Microfilm copy of newspaper obituary from
Press & Dakotan
Yankton, South Dakota
Issue date: January 23, 1896.
received from the South Dakota State Historical Society and
transcribed at Simi Valley, California May 5, 2003 by Donna Cuillard.
Obituary
Mrs. Margaret Hand
Died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. H. M. Blake, at Parker,
South Dakota, at half past eight on the evening of January 16, 1896,
Mrs. Margaret Hand, aged 89 years, 8 months and 8 days.
Margaret Wheeler was born at Harpersfield, Ohio, on the 8th day of May,
A.D. 1806. She was the daughter of Judge Wheeler who held the office of
district Judge of the Harpersfield district 14 years. Her eldest
brother was at one time United States senator from Ohio and two younger
brothers were physicians of prominence in the state. She was married to
Alvah Hand in the year 1826. Eight children were born to this marriage.
Five of whom are now living.
They are E.W. Hand of Chicago; Mrs. M. E. Crandall of Minnesota; Mrs.
H. M. Blake, of Parker; and James A. Hand and Alvah Hand. The late Hon.
George H. Hand, of Yankton was also a son.
The family removed from Ohio to Portage, Wisconsin, in 1849 where they
resided twenty years, and in 1869, the subject of this notice removed
to Dakota where a number of her children had preceded her. She made her
home with her son, George H. Hand in Yankton, until his death, when she
went to reside with her daughter, Mrs. Blake, at Parker, where she
continued her abode until her death. Mrs. Hand was a member of the
Protestant-Episcopal Church, with which she united more than fifty
years ago.
She was a devoted wife, a fond and loving mother and a true and
consistent Christian. Her heart was ever open to the demands of true
benevolence. Her sympathetic nature always stood ready to aid in
relieving want and distress and though possessed of a large family that
demanded and received her most devoted attention, she gave a home and
parental care to three orphan children who grew up with her own family
and who in after years regarded her with the most cordial filial
affection.
She was unusually bright and cheerful during the last few months of her
life. She seemed to realize that her last hours upon earth were not far
away, and sought frequent consolation in closer communion with God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Painesville Telegraph
14 Apr 1847
Pg 3 Col 11
Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio
Copied from microfilm
Received from Lisa McGrattan
P.O Box 183
Grand River, OH 44045-0183
Received at Simi Valley, CA
Transcribed at Simi Valley Dec 27, 2003
DIED
At Sandusky City, Erie Co., O., on the 30th ult, Mrs. Polly Harper,
consort of Col. R. Harper, of Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., O., aged 49
years and 9 months.
Through the kindness of her near friends, Rice Harper, Esq., and Mr. M.
F. Miner, of Sandusky, her remains were accompanied by those gentlemen
to the house of her husband and family in Harpersfield, Ashtabula
county, and interred in the family burying ground on the 3d inst.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ashtabula Sentinal,
April 12, 1847.
Died
At Sandusky City, Erie Co. Ohio on the 30th ult., Mrs. Polly Harper,
consort of Col. R. Harper of Harpersfield, Ashtabula County, O. aged 49
years and 9 months.
The deceased was daughter of Mr. David Hendry, born Harpersfield,
Delaware Co. N.Y. June 12, 1797 - she came to the State of Ohio in 1806
and was married the 20th of August, 1815, and has raised a family of
four daughters; the second of whom, Mrs. M. F. Miner, departed this
life at Sandusky City on the 7th of January> last. During her
illness, the anxieties of the mother, though in a feeble state of
health and unable to withstand the fatigues of a journey, prevailed
over every obstacle, and braving the wintry tempest she hastened to the
bedside of the afflicted one. Death had nipped the tender bud;
afflicted parents arrived at the hour appointed for the funeral. The
excitement and over exertion were somewhat prolonged by the sickness of
another daughter, Mrs. Doct. Austin of the same place, but she soon
sunk under the effects of these over exertions upon a constitution
already worn down by care and chronic disease. She lacked nothing that
the most strict attention, the warmest affection and approved medical
advice could render.
That savior whom she had adored and served in her childhood sustained
her in all her trials and sufferings. The ministrations of the pastor
were particularly gratifying to her and in adopting the sentiments of
the text from which her Daughter's funeral sermon was preached [Phil 1
21-23. -- "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."] she added
the following verses as expressive of her feelings and as applying to
herself and family. - "but if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of
my labor; yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a straight
betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ; which is far
better. -- Never the less, to abide in the flesh is ... needful for
you." Through the kindness of her near friends Rick Harper, Esq. and
Mr. M. F. Miner of Sandusky her remains were accompanied by these
gentlemen to the house of her husband in Harpersfield, in this county
and interred in the family burying ground on the 3rd inst. Funeral
services were attended at St. Michael's church Harpersfield, on the
Sabbath the 4th inst. Sermon by the Rev. H. Hollis, from St. Luke, 12:
40 "Be Ye ready always for the son of Man cometh at an hour when ye
think not." She united with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the year
1823, of which she has ever since been a very active and efficient
member. In all her relations in life her course has been marked by an
enlightened liberality and benevolence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ashtabula Sentinel
Dec 19, 1866
DIED
In Unionville, Nov 16, 1866, in the 79th year of age, the widow, Electa
Harper, relict of the late Col. Alexander Harper (Jr.), who was one of
the earliest settlers of this town and county. She had sustained and
adorned the Christian profession and character for more than half a
century. Her death has at once relieved her prostrated sufferings by
cancer, transferred her to "the rest that remaineth for the people of
God", and left her pieus example a precious legacy to her affectionate
children and friends.
J.H.
The above is from the pen of her former pastor and to his tribute of
respect for her memory, I would add my own testimony relative to her
faith and trust in the God of her fathers, which has made her meet for
the inheritance of the Saints in light.
S.S.C.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ashtabula Sentinel
Ashtabula County, Ohio
Sept 27, 1847
Transcribed from microfilm copy 12 April 2003 at Simi Valley, California.
Died: In Unionville, Lake Co., Ohio on the 24th ult., the Hon. Aaron Wheeler, aged 76 years 9 months.
The deceased was born in Columbia Co., N.Y. in the year 1776 - spent a
portion of his early life - married and settled in Harpersfield,
Delaware Co., NY, whence he emigrated to Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,
Ohio, A.D. 1799, being one of the first nineteen families who first
settled upon the Connecticut Western Reserve, and having been preceded
only two years by the first settlers in Ashtabula County. He was first
elected and served as a Representative under the Territorial
Government, and was at the second session appointed Associate Judge of
the County of Trumbull, (embracing what is now known as Trumbull,
Portage, Summit, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Ashtabula and Lake). He served in
the capacity of Associate Judge fourteen years. In the discharge of his
official duties, in whatever capacity he acted, his acts were always
characterized by promptness, efficiency and integrity. At the time of
his death he had been a professor of religion forty-three years, during
which time he gave full evidence of his attachment to the cause of his
Divine Master. He reared a large and respectable family, some of whom
as to talent, worth and professional standing, were among the foremost
in the State; and the greater portion of whom have been removed by
death many years since. He has died in a good old age, lamented by a
numerous circle of relatives and friends."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ashtabula Sentinel
August 24, 1833
Obituary of Elizabeth Bartholomew Harper
Born: 13 February 1749 at Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey
Died: 10 June 1833 Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio
(spelling left as in original obituary)
Died:
At Harpersfield June 10, 1833, widow Elizabeth Harper, in the 84th year of her age.
Mrs. Harper was descended, in the maternal line, from a Huguenot family
in France - in the paternal line from a French family in Switzerland,
by the name of Bartholemi.
Her maternal great-grandparents were apprehended and imprisoned, on
account of their profession of the Reformed Religion, and awaited the
expected sentence of exclusion, which would add their names to the long
catalogue of martyrs, who fell during the persecuting reign of Louis
XIV.
They were anxious to preserve a posterity in the earth, and having a
daughter very young, means were found to enclose her in a box and
convey, her to Swabia in Germany. This child was the grand-mother of
Mrs. Harper.
From Germany the family emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey,
near Elizabethtown. Here Mrs. Harper was born of parents whose name
having undergone a slight change from the original French, is called
Bartholomew.
When Miss Bartholomew was about 21 years of age, she was married to the
late Col. Alexander Harper, a man of Irish extraction, but a native of
Middletown, Conn. Soon after their marriage, with letters patent from
the British Crown, they emigrated to the then howling wilderness west
of Shoharie, , in that present county of Delaware, State of New York.
Here they took possession of a tract on which they settled, to which he
gave his name, and which is the present township of Harpersfield.
In this wilderness there opened, and for several years continued, a
scene of distress, privations and hardships to which the present
generation are necessarily strangers, and which brought into
requisition all the corporeal strength and activity, and all the
fortitudes and energy of mind by which they both were highly
distinguished. Here they toiled under the various disadvantages of a
new settlement, where the pioneer necessarily, but in the present
instance cheerfully, does more in sowing for succeeding generations to
reap, than in acquiring advantages and comforts for himself and his
immediate descendants.
Here they lived and toiled in leveling the tall and thick trees of the
forest, until there had been born to them four children, when the war
of the American Revolution commenced. Now they were involved in perils
and distresses which none but those who endure similar ones, can
realize or even understand.
After many severe conflicts with the British foe and their savage
allies, in the capacity of an American Captain, the husband was taken
prisoner, carried to Quebec in irons, and then in a gloomy prison, and
subsequently in a still more gloomy prison-ship, he endured a painful
captivity of two years and eight months.
Meanwhile his wife and children fled with their friends and neighbors
to Middle Fort at Schoharie for safety. Soon after their retreat into
this fortress it was besieged, stormed and well nigh taken.
Having no prospect but that of an immediate and indiscriminate
massacre, the garrison fought, although under a timid commander, with
great bravery. While the truly Spartan band of women, among who were
Mrs. Harper and a younger sister, encouraged and inspired them to hold
onto the last extremity, being themselves actively employed in
furnishing them with such refreshments as could be hastily taken,
preparing their cartridges, and rendering every assistance in their
power.
The battle having proceeded for a long time, the disheartened commander
ordered the garrison t cease firing. This being understood by the enemy
as a prelude to the surrender of the fort, they ceased their fire also,
and raised their triumphal flag. This being done, a soldier in the
quarter where the women were, was instigated to fire upon the flag. The
commander hastily approached and charged them with having broken his
orders, and sharply reprimanding them retired. Immediately, however,
the fire o the flag was repeated a second and a third time, upon which
it was hauled down and the siege raised, when the garrison, unknown to
any but the females, were reduced to one round of ammunition. Thus by
means of these females, the garrison, and themselves and little ones
were preserved by Providence from savage massacre or cruel captivity,
fates which had befallen many of their friends.
From this fortress Mrs. Harper with her children and friends, removed
to New Lebanon on the eastern border of New York, as a temporary place
of safety. Hither the husband, released from captivity, returned to his
family and was joyfully received by them and their friends.
From this place the family returned to Harpersfield, A.D. 1780, and
there remained leading members of society until they saw the wilderness
turned into a fruitful field and the place which they had found
solitary made good for them. Churches they saw erected, schools
established, and society enjoying blessings, social, literary, civil
and ecclesiastical.
A.D. 1798, they removed to the wilds of New Connecticut, and were one
of the first three families that settled in the County of Ashtabula.
The township in which he settled was the second in which he was one of
the first emigrants, and to which he gave his name. It is the present
populous and flourishing township of Harpersfield, in the county of
Ashtabula, and State of Ohio.
Here Mrs. Harper was destined to experience fresh trials, demanding
resignation, fortitude and prudent and strenuous exertions. The death
of her husband, about three months after their arrival in this
wilderness, devolved the chief care of her numerous family on her. With
a good share of wealth they were poor, because oftentimes money could
not procure them food to preserve them from the very brink of
starvation; yet by the blessing of Providence, on their indefatigable
exertions, they were kept from perishing, and preserved with their
fellow pioneers, to lay the foundation of the present and future
prosperity of this flourishing section of country, and to bring the
present generation under obligations which they can never duly
appreciate.
By a mind naturally strong, well stored with experience, and imbued
with Christian piety, Mrs. Harper was well prepared to sustain
hardships with fortitude to manage and direct agricultural affairs with
prudence and judgement, and to train her family to usefulness,
respectability and piety.
She lived to see one hundred and ten of her posterity. She survived
three children, eighteen grandchildren, and eleven great
grand-children. She left behind her, five children, forty-nine
grandchildren and twenty four great grand children.
As she lived in the exercise of repentance toward God, and faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ, and in works of duty and charity, so she died in the
Lord, and now rests from her labors and her works which do follow her.
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