Sarah Harper, daughter of Thomas A Harper, was born Jan. 21, 1825 in Smith County, Tennessee. She married Andrew Ferrier McWhirter June 7, 1842 in Warren County, Tennessee. They emigrated to Walker County, Alabama about 1843, then later settled in Marion County, Alabama. Their children: Thomas Andrew, born July 10, 1843, died August 26, 1917; George Washington, born 1844, died October 8, 1862; Andrew Jackson, born June 23, 1847, died February 28, 1922; Robert, born 1848, died between 1850-1860; William Hamilton, born July 19, 1852, died March 17, 1907; Mary Caroline, born May 17, 1855, died December 16, 1934; and John Madison McWhirter, born February 15, 1858, died January 10, 1907.
Other children were Nancy Ann McWhirter, born 1865, died 1892 and Jasper Green McWhirter, born August 18, 1868, died 1902.
When Sarah's husband and three oldest sons went off to join the 1st Alabama Cavalry, US Volunteers during the Civil War, the Confederate Home Guard abused her, and other widows, wives and some children of Unionists' families. Her husband and one son died in Nashville, and one by one, she received word that her brothers were dying or being killed. Her brother, Robert, died in 1863; James Warren, was wounded in battle and sent home to die, which he did 3 years later on October 3, 1868; Her brother, Josiah Houston, was hung by the CSA Home Guard after he had already been discharged from the army. He had been serving as a scout. John Lyon found his body still hanging, cut him down, took his body home and helped bury him; Thomas Wade served in the Confederacy and died or was killed in Knoxville, TN on September 15, 1862; Tennessee Polk Harper died December 9, 1862 in Nashville, TN;
All of the above served in the 1st Alabama Cavalry Union Army with the exception of Thomas Wade Harper.
There is a book out about this lady called "Heartbreak of a Civil War Widow", which tells about her hardships during and after the war without her husband, son & brothers. It also has the Harper family traced back to England in the early 1500s. The book can be found at Amazon or Heritage Books.

Sarah Harper McWhirter's son, Jasper Green McWhirter was killed by a train, and her daughter, Nancy Ann McWhirter Miles, died during childbirth and the baby died, also.
It is not known why Jasper Green McWhirter was on the tracks, however, walking was very much a method of getting where you needed to go in 1901. Jasper Green and Mary's children were reared by their relatives, as they petitioned the Court for their guardianship. The Harbin relatives reared them. Mary Caroline McWhirter Harbin was Jasper Green McWhirter's half sister.
Thanks to Mary Louise Hanson for most of this information.