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Herbert G. A. Harper
Born December 30, 1873


On the roster of county officials appears the name of Herbert G. A. Harper, who is now acceptably filling the position of county clerk and his record is in harmony with all that makes for good citizenship and for loyalty and progressiveness in public affairs. His life record began in Buckhannon, Upshur county, West Virginia, on the 30th of December, 1873, his parents being the Rev. Enoch and Jane (Heckert) Harper, who were also natives of West Virginia. In the year 1886 they removed to Colorado where they remained for about four years and in 1890 came to Iowa, settling in Olin, where they resided until 1897. Subsequently they were located in different parts of the state and are now living at Julian, Nebraska. Rev. Harper has recently completed his forty-sixth successive year in the ministry and for the past three years has been presiding elder of the North Nebraska conference of the United Brethren church. His influence in behalf of moral progress has been of no restricted order and his labors have not been denied the full harvest nor the aftermath. The family numbered but two children, the elder being William O., who married Myrtle Legler, the adopted daughter of J. J. Legler, of Muscatine, Iowa, and they now reside at Aurora, Nebraska.
At seventeen years of age Herbert G. A. Harper assumed the responsibilities of life. He had attended the public schools and also enjoyed the benefits of a course of study in the West Virginia Academy at Buckhannon during the year of 1885-86. The family then removed to Colorado, after which he attended the public schools there for two winters. The summer months were devoted to farm work in Colorado for about four years. In the meantime, however, he had continued his education by entering the Western College at Toledo, Ohio, in 1889 and was graduated from the commercial department of this school in June, 1891. After his education was completed he secured employment in the general store of Lamb Brothers at Olin, remaining in their employ from 1891 until 1897. In the latter year he went to Chicago and secured employment in the wholesale produce commission house of Gregson, Easterly & Company. He remained with that firm until October, 1903, when be came to Jones county and has since made his home in Anamosa.
Here he was appointed a guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary and in May, 1905, was made turnkey of the institution, which position he held until the 13th of September, of that year. On that date he received appointment to the position of deputy clerk of the district court of Jones county and in November, 1908, was elected clerk of the court, which position he is now filling. In all places of public trust his record has been characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and by unswerving allegiance to all that which is best in public service. His political support is given to the republican party for he has firm belief in the efficiency and value of its principles as factors in good government.
On the 9th of February, 1897, at Olin, Iowa, Mr. Harper was united in marriage to Miss Ada Belle Easterly, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Jane (McConkie) Easterly, who were natives of Ohio and came to Iowa at an early date, settling in Jones county near the town of Olin. The father died in 1907 at the age of eighty-five years, while the mother still resides at Olin. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have but one child, Eugene Austin, who was born April 9, 1800, in Chicago, Illinois. In his fraternal relations Mr. Harper is a Mason, belonging to Anamosa Lodge, No. 46, A.F.&A.M., and De Molay Consistory, No. 1, of Clinton, Iowa. He joined the lodge in 1907 and in 1908 was appointed senior deacon and in 1909 was elected senior warden. He is also connected with the Mystic Workers, his membership being in Anamosa Lodge, No. 171. He and his family attend the Congregational church and he is now serving as director of the choir. His salient qualities are those of honorable manhood and progressive citizenship, and he is held in high regard wherever he is known and most of all where he is best known.

Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 83.

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