Isaac Harpster
Isaac Harpster, retired business man and farmer. Few persons in Holmes County have had so varied an experience in life as Mr. Harpster. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1819, a son of Jacob and Charity (Hartsock) Harpster, natives of Centre County, Penn. About 1810 Jacob Harpster moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and settled on a quarter-section of land in the northern part of Wayne Township, which he had previously entered, and which was at that time covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in time had his land cleared and another quarter-section added to his possessions. He was a man of broad views, upright and honorable, and was one of the influential men of his day. His family consisted of ten children--six sons and four daughters--who all lived to maturity. His wife died when the children were young, and the home was comparatively broken up. Mr. Harpster was married again, and one child by this union, Isaac Harpster, the seventh in order of birth, was but thirteen years old when his mother died. He was apprenticed to a cabinet maker, William Spear, of Wooster, Ohio, and served seven and one-half years. During his apprenticeship he became acquainted with Mary Ann Farra (or Farrah as now spelled), niece of Mrs. Spear, who was boarding there and working at the millinery trade. They were married soon after he completed his trade, January 9, 1840. Mary Ann Farrah was the eldest of seven children of William and Julia (Wells) Farrah, and was born in York County, Penn., December 10, 1821. Her parents moved to Millbrook, Wayne Co., Ohio, when she was quite small, and Mr. Farrah died soon after, leaving Mrs. Farrah with seven children (the eldest being but fourteen years old), in very moderate circumstances. Mary Ann being the eldest, had to help maintain the family.
In March, 1840, Mr. Harpster moved to Millersburgh, and worked at his trade, Mrs. Harpster going into the millinery business. But he was of a roving, restless disposition, and would not apply himself long to one thing. He soon, with another man, commenced the manufacture of a number of clock cases, and took them to New Orleans, expecting to bring back southern products for the home market, but the enterprise proved an entire failure, and he came back several months after with nothing. Mrs. Harpster superintended his cabinet making business, carried on her millinery establishment, and looked after her family of two small children during his absence.
In 1846 Mr. Harpster enlisted in the Mexican War, leaving his cabinet business in charge of his brother, who died soon after, Mrs. Harpster being again left, with three children and the two businesses as before to conduct, which she did very successfully. Mr. Harpster entered the Mexican War as orderly sergeant, but his and another company being thrown together, he was reduced to the rank of private. For gallantry, however, displayed at the battle of Chapultepec he was reported as one worthy of promotion and was soon made second lieutenant. Shortly after his return from the Mexican War he met with a great loss, having his shop and cabinet business destroyed by fire, leaving him nothing but his household goods. He then left home and walked to Whitley County, Ind., where his brother lived and took up ninety-three acres of Government land with his land-warrant from the Mexican War; he then returned, but does not think he walked all the way back. He sold his land and soon thereafter bought a saw-mill, which was destroyed by fire. In 1850 he was elected treasurer of Holmes County, which office he filled for two terms, or till 1854. He made his first purchase of real estate in 1847 of a lot in Millersburgh, and owned several small tracts of land; has also built several houses and workshops up to this date. In 1854 he bought his present homestead of 169 acres, moving onto the same in 1855; and having learned from his wife's practical teachings perseverance, frugality and economy, they here expected to bring up their children to be honest men and women, which was Mrs. Harpster's great aim in life, and that she might live to see them so. Mr. Harpster's quiet life on the farm was interrupted in 1862, in which year he enlisted and raised Company G, One Hundred and Second Ohio Infantry, of which he was commissioned captain, but on account of the return of the Mexican diarrhea (his life being despaired of) he was compelled to resign after nine months' service. Mrs. Harpster's business tact was again shown in the good management of the farm during his absence. In 1866 Mr. Harpster again engaged in the manufacture and sale of furniture in Millersburgh in partnership with Mr. J. Hull, which partnership still exists in the real estate line, both having retired from actual business. In 1871 Mr. Hull and Mr. Harpster entered into partnership with Mr. Rudy and Mr. Walkup in the hardware business. Mr. Harpster never moved to town again, but walked from his farm to his business, night and morning.
Mrs. Harpster all these years, with the assistance of her children and hired help, and her husband's directions night and morning, controlled the farm, which now contains about 300 acres. In 1875 Mr. Harpster finally retired from actual business, and returned to his farm. It having always been his wife's wish that she might have something of her own to leave to her children, he bought some property in Missouri and eighty-five acres of land adjoining his farm for her. Capt. Harpster has worked his way from the foot of the ladder until he now has 520 acres of land in Holmes County and considerable property in Millersburgh, and is regarded as one of the leading men of the county; but the one that helped him through these long years of trial and misfortune, and encouraged him to try again when he would have given up in sad despair--his wife--has not been spared to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Mrs. Harpster died after a short illness July 18, 1882, leaving her husband and seven living children (two having died previous to her demise) to mourn her loss, viz: Julia A., Sarah E., Matilda V., Elma C., James H., William S. and Clemont I. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life. In politics Mr. Harpster has always been a Democrat.
Submitted by Jeanne Yoakam