Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1869-04-03
James Hnrner.

The hopes entertained that Mr.. Har-
per would recover from the effects of the
injuries received by him recently have
not been realized, he having died on
Saturday night last, in the seventy
fourth years of his age.
Mr.. James Harper was borne at New
town, Long Island, in this State, during
the year 1895, his father being a respec-
table farmer of that place. He received
such an education as the locality afforded,
remaining at the parental home until he
had reached his sixteenth year, when
he, together with his brother John, was
sent to this city and apprenticed TO a
printer. The trade W Is learned with great
rapidity, the lad not being engaged ina
NY months in the buiness before he had
become an excellent compositor. Sober,
steady, economical, and Woodworking,
he contrived during his apprenticeship,
by means principally of overwork, to
save some few hundreds of dollars, as
was also done by his brother John, who
possessed all the excellent qualifications
so marked in the deceased, and whose
life has been so bound up with that OF
his brother that we can scarcely write
an obituary of the one without giving n
biographical sketch of the other. AT
about the date their obligations as APP
prenticeS ceased and they came free to
saved, to which we have already made re-
ference, they opened printing establish
ment in New York. The enterprise was
commenced ON very modest scale, their
| business being confined solely to books
ordered by publishers and booksellers.
Limited in means, and understanding
| fully the absolute necessity of husband
\ ing their small resources they performed
the greater part of type-setting and press
work with their own hands, only emf
ploying assistance when the business re
quired it. The establishment was star
ted in 1916. Soon after, Wesley and
Fletcher Harper, younger, brothers OF
the deceased, were apprenticed TO the
firm, which was then and for some years
after known by the name of j. g. j. Har-
per. The business prospered exceeding
ly, and in short time the proprietols be-
gan publishing books on their own &C.
count. In 1922 Wesley Harper was ad-
mitted to partnerships and from thencefor-
ward to the present writing the firm has
been known us that of Harper d Bro.
there. 1t is Unnecessary to 20 into the
particulars of the high position which
Mr.. James Harper attained as the senior
proprietor of one OF the largest publish.
ing houses in the world. The wide.
spread reputation of the Harpers, the
countless books they have published
and their great pecuniary wealth are
subjects of common knowledge to the
reader.
The deceased gentleman at one time
took all active part in politics, and in
1874 was elected Mayor of the CITY 81
New York, but was defeated for the
4 same position in the year following. His
administration, though devoid of any re-.
markable events, was, nevertheless sue
cessiul, and Increased The respect and es.
timaiiUn i'll which he was held by tin,
citizens generally. After 1915 he suugh
no office, his extensive and constantly
increasing business requiring his undi
kvided care apd attention. AS publish
Aalad far iaalrnastiiass will
which he endenyOred 10 elevate the stan
dard of American literature and the Ell
couragement he ever gave to native tn.
lent. The fact, tho, That his firm wa.
the first In the United States that pub
lished periodical composed almost en-
tirely of American composition, ant
which has won world wide reputation
Is to 10 small extent attributable ~ hi
keen business sagacity and literary tai
en'.
Although he had reached the ripe ag,
Of seventy three, MIR. Harper remainec
In active business life until the day of tn,
fatal acc dent which has ended his arth
ly cnreer. 1t was remarked not Ions
ago that Notwithstanding his age thert
was mo youth in the establishment
more active than he." lie was always il
hale, robust health, his mental ficultie!
were rs bright as those of a far younger
man, and il was often observed that, i
personal appearances were to be judged
by, he was likely TO outlive his brothers
who were all younger than he. Person
ally, he was high-toned gentleman
, generous and charitable, a firm friend
and warm hearted, sociabe man. III,
delighted the society of the vivacioul
and entertaining, loved good stor,
and good joke, and was as clever at re
lating as he was attentive in hearing
The death of no old citizen of New Yorl
could be more regretted than the an
nouncement of his. Whether as a pub
lie character, as friend patron of litera
ture, or as man of high social standing
and domestic virtues, he was such citi
zen as would necessarily and naturally
gather around him the friendship anC
esteem of all.-M. Y. Herald.