From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 748-749

John Harpster was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1828. When seventeen years of age he began to work at the blacksmith's trade, and served an apprenticeship of two years. He worked at his trade till 1852, when he came to Steuben County, Ind., and entered land in Salem Township. Since then he has worked on his farm in connection with blacksmithing. He has a pleasant home which he has made from

a tract of unimproved land. His parents, David and Catherine Harpster, were natives of Pennsylvania, and in 1829 moved to Seneca County, Ohio, where they died. Mr. Harpster was married in Ohio to Mary M. Sunday, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829, who moved with his parents to Seneca County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster have five children--Lucinda, wife of Ira Tubbs; John A. married Olive Jackson; Mary, wife of George Conklin; Emma D., wife of Thompson Deller; Amanda J. a successful teacher of Steuben County. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster are members of the United Brethren church, in which they are active and zealous workers. They were among the first of that denomination

to locate in Salem Township.

Submitted by: Kim Davoli

E-Mail: davoli82@juno.com