James C. Harper

James Clarence Harper (1819—1890) was a United States Representative in Congress from the state of North Carolina for one term (1871-1873). Harper was born in Pennsylvania but moved in 1840 to what would soon become Caldwell County, North Carolina. A Democrat, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in the special election of 1865 and re-elected in 1866. Harper was seemingly elected again in 1868, but the election was later declared illegal. [ [http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/manual/manual.html#p529 North Carolina Manual of 1913] ]

In 1870, Harper was elected to the 42nd United States Congress as a Democrat or "Conservative," as some North Carolina Democrats were calling themselves at the time. He did not run for re-election in 1872.

Harper was the father-in-law of Judge Clinton A. Cilley.

This James C. Harper should not be confused with his relative, Captain James Cunningham Harper (1893-1986), who became a famous band director in Lenoir, NC. [ [http://sc.caldwellschools.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=28759&pagecat=580 Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor] ]

References

* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000222 Congressional Biography]
* [http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/h/Harper,James_Clarence.html James Clarence Harper Papers]
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=98144 OurCampaigns.com]