Mr.
J.C. Harper, Sr.
By W.J.
Jones
1983
This is the most difficult paper that I have attempted to write. I knew Mr. Harper from my early childhood upward and I feel
today that he influenced my life more than anyone after my father.
Jacob Calhoun Harper was born July 3, 1872 at the family home
between Oak Hill and Neenah. His
parents were Henry Brooks and Jane Pamela Haddox Harper.
To this union were born:
1.
Jacob Calhoun Harper
2.
Janie Harper, and
3.
Julius Henry Harper
His father was married previously to Catherine
Madison Haddox and they had several children but this paper is intended
to pick up the latter family. According
to his own story, he attended the public schools in his day.
The year of 1900 was very important for Mr. Harper for that was
the year that Miss Janie Young, who later became his wife, came to Oak
Hill as a teacher. Her
brother, Prof. John Young was principal and only teacher of 40 odd
pupils ranging from the primary department through high school.
When he returned home Due West, South Carolina, he persuaded Miss
Janie to come to Oak Hill with him to teach the primary grades.
It was my privilege to begin school (at five years of age) under
Miss Janie. I was so
devoted to Sister Julia that I did not want to be left when it came time
for her to enter school. I
cried to go with her and my parents humored me.
Mr. Jacob C. Harper was happily married to Miss Janie Young
September 18, 1901 in the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Church. To this union the
following children were born:
1.
Flora Todd Harper
2.
Henry Young Harper
3.
Jacob C. Harper, Jr. (Jaki)
Mr. Harper was a man of
many strong characteristics. He
was a man of strong physique with a big heart full of compassion for his
fellowman. He was a
successful business man, a devoted family man, a true friend, a good
neighbor and a leader in the Community.
He served Oak Hill as the first Mayor and was a member of the
local school board and a faithful member of his church.
On one occasion he drove Joyce and me to the early ARP Church
site near the Robert Hall Hines home on Black Branch which is near
Camden. He pointed out the site of the church which had been moved
from Hamburg and later was moved to sites nearer Camden.
The Camden ARP Church originated in Uncle Billy Bonner’s home
in the year 1895, with 12 Charter members; 11 of whom were members of
the Oak Hill Church. The
purpose of that meeting was to elect officers.
Uncle Clarence Jones and Mr. Joe Miller were elected deacons.
They had already purchased the present church building from the
Cumberland Presbyterians. Dr.
W. W. Orr, who had conducted a revival meeting, together with Dr. H. M.
Henry, Pastor of Oak Hill Church, assisted them in their organizational
meeting.
Mr. Harper was a handsome man, approximately five feet eleven
inches tall and weighing probably between 175 and 190 pounds.
He was a man of keen humor and I would like to relate several
stories that I heard him tell more than once.
One of these stories that he enjoyed concerned his health during
early manhood. He said that
he was an incessant smoker and developed a discomfort in his chest.
He went to Dr. Jenkins who was located in Shawnee where he had an
office. Dr. Jenkins was
practically deaf and could communicate only through the use of a horn
native to the cow family. Mr.
Harper explained to him, after much effort, that he wanted help from
some of the medicine Dr. Jenkins had in his office.
Dr. Jenkins replied that he had plenty of medicine but none that
could help Mr. Harper. Furthermore,
he told him that no medicine would help him and if he continued to smoke
he wouldn’t last very long. Mr.
Harper said Dr. Jenkins scared him so that he never smoked another
cigarette in his life. Another story that he told was in relation to Uncle Miller
Bonner. It seems that Uncle
Miller, in his early youth, was pretty wild and his older brothers held
a conference and decided to put Uncle Miller in Uncle Lee’s care at
Rosebud. Mr. Harper’s
story related that Uncle Lee had Uncle Miller plowing in a field near
the highway one Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Harper rode by and yelled, quote “Go to it Miller, that’s
the way I got my start.” He
said that Uncle Miller pulled out his pistol and started shooting at the
black mule’s hoofs. Mr.
Harper responded by hurrying his little black mule and loped out of
sight. The two became fast
friends and Uncle Miller did all of Mr. Harper’s legal work.
Early in life Mr. Harper developed an interest in cattle. It was he who brought the first Black Angus cattle to this
section. His first market
was Selma, to which he drove his cattle on horseback, assisted by two
wage hands. They would stop
the first night at “The Good Shepherd’s Home” which was near Mr.
George Sumner’s Home, about halfway between Selma and Neenah.
The cattle were fed and watered there and the owners of “The
Good Shepherd’s Home” gave Mr. Harper and his two assistants food
and lodging for the night. They
would arise before day the next morning and drive the cattle to the
Selma market place where they were auctioned off.
Later he shipped his cattle to the Chicago Market to be sold,
loading them in boxcars at Allenton Depot.
He followed by train and was present when the cattle reached the
Chicago Auction place and witnessed the sale.
I have heard him remark how cold the wind was blowing inward
across the city from the nearby lake.
Later on he shipped his cattle to New Orleans market to be sold.
In later years he shipped to a Montgomery (Ala) Stock Yards and
always accompanied them by car. He
had a regular driver but on occasions he was driven by his
daughter-in-law, Taylor Jones Harper.
He was devoted to Taylor and she was devoted to him.
Public School education in Alabama really began in 1918 and was
due to the efforts of William F. Feagin, then State Superintendent of
Education. An amendment was
passed allowing the creation of a State Board of Education who were
charged with the responsibility of appointing a superintendent of
Education for each city and county in the state.
The first Board of Education appointed by the Governor for Wilcox
County was composed of the following:
1.
Mr. Clay Sheffield of Pine Hill
2.
Mr. E. E. Morris of Catherine
3.
Dr. Ernest Bonner of Camden
4.
Mr. J. T. Adams of Pine Apple
5.
Dr. W. P. Roberts of McWilliams
Dr. Roberts moved from the County and Mr. Jacob
Harper of Oak Hill was appointed to succeed him.
Mr. Harper served until his death.
The first Superintendent of Education (of Wilcox Co.) appointed
by the Board was Mr. O. C. Weaver, who was at that time, principal of
the school in Camden. As I
remember, it was the year 1920 that Mr. Harper was appointed to the
Board. Superintendent O. C.
Weaver resigned the office of Superintendent effective September 1, 1923
and W. J. Jones was appointed to succeed him and held that office until
his retirement July 1, 1965, thus covering a span of 42 years.
There were several applicants for the Superintendent’s office
upon Mr. Weaver’s retiring. Notably
among these, was Mr. W. V. Luckie who was at that time principal of
Wilcox County High School in Camden.
Mr. Luckie was a college graduate and had attended Teachers
College Columbia University in New York, leading towards a Maters
Degree. Mr. Sellers
(Sellers) principal of Arlington school, held an A.B. and Masters
Degrees from another college. Uncle
Ernest Bonner preferred Mr. Will Carothers who was then connected with
Perry County Schools. I
feel that Mr. Harper was responsible for my being appointed over the
other applicants. At the
time I had had less training than any of the applicants, having attended
Erskine College two years an then transferring to Marion Military
Institute where I received an A.B. degree, class of 1916.
Mr. Harper made the fight for me and he was more responsible for
my appointment than anyone else.
I would like to refer to an amusing story relating to a meeting
attended by Mr. Harper, Mr. Adams and myself.
These two Board members came early and we were awaiting the
arrival of the other members before opening the meeting.
Mr. Harper was talking to Mr. Adams of his experience in the
hospital and his changing form his usual night apparel.
He said that Taylor bought a pair of red pajamas and insisted on
his wearing them. Mr. Adams
remarked, “ I wouldn’t have put them on, Jake.”
Later I visited Mr. Adams in his home recuperating from eye
surgery. He was in bed wearing a long night gown and a night cap on
his head.
Mr. Harper was an ardent sportsman, particularly enjoying
fox-hunting and baseball. He
had a kennel of fox-hounds which were penned near his barn.
He was accustomed to riding his pastures on horseback all day.
About once a week he would come home, have an early supper and
enjoy a fox-hunt with his dogs. He
generally went alone and listened to the dogs, while in his saddle, as
they chased the fox. He
also enjoyed baseball and was an ardent supporter and attendant of the
local team.
He was a connoisseur of fine meats and he and Miss Janie set a
fine table. Very often when he bought meat at a Montgomery steak house,
he would buy an equal amount for his pastor, Dr. Henry.
Mr. Harper and Miss Janie both were very active in the work of
the Oak Hill ARP Church. Miss
Janie was interested in Woman’s Society and served the organization
for many years. She was a
faithful member of her church and served it well in many capacities.
Mr. Harper sang bass in the choir, taught the Ladies Bible and
was clerk of the Session for many years.
He was a regular attendant at Synod’s Meetings representing his
church. After Dr. Henry’s death, he served as chairman of the Pulpit
Committee which was successful in bringing Reverend T.B. McBride and
Reverend J. Clavin Smith as pastors of Bethel (Oak Hill) Church.
He was also active during the pastorate of Rev. S. L. McKay and
Rev. Mr. Danhof.
Mr. Harper was a good man, a well rounded individual, a man of
action who made a lasting contribution.
W. Jones
April 7, 1983
(Note: I
am indebted to Bertha Lee for help in writing this paper.)
