Transcription contributed by Leah L. Furnas 18 April 2005

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JOHN HARPER, farmer; P. O. Lebanon; was born March 12, 1808, in Delaware; he is a son of James and Catherine (Vickery) Harper, who were born in the State of Delaware, in which they were married. In 1811, they came overland by team to Warren Co. and bought 100 acres of land, on which our subject yet lives; he died the year after his settlement, aged about 30 years; he left four children, the eldest at his death being but a child; for nine years after his death, his wife heroically struggled along on the farm until sorely distressed by adversities, when she abandoned the trust. Their children were four in number, two living, viz., Elizabeth and John (the deceased), Prudence and Catharine. Mrs. H. died in 1870, aged 83 years; our subject has been four times married; first, to Maria Beller, Nov. 14, 1833, died Jan. 11, 1844; second wife, Anner A. French, to whom he was married July 6, 1845; she died Oct. 22, 1858; his third wife was Margaret A. Ulm, whom he married the 18th day of September, 1860; she died April 14, 1866; to his fourth and last wife, Rebecca Stibbs, he was married May 2, 1871. Mr. H. owns 100 acres of land, the same his father purchased in 1811; he is a member of the Horticultural Society of the county, which he joined in 1879; Mrs. H. was born Dec. 11, 1840; she is the daughter of John Stibbs, who was a son of Henry Stibbs, a native of New Jersey, who settled in Salem Township in the year 1806; John Stibbs was married to Maria Hulse, of New Jersey, by whom he had eleven children, six living, viz., Keziah, Eliza, Henry, Phoeba, Nancy and Rebecca; the deceased are Jackson, Sara J., Susanna, James and Lewis. Mr. S. died in 1874; she in 1859; Henry Stibbs departed this life in 1857; he was a wagon-maker by trade; Mrs. Harper was previously married to Joseph Robinson, May 22, 1859, by whom she had three children, viz., Elmer, Harry and Mattie.