Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 965
E.L. HARPER

Coming to this county as a boy with his parents E.L. HARPER has spent all of the years of his active life in general farming and stock raising in Allen township. He started in as a renter, but by good management and ceaseless industry he has accumulated a well-improved farm on which he is now living. He has been active in the civic life of his community and has held various offices to the entire satisfaction to all concerned.

E.L. HARPER, the son of John and Eliza (HUNT) HARPER, was born on February 19, 1867, in Pottawattamie county, Iowa. His parents were both natives of Kentucky and came to Harrison county in the seventies. They are still living in the county and are now both past eighty-two years of age.

E. L. HARPER is one of fourteen children born to his parents and the fourth in order of birth. He received his education in the schools of Allen township and lived at home and helped his father with the work on the farm, until he was twenty years of age. He then rented a farm for one year, after which he bought forty acres of land. Until he permanently located on his present farm he bought and sold several farms in the county. He now owns eighty acres of land in Allen township in section 17. He has placed many improvements upon this farm and now has one of the best improved farms in the township. He has been particularly interested in the raising of hogs and cattle, and feeds, on an average, one hundred and twenty-five head of hog for the market annually. He has been unusually successful with his live stock, due to the scientific way in which he handles them. He has large and commodious barns and outbuildings and ranks high among the progressive farmers of the township which included many of the best farmers of the county.

E. L. HARPER was married on March 6, 1889, to Lucy ISOM. She was born in Fremont county, Iowa, a daughter of Doss ISOM and wife. Her parents were natives of Missouri and came to Monona county, Iowa, from Fremont county.

E. L. and Lucy (ISOM) HARPER have seven children, Bertha, Alta, Albert, Floyd, John, Bernard, and Howard. All except the two eldest still live at home. Bertha married William Gaterost, and has two children, Viola and Grace, and live in Underwood, Iowa; Alta, the other daughter who is married, is the wife of Harrison Coyle, and lives in Lincoln township in this county.

E. L. HARPER and family are all loyal members of the Latter-Day Saints church, and are generous contributors to its support. Mr. HARPER is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and gives his support to the Democratic party, and has served as school director of his township for many years, during which time he rendered his fellow citizens faithful and efficient service. Mr. HARPER stands high in the estimation of those who know him by reason of his wholesome life and the interest he takes in the advancement of the general welfare of his community.

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