Fenton M Harper (1822 - 1864)

Born 1822 in Loudoun, Virginia, United States

Husband of Eliza Ann (Manzilla) Harper — married 28 Nov 1850 in Mahoning, Ohio, United States

Husband of Elizabeth A (Smith) Harper — married 21 Oct 1857 (to 17 Mar 1860) in Pike County, Ohio, United States

Husband of Frances Ellen (Watkins) Harper — married 22 Nov 1860 in Hamilton, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 23 May 1864 at about age 42 in Franklin County, Ohio, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Gayle Hawthorne [send private message] and Gene Ellison [send private message]

Biography

Parents Enoch Harper 1790 –

Elizabeth Harper 1790 –

Eliza Ann Manzilla 1827 – 1852

Cassius M Harper 1852 – 1933 ;

Birth: 1824 abt in Virginia;

Residence 1850 Age: 26 Loudoun, Virginia;

Death 1864 23 May Age: 40

Fenton Harper is a part of US Black heritage.

Fenton M. Harper was from Loudon County, Virginia.^[1] Little is known of his early life or his parents.

Fenton first married Eliza Ann Manzilla on 28 Nov 1850 in Mahoning County, Ohio.^[2] They had one son, Cassius M Harper (1852-1933).^[3][4] No further records for Eliza have been found, so she probably died sometime in the 1850's.

Fenton's second marriage was to Elizabeth A Smith on 21 Oct 1857 in Pike County, Ohio.^[5] They had two daughters, Ellen and Elizabeth.^[4] His wife Elizabeth died on 17 Mar 1860.^[6]

Fenton M. Harper married Frances Ellen Watkins on 22 Nov 1860 in Hamilton County, Ohio.^[7] Frances was a popular abolitionist lecturer and a writer of both prose and poetry at the time of their marriage. They moved to a small farm in Jackson Township, Franklin County, Ohio (near Columbus, Ohio), where they had one daughter, Mary.^[8][4]

Fenton died on 23 May 1864. He was buried in Carrs Run Cemetery in Beaver, Pike County, Ohio.^[8][9] He did not leave a will. His estate was inventoried and much of his property sold in the summer of 1864. In addition to certain items set aside for his widow and children, the following allowances were left for each:^[4]

• $100 for widow Frances E Harper and her infant daughter Mary A. Harper
• $35 for Cassius Harper
• $40 for Ellen Harper
• $50 for Elizabeth Harper

Research Notes

• A newspaper article about his wife said that Fenton was from Loudon County, Virginia.^[1] Possible 1850 census record:
  • 1850 U.S. Census
    "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DC-KJ9 : 12 April 2016), Fentan Harper in household of Thosn Nichols, Loudoun county, part of, Loudoun, Virginia, United States; citing family 533, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Disambiguation:

• Fenton M Harper (1822-1864) (Harper-3789) seems likely to be the same person:
  • Both from/born in Loudon County, Virginia.
  • Both had a son named Cassius Harper.
  • Both WikiTree profiles cite the same death date and burial in Carrs Run Cemetery in Beaver, Pike County, Ohio.
  • Further research is still needed into this Fenton's first marriage, but his first wife may be the wife listed on the Harper-3789 profile.
• Fenton M. Harper (1840-1902) (Harper 1506) is not the same person. Distinguishing facts which are quite different from the Fenton Harper in this profile:
  • He married (1) Mary Ellen Roberts in 1866 and (2) Maggie Alberry in 1872, both in Morgan County, Ohio.
  • He served in Co. C, 122nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the American Civil War.
  • Born 1840 in Ohio and died in 1902 in Watertown, Washington County, Ohio.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "National Salvation," The Daily Evening Telegraph [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], 1 Feb 1867, page 8; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37094603/frances-harper-national-salvation-addr/ : accessed 4 Sep 2022).
2. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZLH-HZN : accessed 4 Sep 2022), Fenton Harper and Eliza Ann Manzelle, 28 Nov 1850; Mahoning County, Ohio, Marriage certificates 1846-1851, page 179.
3. ↑ Son Cassius's death record:
   "Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZQFR-G6N2 : 1 June 2020), Cassius Harper, 6 Jun 1933, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA; citing Death Certificate Number 19542, Minnesota State Department of Health, St. Paul.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Ohio, Franklin County, Administrators Records, Volume , pages 566-573, Inventory and Sale Bill of Fenton M. Harper's estate, 26 Jul 1864-22 Aug 1864; "Ohio, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998,"database with images, Ancestry.com, Ancestry Sharing Link, Ancestry Record 8801 #8881698 (accessed 4 September 2022).
   Note: page 569 lists allowances left for his widow and four minor children.
5. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD4F-32W : accessed 4 Sep 2022), Fenton M Harper and Elizabeth A Smith, 21 Oct 1857; Pike County, Ohio, Marriage records 1846-1857 volume 2B, page 254.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40904768/elizabeth-harper: accessed 04 September 2022), memorial page for Elizabeth Smith Harper (24 May 1837–17 Mar 1860), Find A Grave: Memorial #40904768, citing Carrs Run Cemetery, Beaver, Pike County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by R Jackson (Mod) (contributor 46945368).
7. ↑ Ohio, Hamilton County, Marriage Records, Volume 25, page 240, Fenton M. Harper and Frances E. Watkins, 22 Nov 1860; "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZXY-P5X : accessed 4 Sep 2022).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Still, William. The Underground Railroad (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872). "Frances Ellen Watkins Harper," page 755-780, with portrait on page 748; image copy, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/DKC0088 : accessed 4 Sep 2022).
   Marriage to Fenton Harper discussed on page 764.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40904551/fenton-m-harper: accessed 04 September 2022), memorial page for Fenton M Harper (1822–23 May 1864), Find A Grave: Memorial #40904551, citing Carrs Run Cemetery, Beaver, Pike County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by R Jackson (Mod) (contributor 46945368).

• 1850 United States Federal Census
• Marriage

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZLH-HZN : 10 February 2018), Fenton Harper and Eliza Ann Wanzelle, 28 Nov 1850; citing Mahoning, Ohio, United States, reference P179; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 907,321.

• Death
• "U.S. Find A Grave Index," Name Fenton M Harper|Birth Date 1822|Birth Place Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America|Death Date 23 May 1864|

Death Place Ohio, United States of America|Cemetery Carrs Run Cemetery|Burial or Cremation Place Pike County, Ohio, United States of America|Has Bio? N|Spouse Elizabeth Harper|Children Cassius M Harper|URL https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40904551