Typed by: Kay Cunningham


HARPER, JAMES


Surnames: HARPER, STEELE, ERSKINE, BELL, RICHARDS, MEEKS, WILLIAMS, ODELL-WILLIAMS.

    James Harper, b ca 1862 in Ireland -- was a son of john and Elizabeth Ellen (Steele) Harper, who immigrated from Ireland with tow young sons at the same time her father, William S. Steele, Jr., and her brother, Robert A. Steele, and other siblings, brought their families to Stranger, Falls County, Texas in 1866 to settle near another brother, Henry Steele, who came to Stranger in December 1852 with his wife, Elizabeth (Erskine) Steele, and members of her family.
    James harper married ca 1886 to Letha Anna Bell, b 1867 -- a daughter of James Augustus and Amanda M. (Erskine) Bell, and granddaughter of Samuel and Anna Bell and Hugh and Jane (Richards) Erskine, who settled in Stranger in 1852.
    James and Letha reared their family near the Fairview Community of Limestone County, Texas, and were active members of the Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where many families of both, Limestone and Falls County, worshipped.  They were the parents of nine children:
    James Arthur Harper, b January 10, 1888, d May 24, 1895, and buried in Garrett Cemetery at Stranger, Falls County, Texas.
    William harper, b ca 1890 -- no further information.
    Ollind Harper, b ca 1892 -- married Clara Meeks, and loved in Kosse, Texas, where he was a Barber.
    Robert harper, b ca 1893 -- no further information.
    Roy Lee Harper, b ca 1895 -- no further information.
    Euleta Harper, b ca 1899 -- no further information.
    Ben harper. b ca 1901 -- no further information.
    Thomas Franklin Harper, b January 23, 1905, d April 21, 1957, and buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, who married Helen Eunice Williams, b July 17, 1900, d August 17, 1976, and also buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.  They were the parents of Erwin Ray harper, b March 26, 1930, in Marlin, who married Nancy Ann
Odell-Williams, b April 22, 1932, in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
    Clyde Harper, b ca 1908 -- no further information.
    A grandson of James and Letha Anna (Bell) harper Continues to reside in Marlin, Falls County, Texas.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 217 Column 2 and page 218 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.