For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 401
C. S. HARPER...C. S. Harper, a farmer and business man of Muscatine county, whose farm is in Lake township, was born near Muscatine, September 23, 1873. He is a son of William and Mary ( Murphy ) Harper, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father came to Muscatine at a very early day, when the site now occupied by a beautiful city was covered only with a few log houses. Later he located in Bloomington township and then Lake township, continuing in the latter until his death, which occurred in 1898. The mother departed this life in 1902. There were eleven children in the family : Martha and Mary, twins, now deceased ; Maggie, who is the widow of H. N. Ensfield and is now living in California ; Nellie, the wife of George Malone, of Muscatine ; Frank, of Hills, Iowa ; William, of Lake township, Muscatine county ; Robert D., a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; Josie, the wife of Joseph Zybarth, of Nichols, Iowa ; John C., of Lake township, this county ; James, who died in 1896 ; and C. S., our subject.Educated in the district schools of Lake township, the subject of this review remained on the home farm until after the death of his parents, when he began work by the month, later renting forty acres of land, which he cultivated. In1905 he established a store at Bayfield in the railway depot and, his business having prospered, he recently erected a fine stone building, in which he carries a general stock of well selected merchandise and in which the railway depot is now located. He also acts as station agent for the railroad. He is the owner of eighty acres of land, upon which he has made all the improvements except the main part of the dwelling, which had been erected previously. He has prospered in his business and also as a farmer, and in the midst of an active career gives promise of increasing usefulness as the years pass.
In 1898 Mr. Harper was united in marriage to Miss Minnie F. Casper, of Muscatine. Four children have blessed their union : Frank W., at home ; Charles, deceased ; Hershel ; and Clarence. Politically Mr. Harper is identified with the democratic party and is a stanch supporter of its principles and candidates. He is a true friend of education and is now serving as a member of the school board. He and his wife are lifelong members of the Catholic church and liberal contributors to its support. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Iowa Legion of Honor and is in hearty accord with the teachings of those beneficient organizations. He is a self-made man and has worked his way to his present position of responsibility by indefatigable application, which has never acknowledged defeat. He is recognized as a stanch friend of all worthy movements seeking to advance the interests of this locality and as to his fidelity to principle and his patriotism there is no question. He ranks as one of the progressive and enterprising men of Lake township.
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