KAY LASH COLLECTON, CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, ANGOLA, INDIANA. CHESTER STOCKER HARPER, 31 May 1853 - 22 Sep 1913 CHESTER STOCKER HARPER was born May 31, 1853, and died Sept. 22, 1913, aged 60 years, 3 months and 22 days. Mr. Harper was the only son of Samuel and Hannah Stocker Harper, and was born in the little house in Orland, Steuben county, Indiana, known as the Fuller house, only a few doors east of the family home where he died on Monday. He was married to Emma Hart Taylor, Oct. 19, 1872, at Orland, and to this couple were born two children, Lucy R. and Samuel A. The daughter is the surviving widow of Hugh Wilkinson recently deceased, and Samuel A. is an attorney residing in Chicago, Illinois. Most of Mr. Harper's quiet, uneventful life was spent in Steuben county, chiefly on the farm near Orland, exept for the few years the family lived in Waterloo, Indiana. At the age of 22 he was baptized by the Rev. C. H. Blanchard, a relative of the family and one of the pioneer preachers of the country. He remained a devoted christian until his death. Gifted with a voice of rare quality and charm, he gave of it freely and unselfishly whenever called upon, and for years was a recognized leader in choir and Sabbath school work. No personal sacrifice seemed too great for him to make for his church or his friends, when his services were needed. His spiritual life was a beautiful growth to which his years of service contributed. "He fought a good fight-he kept the faith"-yea his faith increased with the years and his last years of suffering only served to reveal the rugged strength and beauty of his christian character. He loved good literature and was a constant reader of good books, the Bible being his favorite and chief comfort of his declining years. His personal life was as sweet and wholesome as a babe's, unmarred by the slightest suggestion of intemperance of any kind. A quiet well poised, self- command was one of the conspicuous traits of his character. His family life was beautiful, unselfish devotion, and the most uniform kindness to his family seemed but a natural part of his serene nature. He loved all men and was beloved of all. He had no enemies; he spoke no ill word of any man, and would listen to none. While he may not have reached the heights of greatness according to the world's standards, he was great in his goodness, which is the only true greatness. Funeral services were held at the late home in Orland on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1913, conducted by Rev. Gray, assisted by Rev. Humfreys, of Angola. Interment in Orland cemetery. ADDITONAL IANFORMATION: Chester Stocker Harper, 31 May 1853 - 22 Sep 1913, on 19 Oct 1872, married Emma T. (Taylor) Harper, 1854 - 1943. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Orland, Steuben County, Indiana. Chester was the son of Samuel "Prof" Harper, born 15 May 1824 in Near Londonderry, Northern Ireland; died 07 Jul 1898; and Hannah Brown (Stocker) Harper, born 16 Aug 1834 in Vermont and died 21 Jul 1911 in Greenfield Township, LaGrange County, Indiana. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Under his listing in the "Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree Seibel Lewis, Vol. 1, page 840, "Deacon Samuel Harper graduated from the University of Michigan in 1850 and came to Orland, Ind., and became the first professor in the Northeastern Indiana Baptist Institute." "History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885," page 455, "The Northeastern Indiana Literary Institute which name was given to the Orland Academy when it was first established, began it's career in 1850. It was first started under the more direct auspices of the Baptist Church of Orland, and the association with which that church was connected. Emma T. (Taylor) Harper was the daughter of Alonzo F. Taylor, 01 Mar 1818 - 15 Oct 1871, and Sally Marie (Ellis) Taylor, 05 Jan 1820 - 25 Apr 1914. Her burial place is unknown. Alonzo is buried at Memorial Grove Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana. CHILDREN OF THE MARRIAGE OF CHESTER AND EMMA: Lucy R. (Harper) Wilkinson Porter, born about 1874 in Greenfield Township, LaGrange County, Indiana, married 1st, James Hugh Wilkinson, 13 Jul 1875 - 21 Jun 1912. He was the son of Dr. Jerry J. Wilkinson and his 2nd wife, Alma (Caldwell) Wilkinson. Lucy's 2nd husband was a Mr. Porter, no other information in the cemetery book. James is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Lucy and James' parents are buried in unmarked graves at Greenlawn Cemetery. Samuel A. Harper, born about 1876 in Greenfield Township, LaGrange County, Indiana. SIBLINGS OF CHESTER STOCKER HARPER: Addie B. (Harper) Taylor, 07 Jan 1860 - 30 May 1885, married James P. Taylor, 12 Sep 1847 - 08 Aug 1904. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Mary B. "Matie" (Harper) Perfect, 15 May 1864 - 28 May 1950, married James A. Perfect, 16 Sep 1861 - 02 Oct 1901. They are buried at Circle Hill Cemetry, Angola, Steuben County, Indiana. SOURCES: "Bickford's Branch County, Michigan, and associated families research. Entries: 23466, Contact: Mary and David Bickford, Home Page: Bickford's of Branch Co., Michigan, e-mail: 806maryb@awesomenet.net: Chester L. Harper, ID: I11012 Emma T. Taylor, ID: I11013 Samuel `Prof' Harper, ID: I10739 Hannah Brown Stocker, ID: I11011 Addie B. Harper, ID: I11017 James P. Taylor, ID: I11018 Mary B. `Matie' Harper, ID: I11020 James A. Perfect, ID: I12766 "Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree Seibel Lewis, Vol. 1, page 850; Vol. 2, pages 1433, 1798, 1799, 1801, 1953. "History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885," page 455, Northeastern Indiana Literary Institute, or Orland Academy. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 19 Aug 1914, "Old Settlers" death list, Sarah M. Ellis, mother of Emma Taylor Harper. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 20 Jul 1898, p.4, c.5, obituary of Samuel Harper. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 09 Oct 1901, p.1, c.6, obituary of James A. Perfect. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 17 Aug 1904, p.8, c.2, obituary of James P. Taylor. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 24 Aug 1911, "Old Settlers" death list, Hannah Stocker Harper. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 19 Aug 1914, "Old Settlers" death list, Chester S. Harper. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, 11 Aug 1898, "Old Settlers" death list, Professor Samuel Harper. Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net