Home Keokuk County IAGenWeb Free genealogy records

What's New | Bios | Birth/Marr/Death | Cemeteries | Census | Courts | Directories/Lists | History | Land & Property | Military | Photos & Postcards | Resources | Schools

CARS

It has been told to us that Father H. Grothe had the first car here at Harper.
It was an International with Buggy Wheels. We have two pictures of old cars.
About a 1911 car with doors, owner and rider Mike Striegel.
The other one we think is a Buick owned by Msgr. N. J. Peiffer, standing beside the car.

NEWSPAPERS

FROM NEWSPAPERS

The "Western Herald" of South English, Editor and Prop., G. J. Brown,
was moved to Harper, August 18, 1877 and ran until March 1, 1878,
when it was sold to the Harper Publishing Co. This paper was published until
September 6, 1878, discontinued, and the material,
repurchased by G. J. Brown, was moved back to South English, Iowa.

In 1893 it is known that the Democrat was the name of Harper's newspaper and D. W. Evans
of South English was the Editor. Later on in 1896 the paper was published by
W. E. Dodd. He put in a new outfit here. Earlier in 1894 Clarahan & Whistler were Editors and Proprietors, for a short time.

HARPER BUSINESS DIRECTORY—1894

From Harper, Iowa, Democrat

(D. W. Evans Editor, pub. every Fri - $1. 50 per year.)

March 23, 1894 issue

Vittetoe & Besser, window shades
Paint Peiffer Bros., dealers in lumber & hdwe
Mike Pauly, gen. blacksmithing & horse shoer

Established in Harper in 1873

Nick Kautenberger, Agricultural Implements

C. E. Thomas, M. D., physician & surgeon. Office over city drug store

J. H. B. Striegel, grain dealer
Hogs $5.00
Oats, per bu., 24¢

Steers, $3-$4
Butter, per lb, 10¢

Cows, $2-$3
Eggs, per doz., 8¢

Corn per bu., 27¢

Dr. F. Besser, Veterinary, Office in Vittetoe & Besser Drug Store

City Tonsorial Shop (Milo), 1st door E. Vittetoe & Besser Drug Store

Baker

Thomas & Valerius, wallpaper

Greigg & Co., dry goods & groceries

Striegel & Conrad, farm machinery

E. Besser, men's clothing

Peter Wellenstein, Harper, General Mdse.

Cornelis Verwers, watch maker

At Thomas & Valerius

"Those intending to pay their subscription to "The Democrat" in wood are requested to bring said wood in at once."

From "THE DEMOCRAT" HARPER

Sept. 7, 1894

Clarahan & Whistler, Editors & Proprietors, $1. 00 per year

Vittetoe & Besser, drugs

Nick Kautenberger, agr. implements

Salm & Ott, dealers in harness & saddles, trunks & valises, boots, shoe.

Michael Pauly, blacksmithing

City Barber Shop, billiards and pool in conn.,

Chas. White, prop.

Peiffer Bros., sewing machines, pumps

Greigg & Co., dry goods

Dr. F. Besser, veterinary

J. H. B. Striegel, grain dealer

C. E. Thomas, M. D.

Dr. E. W. Gilbert, Vet. Surgeon & Dentist Office at Hospital, Harper

Thomas & Valerius

New Livery & Feed Stable, Harper, Nick Baker, Prop.

Striegel & Conrad, McCormick Harvesting Machine Markets:

Hogs, $5.50

Corn per bu., 50¢

Oats, 30¢

Butter, per lb., 15¢

Eggs, per doz., 12¢

DOCTORS

Many Doctors moved in and out of Harper. Here are a few:
Dr. J. F. Richardson, M. D. and Surgeon was here in 1875.
Dr. Jackson in 1891.
Dr. C. E. Thomas, M. D. and Surgeon, 1894, has his office over the City Drug Store.
Dr. C. A. Trumbauer, Aug. 1897-1902.
Dr. C. O. Grimes came here from Hayesville February 2, 1902 and left here about 1929.
Dr. Droz in 1906.
Dr. A. W. McDonough, M. D. and Surgeon. 1912.
Dr. Frank Adrian, 1915 to 1919. he moved on to Sigourney.
Dr. R. S. Brice 1928, he moved to Keota.
Also Dr. Dusenberry, Dr. Payne and I am certain many others.

We know of only 2 D. V. M., Dr. F. Besser and Dr. Gilbert.

POST OFFICE

The Baden Post Office was relocated at Harper, Sept. 16, 1872.
Peter Hartman was the first Postmaster to be appointed at Harper.
Since then, there have been 13 Postmasters.
The present Post Office was built in 1957 by John W. Miller, now retired.

IOWA CONGRESSMAN Karl M. LeCompe, Corydon, at the podium, spoke at dedication Ceremony
for Harper's new post office, which was built between the two

buildings in which it formerly was housed.

The dedication program was sponsored by the business men and
Federated Women's Club of Harper members in co-operation with the U. S. Post Office Dept.
Harold Lofgreen, Montezuma, Iowa, Postmaster, was chairman. H. H. Holtaus, Davenport,
district operations manager for the postal department, gave the address.

Music was provided by the Keota (Iowa) High School Band; invocation by the
Rev. M. J. Diamond of St. Elizabeth's Church, Harper; greeting by Mayor Alfred Conrad;
and flag raising by the Keota American Legion and V. F. W. color guard.

War Service Assistant (William Besser, Sr.)

Route 1 established July 1, 1902

Carrier

Sylvester J. Striegel. . . . July 1, 1902-Dec. 6, 1902

Eugene Beers. . . . Dec. 7, 1902-Mar. 20, 1904

Harry Clarahan. . . . Mar. 21, 1904-1934

Earl Weidlein. . . . 1934-1940

Richard J. Clarahan (sub). . . . 1940—Nov. 23, 1941

Cletus M. Striegel. . . . Nov. 24, 1941—Nov. 17, 1978

Paul Custer. . . . March 10, 1979

Route 2 established July 1, 1902

Carrier

Adda Newhouse. . . . July 1, 1902—Feb. 15, 1903

Edward Newhouse. . . . Feb. 16, 1903—July 31, 1903

Frank Helscher. . . . Aug. 1, 1903—Dec. 15, 1903

William Gilbert. . . . Dec. 16, 1903—Nov. 30, 1915

Route discontinued Nov. 30, 1915—Route re-established June 26, 1916

Carrier

William Gilbert. . . . June 26, 1916—Apr. 15, 1932

Route discontinued April 15, 1932
 

Route 3 established Aug. 1, 1905. Nov. 30, 1915

Carrier

John F. Crooks. . . . Aug. 1, 1905—Nov. 30, 1915

Subs on Harper RR Mail Service William Besser Sr. carried full time during World II and Sub for Cletus Striegel from September 9, 1942 to March 8, 1946.

OTHER SUBS (NOT COMPLETE)

Roy White, Jim Clarahan, Joe Beck, Patrick (Ed) Clarahan, John Clarahan,
Fred Wilson, Lester Merz, Willard Sondag, Richard Clarahan, Cletus Berg,
Francis Striegel, Victor Weber, Francis J. Clarahan and the present sub Herbert Hammes, since 3-11-1948.

previous page          index page          next page

Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer