. Joseph Harper was born September 16, 1791, in Illinois or Virginia, and died November 30, 1877, in Raleigh County. He married Frances Fannie Stover, born 1797 in Virginia, and died February 19, 1877, in Raleigh County. A record of marriage cannot be found for Joseph and Frances, but one can surmise that they most likely were married in Giles County about 1815. Frances father, Jacob Stover, is found on the 1815 Giles County Tax List. Her brother, John Stover, Jr., married Joseph s sister, Nancy Harper, in 1816 also in Giles County. The Descendants of Joseph and Frances (Stover) Harper - Jacob Harper, born on February 19, 1816, and died August 4, 1863, was married on January 7, 1836, to Elvira Snuffer who was born September 17, 1819 and died on April 3, 1868. Elvira was the daughter of George Snuffer. Children of Jacob and Elvira: - Andrew Jackson Harper - Evaline Harper - George Wesley Harper - Joseph S. Harper - James Westlake Harper - Pauline Harper - Henry Harrison Harper - Calvin Harper - William Tyree Harper - Jacob Franklin Harper - Mary J. Harper - John Wesley Harper - Infant Harper - Elvira Frances Harper - Sarah Sallie Harper, born 1818, was married on December 7, 1837 to John Shumate. Children of Sarah and John: - Felix Shumate - Angelina Shumate - Rachel Harper, born January 25, 1820, died on June 23, 1902, in Raleigh County. On July 29, 1841, in Fayette County, Rachel married George W. Bailey who was born in October 1819. George was the son of John B. Bailey and Sarah Sally (Stanley) Bailey. Children of Rachel and George: - Cynthia Bailey - Nancy Bailey - George W. Bailey 5
- Samuel Harper, born about 1821, married Nancy C. Massey, born about 1823. They were married on September 20, 1848 in Fayette County. Child of Samuel and Nancy: - Samanetta Harper - Hamilton Ham Harper, born in March 1822, married Mary Beckett about 1850. Mary was born about 1828 and died on June 12, 1895, in Raleigh County. Mary was the daughter of John Beckett and Rhoda Rachel Phares. Hamilton married second, Julia Massey on May 14, 1896. Children of Hamilton and Mary: - Sarah Frances "Sally" Harper was born November 6, 1850, married John A. Williams on March 14, 1872. - Eliza Harper was born October 19, 1852. She married Jesse Daniel on April 17, 1873. - Samuel Harper was born October 15, 1854. He married Agnes Lafferty on March 19, 1888. - James Benjamin Harper was born February 12, 1857. He married first Sarah Clementine Dillon on December 19, 1877. He married second Victoria Alice Vaughn on May 6, 1884. - Leonard Chapman Harper, born about 1860, married first Mary Harriet Cantley on August 10, 1881. Leonard married second Almeda Webb Cline. - Twin Harper babies were born and died on May 3, 1863. - Mary Alice Harper, born August 18, 1865, married first William Pembroke Wikle on April 18, 1881. William was the son of Isabella Wikele. Mary Alice and William had children: - Leona Wikle, born about 1882, married Snowden Thompson. - Etta Wikle, born about 1884, married John Phipps. - Blanche Wikle, born about 1885, married Garfield White. - Pearl Wikle, born about 1886, married first Lonnie Ward, and married second Johnny Monroe Ward. - French Wikle, born March 31, 1888, married Winnie Cantley. - Launa Grace Wikle, born March 31, 1888, married George Washington Wash Hood, Jr., on June 3, 1908. George was the son of George W. Hood, Sr., and Arminta Bailey. Arminta was the daughter of Booker Bailey and Sarah Sallie Stover. Launa and George, Jr., were my grandparents. - Homer Wikle, born about 1890, married Elizabeth Skaggs. - Carrie Wikle, born in July 1897, died December 16, 1901. - Joseph Millard Harper was born on September 28, 1867. - Ulysis Grant Harper was born February 26, 1871. He died July 10, 1896. - Elizabeth Betz Harper, born in January 1825 in Fayette County, married first Samuel Wills on December 26, 1845; second Guy D. Williams on May 21,1861, in Raleigh County, and third John Arnold, Jr., on April 10 1868. - John Harper was born in 1829. - Joseph Harper, Jr. was born September 21, 1833, and died September 21, 1853, in Raleigh County. 6
- James Harper was born in 1835, and died September 19, 1853, in Raleigh County. - Emily Harper was born in 1836 and died before 1866. Emily first husband is unknown. She was married second to Andrew J. Thompson. - Daniel Harper, born in 1838, died in 1906. Daniel married first Angeline Stover. He married on August 9, 1875, to Martha Jane Maynor, born 1839. - George Harper. - Wesley Harper. Sources: James Kinsman Raleigh County Books on Marriages and Death Records by Pauline Haga Monroe County, Virginia, Archive Records Virginia State Library Giles County, Virginia, Marriages (1806-1850) by John Vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr. Giles County, Virginia, Tax Records Logan County, Virginia, Tax Records Census Records for Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, and Iowa Nyla Creed DePauk Gracie Stover Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia by Lyman Chalkley Marie Hood Williams History of Fayette County, West Virginia by Peters and Cardin 7