Harper, James

JOHN, JOSEPH WESLEY, and FLETCHER, the founders of the eminent American publishing house of "Harper Brothers," were B. at New town, L. I., in 1795, 1797, 1801, and 1804, respectively, - the sons of a prosperous farmer. At the age of 16, the two elder brothers were apprenticed to the printing busine in New York, and being joined in that city by the two younger brothers, they, before 1825, had established themselves as publishers on an extensive scale, under the style and title before mentioned. Their establishment has since become one of the leading publishing concerns in the U. States, and one of the most important in the world. In 1850 appeared the first number of Harpers' New Monthly Magazine, which in a few years achieved a circulation of from 175,000 to 190,000 copies. In 1857, the firm commenced the i ue of Harpers Weekly, an illustrated paper, after the manner of the "Illustrated London News." A great proportion of their busine lies in the publication of original works, and reprints of European authors. James was Mayor of N. Y. in 1846, D. 1869. Joseph Wesley, D. 1870, John D., 1875, and Fletcher D., 1877. The house is continued by the sons of the founders, in connection with others, under the original name. Harper, in. Kansas , a S. co., drained by tributaries of the Arkansas and Nescatunga rivers. Area , 810 sq. m. Cap . Bluff City. Pop . (1895) 9,238. Harper, in Ohio, a post-village of Logan co., about 6 miles N. by E. of Belle font aine. Harper's Ferry, in West Virginia , a post-village of Jefferson co., situated at the junction of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, and remarkable for the picturesque beauty of its surrounding scenery. It is 160 m. N. of Richmond, and 53 N.W. of Washington. Pop . (1890) 958. The U. S. Arsenal here was destroyed by the National troops, April 18, 1861, to prevent its falling into the hands of the Confederates, who occupied the village two days afterwards. On Oct. 16, 1859, H. P. was invaded and taken po e ion of by a band of 22 men under the leadership of John Brown, an old man of O awattomie, Kansas, who had been a daring and most resolute partisan leader of the Free State Party during the civil war in Kansas, in 1856-57. Their object was the emancipation of the slaves in the adjacent parts of Virginia and Maryland, and their plan seems to have been to seize and hold H. P. as a place of rendezvous for the negroes. The invaders were summoned to surrender on the 17th by a small military force, sent for the purpose from Jefferson. Upon their refusal, a fight ensued, which resulted in 20 of the whites and 3 colored men being killed, 3 whites and 2 colored men taken prisoners, while 4 escaped, who were subsequently captured in Pennsylvania, and delivered up to the Virgin i an authorities. After a trial before the circuit court of Jefferson co., for treason and murder, Brown was sentenced to be hung on Dec. 2, and his companions on the 16th. This enterprise was illegal and rash, but it sprung from a generous impulse, and by many John Brown is considered a hero and martyr, IMG:content-0527.png:[blocks in formation] Harpers field, in New York , a post-town of Delaware co., about 60 m. W. by S. of Albany. Pop . (1890) 1,386. Harpers field, in Ohio , a post-village and township of Ash tabula co., on Grand river, about 45 miles E.N.Ε. of Cleveland. Har'per's Station, in Ohio , a post-office of Ro co. Har persville, in Alabama , a post-village of Shelby co., about 80 miles N. by W. of Montgomery. Harpersville, in New York , a post-village of Broome co., on the Susquehanna river, about 16 m. E. by N. of Binghamton. Generally spelled HARPURSVILLE. Harpersville, in Texas , a P. O. of Stephens co. Har peth, in Tenne ee , a river rising in Williams on co., and flowing a general N.W. course, enters the Cumber land river between Davidson and Dicks on cos. Length, about 100 miles. -A post-village of Williams on co., about 25 miles S.S.E. of Nashville.