The Deweeses and Harpers intermarried for at least two generations, starting in about 1827.
Here is the information I have gathered about the Harpers.
From GenForum:
Generation 1
Thomas Harper, Sr. - b. ~ 1731, Pennsylvania (Rev. War vet)
married Mary Stenson b. ~ 1730, probably Pennsylvania
Generation 2
John Harper, b. Feb 1756, Berks Co., PA - d. 14 Sept 1834 in Quality Valley, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky (Rev. War vet)
married Barbara Strubel b. 17 March 1756 in Penn - d. ?
Generation 3
3a. David b. abt 1779 in Berks Co., Penn. - d. 1850 in Butler Co., Kentucky
He was called Doss
married Lydia M. ENGLER abt 1801 in North Carolina
Adeline Harper Cem - Butler Co, Ky - Lydia M 1 Feb 1781 11 May 1863
4a. John K.
Warrick Co, Ind - John King Harper - Sally Lawrence - 13 Apr 1826
4b. Squire
Butler Co -9 Nov 1834 - Squire Harper - Eliza Jenkins
4c. Lott
Butler Co - 24 Apr 1823 - Lott Harper - Polly Elam widow of John Elm,
consent of groom's parent proved by John Hunt
4e. Mary (Nancy?) married Hunt
Butler Co - 19 June 1834 - Jo Hunt - Nancy Harper - consent p. Squire Harper
4f. Mary married Deweese
Logan Co John Deweese Jr - Mary Polly Harper - 22 Jan 1827
4g. Sarah married Hunt
Butler Co - 3 Feb 1827 - Joseph Talbert - Sally Harper - consent proved Lot Harper
3b. Lot b. 23 Nov. 1781 in Berks Co., Penn. - d. 13, Oct. 1866 in Fairview, Buncombe Co. N.C.
married (1)Mariam Whitaker abt 1804 in Buncombe Co., North Carolina
(2)Susannah Whitaker abt 1824.
3c. Mary b. 1788 in Berks Co., Penn.
married Samuel WISEMAN in 1812
3d. Lucy b. 01 Jan 1791 in Penn., North Carolina or Kentucky.- d. 08 Apr. 1867
Quality Valley, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky
married Elijah HUNT 1816 in Laurel Bluff, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky
3e. Margaret b. abt 1791 in Jersey Settlement, Rowan Co., North Carolina
3f. Thomas b. abt 1793 in Jersey Settlement Rowan Co., North Carolina
3g. John b. 1795 in Jersey Settlement, Rowan Co., North Carolina - d. 1825
married Charity Lynn 13, Feb. 1815 in Muhlenberg Co., North Carolina
3h. Jeanette b. 1797 in Jersey Settlement, Rowan Co., North Carolina - d. 12 May 1885
in Penrod, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky
married George PENROD 18 July 1816 in Penrod, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky
I got the name John Doss for John b. 1795 (m Charity Lynn) from a pamphlet in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library. The pamphlet was called Graveyards in Carlisle and Hickman counties, Kentucky by Dick Barclay. I thought the name was actually on a tombstone, but when I went back to check on it, I found that there was some research added, and the name was a product of that research. The people got their information from: Kentucky Genealogy and Biography Volume VI, Sketches from Ballard, Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, McCracken, and Marshall Counties. (reprinted from Kentucky: a history of the state), by Battle, Perrin and Kniffen. The reprint was by McDowell Publications. Other sources used were Vital Statistics : never before published records of far western Kentucky, by M. Juliette Magee, and Ballard Brave Boys by the same author. I looked them both up - Ballard Brave Boys was about men who served in the Confederate army - I didn't have time to copy that. Notes from Vital Statistics are below.
These were the people listed by Barclay as being in Harper Graveyard - and even after I went back, I forgot to copy down the exact address of the cemetery
(sorry!) - the added research is the indented stuff.
Uriah Harper 16 May 1823 - 26 Feb 1894
s/o John Doss & Charity Lynn
f/o Henry, Leander who m. Mollie Donaldson settled in Doniphan, MO and was judge there,
Thomas A, Uriah jr, David, Sallie E Deweese, Milla Ann Shroads
David W. Harper 21 Dec 1857 - 8 Sep 1926
s/o Uriah & Melinda Deweese Harper
Nannie J Harper (Hopkins) 24 Oct 1859 - 26 Feb 1942
w/o David W
Floyd E. Harper (son) 18 Aug 1890 - 1 Dec 1910
Henry L Deweese 17 June 1870 - 21 Dec 1910
Adams, Sallie E. Deweese 14 Nov 1869 - 25 Nov 1944
2nd husband was Irvin Adams, s/o JM, b. TN 2 Nov 1869
d/o Uriah & Melinda Deweese Harper
Josie Farmer 24 Jul 1888 - 21 Sep 1931
Mida Ann Shroads 26 May 1863 - 21 Nov 1938
w/o Robert Shroads (bur. Blandville)
d/o Uriah & Melinda
Maude L. Shrodes 10 Feb 1879 - 20 Sep 1930
Luella Shroads 1880 - 16 Jul 1931
Melinda Deweese Harper 73 years - 22 Jan 1901
w/o Uriah Harper
d/o John jr and Mary Polly Harper Deweese
There were also some Munsells (Alvin, Cora, Sam, Hazel) and Holders (Lawson H, Sarah, Nancy Lurenia, Oscar E.)
Ok. My Deweeses started in New Amsterdam, moved up to the Philadelphia area, then my guys went first to Botetourt Co, Virginia, then Burke Co, NC - their part of which became Buncombe Co, NC, then Logan Co, Ky - their part of which became Butler Co, Ky, then Hickman Co, Ky - their part of which became Ballard Co, Ky. They went to Union/Johnson Co, Illinois for a while but came back to Ballard, then my ggggrandfather ended up in Warrick Co, Indiana.
The Deweeses started marrying with the Harpers in Logan Co, Ky. The first was John Deweese Jr, who married Mary Polly Harper 22 Jan 1827 in Logan Co.
(Source: Logan County, Kentucky, marriages, 1790-1865. Russellville, Ky. : Logan County Genealogical Society, c1981.)
John Deweese was born in Logan Co in 1805 and died 13 Sept 1850 in Ballard Co. (If you are interested in his parents, grandparents etc., I can supply them -
source Jack Vaughan - official Deweese family genealogist.)
I believe Mary Polly was the Mary Deweese mentioned in David Harper's will. According to the 1850 Ballard Co census, she was born about 1809.
John and Mary Polly had the following children (source - 1850 Ballard Co, Ky census):
James b.~1829
Elbert b. ~ 1834
Helana b. ~ 1836
Allan b. ~1838
Lottie b. ~1841
Elizabeth b. ~1843
John b. ~1846
William b. ~1849
also, based on the cemetery records, Melinda b. ~ 1828 - she married her cousin Uriah Harper (son of John Doss) and one of their daughters (Sallie E.) married a
so-far-unidentified Deweese - probably the Henry L. Deweese buried in the Harper Graveyard.
Mary Deweese, a widow, is on the 1860 Ballard Co census as well, with the 5 youngest children still living with her. James and Elbert are also still in Ballard Co.
John Deweese's brother Morgan (b. ~1816 Butler Co, Ky) married Elisa G. (or B.) Harper 13 Dec 1840 (or 2 Dec 1840) (Source: Hickman County Kentucky
county clerk's records, marriage bonds, 1822-1846. Paducah, Ky. : Lucile (Hicks) Kirksey : Ruth Hope Lessley, c1993.) He died about 1858. He is on the 1850 Ballard Co census, and she, I think, is on the 1860 Ballard (transcriptions available). I don't know
her connection to other Harpers.
Finally (for this generation) John Deweese's sister Sallie (b. ~1824 Butler Co, Ky) married William Harper 18 July 1838 in Hickman County - same source as
above. John Deweese was one of the consenters to the marriage, as was John D. Harper. Because of that, and because of the names of some of their children, I
suspect he was a son of John & Charity Lynn Harper.
Their children (source: 1850 Ballard Co census) were:
John b ~1841
Jackson b ~1843
Charity b ~1845
Malinda b ~1848
Uriah b. ~1849
Here are all the Harpers I found in the 1850 Ballard Co, Ky census (a transcription is available online, thanks to Bob Kipke)
182-182 N. C. Carey 69 M Farmer Del 1781
S. 42 F Ky 1808
W. W. M. B. 12 M Ky 1838
N. P. L. B. 10 F Ky 1840
B. Q. J. V. 9 M Ky 1841
E. A. T. M. 7 F Ky 1843
C. P. J. C. W. W. 5 M Ky 1845
S. J. C. C. 2 F Ky 1848
N. Harper 77 F Penn 1773
262-263 R. Harper 35 M Farmer Sc 1815
A. 25 F Ky 1825
E. 7 F Ky 1843
M. 5 F Ky 1845
J. 4 M Ky 1846
B. 2 M Ky 1848
W. 25 M Farmer Sc 1825
294-294 B. Harper 36 M Farmer Sc 1814
N. 22 F Ia 1828
E. 10 F Ky 1840
J. 5 M Ky 1845
332-332 Mary Deweese 41 F Ky 1809
James 21 M Farmer Ky 1829
Elbert 16 M Farmer Ky 1834
Helana 14 F Ky 1836
Allan 12 M Ky 1838
Lottie 9 F Ky 1841
Elizabeth 7 F Ky 1843
John 4 M Ky 1846
William 1 M Ky 1849
I think this is Mary Harper Deweese, widow of John Deweese, daughter of David Harper
In 1860 Ballard 79-79 Deweese, James 29 farmer Ky/ martha 25/ Teletha A 5/ Bernetta 2 all Ky
88-88 Deweese, Mary 60 widow, NC
Allen 20/ Lidda 17/ Elizabeth 15/ John H 13/ William G 11 - all Ky
333-333 W. Harper 29 M ukn 1821
Sarah 26 F ukn 1824
John 9 M Ky 1841
Jackson 7 M Ky 1843
Charity 5 F Ky 1845
Malinda 2 F Ky 1848
Uriah 1 M Ky 1849
I think this is William Harper, who married Sally Deweese - and I suspect he is a son of John Doss & Charity Lynn because of the names of the children
337-337 Morgan Deweese 34 M Farmer Ky 1816
Elisa 30 F Ky 1820
Minerva 9 F Ky 1841
Sarilda 7 F Ky 1843
1860? 84-84 Deweese, Elizabeth 40/ Calvin 9/ Henry B 3 - all Ky
Deweese Graveyard #2 - McGee Springs Road
Calvin 21 Oct 1850 - 15 Jan 1922
s/o Morgan and Elizabeth Harper
Henry Burnett 17 Feb 1858 - 24 Feb 1904
b/o Calvin (therefore s/o Morgan?)
I think this is Morgan Deweese, son of John and Elizabeth Sams Deweese, who married Elisa Harper
338-338 Uriah Harper 25 M Farmer Ky 1825
Malinda 22 F Ky 1828
Harper Graveyard
Uriah Harper 16 May 1823 - 26 Feb 1894
s/o John Doss & Charity Lynn
f/o Henry, Leander, Thomas A, Uriah jr, David, Sallie E Deweese, Milla Ann Shroads
m. Melinda Deweese
David W. Harper 21 Dec 1857 - 8 Sep 1926
s/o Uriah & Melinda
Melinda Deweese Harper 73 years - 22 Jan 1901
w/o Uriah Harper
d/o John jr and Mary Polly Harper Deweese
520-520 John Harper 52 F Farmer Nc 1798
Charity 52 F Nc 1798
Mahala 17 F Ky 1833
In the 1860 Ballard Co census, I don't have all the Harpers, because at the time I looked at it, I didn't know about the connection. I only have the Deweese widows (info included above).
Other Harper information from Butler Co, Ky
Butler County, Kentucky marriages, 1810-1865 / Hopkins County Genealogical Society. Madisonville, Ky. : The Society, 1974.
24 Apr 1823 - Lott Harper - Polly Elam widow of John Elm,
consent of groom's parent proved by John Hunt
3 Feb 1827 - Joseph Talbert - Sally Harper - consent proved Lot Harper
19 June 1834 - Jo Hunt - Nancy Harper - consent p. Squire Harper
9 Nov 1834 - Squire Harper - Eliza Jenkins
many later Harper marriages - a lot to Arundells
Butler County cemeteries (not sure which book/pamphlet it was - sorry)
District 5 - name of cemetery - Adeline Harper - on Ervin Reeves farm on Old Rochester Russellville Road, off Hwy 106 about 2 miles from Mt. Olivet Church
Harper, Flora E 11 Feb 1901 1 Mar 1920
Elmire 28 Sep 1867 (age 87 years)
Lydia M 1 Feb 1781 11 May 1863
John K 25 Aug 1843 20 Nov 1860
Jim no marker - husband of Elmire
Also Lydia Mae Corley, Richard & Burin Rives, Russell Carroll, Amonoa Flemming
District 5 - Concord Cemetery - Quality Kentucky
Harper, R. W. (doctor) 16 June 1847 - 15 Dec 1927
Paula C. 4 Feb 1859 - 8 Sep 1881
(many other non-Harpers in-between)
Nancy A. 4 April 1851 - 3 Oct 1837
Other Harper information from Hickman Co, Ky
Hickman County Kentucky county clerk's records, marriage bonds, 1822-1846. Paducah, Ky. : Lucile (Hicks) Kirksey : Ruth Hope Lessley, c1993.
Harper Sally - William Carey 26 May 1837
Thomas - Lucy Ann Miller 13 Nov 1836
Alvah Nichol - Mary Ann Hannon - 13 Nov 1836 - Thomas Harper consenter
William Moore - Mary Ann Mobley - 25 Aug 1835 - William Harper consenter
Deweese, Morgan - EB Harper 2 Dec 1840
Sally - William Harper 18 July 1838 John consenter also John D Harper, John P. Broach
Simmons, Don. Hickman County, Ky. tax lists 1825-26-27-28-29. Melber, Ky. : Simmons Historical Publications, 1988. Hist Society Library Pamphlet
Harper James - 1828 - 1001 (white males over 16, black (males?) over 16, total blacks, horses+mares)
Barclay, Dick. Graveyards in Carlisle and Hickman counties, Kentucky.
Harper Graveyard already copied above
Sloan Graveyard
Harper Herman (1880-1930)
HD (1929-30)
Frances (1905-1949)
Deweese Graveyard #1 - ~2mi SW of Cunningham
Deweese, David E s/o Elbert & Martha Stout 4 May 1861 - 21 Oct 1925
John Elbert s/o ditto 1858 - 13 June 1918
Henry Ernest s/o Dave 22 Nov 1889 - 13 June 1918
Silas E 22 June 1921
Elbert (Eb) b 1834 d. 25 Sep 1880
husband of Martha G Stout and Millie A Pruitt
brother to Bill Garrett Deweese
grandfather of Othel White
Deweese Graveyard #2 - McGee Springs Road
Deweese, Calvin 21 Oct 1850 - 15 Jan 1922
s/o Morgan and Elizabeth Harper
James T (Thomas) 12 Mar 1887 . . .
Henry Burnett 17 Feb 1858 - 24 Feb 1904
b/o Calvin (therefor s/o Morgan?)
f/o Evin, Tommy Bernice, Dedee, Vester
Mary Alice 8 Nov 1867 - 25 Oct 1926
d/o Eb & Martha Stout
Hickman Co census 1840 -
1840 Kentucky Hickman 315/6 - William Harper 112011 // 21001
Thomas Harper 1101001 10101
1840 Kentucky Hickman 343/4 WS Harper 221101 // 0020001
JB (?) Harper 0101001 - 11100001
1840 Kentucky Hickman 350 Benjamin Harper 00001 // 10001
Other Harper information from Ballard Co, Ky
Smith, Barbara Ramsey. Ballard County, Ky. births & deaths, 1852-1910. (Melber, KY : Simmons Historical Publications, 1998.)
Deweese births
1858 Feb 18 - H.B. Deweese (male) - father M. Deweese - mother E. Harper
Harper births
1852 Mar 20 - male - Silas Underwood - Sally Harper
1853 Feb 20 - male - S. Underwood - Sally Harper
1858 Feb - female - S. Underwood - Harper
1859 May 28 - T H Harper (male) - B C Harper - Narcis Burrow
1850 no name no sex given - owner B C Harper - no mother's name given - father b. TN - Black
1878 May 5 - Eddie Chapman (female) - G G Chapman - Rhoda Harper - f b Tn, m b Ill
Harper deaths
date of death not known - R A Thomas - white - 23 male, s/o B C Harper
1858 July 5 - A Harper - white - 3 d. - fever - s/o R E Harper
1878 Dec 6 - -----Lynn - white 50 female housekeeper, pneumonia/meningitis - d/o Harper
Horr, Edward W. Vital Statistics : never before published records of far western Kentucky (by M. Juliette Magee - originally compiled by EW Horr) (Wickliffe, Ky: Riverfolk Pub. Co, 1977)
Harper, Andy d 24 Dec 1892 Paducah
Bill d 10 Oct 1881
David W s/o Uriah b 21 Dec 1857 d 8 Sep 1926 a 58y 8m 17d
near Cunningham Ky
Wife b 24 Oct 1859
Elizabeth Watson w/o John D d/o Jim C b Ballard Feb 1859
Freeman d 12 May 1884
Henry s/o Uriah b 1861 d Texas Marcy 1923 a 62y
Jack d 9 Apr 1889
Jim b 15 Mar 1842 - old saloon man here in 70s
J Will Mrs d 22 Dec 1900
John s/o Uriah b 7 Sep 1854 Ballard
John D (deaf) b 7 July 1854
Leander s/o Uriah b 12 Feb 1867 Ballard - d 12 Dec 1883
judge Doniphan Co, Mo - wife Molly Donaldson - to MO 1880
Thomas A s/o Uriah b 12 Feb 1867 d 30 Oct 1923 a 56y 9m
Uriah b 16 Mar 1824 d 26 Feb 1894 a 70y wife Melinda Dewees d 2 Jan 1901 a 73y
Uriah jr b 3 Feb 1849 d 23 July 1904 a 65
wife of Uriah jr d 1 Oct 1897
WB - Bill - Aug 1844 horse trader d 24 Dec 1894
William d 6 Jan 1880
W Monroe - huckster Carlisle d Aug 1925
Warrick County, Indiana
There were also Harpers in Warrick County, Indiana. My ggggrandfather didn't get there until the 1860 census, John K. Harper was there much earlier:
John King Harper married Sally Lawrence 13 Apr 1826 in Warrick Co, Ind
1830 Warrick Co - Harper John K - 11001 // 21001
1840 Warrick - Harper, John King - 201001 // 012001
1850 Warrick Co, Indiana - Hart Township - 604
Harper, John K 57 m farmer NC
Sarah 48 f NC
William D 22 m IN
Lydia 19 / Randolph 13 / Lott N. 11 / Sarah 9 / Mary 7 / Edwin 5 - all b. Indiana
Warrick Co Marriages
Nancy Jane Harper m. Cornelius Christmas 3 June 1847 -
but in the 1850 census, the only Cornelius Christmas (age 21) is with his parents - and there is another
marriage for him to Lorinda D. E. Wilcox on 5 Dec 1850.
Mary Ann Harper (17) married James K Baker (22) - 8 Dec 1839 - but I think that is a typo for 1859 because the book it's in has all 1850s besides this one - so I suspect this is John K's daughter.
Also Lydia Harper m Albert Wyett - 3 Sep 1852
And that's it, finally. I hope you can make some use of it.
Back to Deweese Home Page
Back to Home
contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
page last updated 1 September 2004