4-342  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

HARPER FAMILY HISTORY

Mahala Harper (22) married a direct ancestor of the authors, Nathaniel Shelton (2).  For additional information on the descendants of Nathaniel and Mahala Shelton, see the sketch of Nathaniel Shelton (2).  The death certificate of Nathaniel and Mahala Sheltons son, William Martin Shelton (3), states that William Martin Shelton was the son of Nathaniel Shelton (born Virginia) and Mahala Harper (born Virginia).  Their marriage license confirms that Mahala Harper married Nathaniel Shelton on March 12, 1839 in Marshall County, Alabama.  Marshall County is the adjoining county south of Jackson County, Alabama.

JACOB HARPER (21)

According to Sheryl (Sellers) Anderson, Mahala was born on September 7, 1818 in Tennessee and is the daughter of Jacob Harper and Darkes (Davis) Harper.  The 1850 and 1860 censuses of Jackson County, Alabama indicate the Mahala was born in Tennessee.  Therefore, as stated in an family group sheet, it is believed that Jacob and Darkes Harper were the parents of at least one daughter:

  Mahala Harper (22), b. September 7, 1818, Tennessee or Virginia

The 1820 census of Franklin County, Tennessee shows a Jacob Harper (born prior to 1775) who could be the father of Mahala Harper.  Franklin County, Tennessee is an adjoining county of Jackson County, Alabama located north of Jackson County.  The 1820 census shows that Jacobs wife was born between 1775 and 1794.  The 1820 census shows the Jacob Harper was the father of at least three children:

  Son, b. 1804 - 1810
  Daughter, b. 1810 - 1820
  Son, b. 1810 - 1820

Because Mahala (Harper) Shelton was known to have resided in Jackson County, Alabama in the early 1800s, it is logical to believe that many of the Harpers living in that area during the same period that Mahala lived there are probably related.  Other Harpers living in Jackson County, Alabama were:

  John P. Harper (20.1), b. 1790, Virginia
  Johnathan Harper (20.2), b. 1797, North Carolina
  John Harper (20.3), b. 1817, Tennessee

References:  1)  1820 Census, Franklin County, Tennessee;  2)  1840, 1850 and 1860 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama;  3)  Marriage License, Marshall County, Alabama, 1839;  4)  Death Certificate, William Martin Shelton;  5)  Family Group Sheet by Sheryl (Sellers) Anderson, 1971

JOHN P. HARPER (20.1) lived in Jackson County, Alabama.  John was born on March 22, 1790 in Virginia.  On March 12, 1813, John Harper married Martha Patsy Phillips (born January 22, 1796 in Kentucky) in Madison County, Alabama.  John Harper served in the War of 1812.  From 1850 to 1860, John and Martha Harper were living near Nathaniel Shelton (2) and Mahala (Harper) Shelton (22) in Jackson County, Alabama.  John and Martha Harper were the parents of ten children:

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  Benjamin Harper (20.1.1), b. July 8, 1814, Alabama
  Robert T. Harper (20.1.2), b. December 4, 1815, Alabama
  Miley Harper (20.1.3), b. February 8, 1819, Alabama
  Andrew J. Harper, b. December 15, 1820, Alabama
  Emmery Harper, b. February 22, 1822, Alabama
  Tirzah Harper, b. March 17, 1823, Alabama
  Richmond Harper, b. August 27, 1825, Alabama
  Nancy Jane Harper (20.1.8), b. September 1, 1828, Alabama
  Malissa P. Harper (20.1.9), b. January 29, 1832, Alabama
  Martha Mahala Harper, b. January 15, 1837, Alabama

John Harper died on June 30, 1863 in Jackson County, Alabama and was buried in Boxes Cove Cemetery.  Martha (Phillips) Harper was also buried in the Boxes Cove Cemetery.  Andrew Harper moved to Texas prior to 1862.  Mahala Harper married Henry D. Tipton.  In 1862, Henry and Mahala Tipton were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Tirzah Tarzy Harper married a Mr. Neeley and they had three children:  -  John Neeley, b. 1844,  -  Mahala Neeley, b. 1850,  -  Charles Neeley, b. 1854.  Tarzy (Harper) Neeley died prior to 1862.  In 1862, Tarzys children were living in DeKalb County, Alabama.

References:  1)  1850 and 1860 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama;  2)  Estate Papers, John P. Harper, Jackson County, Alabama, 1862 - 1870;  3)  Family Group Sheet by Robert Crumley, 1986;  4)  Family Bible of John P. Harper

BENJAMIN HARPER (20.1.1) is the son of John P. Harper and Martha (Phillips) Harper.  Benjamin was born on July 8, 1814 in Alabama.  From 1850 to 1860, Benjamin Harper and his wife, Elizabeth Harper (born 1814 in North Carolina), were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Benjamin and Elizabeth Harper were the parents of seven children:

  William Harper, b. 1836, Alabama
  John A. Harper, b. 1840, Alabama
  Minerva J. Harper (20.1.1.3), b. 1842, Alabama
  Robert F. Harper, b. 1843, Alabama
  Andrew J. Harper (20.1.1.5), b. March 20, 1846, Alabama
  Lucinda Harper, b. 1848, Alabama
  Mary Ann Harper, b. 1850, Jackson County, Alabama

Benjamin Harper died on October 5, 1865 in Jackson County, Alabama.  In 1870, John Harper and his wife, Mary E. Harper (born 1842 in Alabama), were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Lucinda Harper married William Buchanan.  In 1872, Lucinda (Harper) Buchanan was living in Franklin County, Tennessee.  Mary Harper married Oscar D. Grubbs.

References:  1)  1850, 1860 and 1870 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama;  2)  Estate Papers, John P. Harper, Jackson County, Alabama, 1862 - 1870;  3)  Will Book, Pages 195 and 372, Jackson County, Alabama, 1871 and 1872;  4)  Woosley Notes by Mary and Jac Countess

4-344  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

MINERVA J. HARPER (20.1.1.3) is the daughter of Benjamin Harper and Elizabeth Harper.  Minerva was born in 1842 in Alabama.  Minerva Harper married Aaron Walton Woosley.  Aaron was born on September 14, 1824 and is the son of William Alexander Woosley and Mary (Fisk) Woosley.  Aaron and Minerva Woosley had at least one daughter:

  Polly Ann Woosley, b. 1861

Minerva (Harper) Woosley died in 1864 and was buried in the Blue Springs Cemetery in Jackson County, Alabama.  Aaron Woosley married a second time to Delilah Hiles (born 1824).  Delilah (Hiles) Woosley died in 1901 and was buried in the Blue Springs Cemetery in Jackson County, Alabama.  Aaron Woosley was buried in the Blue Springs Cemetery in Jackson County, Alabama.  Polly Woosley died in 1881 and was buried in the Blue Springs Cemetery in Jackson County, Alabama.

Reference:  1)  Woosley Notes by Mary and Jac Countess

ANDREW J. HARPER (20.1.1.5) is the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Harper.  Andrew was born on March 20, 1846 in Alabama.  On September 23, 1866, Andrew Harper married Mary T. Fowler in Jackson County, Alabama.  Mary was born on May 5, 1843 and is the daughter of Furman Fowler and Jinca Fowler.  From 1870 to 1900, Andrew and Mary Harper were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Andrew and Mary Harper were the parents of at least eight children:

  Benjamin Sherman Harper, b. August 8, 1867, Alabama
  John F. Harper, b. May 18, 1869, Alabama
  Fannie Harper, b. March 13, 1871, Jackson County, Alabama
  Andrew F. Harper (20.1.1.5.4), b. September 15, 1873, Jackson County, Alabama
  Robert K. Harper, b. December 5, 1876, Jackson County, Alabama
  Jennie Belle Harper, b. December 24, 1878, Jackson County, Alabama
  Arthur Grant Harper, b. October 15, 1883, Jackson County, Alabama
  Elizabeth Adams Harper, b. January 22, 1888, Jackson County, Alabama

Andrew Harper served in the Union Army in Company A, Alabama Volunteer Vidette Cavalry.  Andrew Harper died on May 1, 1907 and Mary (Fowler) Harper died on August 12, 1934.  Both were buried in the Boxes Cove Cemetery near Larkinsville, Alabama.  On November 8, 1908, Elizabeth Betty Harper married Walter N. Bynum.  In 1977, Betty (Harper) Bynum was living in Scottsboro, Alabama.

References:  1)  1870 and 1900 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama;  2)  “Alabama Records,” Volume 144, Jackson County, Alabama, by Pauline Gandrud, Page 32;  3)  Civil War Pension Records;  4)  Family Group Sheet, Cloyd Caswell;  5)  Paint Rock Valley Pioneers, Page 163, 1986

ANDREW FURMAN HARPER (20.1.1.5.4) is the son of Andrew J. Harper and Mary T. (Fowler) Harper.  Andrew was born on September 15, 1873 in Jackson County, Alabama.  From 1900 to 1910, Andrew Harper and his wife, Beulah B. Harper (born October, 1874 in Alabama), were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Andrew and Beulah Harper were the parents of at least eight children:

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  Lula Harper, b. November, 1893, Alabama
  Harry A. Harper, b. February, 1895, Alabama
  Grace Harper, b. May, 1897, Alabama
  Annie T. Harper, b. March, 1899, Alabama
  Walker Harper, b. 1903, Jackson County, Alabama
  Howard E. Harper, b. 1905, Jackson County, Alabama
  Andrew E. Harper, b. 1907, Jackson County, Alabama
  Bettie Harper, b. 1908, Jackson County, Alabama

References:  1)  1900 and 1910 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama

ROBERT T. HARPER (20.1.2) is the son of John P. Harper and Martha (Phillips) Harper.  Robert was born on December 4, 1815 in Alabama.  In 1850, Robert Harper and his wife, Melinda Harper (born in Kentucky), were living in Crawford County, Arkansas.  Robert and Melinda Harper were the parents of at least five children:

  Loyd A. Harper, b. 1844, Arkansas
  John Harper, b. 1846, Arkansas
  Caroline Harper, b. 1847, Arkansas
  Martha Harper, b. 1849, Arkansas
  William Harper, b. 1850, Arkansas

References:  1)  1850 Census, Crawford County, Arkansas;  2)  Estate Papers, John P. Harper, Jackson County, Alabama, 1862 - 1870

MILEY HARPER (20.1.3) is the daughter of John P. Harper and Martha (Phillips) Harper.  Miley was born on February 8, 1819.  In September of 1841, Miley Harper married Hugh Riley Frazier in Jackson County, Alabama.  Hugh was born on March 14, 1817 in Robertson County, Tennessee and is the son of George Frazier and Jane Frazier.  Hugh and Miley Frazier were the parents of six children:

  Louisa P. Frazier, b. 1843, Mississippi
  Mary Francis Frazier, b. 1844, Mississippi
  Tabitha Frazier, b. 1847, Mississippi
  Joseph Phillip Frazier, b. January 20, 1848, Mississippi
  John Nelson Frazier, b. January 24, 1850, Tippah County, Mississippi
  Miley Ann Frazier, b. April, 1852, Crawford County, Arkansas

Miley (Harper) Frazier died in April of 1852 and was buried in Arkansas.  Hugh Frazier married a second time to Sarah Ann Newberry and they had six children:  George Frazier (born 1853), Ellen Frazier (born 1855), Elizabeth Frazier (born 1856), William F. Frazier (born 1858), Callie Frazier (born November 9, 1860), James Wiley Frazier (born 1861).  In 1862, Hugh Frazier moved to Parker County, Texas.  Hugh Frazier married a third time to Lucinda Oxford Culwell and they had no children.  Hugh Frazier fought in the Florida Seminole War.  Hugh Frazier died on May 3, 1909 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and was buried in the Goshen Cemetery in Springtown, Texas.  Louisa Frazier married J. Preston Wynn.  Mary Frazier married James Sadler (born 1841).  Tabitha Frazier married Mack Davis.

4-346  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

Joseph Frazier married Eliza Jane Culwell.  Eliza is the daughter of Thomas Culwell and Eliza W. (Jones) Culwell.  Joseph and Eliza Frazier had five children:  -  Louisa J. Frazier,  -  Hugh Thomas Frazier,  -  Callie M. Frazier, b. 1882,  -  Martha E. Frazier, b. 1887,  -  Minnie M. Frazier, b. 1890.  Joseph Frazier died on March 30, 1923 in Greer County, Oklahoma.  Louisa J. Frazier and Hugh Thomas Frazier died as children and were buried in the Goshen Cemetery in Parker County, Texas.

On October 5, 1873, John Nelson Frazier married Glaphrey Smith (born October 25, 1855 in Washington County, Arkansas).  John and Glaphrey Frazier were the parents of four children (all born in Parker County, Texas):  -  Joseph Hansford Frazier, b. January 28, 1875,  -  Albert Hugh Frazier, b. May 24, 1880,  -  Laura Ellen Frazier, b. January 12, 1885,  -  John Reagan Frazier, b. August 6, 1889.  John Nelson Frazier died on December 16, 1933 and Glaphrey (Smith) Frazier died on December 1, 1936.  Both were buried in the Goshen Cemetery in Springtown, Texas.  Joseph Frazier died on November 1, 1893 in Springtown, Texas.  On March 25, 1900, Albert Frazier married Cora Pipkin.  On April 18, 1911, Albert Frazier married a second time to Hattie Snow.  Albert Frazier died on September 21, 1959 in Graver, Texas.  On December 23, 1902, Laura Frazier married Charles E. Blackmon.  Laura (Frazier) Blackmon died on February 8, 1986 in Bowie, Texas.  John R. Frazier married Eula Owens, married a second time to Velma Waters and married a third time to Nola Hoyl.  John Frazier died on July 27, 1964 in Poolville, Texas.

Miley Frazier married George Williams and they lived in Clay County, Texas and Montague County, Texas.  George and Miley Williams were the parents of at least ten children:  -  Hugh P. Williams,  -  Joshia S. Williams,  -  Louise A. Williams,  -  Effie E. Williams,  -  Mary M. Williams,  -  Molly J. Williams,  -  Laura E. Williams,  -  Annie G. Williams,  -  George L. Williams,  -  Walter L. Williams.  Miley (Frazier) Williams was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery at Bowie, Texas.

References:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Francis A. Lyndell, August, 1987;  2)  “The Dallas Genealogical Society Quarterly,” March, 1987, Page 55

NANCY JANE HARPER (20.1.8) is the daughter of John P. Harper and Martha (Phillips) Harper.  Jane was born on September 1, 1828 in Alabama.  In 1847, Jane Harper married Thomas Latham.  Thomas was born on August 23, 1827 in Alabama and is the son of Jonathan Latham and Elizabeth (Ball) Latham.  From 1850 to 1860, Thomas and Jane Latham were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Thomas and Jane Latham were the parents of at least eleven children:

  Miley Ann Latham (20.1.8.1), b. October 12, 1848, Alabama
  James Austin Latham (20.1.8.2), b. September 30, 1850, Jackson Co., Alabama
  Mary Angeline Latham (20.1.8.3), b. April 8, 1852, Jackson County, Alabama
  William K. Latham, b. January 15, 1854, Jackson County, Alabama
  Mahala Malinda Latham (20.1.8.5), b. April 11, 1856, Jackson County, Alabama
  Minerva Jane Latham, b. April 3, 1858, Jackson County, Alabama
  Elizabeth Latham, b. February 4, 1860, Jackson County, Alabama
  Andrew J. Latham, b. October 29, 1861, Jackson County, Alabama
  Lucy Pluma Latham (20.1.8.9), b. October 25, 1862, Jackson County, Alabama
  Harriet Latham (20.1.8.10), b. May 14, 1865, Jackson County, Alabama
  Charlotte Latham (20.1.8.11), b. January 17, 1867, Jackson County, Alabama

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On August 28, 1863, Thomas Latham enlisted in the Union Army, Company A, First Alabama Volunteers and was honorably discharged in 1864.  In 1870, Nancy J. Latham was living with her children in Jackson County, Alabama.  In 1900, Nancy (Harper) Latham was living with her daughter, Harriet (Latham) Shelton, in Jackson County, Alabama.  Nancy Jane (Harper) Latham died on April 27, 1905 and was buried in the Pace Cemetery in Jackson County, Alabama.

In 1867, Thomas Latham moved to Tennessee and married Ann Elizabeth Freeman.  Ann was born in December of 1837 and is the daughter of John W. Freeman.  Thomas returned to Alabama in 1869 but then moved to Benton County, Arkansas in 1871.  Thomas and Ann Latham were the parents of seven children:  John Thomas Latham, Barbara Ann Latham, Julia Irene Latham, Fannie Caroline Latham, George Richard Latham, Ada G. Latham and Nettie A. Latham.

Although the John P. Harper line is not proven to be related to Jacob and Darkes Harper, six daughters and one son of Thomas Latham and Nancy Jane (Harper) Latham married into the Shelton and Pace lines of the authors.  For additional information on these daughters, see the sketch of their respective husbands.  Miley Ann Latham married Jonathan Benton Hall (15.5.1).  Mary Angeline Latham married John Franklin Shelton (1.5.9).  William K. Bill Latham married Rhoda Duncan (1.5.1.3).  Mahala Malinda Latham married Jackson Hall (15.5.3).  Minerva Jane Latham married John Henry Frazier.  Elizabeth Betsey Latham married a Mr. Culvert.  Lucy Pluma Latham married James Monroe Potter (15.1.13).  Harriett Latham married John Lewis Shelton (1.5.2.2).  Charlotte Babe Latham married William Henry Pace (15.12.2).

References:  1)  1850, 1860, 1870 and 1900 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama;  2)  Estate Papers, John P. Harper, Jackson County, Alabama, 1862 - 1870;  3)  Family Group Sheet by Robert Crumley, 1986;  4)  “Selected Latham Families,” by Richard J. Latham, 1980

JAMES AUSTIN LATHAM (20.1.8.2) is the son of Thomas Latham and Nancy Jane (Harper) Latham.  James was born on September 30, 1850 near Larkinsville, Alabama.  On August 29, 1871, James Latham married Martha Elizabeth Fowler in Jackson County, Alabama.  Martha was born on January 24, 1852 in Alabama and is the daughter of James Fowler.  James and Martha Latham were the parents of at least five children:

  Janie Elizabeth Latham, b. October 4, 1872, Jackson County, Alabama
  Martha Mahalia “Hallie” Latham, b. May 6, 1874, Jackson County, Alabama
  James Felix “Jim” Latham, b. April 8, 1876, Jackson County, Alabama
  William Robert “Bob” Latham, b. June 27, 1879, Grandview, Texas
  Lucy Lola Latham, b. March 27, 1882, Denver, Texas
  John Wesley Latham, b. January 29, 1884, Montague County, Texas
  Infant Daughter, b. and d. January 29, 1886

4-348  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

Martha (Fowler) Latham died on January 29, 1886 in Montague County, Texas and was buried in the Denver Cemetery near Sunset, Texas.  James A. Latham died on August 28, 1890 in Montague County, Texas and was buried in the Smyrna Cemetery near Sunset, Texas.  Janie Latham married a Mr. Haggard.  Janie (Latham) Haggard died on March 17, 1915.  On July 16, 1891, Hallie Latham married Francis Marion Mead.  Francis was born on April 8, 1880 in Missouri.  Francis Mead died on April 21, 1938 in Montague County, Texa and Hallie (Latham) Mead died on February 27, 1962 in Bowie, Texas.  Both were buried in the Tage Cemetery.  Jim Latham married Jessie Mae Harris.  Jessie was born on March 9, 1887 in Hopkins County, Texas.  Jessie (Harris) Latham died on January 27, 1961 in Gainesville, Texas and Jim Latham died on May 24, 1963 in Gainesville, Texas.  Both were buried in the Fairview Cemetery.  On December 24, 1899, Bob Latham married Lou Anna Dixon in Lone Star, Texas.  Lou was born on June 7, 1882 and is the daughter of John Berry Dixon and Ida Belle Dixon.  Lou (Dixon) Latham died on November 1, 1969 in Bowie, Texas and Bob Latham died on September 26, 1971 in Bowie, Texas.  Both were buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.  Bob Latham’s son ran a drygoods store in Lubbock, Texas.  Lucy Latham died as an infant on October 2, 1882 in Denver, Texas and was buried in the Denver Cemetery.  John Latham lived in Dallas, Texas.

References:  1)  Harper Notes, Cloyd Caswell;  2)  “Selected Latham Families,” by Richard J. Latham, 1980;  3)  GEDCOM File, Carl Latham, February, 1996

MALISSA P. HARPER (20.1.9) is the daughter of John P. Harper and Martha (Phillips) Harper.  Malissa was born in 1832 in Alabama.  Malissa Harper married James M. Gullatt (born 1820 in Alabama).  From 1860 to 1870, James and Malissa Gullatt were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  James and Malissa Gullatt were the parents of at least eleven children:

  Martha Gullatt, b. 1850, Alabama
  Jane Gullatt, b. 1851, Alabama
  Charles Gullatt, b. 1855, Alabama
  Horace Gullatt, b. 1857, Alabama
  Safrona Gullatt, b. 1858, Alabama
  Ben Jefferson Gullatt, b. 1860, Alabama
  James Gullatt, b. 1862, Jackson County, Alabama
  Mahala Gullatt, b. 1864, Jackson County, Alabama
  Farley Gullatt, b. 1866, Jackson County, Alabama
  Anna Gullatt, b. 1868, Jackson County, Alabama
  Hetty Gullatt, b. 1870, Jackson County, Alabama

References:  1)  1860 and 1870 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama;  2)  Estate Papers, John P. Harper, Jackson County, Alabama, 1862 - 1870

JOHNATHAN HARPER (20.2) lived in Jackson County, Alabama.  Johnathan was born in 1797 in North Carolina.  In 1850, Johnathan Harper and his wife, Mary Harper (born 1817 in North Carolina), were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  Johnathan and Mary Harper were the parents of six children:

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  Cintha Harper, b. 1828, North Carolina
  Pipkin Harper, b. 1833, North Carolina
  McKinny Harper, b. 1834, North Carolina
  Sarah Harper, b. 1839, Alabama
  James Harper, b. 1844, Alabama
  Johnathan Harper, b. 1847, Alabama

Reference:  1)  1850 Census, Jackson County, Alabama

JOHN HARPER (20.3) lived in Jackson County, Alabama.  John was born in 1817 in Tennessee.  In 1850, John Harper and his wife, Elizabeth Harper (born 1810 in Tennessee), were living in Jackson County, Alabama.  John and Elizabeth Harper were the parents of four children:

  Temperance Harper, b. 1831, Alabama
  America Harper, b. 1834, Alabama
  Elizabeth Harper, b. 1844, Alabama
  John Harper, b. 1848, Alabama

Reference:  1)  1850 Census, Jackson County, Alabama