HARPER, Alphonso King 1878 - 1970

HARPER, ARNOLD, LONG, BROWN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 6/13/2011 at 21:04:58

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, January 12, 1970
Front Page, Columns 6 & 7

A. K. HARPER, Senior Industrialist, Dies

Alphonso K. HARPER, 91, pioneer industrialist and lay evangelist, died Saturday at 5:20 p.m. at the Fairfield Convalescent Home.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wilson Hyde officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

The casket will be taken from the Raymond Funeral Home to the Church Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Fairfield's senior industrialist, Mr. HARPER founded the Harper Brush Co. in 1900. He was born May 4, 1878 at Hillsboro, the son of John and Elizabeth ARNOLD HARPER. He was a graduate of Fairfield High School and Parsons College.

Mr. HARPER first began making brushes in a tool shed at the family home to help finance his college education. Early salesmen for the company were Parsons students who traveled by horse and wagon. Since 1930 the company has specialized in brushes for the industrial market.

The company enjoyed steady growth under the leadership of Mr. HARPER's son, Paul HARPER, until his death in 1960. Since then the firm has been headed by Mr. HARPER's son-in-law, M.K. LONG.

Mr. HARPER was widely known for his religious work as an evangelist and Christian businessman. He often expressed his philosophy in these words: "My Lord has taught me to live without worry, work without hurry and look forward without fear." One of the founders of the Iowa Businessmen Gospel Team in 1910, he conducted evangelistic meetings throughout Iowa and the nation. He took great pride in the fact that more than 33,000 decisions for Christ were made during these meetings.

During his active years, Mr. HARPER conducted daily religious services at the plant, often bringing in outside speakers.

Mr. HARPER was married to Beatrice Blanche BROWN Oct. 2, 1901. She preceded him in death in March, 1965.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. M. K. LONG; one son, Dale HARPER, both of Fairfield; 12 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

One son, one infant daughter, one great-grandchild and one brother preceded him in death.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, in Lot 2nd.098, with wife Beulah.

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