Lydia Harper was born on December 18, 1810, and lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, throughout her life. In 1837, she married Benjamin Farnham, a Philadelphia businessman. Their three sons were Thomas (b. 1838), Edwin (b. 1842), and George (b. 1845). Lydia Harper died on April 16, 1856.
Condy Raguet was born in Philadelphia on January 28, 1784, and became a successful merchant after attending the University of Pennsylvania. He was a colonel during the War of 1812 and later studied law. Raguet was admitted to the bar in 1820, the same year that President John Quincy Adams appointed him U.S. consul to Rio de Janeiro. Raguet served until 1827 and remained in Brazil until 1830. Raguet married Catharine Simmons (1788-1877) on December 10, 1807, and they had one daughter, Margaret. During their time in Brazil, the Raguet family owned at least two young slaves. Condy Raguet died on March 22, 1842.
From the guide to the Lydia Harper collection, Harper, Lydia collection, 1822-1830, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)
