Simon Harper and Maggie E. Klinger

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Husband Simon Harper ¹

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           Born: 31 Jul 1842 - Spring Bank, Miles Twp, Centre Co, PA 1
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         Father: George Harper (Abt 1802-1843) 1 2
         Mother: Elizabeth Kreamer (1804-1892) 1 2

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       Marriage: 28 Dec 1879 3

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Wife Maggie E. Klinger ³

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           Born: 29 May 1854 - Buffalo Run, Centre Co, PA 3
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         Father: Jesse Klinger (      -1889) 3
         Mother: Mary Kocker (      -1893) 3

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Children

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1 M Harry W. Harper ³

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           Born: 17 Oct 1882 3
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General Notes: Husband - Simon Harper

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He received his education in part at the schools of the Harter district, in Miles town­ship, in part at those of Rebersburg, whither the family had removed when he was about fourteen years old, and as a farmer's boy his boyhood days were passed. At the age of seventeen he entered for the first time into the arena of busi­ness life, in the capacity of clerk for Thomas Wolf, at Wolfs store, Brush Valley, his first salary being $75.00 per annum, with four weeks vacation during the harvest season, although the usual amount paid a new clerk was $50.00, so valuable already were his services, and so well appreciated. Later he clerked for W. J. Hosterman, in Rebersburg, from there going to Belle­fonte, where he was in the employ of John Awle, when, the Civil war being at its height, he en­listed in August, 1862, in Company A, 148th P. V. I. In this regiment he served faithfully until compelled by sickness to retire into the Veteran Reserve Corps, much against his inclination, for he persisted in remaining with his company longer than his health warranted. At the close of the war he was a member of Company E, 3rd Veteran Reserve Corps. After the war was over he was sent to Augusta, Maine, to muster out Maine troops, after which he was mustered out at that city, and he then returned to Rebersburg.
On May 18, 1866, Mr. Harper and his widowed mother removed to Bellefonte, where, along with his two brothers, Jonathan and William, he commenced the general mercantile business, with which he was identified some fourteen years. During that long period of activity, his natural industrious disposition and consequent hard work impaired his health so much that he had to retire from the firm. In March, 1880, he took up his residence in the village of Centre Hall, where he recuperated, buying a nice home, to the improvement of which he spent no little time and money. At this time there were but two stores in Centre Hall, and after four years Mr. Harper decided to open a third, trusting to his previous experience and natural business qualifications for success of his venture. In 1884, in partnership with H. W. Kreamer, he opened a general merchandise store, which ere long became the leading one of the kind in the vicinity. In April, 1896, he disposed of his interest therein, and retired from active business life. He retained a one-half interest in the store building; a one-fourth interest in the bank building and bank at Centre Hall; a substantial residence in the same village, and 350 acres of land in Potter township. He was also president of the Penn Val­ley Banking Co., at Centre Hall.
In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, always interested in the success of the party, but never an office-seeker. For one term he served as chief burgess of Centre Hall, and was elected to other offices, which, however, he de­clined to accept. Socially, he was a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge at Centre Hall, and of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 153, at Bellefonte. In matters of religion he and his wife were mem­bers of the Reformed Church, and he was one of the committee who had charge of the church building, a handsome one, at Centre Hall, and it was at his suggestion that brown stone was used in its construction. He was an elder in the Church, and was one of the most liberal contributors and leading members, and served as superintend­ent of the Sunday-school.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 127.

2 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 198.

3 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 128.