Harvey John Harper

Harvey John Harper was the third child and eldest son of Charles Alfred Harper and Lavina Dilworth Harper. He left Nauvoo with his parents at the time of the Mormon exodus and spent the winter of 1847 at Winter Quarters with the Saints. The next spring, 1848, they set out across the plains for the Salt Lake Valley. His father had been among the first to enter the valley July 22, 1847 with Brigham Young. He then returned to Winter Quarters and brought his family out the next spring.

In 1866 Harvey was married to Louesa Park by whom he had seven children. In 1870 he was called to Bear River Valley where he started the town of Randolph, Utah in Rich County. In 1877 he was released from this mission and moved back to the old home in Holladay, Utah. From about 1867 to 1869 he went to Southern Utah to assist against the uprising by one the great Ute chiefs, Black Hawk. Later back in Salt Lake, he assisted in the construction of the Mormon temple by hauling rock from the granite quarries. In 1880 he moved with his family to Arizona, settling on a 40 acre farm at Lehi (Mesa).

In his diary we find that he was a member of the High Council and that he claimed never to have missed a single meeting. He was Sunday School Superintendent for 22 years and was active in business affairs, holding a responsible position in the old Co-op store and the Amusement Hall. He was also a builder of canals, roads, and dams. He sent his sons Harvey and Alfred to the Southern States on LDS missions. His son Albert attended Brigham Young University.

His wife preceded him in death by ten years. From that time on he sent from place to place visiting among his children, extended family, and old friends.

He left this note in his diary: "I have done lots of hard work to make Utah and the Church. I have been a very healthy man, ready to meet any hardship that came along that would be for the good of my country and Church. I married a noble woman and a good mother." One might add to this quotation the words of the apostle Paul, who said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."

Written c. 1947 by Norma Harper Morris, a niece.