HARPERS OF ALABAMA, GA, SC, NC & TX-Clifford Harper Children

Me &  Dad 1949

I'm not sure where this picture was taken.  Maybe Rising Fawn, I do need to ask Mother so I can post the label. I don't remember my brother Larry being born or when he was very young.   I do know that my next memory is when we were living with Grandma and Grandpa Turner.

Larry Harper 1950

Judy, Larry, Clifford (Dad), Vernell (Mom) Harper 1951

I bet this was taken at Buck's Pocket, 1952

Larry, Judy, Clifford & Vernell Harper

As I said, the second memory I have is where we're living with Grandma and Grandpa Turner.  It's a cool sunny day, fall, because Mother and family are out in a cotton field behind Grandpa's house. Larry and I were playing in the front yard, I remember letting the cool, silky sand flow through my fingers.  We had been playing ball, it was white with red and blue designs encircling it.  It had rolled away from us, when suddenly this car pulled into the yard and ran over the ball, causing it to burst.  A man in a white shirt and gray suit pants got out of the car, "Sorry about your ball, kids", then he headed behind the house to the field.  He really didn't sound sorry.  I don't know who he was or why he was there.

Back row: Gordon (doesn't Richie look like him), Agnes, Rufus

Middle-Pat

Front Row: Esley, Mamie Joe, Frances and Edna (on her lap) Turner

This was taken while they still lived in Georgia.

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-Clifford Harper, contd...

What is your earliest childhood memory?  Mine is full of shadows, but I'm stepping up onto one of those red child's step stool.  Sort of  pumpkin shaped legs with a flat step, just one step. When I stepped up I hit my bottle against the wall, breaking it.  In the background there's a bassinet with a baby in it.  Mother's standing over it, pulling a cloth from under a baby (probably my new baby brother), when I think about it now, she was probably changing his diaper.  I start crying from something Mother is saying.  When I became an adult I asked her about it.  She said the only thing she could think of was that I still used a baby bottle up until I was around two.  When I broke the last bottle, she said she never replaced it.  So maybe that was what she was saying, that she wasn't going to replace my bottle.  I probably have this memory because it was one of the first two very traumatic events that happened in my life. A new baby brother and a broken bottle.  I mean after all hanging onto that bottle for almost two years, then having it destroyed, certainly meant I lost something I held dearly!  I certainly sucked it long enough, that's for sure!

Me at 5 mos 10 days old, Mar 31, 1949

                        

Me at 1 year 8 mos, Jun 1950 (This is 

probably the age when I broke my bottle).

Do you ever wonder about your parents?  Where they came from and how they met? Be sure to find out before they're gone.  If you don't, later in life you'll regret never asking about things they did when they were young or how they met.

  

It was summer in 1947.  Clifford Harper was back home from World War II.    After he was discharged, he lived in Jackson County, Alabama, but he traveled around digging wells, mostly in Rome and Rising Fawn, Georgia.

On one of his visits home he met my mom.  My mom, who was sixteen at the time, would walk to Johnson's country store, located a few miles from her home.  One afternoon when she was walking back home, dad stopped his car to talk with her. He told her he had passed her walking along the road several times and wanted to know if she would go out on a date with him.  Dad didn't find out that she was only sixteen until they had been dating for a while, he was thirty-one at the time.  They dated all summer and on 7 November 1947 were married.  I asked Mom how Grandma and Grandpa felt about Dad being so much older then she was, she said they never brought it up.  They were getting older, so maybe they saw this as an opportunity for someone to take care of Mother. 

Vernell Turner age 15

    

Vernell Turner Harper in her wedding dress

Me, Dad & Mom 1949

Don't you just love old pictures!  They give you a glimpse of a moment in a person's life.  You get to share an event in their lives, what they were doing at a particular time, day and year.  As you look at them, were they happy, what were they thinking?

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-Clifford Harper

Clifford William Harper was born Saturday, 23 December 1916, Bucks Pocket, Alabama. Bucks Pocket is located in North Alabama, on the mountain above Fort Payne, Alabama, home of the group Alabama. Bucks Pocket is beautiful, if you ever have a chance, you should drive there, especially in the fall.

Clifford William was actually born, William Clifford.  When he joined the military he had it changed to Clifford William.  I'm not for sure why, as his grandfather's name was William P. Harper.  He was the first born of Arville and Manila (Hilley) Harper.  From Clifford's story, they were close to Manila's brother, Archie Hilley.  As a matter of fact, at different times Clifford as well as Bernum lived with Archie and Aunt Lou.  Clifford before he went into the military and after his mother Manila died, so somewhere between 1934 and 1941.  Bernum lived with them after he and Maune were married until they built themselves a house on land located near Archie that he gave them.

In 1932-33, Arville moved Clifford and all the family to Rising Fawn, Georgia to farm land with a cousin.  All but Jesse and Nell went to school at Rising Fawn.

Actual Rising Fawn School where Clifford and all attended

Different view of Rising Fawn School where Clifford attended

Per Aunt Maune, this is their house except it has been moved across the road

The actual home place was located at the right of this tree

Another view of location

Another view of home place

Creek located near their house where they would go swimming

In the Spring of 1934, Manila contracted the measles while she was pregnant.  She delivered a baby girl, Bertha, who died within the week of her being born.  She's buried at Rising Fawn Cemetery.  Aunt Maune and Uncle Bernum wasn't sure why they went ahead and buried her rather then bring her back with Manila and burying her at Haigwood with her mother.  Though it's probably due to Manila living another week before she died. Clifford was seventeen at the time of her death.  From the stories I hear, Clifford and Mavis pretty much raised their siblings from then on.

Mavis Harper 1946

Clifford Harper 1941

Clifford Harper enlisted in the Army on 6 Dec 1940, at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was seventeen days from his twenty-fourth birthday.  He ended up in the Military Police.

Clifford Harper 1941

Following are two letters written by Clifford while he was in the military.  The first letter was written while he was stationed at San Jose, California, 10 Dec 1942 and the second letter was written while he was stationed in the Fiji Islands, 16 Aug 1944.

Page 1, San Jose, California

Page 2, San Jose, California

Fiji Islands, 1944 page 1

Fiji Islands, page 2 1944

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-Arville Harper's Children

These are the children of Arville Harper:

:

Back row: Bernum & Clifford, middle row: Hazel, Mavis in chair

holding Erchel (Jessie) & Flora taken 1931-34

Bernum Harper June 1919

Mavis & Nell Harper taken at

Conners place, close to Mt. Zion Church,

Dekalb County, Alabama-1940

Mavis Harper 1946

Clifford & Erschel (Jessie) Harper 1944-46

Flora Frances Harper with

L.D. Payne 1930-40

Flora Harper 23 Oct 1939

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-William P. Harper-Update

I talked with Aunt Maune, Friday Sept 4th, and learned an interesting fact. I asked her if she new how and why William P.'s first wife died. She said, yes, she died giving birth to a baby, a girl. It seems that, William's sister who married a Beardon, took the baby. Later on, William wanted her back, but the sister wouldn't give her back. The girl died at the age of twelve, Aunt Maune wasn't sure as to why, and is buried at New Harmony Cemetery, Jackson County, Alabama. I haven't gotten to go by the cemetery and check it out. The sister that married a Beardon is Matilda, who Aunt Maune said, was also buried at New Harmony.

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-Arville Harper cont'd

Manila Hilley was born 01/23/1899, Alabama. She's listed on the 1900 census at Haigwood, Jackson County, Alabama. She was one year old, also living with Willliam, Lizzie (Elizabeth) and Manila was William's mother Sarah. On the census it lists William as being born Sep 1867, Georgia, age 32. His father was born in Georgia, while his mother was born in Alabama. He was a farmer, who could read, write and speak English. While Lizzie was born Oct 1860, Georgia, her father was born in Georgia, so was her mother. Lizzie was Elizabeth Harris. Her age was 39, so she was seven years older than William. She could also read, write and speak English. William's mother Sarah, was born Feb 1837, Georgia, while her father was born in South Caroline and her mother was born in Virginia.

They're still living at Haigwood in 1910, this also includes his mother Sarah, plus they have an addition, William Archie Hilley, born 1902.

William Archie Hilley 1914-20

I'm going to digress some;Thomas Hilley, born 26 Apr 1754, one of our greats, fought in the American Revolution. He was a private in the Virginia Militia. On April 21, 2006, Aunt Maune Harper, Ann Hilley (Manila's niece) and I went to the ceremony recognizing this fact. Below are a few pictures of the ceremony. After he fought in the Revolution War, he moved to Carrollton, Georgia, where he died and is buried. He died 22 Mar 1838.

Aunt Maune Harper and Ann Hilley

William Archie Hilley's daughter and

Manila's niece, 21 Apr 2006

Thomas Hilley

Pvt Va Militia

Rev War

26 Apr 1754

22 Mar 1838

All the wreaths placed by the different divisions of

Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters

of the American Revolution

Getting back to Arville and Manila, their first born was my father, Clifford William Harper. Actually he was originally named William Clifford Harper, which is the way it's listed on the early censuses. When he went into the military, he had it changed to Clifford William Harper. He was born 23 Dec 1916, Buck's Pocket, Jackson County, Alabama.

Clifford 1916 ................................... Clifford, age 4 1920

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-Arville Harper

In 1890, Congress establishes the Oklahoma Territory, Wyoming enters the Union, while Sitting Bull is murdered in a confrontation at the Standing Rock Reservation. In 1892 Grover Cleveland is elected again as U. S. President. In 1893, more than 100,000 white settlers rush into Oklahoma's Cherokee Outlet to claim six million acres. Some of them "sooner" than they should have. That's how Oklahoma became known as the "Sooner" state. (Little bit of trivia) In 1895, The National Baptist Convention is formed. In 1896 George Washington Carver is appointed director of agricultural research at Tuskegee Institute. Plus Republican candidate William McKinley is elected U. S. President, and Utah entered the Union. In 1898, Black-owned insurance companies, the North Carolina Mutual and Provident Insurance Company and the National Benefit Life Insurance Company of Washington DC are established, plus the United States annexes Hawaii. In 1899, Robert Parker and his partner, Harry Longbaugh, better known as Butch Cassidy and "The Sundance Kid" lead their "Wild Bunch" in a series of bank and train robberies across the West. When they flee to South America in 1901, the era of the outlaw band comes to an end.

Arville Harper was born on 16 Dec 1894. Aunt Maune said he was born at Grove Oak, Alabama, at home. He was William's second son and the youngest of his and Martha Kate's children. On the 1900 census, they are living in the township of Haigwood, Jackson county, Alabama. His sister Rossie is 13, his brother Oscar is 12 and Celie, his other sister was 8. She was two years older than him.

I don't know much about his youth. I know I've heard my aunts and uncles say he was a rounder! That he wore a holstered gun around his waist. This may not be as big a deal as it seems to me. I mean this was 1890 to 1930's!

I do know that he met a beautiful young girl named Manila Catheryn Hilley, between 1914 and 1916, whom he married. On the 1920 census, they're living at Haigwood, Jackson County, Alabama, near her Mom and Dad, William and Elizabeth Hilley. Manila's brother, William Archie and their grandmother (Elizabeth's mother) were also living there. Arville is listed as a farmer.

Manila must have been a beautiful person. When people talk of her, it's always positive. Her pictures show her as being happy and well dressed. Rather stylish to me,for that time. She had friends in almost all of her pictures. Plus my Dad wanted to be buried next to her when he died, he always talked about her with love and fondness. She was young when she and my granddad married, 15 or 16. So I imagine she enjoyed playing with her children.

Manila (left) & Launa Hilley 1914

Launa Hilley, Octia Harper & Manila Hiley 1912-16

Manila Hilley Harper 1920

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-William P. Harper, cont'd

Arminda (Childers) & William P. Harper

Arminda C. Childers was born 24 Aug 1870. She and William P. married sometime after 1 Jan 1898, that's when William's first wife died, and 1900 as Arminda (Minda on census) was listed as his wife. J. C. said William was called "Uncle Will". The only children listed on the 1900 census were William's children by Martha, Rossie (Rosy on census), Oscar, Celie (Ceily on census) and Arville. William's sister, Talithia, married William Johnson. His sister, Nettie Ann Johnson, married Arminda's brother. Arminda was almost like a double sister-in-law. They seemed to have lived in Jackson County, Alabama area. Willilam and Arminda had five children. Four of them never married. Cora Lee was the only one to marry, and she was in her fifties at the time. I don't know her married name (if someone knows, would you leave me a comment so I can post the information) or where she's buried (any one have that information?). I do know that Webb and John had a medical handicap, this may have prevented them from marrying. Webb, per my Aunt Nell, whose a nurse and took care of him right before he died in 1996, said he had a large hernia, and John had a cleft palate that was never repaired. This was probably due to not having the money or being close to a hospital that had the medical staff to handle the surgery. William's and Arminda's children were:

Palestine Harper b. 11 October 1903 d. 5 Oct 1986, she's buried at Macedonia Cemetery, Jackson County, Alabama. As a child, I remember her as being the friendliest of the women. Palestine was my great aunt, my grand pa Arville's half sister. She had a happy disposition and she could sew! My Aunt Maune gave me one of the quilts that she made. The stitching is beautiful!

Palestine (on the left) & Ora Mae March 1972, Section, Alabama

Zenas Webb Harper, b. 10 Feb 1905 d. 30 Nov 1996, Macedonia Cemetery, Jackson County, Alabama. I don't remember him as a friendly great-uncle.

Oma Johnson and Webb 1924-25 Webb Harper July 5, 1982

John Harper b. 2 October 1906 d. 8 Mar 1989 buried at Macedonia Cemetery, Jackson County, Alabama. I have fond memories of John, he was my favorite between him and Webb.

John Harper 1975 with his Dr. Pepper

Cora Lee Harper (married name?) b. 1908 d. ?

Celie (half-sister), Palestine, Cora Lee

& Ora Mae( in front) Harper

Ora Mae Harper b. 1 July 1912 d. 4 Jan 1992. Buried at Macedonia Cemetery, Jackson County, Alabama

.

Ora Mae Harper 1924-25 Palestine & Ora May (on the right)

March 1972, Section, Alabama

Their home 1975

Webb, Ora Mae, John, Kermit Bryant (nephew, son of their half sister Rossie),

Palestine 1980

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-William P. Harper

Pre-Civil War Americans regarded Southerns as a cavalier individual, land of aristocratic planters, beautiful southern belles, poor white trash, and faithful household slaves. In reality, large parts of the South were unsuitable for plantation life. In the mountainous regions such as eastern Tennessee and western Virginia, few plantations or slaves were to be found. Nor did southern farms and plantations devote their efforts exclusively to growing cotton or other cash crops. The South devoted much of its energy to raising food and livestock. Much of the pre-Civil War clashed repeatedly over such political questions as debt relief, taxes, and internal improvements.

The average slave owner lived in a log cabin rather than a mansion and was a farmer rather than a planter. The average number of slaves varied between four and six.

The white women in the South, despite the image of the hoop-skirted southern belle, suffered under heavier burdens than their northern counterparts. They married earlier, bore more children and were more likely to die young. You will note how many children M.C. and Deida had, as well as the large families of their children.The women lived in greater isolation, had less access to the company of other women; their education was briefer and much less likely to result in independent careers.

In 1857, the Georgia economy dipped, plus people were demanding more land to raise more cotton due to the impact of the invention of the cotton gin, thus there began a Westward expansion into Alabama and Mississippi. I think this is why M. C. left Georgia and moved to Alabama. They had to have moved to Alabama between 1856 and 1857, as their daughter Matilda shows being born in Alabama, 1857.

M. C.'s second son, William P. Harper was born 8 May 1859, Alabama. Right around the time Abraham Lincoln was elected as President.

He married Martha Katherine Lackey(Kate is on her tombstone, though her marriage certificate says MC) 28 Jan 1886, DeKalb County, Alabama. He was 27 and she was 22. They were only married for twelve years. I haven't as yet discovered why she died. Nor why she was buried at Black Oak Cemetery, Grove Oak, Jackson County, Alabama. From the above picture, I think they were happy. They looked a lot happier than the picture of Arminda and William that I will show later.

They had the following children:

Rossie V. Harper b. 22 Feb 1887, Alabama d. 4 Jan 1926 Montgomery, Arkansas. She married James Henry Bryant. They had the following children: Curtis Bryant and Eva Doyle Bryant. The picture below has Rossie and Ruben on the back; I'm trying to contact a recent member of a family tree with Rossie to see if this is her picture or the picture of James' father and mother. James' father was named Ruben, though his wife's name was Lucinda. An attractive couple whether Rossie or Lucinda. I'm not sure as to the reason Rossie and James moved to Arkansas. He may have had family living there. Hopefully I'll know more after communicating with the owner of the family tree connected to Rossie V. Harper.

Oscar E. Harper b. 28 May 1889 d. 13 Sep 1945, buried at Macedonia Cemetery, Jackson County, Alabama. He married Annie Mae Wilson. The picture on the left, below, is Oscar and Annie Mae. The one on the right is their tombstone at Macedonia Cemetery.

Celie Harper was born on 18 Aug 1890-91 d. 15 Feb 1968. I believe she's buried at Macedonia Cemetery, Jackson County. She married Frank Payne. I know they were living at Haigwood, Jackson County, Alabama in 1930. The picture on the left is Ora Mae, Celie's half sister, Celie and then Verdie Coleman Harper, Celie's sister-in-law. Verdie was Arville's second wife.The picture on the right is Celie and her husband Frank.

Their next son was my grandfather, Arville Harper b. 16 Dec 1894 d. 26 Feb 1970. I'll have more on him later.

Harpers of Alabama, GA, SC, NC & TX-Children, Contd

Missouri Harper, according to information posted on One World Tree, was born 8 Jul 1865, Alabama d. 16 June 1959, Morris County, Texas. She was married to William J. Watson. I know that in 1900 she was living with her mother Ida Harper, DeKalb County, Alabama. In 1910 she was living in Morris County, Texas with her husband William J. Watson and children Alvin (?), son, RV (?) daughter, William D., John, Emmit, Willie M, and James.

Since Missouri's nephew, Thomas W. Harper, Jr (son of Thomas (Hood), also went to Texas, I wonder if Missouri stayed with her mom while William an Thomas travelled to Texas and found jobs and places to live. William Watson is listed as a farmer. I would like to find out if any of this line came back to Alabama.

Jasper Dykes Harper b. 13 Mar 1869, Alabama d. 2 Aug 1952. He married Sarah Ann Nixion. Both are burried at Piney Grove Baptist Cemetery, DeKalb County, Alabama.

There are Harper Trees on www.rootsweb.com and www.ancestry.com that have a lot of information on Jasper, such as pictures and family history.

John Albert Harper b. 1873, Alabama, d. 28 Feb 1954, Blount County, Alabama. He married Vina E. Rowan on 4 Sep 1890.

Paralee (how it's spelled on her marriage certificate & Parilee on the 1900 census of Marshall County, Alabama) Harper, according to the 1900 census was born in June 1867, d. ?. She was on the 1900 census with Albert, but he didn't list a wife on the 1910 census. She married Albert Drain, 20 Dec 1888, DeKalb County, Alabama. A family tree has Albert listed as Rev. Albert L. Drain. According to his death certificate, he died 11 Jan 1944, Jefferson County, Alabama.

******Update on Matilda Harper..a family tree shows her marrying John H. Beardon. I have no other information.

This is the information that I have on M. C.'s children, except William P. Harper.