Jessie and James Harper

Jessie Ann Harper (1875-1932) was the daughter of Charles Rook Wilde (1849-1927) and Alice Lloyd Wilde (1848-1937). Charles and Alice Wilde were both born in England, and immigrated to the United States in 1869. Jessie was born in Brooklyn, Ohio, in 1875 and after the turn-of-the-century moved to Twinsburg. In 1900, Jessie traveled to England, presumably to visit family. Jessie and James married on March 28, 1904 at Colva, Radnorshire in Wales. James Lloyd Harper was born in England in 1865 and immigrated into the United States in 1885 and was made a naturalized citizen in 1894. During his lifetime, James was once a South African gold miner and later an agriculturalist that operated greenhouses. After moving to Ohio in 1910, James operated a small dairy farm in Hudson and Jessie volunteered at the Women's Association of the First Congregational Church in Hudson where she was the head of the finances for the church suppers from 1916-1921. While at home, Jessie also was active in the Hudson Women's Club and the Summit County Horticulture Society. Jessie died in 1932, soon after James moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and lived there until his death in 1963. Both James and Jessie Harper were Hudson residents for over 20 years.