JUDGE JOHN J. HARPER – Common Pleas Judge 1876 – 1882
Ironton Register, September 30, 1875
Common Pleas Court – Judge Hebard is presiding this week. It is expected that Judge Harper will be here next week.
Obituary
Semi-Weekly Irontonian, Tuesday, October 23, 1906 – Death Came to Judge Harper Sunday Evening.
After Brief Illness – He Was Formerly on the Common Pleas Bench in This District and Will be Remembered by Ironton’s Older Citizens.
Judge J. J. Harper, whose severe illness has been noted and whose wife died last Wednesday, when it was expected that his death would occur, died Sunday night at 9 o’clock. All his children were present at his bedside when the end came. These included John, the oldest son, who was called from California. Mrs. Mary Williams and his brother Samuel Harper of Peoria, Ill., Wm. A. and Samuel G. Harper, of Portsmouth.
John James Harper was born in Fairfield county, O., in 1834. He received a common school education and qualified himself as a teacher. This he followed in Pickaway and other counties. In 1853 he purchased an interest in the photographed outfit with Horace Ellis, and together they went to Portsmouth, where Mr. Harper continued to reside until 1886.
In 1856 Mr. Harper married Miss Emily Jones of Portsmouth. Their four sons are as follows: John, a lawyer of Denver Col., Wm. A., Samuel G., and Joseph, Publisher of the Gazette at Washington C. H.. Judge Harper began his study of law in 1858 under Hutchins & Caffy and was admitted to the bar in 1860.
The office of prosecuting attorney in Ohio was created for ambitious young attorneys, and Mr. Harper was of that class. He began his political career as a Republican and, in 1861, was the nominee of his party for prosecuting attorney. His opponent was Geo. O. Newman, and he defeated Mr. Harper by a majority of 183.
In 1863 Mr. Harper was again on the ticket for the same office, and Mr. Newman was on the Democratic ticket. Judge Harper was on the war ticket, and Mr. Harper was elected.
On May 2, 1864, Judge Harper enlisted in Co. G. 141st. Ohio Volunteer Infantry served until September, and after the war in 1865, he was again the candidate of his party to the same office, his opponent being J. J. McFann.
In 1867 he formed a partnership with Colonel H. E. Jones and which continued until 1870. That year he was elected presidential elector. A year later, he formed a partnership with the late Judge F. C. Searl, and a year later, he was nominated for Common Pleas Judge. He was elected in 1876 and served until 1882.
In that year, he formed a partnership with Hon. John K. Richards, and in 1884 he associated himself with Hon. John c. Milner. His wife, having died in 1874, married again in 1875 to Miss Anna Robinson of Washington C. H., where he resided for years. Soon after going there, he formed a partnership with Thos. W. Merchant, and in 1892 his son Joseph was admitted to the firm.
In 1896 he supported Bryan, as in 1900, and has since been a Democrat. As a lawyer, Judge Harper was very successful. He was noted for his superior qualities as an advocate. During his residence in Portsmouth, he was frequently employed by the city on important cases for the county and city, and at one time, he revised the city ordinances.
In personal appearance, he was tall and erect, above the average height of fine, manly, and gentlemanly appearance.
While he was in politics, he always had the support of his county for congress, and he would have made a strong and noticeable member. He long enjoyed the respect and esteem of the members of his profession throughout the state for his legal attainments.
IR Mar. 27, 1879 – JUDGE HARPER. – Last Monday, news came here that Judge Harper had been stricken with paralysis and was in a dangerous condition. The intelligence awakened universal sympathy and anxiety for him in his misfortune. However, our more recent intelligence is to the effect that the Judge is not as seriously afflicted as we initially feared. The following is what the Portsmouth Tribune of March 26th says of the case:
Last Saturday, at noon, Judge Harper had an attack of vertigo while down the street, which is the result of overwork. The Judge is a hard student aside from his judicial duties, and nature has called for a change of program. Mental rest and outdoor exercise will no doubt prove efficacious.
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