From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 311-312.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


SAMUEL D. HARPER

Samuel D. Harper, who was one of the pioneers in the wholesale trade 
at Wheeling, was born at Alexandria, Va., in 1789, of Scotch-Irish 
descent.  He went into the wholesale and retail hat and cap business, 
and when he came to Wheeling he at once began the manufacture of hats 
and the wholesale and retail trade in that branch of business, his 
first establishment being on the corner of Eleventh and Main streets.  
In 1855 his sons, Henry and Samuel, became partners in the business, 
under the style of S. D. Harper & Sons, and about that time the 
location was changed to the opposite side of the street.  In 1868 the 
senior Harper died.  He had been married in Jefferson county, Va., to 
Sarah K. North, who survived him until 1885, when she died at the age 
of eighty-nine years.  Fourteen children were born to these parents, 
only four of whom are living, George W., publisher of Hinds county 
(Miss.) GAZETTE, Margaret M., Henry M., and Mrs. William McConell, of 
Philadelphia.  Henry M. Harper was born December 28, 1834.  He was 
reared at Wheeling, and received his education at the Linsly 
institute, and then, in 1868, in partnership with his twin brother, 
Samuel, succeeded to the business founded by his father, upon the 
death of the latter.  In 1870 Samuel died, and the surviving partner 
has since managed the business as sole proprietor.  The name of the 
house, however, remains as before.  The house does an extensive 
business throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland, 
in hats, caps, etc., employing six traveling salesmen.  It occupies 
an honorable place among the leading wholesale houses of the city.  
Mr. Harper is interested also in the bank of the Ohio Valley, of 
which he is a director.  He was married in 1873, to Marion, daughter 
of Prof. F. S. Williams, of Wheeling, and two children have been born 
them. 


(Linda Fluharty)