JOHN HARPER, farmer; P. 0. Urbana. The subject of this sketch is a native of Berkeley Co., Va., born March 3, 1798; he is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Cunningham) Harper; he was a Virginian by birth, she a Pennsylvanian, of Scotch origin. They emigrated to this State in 1802, and settled in Fairtield Co., where they remained for fourteen years, settling in this county in 1816. They were parents of twelve children--six boys and six girls--six of whom are still living -one in Dayton, one in Allen Co., and the remaining four in Champaign. Samuel Harper followed the profession of farmer all his life. When he camc to this county, there were no improvements, with the exception of an occasional house, there being only two houses between Urbana and Mechanicsburg. They lived to a green old age in this county, he dying in his 91st year, and she in her 78th. John Harper, in connection with his brothers, did most of the work of clearing the farm and improving their adopted home. He has been thrice married-first, sixty-two years ago, to Rebecca Woods, by whom he had two children ; his second marriage was with Elizabeth Wilson, of Fairfield Co., formerly of Pennsylvania; she bore him five children; being again left a widower, he celebrated his third marriage with Sarah C. Bailey, forty years ago; two children were the result of this union. Six of his children are living, all married ; his wife's daughter Mary Ann Clark, was reared in the same family. Mr. and Mrs. Harper are quite well and active for people of their age, being able to do light work and attend to affairs generally on thc farm. They have lived together and shared each other's joys and sorrows for twoscore years. They are both members of the M. E. Church, with which he has been connected nearly sixty years, and are trying to live consistent Christian lives, both for their own satisfaction and the cause of the Master.