John Harper, son of William and Mary (Billingsly) Harper, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, February 14, 1854. When he was a small boy he moved with his parents to Parke county and attended the public schools until the death of his mother in 1866. He then engaged in public work and for seventeen months worked in a stone quarry, after which he became a farm hand and acted in this capacity for six years. Thinking the city a better place for a young man to prosper, Mr. Harper secured a situation in the timber business with William Campbell at Marion, but one year later, not fancying the work, he again resorted to the farm and is now one of the successful agriculturists of Grant county.

        Mr. Harper has been twice married, first in 1880 with Anna Vice, by whom he had three children, viz.: Charles Otis, born June 30, 1881; Mary Della, born October 28, 1882; and Maud, born in April, 1883, but who died in June following. Mrs. Harper, the mother of these children, died April 9, 1886, and Mr. Harper married, on February 2, 1887, Mrs. Hannah (McCoy) Lewis, daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Cottrell) McCoy, and born February 2, 1848. Her first husband was John S. D. Lewis, son of David and Nancy (George) Lewis, by whom she had three children, viz.: James Mac, born August 24, 1871; Sarah Alice, born July 24, 1874, and married Robert Carroll, son of James H. and Eleanor (Martin) Carroll; and Minnie Nancy Caroline, born February 24, 1876, and married James Carroll, also a son of James H. and Eleanor (Martin) Carroll.

        Mrs. Harper's parents were both born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, the father on April 6, 1820, and died Febrary 22, 1875, and the mother March 13, 1825, and died May 8, 1888. Her father was of Scotch parentage and her maternal grandparents were English and German.

        Mr. Harper's father was born in Virginia and came to Putnum county, Indiana, when young and was one of its early settlers. This family is one of the oldest in America, has been prominent in the early development of the country and in various business enterprises, and it is thought to be of the same lineage as the well-known publishers.

        Mrs. Harper's first husband was born April 1, 1843, and died October 2, 1877. He was a soldier of the Civil war and under his first enlistment served one year; later, in 1864, he went as a substitute for Ira Carter and served to the end of the war. He was justice of the peace of Jefferson township one year. Mrs. Harper's father was also a soldier of the Civil war, was taken sick after undergoing many hardships, and after nine months' service was honorably discharged, but never regained his health. Mrs. Harper is a lady of refinement and has a large circle of friends. She is a good conversationalist and strives to keep herself well informed on all topics of general interest.

        John Harper's people were of large stature, with clear-cut features and were of the southern type of mountaineers, full of energy and possessed of great endurance. His father, who was a farm-hand for a great many years for the Hammond family, near the present site of Richmond, Indiana, was considered a wonder in the vocation which he followed and was a man of great strength. Although addicted to the drinking habit, he made many friends and was very popular.

        Mr. Harper's schooling was very meager, as his parents were poor. He was compelled to begin the battle of life for himself when very young, and it is claimed that he has cleared more lands than any other man in the section in which he lived. His wife, Mary Billingsly, was a woman of exceptional beauty and was considered for years, even after her marriage with Mr. Harper, as being the belle of the county, and during her younger days had a great many admirers and suitors, and after death had laid claim to her was pronounced by physicians and people at large as being the most handsome woman in death that had ever been seen by them.