Eliza Jane (Horner) Harper (1834-1909)

HORNER, HARPER, HORTON, PALMERTON, BAIRD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/9/2016 at 21:13:55

From Nevada Representative November 2, 1909 (front page)

OBITUARY

DEATH OF MRS. HARPER

Mrs. Eliza J. Harper died at her home in this city at two o'clock Saturday afternoon, having been seriously ill since early in September, and her condition having been regarded by family and friends for several weeks as hopeless. She had great vitality; but she was unable to retain nourishment in any quantities, and she failed slowly but inevitably as time wore on. The end was fully anticipated but was learned with deep regret.

Eliza J. (Horner) Harper was born at Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1834, and died as stated at Nevada, Iowa, October 30, 1909, aged 75 years, 4 months and 7 days. She grew up in the place of her nativity and was married there to Robert M. Harper September 28, 1857. Mr. Harper and hi bride left immediately for Farmington, Illinois, where they resided for about six years. Then they emigrated overland to Nevada, arriving here on October 11, 1863. Mr. Harper already had from his father the half-section east of town which has always since been known as the "Harper" farm, at least a part of which was a grant for service in the War of 1812; but there were no buildings on it, and so they wintered just east of the fair grounds and built the farm house and barn on the farm in the next spring. There they moved as soon as the house was ready and for the most part reared their family. Mr. Harper died there on April 14, 1881; but Mrs. Harper continued to live on the farm until 1890, when she moved into town, and here she has ever since resided. She is survived by six children: Helen of Nevada, Robert Bruce of Onawa, Mrs. Agnes Horton of Creston, John S. of Nevada, Mrs. Jennie Palmerton of Watertown, South Dakota; and Ruth of Nevada, and one child also died in infancy. There are also twelve grand children.

Mrs. Horner united with the Presbyterian church when she was a girl, and Mr. Horton was also of th same faith. They were both charter members of the Central Presbyterian church of Nevada, and she was the last one of that number remaining in Nevada. He was a deacon and trusee of the church and she was member of the missionary society from its organization and generally its president, retiring from that position to that of president-emeritus only a few weeks ago. While they lived they were firm in their faith of their church, and in that faith they reared all their family. Mrs. Harper was a woman of strong character and firm convictions, of uprightness of purpose and efficiency in her endeavors. She was of the type that adorns American motherhood, and her place was correspondingly high in the estimation of all.

Her funeral is conducted this afternoon at two-thirty o'clock from the Presbyterian church by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Hunter and the body was viewed by friends at the house Monday afternoon and today before the funeral. Friends from abroad who are here for the funeral include the noin-resident children, R. B. Harper and his wife, from Onawa, Mrs. Agnes Horton of Creston, and Mrs. Jennie Palmerton of Watertown, South Dakota; also John Harper of Farmington, Illinois, a nephew of the late Mr. Harper; Mrs. Ella Baird of Carthage, Illinois, a niece of Mrs. Harper; and Mrs. and Mrs. J. A. Henerson of Jefferson.