Joseph Andrew Raper (1842 - 1909)

Born 11 Aug 1842 in Paulding County, Georgia, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane (Drummond) Raper — married 14 Nov 1865 in Itawamba, Mississippi, USA

Descendants

Died 29 Mar 1909 at age 66 in Maud, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA

Biography

When Joseph Andrew Raper was born on August 11, 1842, in Paulding, Georgia, his father, Joseph, was 44 and his mother, Mahala, was 37. He married Mary J Drummond on November 14, 1865, in Itawamba, Mississippi;^[1] their children were:

• William Floyd Raper (1868–1930)
• Caledonia Marie Raper (1868–1940), daughter
• Susan Elizabeth Raper (1871–1935)
• Minerva Luella Raper (1876–1947)
• Orlando Raper (1878–1938)
• Vandiver Raper (1880–1954)
• Caldonia Raper (1882–), son
• Melvin Raper (1884–1954)
• Joseph M. Raper (1887–1968)
• F G Raper (1890–1891), daughter
• Melvin B Raper (1895–)

He died on March 29, 1909, in Maud, Oklahoma, at the age of 66.^[2]

BURIAL^[3]
Cummings Cemetery
Maud, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Ancestry.com user, dewayneraper originally shared this on 22 Dec 2009^[4][5]
Raper Springs Resort
Raper Hot Springs Resort, Itawamba Co MS: The following is a compilation and summary of 2 articles published in the "Itawamba Settlers," a quarterly publication by the Itawamba Historical Society, PO Box 7, Mantachie MS 38855.

One article was submitted along with photos by Joe T. Raper, 2997 Manndale Dr., Memphis TN 38127. The other was an interview done with Lucille Cody Raper, 3799 Horn's Crossing Rd, Tremont MS 38876.

Joseph A. Raper was the son of Joseph Raper and Mahala Box. He married Mary Jane Drummond and, in the mid 1800's, they purchased 220 acres for $600 and built what became known as the Raper Springs Resort. The resort included a 13-room hotel, several cabins, and a general store. The water from 7 springs, each containing a different mineral, flowed through hollowed-out logs and into a bath house. Some accused Joseph A. of adding minerals to the springs because the presence of minerals was so strong.

Down the hill from the spa was a large pond. The story goes that when Mary heard that Joseph was hiring a man to build the levee at the pond, she interrupted, "If you're going to hire someone, pay me and the children to build it." He apparently agreed, and she and the children hauled dirt in a wheelbarrow to build the levee.

Mary Raper had the reputation of being a strong woman. It is told that she and the children were seen coming out of Bull Mountain bottom leading a bobcat by a grapevine leash! Joseph A. must have worked his family hard because there is a story that his daughter, Minerva, told him on her 21st birthday, "I will never dig another ditch!"

Joseph was known as an honest and astute businessman even though he could not read or write. When he loaned money, he would have the borrower write the contract. He would listen carefully as the contract was read to him, and no money passed hands until Joseph A. was satisfied with the contract.

Joseph sold Raper Springs Resort and moved his family to Maud OK in 1904.

Both Joseph A. and Mary died in 1909 and are buried in the Cummings Cemetery in Maud. The site of Raper Springs is isolated now, but in the late 1800's and early 1900's, it was a hub of activity. Little evidence is left of a once thriving resort where crowds of people came to enjoy the spa, good food, music, and dancing.

Sources

1. ↑ Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935; Name: J. A. Raper [Joseph Andrew Raper] , Spouse: Mary Drummond
2. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/36407284/person/262049053904/facts
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40108789
4. ↑ "Itawamba Settlers," a quarterly publication by the Itawamba Historical Society, PO Box 7, Mantachie MS 38855.
5. ↑ Interview with Lucille Cody Raper, 3799 Horn's Crossing Rd, Tremont MS 38876

• Year: 1850; Census Place: Militia District 951, Paulding, Georgia; Roll: M432_80; Page: 101B; Image: 212

• Year: 1860; Census Place: Itawamba, Mississippi; Roll: M653_583; Page: 319; Family History Library Film: 803583

• Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 10, Itawamba, Mississippi; Roll: M593_732; Page: 412B; Family History Library Film: 552231

• Year: 1880; Census Place: Itawamba, Mississippi; Roll: 650; Page: 486A; Enumeration District: 072

• Year: 1900; Census Place: Beat 4, Itawamba, Mississippi; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 0040; FHL microfilm: 1240811

• Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982; Child Ortando L Raper