↑ ["United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9DX-3R5 : accessed 5 October 2017), Claude Harper, Precinct 20 Red Apple Boaz town, Marshall, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 95, sheet 1B, family 11, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,030.]
Recently, my cousin Nancy Lee sent me her album of Harper letters and pictures. In it was a letter written by my Grandfather to his father, W.W. Harper. The letter was written on February 14, 1922, just two weeks prior to his father’s death. Below is an excerpt from the letter:
I had hoped that I would be the first to die always from little boy wanted to go before you did, don’t know why. Anyway just felt like when you did go, I would not have anyone that I could depend on for certain. And I knew you would always come if I called you. Sorry that I could not make success of all I have undertaken. I want to tell you good bye for I have no idea of ever seeing you again alive.
I wish you could have stayed with us awhile longer anyway, long enough to stay with me and I wanted to make your place look a little bit better and probably you could have sit around among the shade trees and watched the crops and passed away the time telling me how to fix this and how to saw that. I have not met any man that I believe was any better than you have been. Probably lots of them just as good.
You have always looked the world you knew in the face and turned the same clear gaze toward the world no man knows. Fearless, faithful, strong and loyal with a cheerful smile and a wave of the hand you will soon wander into an unknown land and I think you will find many friends where you are going
Good bye, God bless you and bon voyage.
Your Son, Claud
It was a side of my Grandfather that I never knew. It was a letter to a father from a son who loved and admired him. Very moving.
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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Claude by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
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I had hoped that I would be the first to die always from little boy wanted to go before you did, don’t know why. Anyway just felt like when you did go, I would not have anyone that I could depend on for certain. And I knew you would always come if I called you. Sorry that I could not make success of all I have undertaken. I want to tell you good bye for I have no idea of ever seeing you again alive. I wish you could have stayed with us awhile longer anyway, long enough to stay with me and I wanted to make your place look a little bit better and probably you could have sit around among the shade trees and watched the crops and passed away the time telling me how to fix this and how to saw that. I have not met any man that I believe was any better than you have been. Probably lots of them just as good. You have always looked the world you knew in the face and turned the same clear gaze toward the world no man knows. Fearless, faithful, strong and loyal with a cheerful smile and a wave of the hand you will soon wander into an unknown land and I think you will find many friends where you are going
Good bye, God bless you and bon voyage.
Your Son, Claud
It was a side of my Grandfather that I never knew. It was a letter to a father from a son who loved and admired him. Very moving.