Kinfolks
by Evelyn Flood
This was printed in the Newton County Arkansas Times Newspaper
on 12 February 1998 in my KINFOLKS column. Have updated the
article somewhat.

JAMES C HARP was a private in Co.F, First Arkansas Infantry(Union)
during the Civil War.
He enlisted on 1 March 1863 and was mustered in
on 10 March 1863-----this is his story.

On the 1850 Newton County, Arkansas Census in Van Buren Township,
Visit # 250, JAMES HARP, born 1834 in (Indiana?), is living
with ROBERT HARP(should this be REBECCA HARP instead?).
Some researchers think this is Rebecca and not Robert Harp.
Listed in the household are NANCY 15 born Missouri;
MORANDA G age 12 born Arkansas;
SARAH ANN age 10 born Arkansas;
JOHN E age 8 born Arkansas;
PERILDA age 7 born Arkansas;
WILLIAM age 6 born Arkansas.
Living in the household is ALBERT A HARP shown
as age 30, but my notes mention his age as 50.

On the 1860 Newton County,Arkansas Census, Van Buren Township,
Visit 212 is JAMES E HARP age 26 born Illinois.
His wife PHEBE MURPHY HARP age 24, born Missouri and
MARY A HARP age 9 born Arkansas.
JAMES and PHEBE MURPHY HARP were married on 6 January 1858 in
Newton County by JOEL ARRINGTON, J.P.
(who also joined the Union Army and died 29 April 1863 at
Cassville,Missouri per Civil War Pension Records.
Their son SAMPSON HARP was born 19 Oct 1861.

At Visit 214 on 1860 Newton County Census, REBECCA HARP,
age 45 ,born Tenn is listed along with SALLY A HARP age 19 born
Arkansas;JOHN A HARP age 17 born Arkansas; PERLINA HARP
age 15 born Arkansas; W.A HARP age 13 born Arkansas; and
DINAH E HARP age 3 born Arkansas.
NANCY A HARP had married JAMES M CECIL ca 1863.
PHEBE MURPHY HARP'S parents were JOHN J MURPHY and PERLINDA DAVIS.
Phebe's sister SARAH JANE MURPHY married ANDERSON CARLTON; while
another sister NANCY MURPHY married JAMES MORRISON CARLTON (son
of ANDERSON CARLTON).
SARAH JANE MURPHY would then be the mother-in-law of her own
sister NANCY MURPHY CARLTON.

On or about the 11th day of March, 1863 CAPTAIN JAMES VANDERPOOL
was ordered by COLONEL M. LARUE HARRISON of the First Arkansas
Cavalry (who was then in command of the military post at Fayetteville,
Arkansas) to take command of a detachment of soldiers detailed from
the First Regiment Arkansas Infantry Volunteers to proceed to Newton
County, Arkansas(a distance of about one hundred miles)for the purpose
of recruiting men for the First Regiment of Arkansas Infantry and to
bring out some soldiers who had been left in Newton County on a
previous expedition.

Private JAMES HARP of Company F, First Arkansas Infantry was one
of the men detailed to go with the scouting party. The country through
which they had to march was nearly all inhabited by the Rebel enemy.
As the country was full of supplies at that early date, CAPTAIN
VANDERPOOL was ordered to take a small supply of government rations
for his men.

On this scouting trip, on or about the 17th day of March 1863, while
they were halted on Mulberry Creek in Johnson County, Arkansas, HARP,
with permission, went into a house nearby and "called for some bread
and meat" and it was furnished him by the woman of the house and JAMES
HARP did eat the bread and meat and in a short time HARP commenced
growing ill and in 3 to 4 hours HARP was past marching even on
horseback and that a wagon was obtained and he was conveyed to the
place of camp that night.

A physician was called in and the physician
found, on examining HARP , that he was poisoned and stated "all the
doctors in the world could not save HARPS life".

HARP died the next day after eating the bread and meat furnished him
by the Rebel woman at Mulberry Creek in Johnson County,Arkansas. HARP
apparently died in Newton County.

His grave is located between Parthenon and Murray on property owned by
NORMAN BENSON. His stone is in the edge of the field near the river.
At the cattle guard there is an electrical pole on the knoll. The
stone is about 30 feet past this pole(per HADDOCKS revised Newton
County Cemetery Book).
J E HARP died "1 March 1863" per his Civil War Pension Record.Another
record shows he died 21 May 1863 and was born in Newton County,
Arkansas.

If he does not have a Military marker he is entitled to one. Does
anyone know if this grave has a military marker?

PHEBE MURPHY HARP filed for Widow's Civil War Pension Record on
1 June 1865, NO 101768 in Springfield (Green Co.)Missouri. She stated
that the only living child of her marriage to JAMES E HARP was SAMPSON
HARP , born on 19 October 1861. Her application was still being processed
in 1875. She was last paid $12.00 on the 4th of November 1904 due to
her
death, File WC 171-258. I have the complete Pension File
which is 17 pages long.

6 Dec 1999
PS
Since writing this article, the Harp family gathered in Newton County
in honor of their ancestor James Harp.Will write about this later
12Feb1998
Evelyn Flood
Rkinfolks@aol.com
Copyright(c)1998

NOTE:
Copying, posting, reprinting or any other use of these stories (other than for YOUR PERSONAL USE) without the express written consent of this author, is prohibited and a breech of copyright laws.
Not familiar with copyright laws? Click on the link below!!
SHED SOME LIGHT ON COPYRIGHT LAWS

E-mail me:
Rkinfolks@aol.com