Maj. Andrew Gardner Happer and Matilda M. Watson

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Husband Maj. Andrew Gardner Happer ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 15 Aug 1839 - Union Twp, Washington Co, PA 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Arrell Happer (1816-1890) 2 4
         Mother: Violet Gardener (1818-Aft 1893) 5

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       Marriage: 1878 1 2

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Wife Matilda M. Watson ^{3 6 7}

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           Born: 
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           Died: Aft 1910
         Buried: 

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         Father: James Watson (1809-1875) 8 9
         Mother: Maria Woodbridge Morgan (      -1909) 8 10 11

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Maj. Andrew Gardner Happer

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He received a superior educational training in the district schools and Washington and Jefferson College, in which he matriculated in 1859. Before the completion of his college course, his patriotism led him to forego his ambitions as a student, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 1st Pa. Vol. Cav. He was mustered into the service as a private, September 6, 1861, and on March 11, 1862, was transferred to Co. G, 11th Pa. Vol. Inf., with the rank of first lieutenant; was promoted to captain of Co. I, of the 11th Pa. Vol. Inf.; and was honorably discharged November 7, 1865, with the rank of major. He was in many of the most important engagements of the war, and throughout his service was with the Army of the Potomac. Among the most important battles in which he participated may be mentioned the following: Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, each one of which claimed its hundreds of victims. At Antietam, Maj. Happer was slightly wounded but nevertheless kept in the ranks, but was more seriously injured at the battle of the Wilderness, on May 5, 1864, when he was not only taken captive by the enemy but received a wound from a bullet which his body still carried fifty years later. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the army he returned to Washington County and shortly afterward was appointed assessor of internal revenue, and, during his period in office, from 1866 until 1871, he resided in Monongahela City. He then returned to Washington where he thereafter lived, engaging at that time in the real estate and insurance business which he continued until he became the largest dealer in realty in Washington County. He was a director in the Washington Trust Company and had other interests, having been active in developing the oil fields in the vicinity of Washington.
He and his wife occupied one of Washington's finest residences, a magnificent structure of Cleveland stone, which he erected at No. 130 East Wheeling street. In politics, Maj. Happer was a consistent Republican. Credit is given him for the success that attended the Western Pennsylvania Agricultural Association, of which he was secretary for many years. He was an honored member of Templeton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Loyal Legion.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 23.

2 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 550.

3 —, Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Vol. I (Madison, WI: Northwestern Historical Assosciation, 1904), Pg 476.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 22, 503.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 503.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 23, 221.

7 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 550, 751.

8 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 221.

9 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 750.

10 Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 868.

11 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 751.