I would like someone's help with resolving the parentage of two different David Harpers who lived in Pope County. The first David Harper was born in June 1855 and was married to Mary Slankard and had children Fredie and Elzo. He then married Sarah Trammel and had Roy, Eva, Sylvia and Finley. I think his parents were Matthew Harper and Rhoda Leach. The second David Harper was born Oct 1856 and was married to Cynthia Frizzell. They had children Lilly, Elbert, Chester, Horace, D. W. (David), Thomas E. and Charles G. I think this David's parents were James A. Harper and Lilly Ann Settles. I have seen some researchers have the parents for these two Davids reversed from what I stated above. They are both about the same age and I believe they were first cousins. Can someone enlighten me as to the correct parentage for each David Harper. Thanks in advance for any help.

I don't know if this is any help to you, but I needed some distractions from usual activities and did some look ups. You probably have most of this info already, but I found it interesting that the two David(s), before 1900, began changing their identity....one went to David *W*, and the other remained David. Please note the wider range between the birth dates, and where born, and parents born. Here is what I found, hope it is helpful in some way: (Search inquiry on 2- David Harper(s) 1855 & 1856, Pope Co, IL 10.26.05) 1860 Census: [Walnut Shade] HARPER - James 20, and Melia 20...new baby Janie, 1 mo. / *no David* .....[Zion Hill] HARPER - Ellis 47, and Margaret 43 / *no David* ....[Broad Oak] HARPER - Mathew 53 TN, and Rhoda 43 TN / *no David* Wm. R 17, John R 15, Martha J 13, Mathew G 11, Ellen L 8, Daniel W. 6, Rhoda C 3, Margaret McCorkle 20 - helper ....[Broad Oak] HARPER - James A. 35 IL and Anna 26 TN (Lilly?) *has DAVID*, age 4 IL and other children: Indian C 9, Ellis B 6, Martha A. 1, and William MAIDE 18 - farm hand --->>/ note on James A. - volunteer enlistment Aug 1864 at Glendale for service in --->>the Civil War (w/my grandfather Robert Maxwell, and 41 others). Glendale was --->>being founded in about 1860./ ....[Broad Oak] HARPER, Jessie 61 TN, and Elizabeth 56 NC with Wm., Nancy, John, Samuel, Lutha, Ariantha *no David* ~~~~ 1880 Census: [Eddyville] HARPER, David 31 IL - parents born f.SC, m.TN and Mary 21 - with 5 mos old child, Freddie [Alexander Prct.] - this David changes to David *W* HARPER, David 23 IL - parents born f.IL, m.TN and Sintha 17 IL and child Lily A., 8 mos old IL the above live next door to: HARPER, James 55 IL, parents born f.TN, m.TN and Lily A. 46 TN with James A. 19, John R 16, Lewis G 10, Dora E 7. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marriage Notes: (Pope Co, IL) Nov. 2, 1876 DAVID HARPER 22, marr Mary F. Slankard 18 --- Jan 24, 1886 David Harper witness to marr. of - John Holloway 53TN and Sarah A. McCorkle-Harper 48IL, at Glendale. --- Oct 24, 1886 David Harper 31 IL, marr Sarah Trammel 20 IL, at Oak Grove School House. --- June 26, 1879 David *W.* Harper witness to marr. of - George Frizell to Rachel Jackson --- Sept 15, 1887 David *W* Harper witness to marr. of - Franz Aly 57 Germany to Lilly A. Settles-Harper 53,IL, at Bride's residence. --- June 13, 1897 David *W* Harper witness (and parent) w/ Cynthia Harper, of dau - Lillie Ann Harper (she lists parents as David M. Harper and Sinthy Frezell) to Samuel G. Allard (parents listed William Allard and Clarky Jaenkins) - note made w/documents that "David W. and Cynthia Harper" are Lillie's parents. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by the 1900 Census, both David *W* and David are listed: David *W* Harper in *Alexander Prct.* w/ Cynthia M. (8 ch/7living) David W b. Oct 1856, age 43, marr 22 yrs. - both parents b. IL? and Cynthia M. b. Apr 1863 IL, both parents b. IL Harper family: Elbert M. 1882, Chester 1884, Horace E. 1886, David W. 1887, Thomas E. 1890, Charlie G. 1892...all born IL. --within two households away is Joseph 1848 and Sarah E. 1857 HARPER David Harper over in *Eddyville Prct.* w/Sarah (6 ch/5 living) David b. June *1865*, age 35+, marr. 14 yrs - both parents b. TN and Sarah, b. 1866 IL (both parents b. TN) Harper family: Elzo 1882, Roy 1887, ^Eva 1893, Silva 1894, Finley 1891 all children b. IL --within three households away is Thomas Tramel 32 and Anna 17. ....neither James nor Mathew appear in 1900. ^Eva Harper's marr to Andy Gable on Oct 9, 1909 w/Finley Harper (bro) as one of the witnesses. Eva age 18, Andy age 25....first marr. for both. Document signed by David Harper, father of Eva Harper gives his consent to the marriage with Andy Gable. Further says his daughter was born 04 Nov 1892 at Eddyville, Pope Co., IL.../s/ David Harper. --carol ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ idcheek@juno.com wrote: >I would like someone's help with resolving the parentage of two different David Harpers who lived in Pope County. > >The first David Harper was born in June 1855 and was married to Mary Slankard and had children Fredie and Elzo. He then married Sarah Trammel and had Roy, Eva, Sylvia and Finley. I think his parents were Matthew Harper and Rhoda Leach. > >The second David Harper was born Oct 1856 and was married to Cynthia Frizzell. They had children Lilly, Elbert, Chester, Horace, D. W. (David), Thomas E. and Charles G. I think this David's parents were James A. Harper and Lilly Ann Settles. > >I have seen some researchers have the parents for these two Davids reversed from what I stated above. They are both about the same age and I believe they were first cousins. Can someone enlighten me as to the correct parentage for each David Harper. Thanks in advance for any help. > > > > > -- -:¦:- *CAROL* -:¦:- blessed to be on the beautiful NW California-Pacific Coast

Here's my 2c worth....... I think you have it correctly...the younger of the two Davids belongs to James and Lily. In 1860, we find Matthew 53 and Rhoda Harper 43, with 6 year old David W. Also in 1860, we find James A. Harper 35, and Anna 26(probably Lilly Anna) with 4 year old David. In 1870, we find Matthew 63 and Rhoda 52 with 16 year old David. Also 1870, we find James Harper 45 and Lylla A. 36 with 14 year old David. In 1880, Pope County, Alexander Precinct, David age 23 and Sintha 17 and 8 mos old Lily are living next door to James and Lily Harper. This would seem to indicate that they are his parents. 1880, David age 25, and Mary age 21 with 5 mos old Freddie are living in Eddyville, Pope County. No other Harpers are in the immediate vicinity. 1880, It appears that Matthew and Rhoda have passed away, at least they are not found in the state of Illinois. Margaret Reynolds Oliver (also connected to Murphy & Harper) ----- Original Message ----- From: <idcheek@juno.com> To: <ILPOPE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 4:15 PM Subject: [ILPOPE-L] Two David Harper Families >I would like someone's help with resolving the parentage of two different >David Harpers who lived in Pope County. > > The first David Harper was born in June 1855 and was married to Mary > Slankard and had children Fredie and Elzo. He then married Sarah Trammel > and had Roy, Eva, Sylvia and Finley. I think his parents were Matthew > Harper and Rhoda Leach. > > The second David Harper was born Oct 1856 and was married to Cynthia > Frizzell. They had children Lilly, Elbert, Chester, Horace, D. W. > (David), Thomas E. and Charles G. I think this David's parents were James > A. Harper and Lilly Ann Settles. > > I have seen some researchers have the parents for these two Davids > reversed from what I stated above. They are both about the same age and I > believe they were first cousins. Can someone enlighten me as to the > correct parentage for each David Harper. Thanks in advance for any help. > >