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GEORGE F. HARPSTER - The state of Pennsylvania includes the land deeded to
William Penn when King Charles of England owed him such a
large debt he could pay it no other way. This transaction also
afforded a means of getting rid of the bothersome sect, the Quakers, or
members of the Society of Friends, who were getting altogether too
powerful in England. King Charles believed he was sending
away only the scum of his empire to the New World, but no better blood
and better citizens have come to people our shores than the Quakers who
settled in Pennsylvania. From this line of sturdy folk came the
forbears of George Harpster, who was born in Knoxville, Marion
county, Iowa, Oct. 14, 1858. His parents, Frederick and Mary A.
(Yarger) Harpster, were both natives of Pennsylvania and their
parents in turn were born in Pennsylvania. Frederick Harpster,
whose birthplace was the forenamed state and who eventually secured and
farmed government land in Seneca County, Ohio. The perilous
journey to the Buckeye state was made on foot, and the family drove
their cattle ahead of them. They started with a number of milch
cows, but ere they arrived they had only one cow as an adjunct in
starting their farming operations. We can see from this incident
what a perilous journey it was. George Harpster and his
good wife spent the rest of their lives on their land in Senica county,
Ohio, where they were laid to rest.
Frederick Harpester, the father of George F.
Harpster, was born in the Keystone state and endured the hardships
of pioneer life in Ohio. It was in that state that he married
Mary A. Yarger, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of G. F.
and Benivel Yarger, whose migrations were from their birthplace in
Pennsylvania to Ohio and thence to Indiana, where they passed the
remainder of their lives. Mr. Yarger was a tailor, and
plied his trade at Carey, Ohio, but farmed after his removal to Indiana.
In 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Harpster moved to
Knoxville, Iowa, where he followed his trade, that of tinner, and later
he moved to Glasgow, Iowa, where he was employed in the same way.
It is here, in 1862, that he died. Two children, Mrs. George
Harris, and George F., the subject of this sketch, were his
only children. The second marriage of Mrs. Harpster was to
Casper Zerman and the two surviving children of this marriage are
Frani, who is employed by the publishing firm in Toledo, Ohio;
and Flora, wife of A. L. Taylor, a harnessmaker living in
New York. Their mother is making her home with them.
After the death of his father George F. Harpster
lived with his mother and stepfather until 1871, when he came to Blue
Springs, Nebraska. From Marysville, Kansas, the journey was made
in the old fashioned double teamed stage. Mr. Harpster
remained two years on the farm in Gage county and then went to Ohio,
where he remained until 1880, when he again came to Blue Springs, where
for fourteen years he was employed by the Roderick Brothers in
their general merchandise store. He then engaged in business for
himself, for five years, being thus established at Glenwood, Iowa.
With three hundred dollars to start on in the way of money, but with a
good deal of energy and self-reliance, Mr. Harpster purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land near Blue Springs in 1890, and to this
he has added from time to time until he now has two hundred and
eighty-five acres. He has continued to prosper and has now a nice
home, with commodious buildings on his farm, close to the city of Blue
Springs.
In 1881 the marriage of Mr. George Harpster and Ida
Miller was solemnized. She is a daughter of John and Electa
(Shattuck) Miller, natives respectively of Germany and Vermont; they
were married in Waukon, Iowa, and in 1882 homesteaded in South Dakota,
where they are both laid to rest. Mrs. Harpster was born in
Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, July 6, 1863. Mr. and Mrs.
Harpster have three children: Myrtle is at home with her
parents; Bert is living at Dawson, Nebraska; and Leafy is
the wife of Perry Shoenholz, of St. Paul, Minnesota, where he
formerly was employed as superintendent of a bakery, but is now the
manager of the Puritan Milk Company.
Mr. Harpster is affiliated with the Ancient Free
& Accepted Masons, while he and his wife are both members of the
Order of the Eastern Star and members of the Presbyterian church.
His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Republican
party, he is a valued citizen and is definitely worthy of the title of
self-made man.
Source: History of Gage County, Nebraska - Publ.
Lincoln, Nebraska, Western Publishing and Engraving Company -
1918 - Page 1032 |
