HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY pg 221~223
CIVIL WAR VET
Entered as a Corporal Company B 36th IA VOL. INF
Samuel attended the country schools and worked on the farm until 1862, when he enlisted in the Civil War. In June of 1863 he was commisoned second lieutenant in the 46th United States Colored Infantry & was later promoted to first lieutenant and captain in the same regiment. He mustered out in February, 1866 after serving three years and seven months in the army. The last few months of his service were spent in Mexico where United States troops were engaged in driving out the French invaders of that republic.
On his return from the army Captain Harper began work for the hardware firm of Henry & Haw and continued with them until 1869 when with Timothy Egan he engaged in the hardware until under the firm name of Egan & Harper.
He was born on a farm near Zanesville, Ohio. In 1853 he came with his parents to Wapello County where the family located on a farm one half miles south of Ottumwa. There were no railroads yet west of the Mississippi river in 1853., and Mr. Harper rode on horseback with his father from Keokuk while the rest of the family came up the Des Moines river on a steamboat.
He was a Iowa State Senator during 3 sessions of the legislature from 1902 to 1907. In 1911 he was elected Mayor of Ottumwa to which he was elected by a large majority. His sudden death nine months after his election interrupted the many plans he had for the county.
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY pg 221~223
CIVIL WAR VET
Entered as a Corporal Company B 36th IA VOL. INF
Samuel attended the country schools and worked on the farm until 1862, when he enlisted in the Civil War. In June of 1863 he was commisoned second lieutenant in the 46th United States Colored Infantry & was later promoted to first lieutenant and captain in the same regiment. He mustered out in February, 1866 after serving three years and seven months in the army. The last few months of his service were spent in Mexico where United States troops were engaged in driving out the French invaders of that republic.
On his return from the army Captain Harper began work for the hardware firm of Henry & Haw and continued with them until 1869 when with Timothy Egan he engaged in the hardware until under the firm name of Egan & Harper.
He was born on a farm near Zanesville, Ohio. In 1853 he came with his parents to Wapello County where the family located on a farm one half miles south of Ottumwa. There were no railroads yet west of the Mississippi river in 1853., and Mr. Harper rode on horseback with his father from Keokuk while the rest of the family came up the Des Moines river on a steamboat.
He was a Iowa State Senator during 3 sessions of the legislature from 1902 to 1907. In 1911 he was elected Mayor of Ottumwa to which he was elected by a large majority. His sudden death nine months after his election interrupted the many plans he had for the county.
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