Sterling C. Harper was born in Williamson County in 1846. He also had an uncle, Sterling T. Harper that was born in Williamson County in 1809. I am assuming that the Sterling in the Housden murder case was Sterling C. Harper (Assumptions may be fatal in this business, but, this is the most direct connection and probably the right age group.). Sterling C. Harper had a younger brother, Felix A. or G. Harper, born in 1847 in Williamson County. Felix married Margaret P. Maxwell in December of 1867. (The connection in this case would be brother-in-law). Stirling's family lived in Williamson County along Murfreesburo Pike . Sterling joined the Union Army in September of 1864 when he was 17 but claimed that he was 18. Sterling was what was know as a substitute, taking the place of Hamilton B McClintock. Sterling joined the 12th Cavalry, Tennessee Volunteers. Sterling deserted from the Cavalry in December and was listed as deserted on the muster rolls in January of 1865. Luck for Sterling's decendents, the Civil War ended in April of 1865 and Sterling was not captured until August of 1865 at his home 4 1/2 miles down Murfreesburo Pike. Deserters were usually hanged. He was inprisoned, eventually ordered to return to duty, and eventually mustered-out in October 1865. Sterling had to pay for a horse and other Army equipment that he took when he deserted. I suspect that Sterling could not read or write because he signed his enlistment contract with an X. I believe that his parents were also probably illiterate because of a letter on file at the National Archives that was written for Sterling's mother Rebecca (Burge was her maiden name) asking that he be released and allowed to return home. Sterling married Parmelia Ann (maiden name as yet unknown) and had 6 children, Joseph in 1876, Blanche in 1978, Felix Jordan in 1879, Lillie in 1880, Sadie in 1887 and Oda in 1889. Sterling was born to Asa Harper (Jr) and Rebecca Burge and had 5 brothers and sisters: Ira in 1839, Susan in 1843, Harriet in 1844, Felix in 1847, and William in 1858. Sterling's father's father was Asa Harper (Sr). He was born sometime around 1780 in Virginia and moved to Tennessee sometime before 1809 when his first son was born in Tennessee. His wife was either Fannie, Harnie, or ?. They had 5 children: Sterling T. (Sterling C's uncle), two females born between 1810 and 1820, James in 1818 and Asa (Jr) in 1822. Asa senior and his wife lived a very long time. They appear in the 1860 census as 80 and 75 respectively. An article appearing in the Nashville Union and American, 21 Novembr 1874 speaks of "Asa Harper of Williamson County, was 100 years old on March 6 (maybe a little premature?) and in good health." I have been trying to get a copy of this article, but, as of yet I have been unsuccessful. Well, that is the Sterling story and family background. I would be most interested in hearing from anyone that can add to the family tree or the Sterling story. Denise Leifeste wolfpup212@aol.com