History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 918, Vermont Township
Jacob S. Harper, miller, was born in Jefferson Co., O., Feb. 14,
1830. His father, Joseph Harper, was a carpenter, a native of Pa., and
died when Jacob was yet a lad. The latter learned to be a blacksmith,
married Myrtila Wasson, of Pa., had 5 children, 3 of whom are living, -
Indiana, Montie and Dilla. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Harper settled in
Vermont, worked one year in the blacksmith shop of Geo. Durell, and
then 8 years for T. F. Wisdon; 1862-6 he followed the business
independently, then bought an interest in the steam grist-mill east of
the public square; in 1869 he purchased an interest in the City Mills,
in partnership with Jesse Bogue.
