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Genealogy: Finding Your Folks

The amazing family of Robert Franklin Harper

By Judy Fowler Kilgore

In the “olden” days, as my sister and I have always referred to the days of our grandparents, things were quite different from the way they are today. Multiple marriages and very large families were not uncommon. Today, this situation usually causes raised eyebrows and wagging tongues.

This little “prologue” is for those of you who may be new to genealogy and have probably been shocked when you found an ancestor remarrying a short time after the death of a spouse ... or dropped your jaw in awe when you saw 10, 12, or 14 children on the census list for your ancestor.

The fact is, a quick remarriage was often a case of dire necessity when a spouse was left with a bunch of little ones and no father to provide or mother to care for them. And, in addition to the obvious reason for large families (stop chuckling), children were needed to help work the farm.

Thus was the case with Robert Franklin Harper, who had three wives and a total of 21 children.

With wife number one, he had Maude Uriah, Mary Ann, John Franklin, Nancy Alice, James Emanuel, Hattie Elizabeth, and Martha Adeline.

With wife number two, he had William Ernest and Rufus Eugene.

With wife number three, he had Thomas Benjamin, Robert Paul, Nora Bell, Beverly Leona, Lewis Edward, Emma Lou, Raymond Glen, Janie Estelle, Ila Gertrude, Dorothy Ruth, Ruby Frances and Charlie Grady.

Once again, Mary Harper has done a fine job of telling this amazing story. Mary writes:

“Born on 27 Sept. 1850 in Pike County, Robert Franklin Harper was the fifth child of 11 children born to Benjamin Franklin and Mary Ann Elizabeth (Patton) Harper. When he was still quite young, the family moved to Fayette County in the area where Bethany is now located.

“On 25 Sept. 1873, at the residence of Dr. John Murphy, uncle of the bride, Robert Franklin Harper married Martha Alice Hoffman, a young lady from Macon County, Alabama, who was teaching school in Fayette County. She and her mother, Martha Ann “Muddie” (Story) Hoffman were living there together as her father John Uriah Hoffman had died in the Civil War in Virginia.

“In the first ten years of their marriage, Martha Alice had seven children. Her mother lived with the family and helped to take care of the children. Martha Alice died before her 40th birthday on 29 Feb. 1884, and is buried in Bethany Cemetery.

“Robert Franklin, called “Frank,” first lived in the area near Bethany in a small house near the railroad. After his family began to grow, he built a two-story house across the county line in Campbell County (now south Fulton).

“After the death of Martha Alice, with seven small children to care for, Frank began searching for another wife. He found Missouri Jones and married her on 12 June 1884, less than four months after Martha Alice died.

“Born in 1861, Missouri appears from census records to be the daughter of F.P. and Margaret Jane Jones. F.P. was in the 1860 census of Fayette County and his widow was in the 1870 and 1880 census with Missouri. She was 19 years old in 1880, single, and living with her mother and siblings in Fayette county.

“Missouri had one child and was pregnant with the second when she left Frank and returned to her family. She had the second child, but died while still at her mother’s home. She may have been buried in Sunnyside, near Griffin.

“Frank went to where the two children were and took them back to Fayette County to live with him.

“Frank married a third time on 2 June 1891 in Douglas County to Cora Bell Gable, the 20-year-old daughter of Thomas Jeffery and Emma Norris (Bell) Gable. She was born 23 May 1871. They had 12 children in the next 28 years.

“Martha Ann (Story) Hoffman who had taken care of her seven grandchildren and became the grandmother to another 14 children died on 2 June 1917 after a long and fruitful life. She was born 25 June 1833 in Fayette County, the daughter of Rev. Elias W. and Ann (Hill) Story. She was laid to rest in Bethany Cemetery beside her daughter.

“Robert Franklin Harper made his will on 14 Feb. 1917, and it was proved on 3 Feb. 1919. He died 15 Jan. 1919 during an influenza epidemic described by the local newspaper, The Campbell News, as being the second epidemic. The paper said that influenza itself was not dangerous, but when pneumonia set in it was almost always fatal.

“The paper reported, ‘After a short illness with influenza, followed by pneumonia, Mr. Frank Harper died at his home in the Bethany locality the latter part of last week. He was a substantial, progressive farmer, and was one of the most prominent men in his section. He is survived by a host of relatives, who have sustained a great loss in his demise. The remains were laid to rest at Bethany, of which church he was a leading member.’ (Death Notice: R. F. Harper - The Campell News)

“Frank’s funeral was held at his home because a number of his children were also sick with influenza. He was buried at Bethany Cemetery beside his first wife, Martha Alice.

“Cora Bell (Gable) Harper died 9 Dec. 1954, and is buried in Bethany Cemetery beside her husband.”

Most of those 21 children married and had families of their own. Next week, we’ll continue with this amazing family. Thanks again, Mary, for all the help with this series of stories.

I welcome all letters and e-mails about genealogy and info on south metro Atlanta families. Send them to The Citizen, P.O. Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. Any letters and/or e-mails I receive are subject to being used in the column.

Until next week, happy hunting!