BIO: Simon HARPER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, page 127

SIMON HARPER, president of the Penn Valley Banking Co., Centre Hall, and a 
retired merchant, is one of the substantial citizens of Penn's Valley, and 
few as good examples of self-made men are to be found in the locality, 
certainly none better.
  Mr. Harper comes of an old family, and was born July 31, 1842, at Spring 
Bank, Miles township, Centre county, youngest living child of George Harper, 
who was born in Berks county, Penn., a son of Henry Harper. George Harper 
received but limited schooling, chiefly in the German language, and was 
reared to farming pursuits. In Brush Valley he married Elizabeth Kreamer, who 
was born, in 1804, in Bethel township, Berks county, Penn., a daughter of 
Jacob Kreamer, who came to Brush Valley in 1814, and where Mrs. Harper was 
reared from the age of ten years. Her youth was passed amid pioneer times and 
scenes, and she was well fitted to endure the hardships and trials destined 
for her later life. At the time of their marriage, her husband had little or 
no means, and his parents were not in a position to aid him. However, nothing 
daunted, Mr. Harper bought a farm, at Spring Bank, in Brush Valley, going 
heavily in debt for the same; but he prospered, and with the help of as noble 
a wife as ever lived, the debt was soon decreased. He died May 20, 1843, at 
the comparatively early age of forty-one years, leaving a widow with a family 
of children, our subject being but an infant. The husband and father was 
buried in the cemetery at Rebersburg. The following is a brief record of the 
children: Sarah married George Weaver, and lives in Rebersburg; John, a 
farmer, died in Potter township; Mary A. married Jonathan Gramley, and died 
in Brush Valley; Jonathan, by occupation a merchant, died in Bellefonte; 
Isabella is the widow of Philip Royer, of Nittany Valley; William is retired, 
and makes his home in Bellefonte (he served three years, during the Civil 
war, in Company A, 148th P. V. I.); Rebecca married Absalom Harter, and died 
in Millheim, Centre county; Jared, a merchant, lives in Bellefonte; Simon, 
our subject, comes next; and George, the youngest in the family, died in 
infancy. Of these, Simon bears a striking resemblance to his father, who was 
a man of slight build. He was a Democrat, but took no especial interest in 
politics, simply recording his vote quietly and unostentatiously. In 
religious faith he was a member of the Reformed Church, which his wife also 
attended, although not a member thereof, she being a Lutheran, but later also 
joined the Reformed Church.
  Dying a comparatively young man, George Harper had not opportunity to pay 
off all the indebtedness on the farm, and his dying request to his wife was 
that the homestead should not be sold, as he felt certain that by her careful 
and frugal management the debt thereon would before long be cancelled. It was 
a heavy undertaking for her, the widowed mother of a large family, none of 
whom yet out of their teens; but her husband's dying words inspired her with 
fresh hope and courage, and with a will she went bravely to work. Early and 
late she "kept her shoulder to the wheel," doing a man's labor in the fields, 
and in the evening returning to the home never so wearied but that she would 
complete the domestic duties of the day. In course of time her self-denying 
efforts were crowned with success, and this noble woman found herself and 
children under a roof free at last of all encumbrance. The homestead property 
remained in the family until 1856, in which year they moved to Rebersburg, 
and there Mrs. Harper resided until 1866, when she removed to Bellefonte with 
her son Simon, to whom her attachment was very great. Our subject paid for 
her support until, in 1866, he got a home of his own, from which time she 
passed her declining years with him, dying September 27, 1892. She was laid 
by the side of her husband in Rebersburg cemetery, an elegant monument, 
erected by our subject, marking their last resting place. Mrs. Harper was a 
true Christian woman, a constant reader of the Bible, in both English and 
German, while during the later years of her life a great part of her time was 
spent in prayer.
  Simon Harper, the subject proper of these lines, 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 we find him, for the first time in 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.

128  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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. It required enterprise and energy, 
both of which characteristics he amply possessed, and possesses, and 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, our subject disposed of his interest therein, and retired from active 
business life. He still owns 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. As already stated, he is president of the Penn Valley Banking Co., 
at Centre Hall, and is a leader in enterprises tending to the advancement of 
his section of the county.
  On December 28, 1879, at Bellefonte, Simon Harper was married to Miss 
Maggie E. Klinger, who was born at Buffalo Run, Penn., May 29, 1854, youngest 
in the family of ten children - five sons and five daughters - born to Jesse 
and Mary (Kocker) Klinger, who came from Dauphin county to Centre county some 
years ago. Mr. Klinger was a blacksmith by trade, in politics a stanch 
Republican, and for several years was justice of the peace at Bellefonte, 
where he died October 1, 1889, his wife passing away March 18, 1893, and they 
sleep their last sleep in the cemetery at Bellefonte. They were members of 
the Reformed Church. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have one child, Harry W., born 
October 17, 1882, living at home.
  In politics Mr. Harper is 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 has been elected to other offices, which, 
however, he declined to accept. Socially, he is 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 are 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 is an elder in the Church, and is one of the most 
liberal contributors and leading members, and has served as superintendent of 
the Sunday-school. Taken all in all, Mr. Harper is a typical representative 
self-made man, one who by his own perseverance, energy and sound judgment, 
has risen, rung by rung, to the summit of the ladder of success. On business 
and financial matters he is an acknowledged authority, and his opinion and 
counsel, which are often sought, are sure to be respected. His acquaintance 
in Penn's Valley is thorough, and he is held in the highest esteem.