The Widow of John H. Harper Passes Away Suddenly Last Night
Elizabeth Ernst Harper 1816-1891
On the 19th of November, 1880, John H. Harper, one of the earliest residents of South Bend and a gentleman widely known all over the state, expired while sitting in a chair in E. P. Chapin's coal office at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He had stepped in to order some coal and sat down to chat with Mr. Chapin and Mr. W. D. Gish. He made no struggle but died quietly in the chair with one hand across his lap and the other hanging down by his side. His disease was apoplexy of the lungs.
Last night his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Harper, had been paid her usual visit by her grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Baird family, who live on Washington street almost opposite the well known Harper residence. Some members of the Baird family call on her and her daughters every evening. Mrs. Harper was in unusually good spirits and had quite a romp with the little ones. After Mr. and Mrs. Baird and the children went home Mrs. Harper prepared to retire, at a few minutes past ten o'clock. Suddenly she called to some member of the family that she felt faint and almost immediately expired. Her death was so sudden the young ladies of the household could scarcely realize it.
Mrs. Harper was among the oldest residents of the city. Her husband came here from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1837 and returned the year following to Lebanon where he married the deceased—Miss Elizabeth M. Ernst, daughter of Rev. W. G. Ernst, for thirty years pastor of the American Lutheran church at Lebanon. The marriage was celebrated on the 23rd of April 1838 and two weeks after the young couple left for South Bend, making the entire trip in a buggy over the rough roads of a new country. Another bridal couple accompanied them—Dr. Rex and his wife who also came to South Bend and practiced medicine here for years. Mr. Harper's roseate description of South Bend was the means of inducing quite a colony of Lebanon young men to settle here, among them
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Through him Hon. W. G. George came here in 1852 and many others. Mr. Harper was an active business man from the start, and was a great favorite in society, as was his wife, but after the death of her husband she lived a more retired life. During most of their residence in South Bend they lived on Washington street, first in the brick residence on the site now occupied by Dr. James Oliver's home, and afterwards in the Harper residence, two blocks further west.
Mrs. Harper leaves seven daughters to mourn her loss—The Misses Mary, Libbie and Kate Harper, Mrs. H.C. Baird, Mrs. Thos. D. Baird and Mrs. Will U. Martin, of this city, and Mrs. Ed. C. Carpenter, of New York city.
The date of the funeral will not be fixed until hearing from her absent daughter, Mrs. Carpenter, but it will probably take place on Tuesday afternoon.
Elizabeth Ernst Harper 1816-1891
On the 19th of November, 1880, John H. Harper, one of the earliest residents of South Bend and a gentleman widely known all over the state, expired while sitting in a chair in E. P. Chapin's coal office at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He had stepped in to order some coal and sat down to chat with Mr. Chapin and Mr. W. D. Gish. He made no struggle but died quietly in the chair with one hand across his lap and the other hanging down by his side. His disease was apoplexy of the lungs.
Last night his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Harper, had been paid her usual visit by her grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Baird family, who live on Washington street almost opposite the well known Harper residence. Some members of the Baird family call on her and her daughters every evening. Mrs. Harper was in unusually good spirits and had quite a romp with the little ones. After Mr. and Mrs. Baird and the children went home Mrs. Harper prepared to retire, at a few minutes past ten o'clock. Suddenly she called to some member of the family that she felt faint and almost immediately expired. Her death was so sudden the young ladies of the household could scarcely realize it.
Mrs. Harper was among the oldest residents of the city. Her husband came here from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1837 and returned the year following to Lebanon where he married the deceased—Miss Elizabeth M. Ernst, daughter of Rev. W. G. Ernst, for thirty years pastor of the American Lutheran church at Lebanon. The marriage was celebrated on the 23rd of April 1838 and two weeks after the young couple left for South Bend, making the entire trip in a buggy over the rough roads of a new country. Another bridal couple accompanied them—Dr. Rex and his wife who also came to South Bend and practiced medicine here for years. Mr. Harper's roseate description of South Bend was the means of inducing quite a colony of Lebanon young men to settle here, among them
…………………… (Damaged line) ………………..
Through him Hon. W. G. George came here in 1852 and many others. Mr. Harper was an active business man from the start, and was a great favorite in society, as was his wife, but after the death of her husband she lived a more retired life. During most of their residence in South Bend they lived on Washington street, first in the brick residence on the site now occupied by Dr. James Oliver's home, and afterwards in the Harper residence, two blocks further west.
Mrs. Harper leaves seven daughters to mourn her loss—The Misses Mary, Libbie and Kate Harper, Mrs. H.C. Baird, Mrs. Thos. D. Baird and Mrs. Will U. Martin, of this city, and Mrs. Ed. C. Carpenter, of New York city.
The date of the funeral will not be fixed until hearing from her absent daughter, Mrs. Carpenter, but it will probably take place on Tuesday afternoon.
The Widow of John H. Harper Passes Away Suddenly Last Night
Elizabeth Ernst Harper 1816-1891
On the 19th of November, 1880, John H. Harper, one of the earliest residents of South Bend and a gentleman widely known all over the state, expired while sitting in a chair in E. P. Chapin's coal office at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He had stepped in to order some coal and sat down to chat with Mr. Chapin and Mr. W. D. Gish. He made no struggle but died quietly in the chair with one hand across his lap and the other hanging down by his side. His disease was apoplexy of the lungs.
Last night his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Harper, had been paid her usual visit by her grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Baird family, who live on Washington street almost opposite the well known Harper residence. Some members of the Baird family call on her and her daughters every evening. Mrs. Harper was in unusually good spirits and had quite a romp with the little ones. After Mr. and Mrs. Baird and the children went home Mrs. Harper prepared to retire, at a few minutes past ten o'clock. Suddenly she called to some member of the family that she felt faint and almost immediately expired. Her death was so sudden the young ladies of the household could scarcely realize it.
Mrs. Harper was among the oldest residents of the city. Her husband came here from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1837 and returned the year following to Lebanon where he married the deceased—Miss Elizabeth M. Ernst, daughter of Rev. W. G. Ernst, for thirty years pastor of the American Lutheran church at Lebanon. The marriage was celebrated on the 23rd of April 1838 and two weeks after the young couple left for South Bend, making the entire trip in a buggy over the rough roads of a new country. Another bridal couple accompanied them—Dr. Rex and his wife who also came to South Bend and practiced medicine here for years. Mr. Harper's roseate description of South Bend was the means of inducing quite a colony of Lebanon young men to settle here, among them
…………………… (Damaged line) ………………..
Through him Hon. W. G. George came here in 1852 and many others. Mr. Harper was an active business man from the start, and was a great favorite in society, as was his wife, but after the death of her husband she lived a more retired life. During most of their residence in South Bend they lived on Washington street, first in the brick residence on the site now occupied by Dr. James Oliver's home, and afterwards in the Harper residence, two blocks further west.
Mrs. Harper leaves seven daughters to mourn her loss—The Misses Mary, Libbie and Kate Harper, Mrs. H.C. Baird, Mrs. Thos. D. Baird and Mrs. Will U. Martin, of this city, and Mrs. Ed. C. Carpenter, of New York city.
The date of the funeral will not be fixed until hearing from her absent daughter, Mrs. Carpenter, but it will probably take place on Tuesday afternoon.
Elizabeth Ernst Harper 1816-1891
On the 19th of November, 1880, John H. Harper, one of the earliest residents of South Bend and a gentleman widely known all over the state, expired while sitting in a chair in E. P. Chapin's coal office at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He had stepped in to order some coal and sat down to chat with Mr. Chapin and Mr. W. D. Gish. He made no struggle but died quietly in the chair with one hand across his lap and the other hanging down by his side. His disease was apoplexy of the lungs.
Last night his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Harper, had been paid her usual visit by her grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Baird family, who live on Washington street almost opposite the well known Harper residence. Some members of the Baird family call on her and her daughters every evening. Mrs. Harper was in unusually good spirits and had quite a romp with the little ones. After Mr. and Mrs. Baird and the children went home Mrs. Harper prepared to retire, at a few minutes past ten o'clock. Suddenly she called to some member of the family that she felt faint and almost immediately expired. Her death was so sudden the young ladies of the household could scarcely realize it.
Mrs. Harper was among the oldest residents of the city. Her husband came here from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1837 and returned the year following to Lebanon where he married the deceased—Miss Elizabeth M. Ernst, daughter of Rev. W. G. Ernst, for thirty years pastor of the American Lutheran church at Lebanon. The marriage was celebrated on the 23rd of April 1838 and two weeks after the young couple left for South Bend, making the entire trip in a buggy over the rough roads of a new country. Another bridal couple accompanied them—Dr. Rex and his wife who also came to South Bend and practiced medicine here for years. Mr. Harper's roseate description of South Bend was the means of inducing quite a colony of Lebanon young men to settle here, among them
…………………… (Damaged line) ………………..
Through him Hon. W. G. George came here in 1852 and many others. Mr. Harper was an active business man from the start, and was a great favorite in society, as was his wife, but after the death of her husband she lived a more retired life. During most of their residence in South Bend they lived on Washington street, first in the brick residence on the site now occupied by Dr. James Oliver's home, and afterwards in the Harper residence, two blocks further west.
Mrs. Harper leaves seven daughters to mourn her loss—The Misses Mary, Libbie and Kate Harper, Mrs. H.C. Baird, Mrs. Thos. D. Baird and Mrs. Will U. Martin, of this city, and Mrs. Ed. C. Carpenter, of New York city.
The date of the funeral will not be fixed until hearing from her absent daughter, Mrs. Carpenter, but it will probably take place on Tuesday afternoon.
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