Francis Benjamin Harper

GEDCOM Note

One mile west of the small town of Saline (population 307 in the 1990's) in the extreme southern part of Bienville Parish, was the 123 acre farm of Francis Benjamin Harper and his wife Irene Patterson of Alabama. The address was Route 1, Box 175, Saline, LA 71070. But later, the street was named and his address changed to 689 Wafer Road, Saline. The land was inherited from his father Bertis Bliss Harper and some adjoining land was also purchased. F.B. as his family called him, raised poultry and grew an abundance of crops such as purple hull peas, corn. green peas, cyan, peppers, bananna peppers, bell peppers, watermellon, cantaloupes, okra, and he also fished for catfish. F.B. traded his crops in several Parishes. In earlier days, the farm included pigs but later, only about a dozen cows remained for the family's meat supply. F. B. was born in Saline, LA. He attended elementary school at the Saline school which was for all grades 1-12. He graduated in May 1940. That fall, F. B. attended Northwestern University in Natchioches, to study Chemistry & Biology. He was in college until 1941 then moved to Alabama to start working. He met Irene Patterson, who happened to be his cousin, and half Cherokee. They were married on 3 Jan, 1942, in Sycamore, Talledega Co. since cousins could not marry in Lousiana. F.B inherited his father's farm in Saline in 1944 when he died. However, in June 1943, F.B. was drafted into the Army and attended 13 weeks of basic training at Fort Mc Clellen, Alabama, Fox Company. He had to leave his wife and first daughter who was already born on the 20th of May 1943, Cordelia Anne Harper and attend Army training. After graduation, F. B. was transferred to an Infantry Replacement unit and later 81 mm mortar. During his time in service, he also made parachute cords. After the Army, F.B. Harper and his family started farm life in Saline, LA. They had seven more children, however, their first Cordelia, died at age 4 of unknown causes. During the 1960's F.B. was employed as a Game Warden for the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Dept. for at least 23 years. Irene Patterson his wife, did not attend school. She had to start work at age 13 for a Cotton Mill in Talledega Co., Alabama. Irene contracted advanced Alzheimer's. It was believed she no longer recognized family members and could not talk or move. Irene died in a Louisiana nursing home in 2002. F.B. had diabetes for many years and lost one of his legs but continued hunting and fishing. He died of heart failure while hunting on his property in Saline, in 2001. Their son Julius Harper inherited their farm on Wafer Road in Saline, Louisiana.