If they aren't connected, they should be! I have been searching for
about 10 years, and still can find almost nothing for my Harper Family.
They won't even own up to the name. I was raised by my mother and step
father, so they don't share any skeletons in the family closet with me.
My father would tell me if he knew, but he is in the dark, too. He
didn't even know his mother was a Harper, though he heard rumors about
a name change.
My great grandmother was Leila Chambers. She was born in 1891 in
Winterville, GA to Leander Chambers and Mary Smith. From all accounts
Leander was a mellow, nice man. Leander's father, James C. Chambers was
a confederate POW in Camp Douglas for a great part of the Civil War. He
enlisted in Greene County, GA and almost his entire unit was captured.
Leander's mother, Sarah Busby, died when Leander was about eight years
old. His father married for the second time to Mary Elizabeth Hannah.
The Chambers and family lived in northeast Georgia and northwestern part
of South Carolina including Abbeville and Anderson Counties. James C.
Chambers was buried in Lowndesville, SC.
Leila's mother was born in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia. The family moved
to Clarke County where Mary's father was a prison guard. Mary's father
was Martin A. Smith. He was born somewhere in North Carolina. He was a
confederate veteran from North Carolina, but I haven't been able to
locate where he lived. He moved to Clarke County from Floyd County, GA
with his wife Sarah Elizabeth Womack and five children. Martin was
mean. Really mean. Like many white southern men of his time, he was a
racist. It was common at that time for the state of Georgia to contract
to wealthy individuals and companies for prison labor, and Martin was
responsible for overseeing black convicts. He took out more than one
chain gang and returned at the end of the day without any prisoners. One
time he claimed the entire group of men decided it was a hot day and
they all jumped from a bridge into the river. In reality, he set his
dogs on them and they jumped. No charges were ever brought against him.
He had a great number of girlfriends both during and after he separated
from his wife. Can't believe anyone would want to be involved with him!
Martin had a still. He and his sons were drinkers. His son, Thomas
Lonnie "Jack" Smith got drunk one night and shot his brother in law,
Michael Martin five times. He claimed self defense and was acquitted.
Leila has one surviving sister. Her name is Annie Sue Chambers Johnson
Glenn. She lives in Loganville, GA. She was born in 1907, but she still
has a pretty good memory. She thinks Leila and Frank are a love story
for the ages. Leila must have loved him to put up with everything he put
her through. Annie has her mother's family Bible, and this is where I
found confirmation that Frank's surname was Harper. Frank and Leila
married in Athens, GA in 1910. They eloped because Leander didn't
approve of Frank. Frank had at least one brother, and he was reported to
be a "worse thief and much meaner" than Frank. He spent time on a chain
gang in northern Georgia . Have heard more than one name for this
brother. Not sure which is correct. Frank and Leila had two daughters
who died in infancy and are buried in Clarke County. The first daughter
was named Mattie. This may have been Frank's mother's name. There are
two witnesses on Frank and Leila's marriage certificate, and they are
difficult to make out. I think was signature is Mattie Sue Harper.
According to Annie Sue, Frank was a carpenter in Athens until he "became
bad to steal". He was by all accounts, a thief most of his adult life.
He was always running from the authorities. Frank and Leila had three
children born in Winterville, Pauline 1915, Estelle (my grandmother) in
1917, and Frank Benjamin Jr. 1922. Something happened between 1922 and
1927 and Frank was on the run. Leila later told a sister in law they
moved because Frank was avoiding the draft for WWI, but the dates prove
that is not true. At the tie of birth of Floyd Harper in 1927, Leander
and Mary were living in Winder, Georgia. Annie Sue still lived with her
parents. She said that Leila came in on a late train. Her son was born a
few days later with Mary as midwife. The very next morning Leila boarded
a train for Arkansas to rejoin her husband. He couldn't return to
Georgia because the authorities were looking for him. During this time
the family moved often. They spent time in Texas, Missouri, Arkansas,
Oklahoma, and Alabama. In 1929 Frank and Leila had a daughter named Mary
Ruth. This birth followed the pattern of Floyd's birth. Leander and Mary
were living in Atlanta. Leila came in for the birth left Atlanta right
after Mary Ruth was born.
I haven't been able to trace the movements of this family between 1922
and 1934 except for the two births. In 1934, the family was living in
Brooks County, Georgia. Most likely in Morvern or Barney. Leila met and
married Howard H. Pitts. Howard was born in Moultrie, Colquitt County in
1909, and for some strange reason they married in Adel, Cook County,
Georgia. Estelle listed on her marriage certificate (and was already
using) the surname COLLINS. Turns out, the entire family changed their
surname between 1929 and 1934. So the family could evade the
authorities and still return to GA?
Howard and Estelle's daughter Virginia was born in 1935 in Hahira,
Lowndes County, Georgia. Frank and Leila were already on the run. About
1927, the family turns up in Belle Glade, Palm Beach County, Florida.
Howard and Leila moved to Belle Glade, following Estelle's parents and
siblings ( except Frank Jr. who was in prison in Alabama). Two of Howard
Pitts' brothers followed soon after. Pauline and Mary Ruth married
brothers, Jack and Robert Duggan. They moved to Tampa, and Frank Jr. did
the same after his release from prison. My father, Frank Harvey Pitts,
was born in Quitman, GA in 1938 while his parents were on vacation
visiting family. Howard and Estelle moved to Tampa about 1954. Howard's
paternal aunt left her property in Tampa to Howard. Howard was a
carpenter and built his own house. It still stands.
My mother met my father in high school in the 1950's. She had a rather
unusual upbringing herself. Another long story, but in short she was
adopted before age two. Her adopted father died when she was seven. She
had six "brothers" most much older than she. The eldest was fighting
overseas in WWII when she was adopted. When he was discharged, he and
another brother took an extended vacation to Florida. They met and
married best friends and moved to Tampa. My mother moved to Tampa to be
with them. She told me she loved visiting Harvey's parents because they
were like the Ozzie and Harriet family on television. Howard Pitts has
been described as a saint. My grandmother Estelle was almost the same,
but she did have a problem with alcohol. My mother said she never saw
any evidence of it, but she was probably the only person who didn't.
When I tell her anything about my father's family, she is astounded. Has
a difficult time believing it.
Frank Harper -Collins Sr. must have spent some time in Georgia between
1934 and 1947. He was using the surname Collins when he was indicted in
Peach County for stealing four cows. He had another count in Berrien
County, GA. He was caught in Florida and returned to Georgia for trial.
Floyd was indicted for stealing a milk cow, but never prosecuted. Frank
was sentenced to 6-12 years in Peach County and 4 years in Berrien. He
died of a heart attack in 1951 a day before he was to be released. His
body was returned to Tampa for burial. Leila visited his grave every
week until her death.
I wonder why the family took the name Collins. Was this Frank's mother's
maiden name? I have heard they also used the White surname. Where was
Frank born? I found him in the 1920 Census in Clarke County, It shows he
was Frank Harper born in Georgia, as were both his parents. His death
certificate show he was Frank B. Collins born in Bryson City, Swain
County, North Carolina. Where did this info come from? Was he from
there? Perhaps his family moved to Georgia from there? Swain was a
relatively new county in 1891 when Frank claims is his birth year. There
were/are many Collins in Swain County, but few Harpers. Lots of Harpers
in Clarke and surrounding counties in Georgia, but no one will claim
Frank. Can you blame them? There are quite a few Harpers in Berrien
County. Is that why they chose to move there?
The most curious thing of all. No one will talk about Frank. If they
don't think about it, it never happened! Family skeletons should stay in
the closet where they belong. Guess since Annie Sue is in her 90's she
doesn't mind telling the truth. But she said Frank and Leila were always
tight lipped about where they lived and what they were doing. Something
big happened just prior to the surname change. I found out about Frank
being in prison by ordering his death certificate and tracing the
information through the Georgia Dept of Corrections in Georgia. The
family knows that I have this much knowledge, and still they won't give
my information about Frank's family. Pauline said her grandmother's name
was Naomi and was an orphan. She claimed to have no knowledge of Frank's
father or his name. I think this is where the big secret lies. My aunt
said there are some things I am better off not knowing. It is bad enough
her grandfather died in prison, and she doesn't want to talk about his
family or their history. She prefers I confine my research to her
father's side of the family. I know that some of this is embarrassing
for some generations before me. But I find this colorful family much
more interesting than the other "normal" side. Every family has some
skeletons. Perhaps not as many as this one. I just can't understand why
they won't tell me about Frank's parents. I would have been happy to
record their marriages and deaths without finding this criminal activity
about my great grandfather. I guess they are afraid I will find
something worse if I can just get back one more generation! Will keep
plugging away. Hope someone out there reads this and knows something to
help.
Sheree
-----Original Message-----
From: Shirley Teats [mailto:granywolf@orofino-id.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 6:38 PM
To: HARPER-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: Fw: [HARPER] William Henry Harper/VA-NC
Dear Shree
My grandma Flora Harper was the sweetest straight laced person anyone
would
want to meet.My mother hates any kind os scandel.If she knows anything
it
will die with her.My cousin who did a little research talking to some
Iowa
Harpers ,once, and made the remark, " Ben was only home to make another
baby
and then was gone again." I thaught mom was going to come unglued.
Wouldnt
speak to the "visious, lying trouble makeing ,snot" for a long time When
I
discovered some inermarring in another family line I was told not to let
out
such junk even if it was the truth.
Sound familier? If anyone knows any thing bad they arent telling.
Oh! I just remembered something I once saw on tv. some documentry or
such
show. A John Harper was harrasing neighbors by driving his car at
people
then slaming on his breaks just barely missing them.He did this once to
often.The man whose wife had just been scared out of 10 yrs of her life
,
decided to put a stop to it. Walked up to John and shot him in the head.
John's sister was on the show. She looked just another cousin.
Then we have a Dr. Harper here in town, a Chiropractor, he looks like
the
brother to the cousin in the other story. He says his grandfather ran
away
from home changed his name because he did something awful. I've alwasy
wondered.My grandma had a brother named John who ran away from home and
was
never heard from again.I asked mom if she thaugth Our John joined the
hole
in the wall gang and She said it was because of the scandle in the
family.
Just stories or is there any conection.
Shirley Teats
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sheree Robinette" <srobine1(a)tampabay.rr.com
To: <HARPER-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent:
Saturday, April 27, 2002 6:09 AM
Subject: RE: Fw: [HARPER] William Henry Harper/VA-NC
Would like to have a copy. My aunt told me there were some things
about
my Harper family that I am better off not knowing. Amazing how many
of
the same given names are the same in My Harper family. My grandmother
was Estelle Harper. Can't find any other Estelle's in her maternal
(Chambers-Smith Lines).
I thought the Sundance kid was married and Butch Cassidy the
womanizer?
Will have to check up on this. Guess the only part I want to
remember
from the movie was Redford and Newman. :) The only outlaw I know about
in Georgia is Doc Holliday. He was born near Valdosta, GA. Went to
dental school there.
Do you have any Collins or White surnames connected to the Harpers.
Frank and Leila changed the entire family surname from Harper to
Collins
between 1925-1934. They also used the White surname for a short time.
I
get more disinformation than fact when I ask about anyone in the
Harper
family, so whatever the skeletons are . Must be huge. All people who
could possibly be involved are dead, and still no one talking. Frank
was living in Clarke County GA in 1910. Can't find him before that,
but
he was born about 1892, so he was probably living somewhere with his
parents. Whoever they may be. I know he had at least one brother, also
an "outlaw". Meaner then Frank. I have heard different given names for
him. Walt, Walter, Grover. Ever head the surname Van? Floyd, the
youngest son is rumored to have escaped from prison in the south and
changed his name to Bill Van or Bill Vann. Started a new life. His
children do not know of his past. Supposedly moved to parts unknown,
but
he has been listed in two obituaries as living in Norfolk Virginia.
The
story given to my father was a wealthy family wanted to adopt him
and
leave him an inheritance, but he had to change his name to Van. I
think
he committed some kind of robbery , assumed an alias, and opened a
business with the proceeds. He was in the trucking business. His
brother
Frank served some time in prison in Alabama. Don't have a clue
why.
Can't seem to get any information from the Alabama prison system. But
he
must have served his time and pretty much cleaned up his act, because
he
owned a service station and dump truck business in Tampa, FL until
he
died. His widow claims she knows nothing about any criminal past.
Doesn't know his original surname was Harper. I know she is lying.
Leila
lived with her when Frank Sr. was incarcerated in 1947, until
Leila's
death. They went to the Cemetery every week after Frank Sr. did in
prison in 1951. He was buried in Tampa ...
Frank and Leila had two still born daughters born in Athens, GA before
Pauline. Pauline was born in 1914 .Mattie Lee was born and died in
1912.
Linda was born and died in 1913. Both are buried in the Harter
Carter
Cemetery. I have often wondered in Frank's mother was named Mattie
Lee?
Aunt Pauline told me her name was Naomi. Said the family moved to
Georgia from North Carolina. She said she the family moved often, but
most of her school age youth was spent in Oklahoma. Cannot find any
evidence of this. Am hoping the 1930 census will yield more
information.
Frank never allowed his photograph to be taken, so as far as I can
tell, none exist. I do have pictures of Leila and the children, but
none
from Frank or his family. Hope we can make a connection /
Sheree
----Original Message-----
From: pat_harper(a)mindspring.com [mailto:pat_harper@mindspring.com]
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 4:45 PM
To: HARPER-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: Fw: [HARPER] William Henry Harper/VA-NC
Please send me a copy.
/Pat
On Tue, 16 Apr 2002 23:39:03 -0700 Shirley Teats
<granywolf(a)orofino-id.com> wrote:
Dear Sherree Robinette
> I have a picture of Benjamin Franklin Harper's mother. It is just a
paper
> photo copy.On it it states that Margaret Ann Harper is Ben's sister.
I
> also have a copy of a letter written by Calla her Daughter
telling
of
her
> death. It also mentions Sarah I believe another sister. No name on
this
> grandma Harper. I have talked to a cousin and she believes that
Robert
> Harper of Harper's Ferry, west virginia was a distant
Cousin.That is
the
only back ground
> that I have on Ben Harper other than he died with Diabetes.Which I
also
have.His children are:
> 1. Letita or Letty She may have been The Sundance
Kid's girlfriend
> 2. Margaret -M.-Ed Etheredge
> 3. Flora Myrtle- B. -11-5-1878, M.-Charlie Adamson - 1900 D-1963 My
grandparents.
> 4 .Estelle Died young
> 5. William
> 6.Jessie
> 7. Rose May - twin
> 8. John Ray- twin Ran away from home
> 9. Walter
> 10. Lena M. Don Harris May have been murdered
If you want a copy of the picture or the letter I can scan it and send
it to
you.
Shirley Teats
Granywolf(a)orofino-id.com
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