New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-23
OBITU AIRY.
JOIN HARPER.


itic stroke md that time has suffered from other
shocks OF the came nature Io really rallied from
the frs; attack.
John Harper Born In Sewtown. Long Island In 'e7'
and the second OF the four brothers, James John
Joseph wesley and Fletcher The father Joseph Harper
xas a farIasr in cay circumstances on Long is"nd'
and 4, was here that the early life OF tho brothers
ras spen At the ego Of H. with his brother James then
ID yesrs ~ John apprenteed In one OF tue rev"
York printing oiiocr Here their acquired HABITS OF trne
and economy served them IN good stead and sober u
assuming and extremely dnigent they soon gained IN
accurate knovadre OF all dspaI Of the business
In 1917 then 90 years OF John and his brother 'ames
entered into Partnership and crened small printing
establishment IN DoverSt- Though RECEIVING SOME
,ecunisry assistance from their father the bnsess
uccs.,r,ly limited first The printing c poos
xs. then In it, infancy IN this country and the venture
NJ ,sese young men then looked upon rs nioSt
desperaie nv great energy and industry Pcroroihk
themselves most Of tho composition and pres WORK 'ho
nrm prospered and 10 fow years they iounu 'ner
ouarrs TOO limited and removed to another huding on
I>,lton st near Broadway. The dru OF j. j. Harper
was then well known publishing house. ana their
publications found ready sale. When the two orotners
began In ls17. It thought so he matter worth
boastius about. that IN August they dchSertu 1.v"
so,ies OF "senncas Morals" translation ana io"r
mouths sfterward $500 copies Of MARS Introduction
80 Latin syntat both In admirable style Their nrs' I'M
mint enc.rcd upon a work in 1873 the book being 800
oorses OF Incxs's celebrated work upon the
Human Understanding. They felt their way canilousH'
and gradually approached the business OF on
their Own account In 1928. John Wesley Harper
younger brother having learned the trade thoroughly
vas given an interest IN the house. and the firm In 1872
removed so Pearlst. Franklinsquare ana shortly
stervsrd u Nos II and 81 Cst. whore the business
wa. st further enlarged In 1925 Fletcher the youngest
brother was admitted tho partnership and FROM TINS
dated the origin Of the world renowned nfm OF harper
Brothers
xrilh n
thors firm published works on lite own account
I'm 1880 trey began to stereotype their works and tho
pla4es which have been CAREFULLY preserved III Vhns are
-xtrsme vainable All the inventions OF any prac-
teal adopted and their enterprise gave
impetus tn the publishing trsde all over the country
They stteref European works far aud wtde at an ex
ceodns figure. by republislng them in this country
Zach brother was at tho head Of some one
department. personally experimenting all work
John Harper was the recognized nnanoAi
anagpr Of the buspess and TO his great mercantile Ca
psoity wa. due the hst they have passed success
fully through the financial storms in which so nany OF
the wreoked Their efforts we're not confined
to rprnis but extended r. copyright works. and this
doubtless. cause OF their wonderful success
Work ncres 50 fast thai they rapidly acquired oud-
ing after building and It then almost impossbie TO
rpxs room for the aceumu!atng requirements OF Their
trs.ie In June 1850, Issued tho nrst number or
Rarp,rs Monthly and this publication wss so well re-
re., cd that they mied In $751; 20 issue Hd-rs
re,iIs. and stiD more recently, 10 1867, HdTpers
Ra-or On Dec 10. 1888. tho firm received stag
g-rng blow tho great frs OF that date which de-
.trypd ,bor entire establishment then occupying nine
contiguous buildings IN Cst. and IN he space Of few
bours n,c the accumulated fortune Of nearly 20 years
Wa almost all DESTROYED The loss reached nearly
81 900 fDr the Are destroyed everything In the IS
adjustment With tho exception OF the stereotype pstes
and vas only covered with $25o.OO0 insurance. The
January number Of Harpe's Nd9o-fao. then circulating
seui 10000 copies inst ready TO be printed when
the disaster Cell lpon them snd the great enterprise was
r.m...a at the time when before many
da.- had elapsed ths number was reprinted.
although forDs proofs. copy, and designs ~ero
destroyed, Temporary quarters were engaged END Win
large foro Of tho finn soon reproduced most OF
.rir norss stereotype plates With their usual
energy -rarcaly had the Gre been ertngushed IN the
ruins OF trr establishment before they had procured
plans Tor 4 new building a scale which would have
staggered the most prosperous commercial houses Inc
new buidi,s. covering half GG acre Of Land on Pesrst
near Franklin square, completed IN lsf anu u still
occupied BY the remaining members Of the firm including
Fletcher add five the OF the four brothers com
Tn secret Of the graf OF the Harper Brothers
Wa their thorough unity. IL IA said that the
question Was ever asked TO who the head OF the
bouse who was the Hsrper and who were the Brothers.
al the Brothers," In March, 1869, James lisr
per ths ce.t brother and Mayor OF New York in 1874
10 Central Park from tho effects OF which no died
mad charge Of the department " correspondence
deeply che death OF his brother that he visited
III I'D The lass Of bs brothers made lt an equally
painful dOty for John Harper to visit the Office and so
fhe business OF the hm has gradually come into the
hands oi the next geoeraon. tho i've sons OF the original
Inin Harper was very firm and decided but strictly
.t in his deabngs and uiodei OF poeness 10 I'LL with
WHOM in contact The wealth citizen ana
received with the same myarylng Poiteness
and consideration In business Lie was strict but knd,
snS s TO tsS s% wS SG re- %
rapidly. and mnch absorbed In bis duties while
for afternoon dinner, after Which came the real day
fc Ia bs drive the road so modest and UMPIRE
undng was his that few who came in CON
tact with him suspected tho engineering skill which he
Possessed. and which be exhibited when the Question
sro.e 10 tho construction OF the new buildings rem
dered A-sary By the DISASTROUS arr He was man OF
extraordinary courage and always looked at tie bright
no prr-tration " business ever shooa him for
an hstsn- ON the very evening OF the
HaiJl sslsoshnent John Harper BEGAN 10 pinn tlose
ma--iyr hre~proof building; which nov tower above
VI employed 10 clearing away the ruins even
while the oroSs wore still too bot to DC comfortably
handled Tho plans for tho establishments were en-
iirry hs own He calculated the space necessary for
earn lus IN" mufaroIs details Of publishers bust
pe,s; De knew inch the accommodations required
fnr each press other Dacine. aud ho knew where this
that Ought bc placed. He designed the arrange
en and t them "a lie carried out To the letter ny the
most comp tent engincers and buildfIs The result
Justified his and bis partners confidence In bis
Judgment
uurtus tho war Of the Rebellion mis- comforting
pres VINO despondent for from the be
struggle: and in the gloomest periods OF the war his
cheerful yoire and trIo Determination always predicted
tho necessity of continuing the fight and tho impos
sihy Of thing except success Among financial men,
Judgment sound aud cool be did much to maintain
th0 value of Governments securities, both by his advice
oil speUiation and OF the old style OF merchants
Who looked 70 is legitimate business ana tas alone 70