HARPER: Armstsad and Asa.
Henderson Harper, born in 1822, son of an Armstead Harper, of Russell County, Virginia, who never came to Poca, and Rachel Bishop, who for a second husband married in Russell County, the Armstead Harper brother of Asa and the other Harpers who came here.
Henderson arrived here about the year 1843, a young man it is observed. He was of medium size, rather deep chested, of the middle weight ahletic form, blue eyes and fair skin, and was soon called one of the best hunters and the formidable champion of the rifle at the "shooting matches," which were target shootings at which the rewards to the best at each round consisted of turkey or deer, killed and brought in for the purpose, and first paid for by the contestants by equal contribution. He is the Henderson Harper mentioned in the chapter The County, as having killed the last of the panthers of Pocatalico country. He was religiously inclined and was a devoted Baptist.
Henderson Harper was married twice, the first wife being Miss ____________ Gandee, daughter or granddaughter of Uriah Gandee, pioneer of Upper Middle Poca where Gandeeville is now (1926). To Henderson and his first wife were born one son and one daughter, named: The son, Armstead, the daughter, Mary, who married Clark Green of Poca country. The first wife having died, Henderson married for a second wife Debora Westfall, who was a sister of Noah Westfall, and of Barbara Westfall, who became the wife of Andrew Andy Stewart, of Reedy, pioneer family.
To Henderson and Debora (Westfall) Harper were born, (all in Harper District at the large farm-home of Henderson, on the Flats west of Coxs Fork), the following children, named in order of their ages: John L.; Rachel, married William Batten; William P., and Malinda, who married Richard Shouldis. of Harper District. Further:
John L. Harper, son of Henderson and Debora, became a Baptist preacher, which work he followed for many years in Roane and near parts of adjoining counties. In later years of his life he was always spoken of as the Reverend John L. Harper. On September 14, 1869. as shown on the Roane county marriage records, which gave no ages at that time, John L. married Miss Melissa Hopkins, of Poca, she the daughter of Robert and Martha (Stalnaker) Hopkins, residents there at time of the marriage. See "Hopkins."
And they made their home and farm on Coxs Fork and there reared their family, the names of whom, in order of births are as follows: Mary, who married Silas Ferrell; Robert, a blacksmith by trade; Jacob M., a lawyer of Spencer, who married Bessie Kester, of Belmont, W. Wa., year 1901, See Chapter City of Spencer; John Marshall, realtor of Parkersburg, married Miss Ida Monroe, see family Monroe; Martha married Dr. Noyes, see name "Noyes"; Lelia married a Mr. Walker; Aldie married Elliott Griffith; Eliza married a Mr. Ryerson, and Virgil is the youngest of the family.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927, William H. Bishop, Esq., p. 543-544
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
