Alma Braden was born in Ohio in Apr 1866, according to her marriage license application. Her family moved to Pittsburgh shortly after that, and in 1870 were living in the Wilkinsburg area of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA. Alma was recorded as a 4-year old, residing with her parents, N.J. (Noble James) Braden, 35, born OH, and Caroline Braden, 32, born OH, and her older siblings. N.J. Braden was a commission merchant.
In Jan 1880, Alma, a student at Hiland School, successfully passed the first examination to be admitted to high school. The examination subjects were geography, arithmetic, drawing, reading and writing. A score of 65% or better entitled the student to a further examination the following summer. When the 1880 Census, was taken, Alma and family were recorded in Pittsburgh. She was 14.
It was common for Pittsburgers to go to Chautauqua in the summer. In Aug 1883, Alma and her future husband, Wilson Harper, were at Chautauqua at the same time. It is possible that they met there and a romance blossomed. At any rate, on 29 Nov 1887, Alma Braden, born __ Apr 1866 in OH, applied for a license to marry Wilson Harper in Allegheny Co., PA. She had no occupation and was residing in the 19th Ward, Pittsburgh, PA. The marriage was performed on 1 Dec 1887 by Rev. Boyd Vincent.
Alma bore a son, Noble Braden Harper, named for her father on or about 14 Jan 1889. The child lived only 4 days, and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh. The cause of death was capillary bronchitis.
Alma bore a second son, Harold Wilson Harper, on 8 Jan 1890. Alma lost her father on 23 May 1890. He died at home, at 157 Larimer, Pittsburgh, and her mother in 1898.
In 1900, Alma’s husband was living with his parents, but Alma was not recorded in the Harper household, and her whereabouts are not known. Given the number of errors found in the various Censuses, it is entirely possible she was in the household and the census taker missed her, or forgot to record her.
Alma’s husband, Wilson was, like her father, a commodities merchant, Wilson lost a considerable quantity of butter in a warehouse fire in 1898. Their home was sold in 1900, probably why he was living with his parents. He declared bankruptcy in 1901, was discharged from bankruptcy in 1902, and then virtually disappeared from the business pages of the Pittsburgh newspapers. He was living in New York in 1910 with his son. Again no mention of Alma. She may have been ill for a long time, per her obituary.
News obituary from the Pittsburgh Press, 3 Aug 1907, p. 9
Alma Braden Harper
Mrs. Wilson Harper, wife of Wilson Harper of Philadelphia, died Friday afternoon in a sanitarium at Mt. Pocono, Pa., after a lingering illness. Mrs. Harper is well known in Pittsburg, her father, the late N.J. Braden, having been a well-known merchant here and vestryman in Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Harper was an active worker. The funeral will take place from the family residence in Lansdowne, a Philadelphia suburb, on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Harper is survived by her husband and one child, Harold Wilson, now a student at Swarthmore College; by two sisters, Mrs. William J. Carlin and Mrs. Edward M. West, and one brother, James Braden, now a resident of New York.
Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 4 Aug 1907, p. 10
HARPER—On August 2, 1907, ALMA BRADEN HARPER, beloved wife of Wilson Harper. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services, Monday, 2 P.M. from her late residence, 56 East Greenwood avenue, Lansdowne, Del. Co., Pa. Interment private. Carriages will meet 1:32 P.M. train from Broad Street Station.
References
- 1870 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZLC-Y1P
- Examination, Pittsburgh Daily Post, 2 Jan 1880, p. 4: archives.post-gazette.com/image/87636661/
- 1880 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW62-31N
- Chautuaqua, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 24 Aug 1883, p. 3: archives.post-gazette.com/image/85616233/
- Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF9X-FT2
- Noble Braden Harper, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths, 1870-1905
- 1910 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M589-WSD
Biography provided by Don Harper
In Jan 1880, Alma, a student at Hiland School, successfully passed the first examination to be admitted to high school. The examination subjects were geography, arithmetic, drawing, reading and writing. A score of 65% or better entitled the student to a further examination the following summer. When the 1880 Census, was taken, Alma and family were recorded in Pittsburgh. She was 14.
It was common for Pittsburgers to go to Chautauqua in the summer. In Aug 1883, Alma and her future husband, Wilson Harper, were at Chautauqua at the same time. It is possible that they met there and a romance blossomed. At any rate, on 29 Nov 1887, Alma Braden, born __ Apr 1866 in OH, applied for a license to marry Wilson Harper in Allegheny Co., PA. She had no occupation and was residing in the 19th Ward, Pittsburgh, PA. The marriage was performed on 1 Dec 1887 by Rev. Boyd Vincent.
Alma bore a son, Noble Braden Harper, named for her father on or about 14 Jan 1889. The child lived only 4 days, and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh. The cause of death was capillary bronchitis.
Alma bore a second son, Harold Wilson Harper, on 8 Jan 1890. Alma lost her father on 23 May 1890. He died at home, at 157 Larimer, Pittsburgh, and her mother in 1898.
In 1900, Alma’s husband was living with his parents, but Alma was not recorded in the Harper household, and her whereabouts are not known. Given the number of errors found in the various Censuses, it is entirely possible she was in the household and the census taker missed her, or forgot to record her.
Alma’s husband, Wilson was, like her father, a commodities merchant, Wilson lost a considerable quantity of butter in a warehouse fire in 1898. Their home was sold in 1900, probably why he was living with his parents. He declared bankruptcy in 1901, was discharged from bankruptcy in 1902, and then virtually disappeared from the business pages of the Pittsburgh newspapers. He was living in New York in 1910 with his son. Again no mention of Alma. She may have been ill for a long time, per her obituary.
News obituary from the Pittsburgh Press, 3 Aug 1907, p. 9
Alma Braden Harper
Mrs. Wilson Harper, wife of Wilson Harper of Philadelphia, died Friday afternoon in a sanitarium at Mt. Pocono, Pa., after a lingering illness. Mrs. Harper is well known in Pittsburg, her father, the late N.J. Braden, having been a well-known merchant here and vestryman in Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Harper was an active worker. The funeral will take place from the family residence in Lansdowne, a Philadelphia suburb, on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Harper is survived by her husband and one child, Harold Wilson, now a student at Swarthmore College; by two sisters, Mrs. William J. Carlin and Mrs. Edward M. West, and one brother, James Braden, now a resident of New York.
Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 4 Aug 1907, p. 10
HARPER—On August 2, 1907, ALMA BRADEN HARPER, beloved wife of Wilson Harper. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services, Monday, 2 P.M. from her late residence, 56 East Greenwood avenue, Lansdowne, Del. Co., Pa. Interment private. Carriages will meet 1:32 P.M. train from Broad Street Station.
References
- 1870 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZLC-Y1P
- Examination, Pittsburgh Daily Post, 2 Jan 1880, p. 4: archives.post-gazette.com/image/87636661/
- 1880 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW62-31N
- Chautuaqua, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 24 Aug 1883, p. 3: archives.post-gazette.com/image/85616233/
- Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF9X-FT2
- Noble Braden Harper, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths, 1870-1905
- 1910 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M589-WSD
Biography provided by Don Harper
Alma Braden was born in Ohio in Apr 1866, according to her marriage license application. Her family moved to Pittsburgh shortly after that, and in 1870 were living in the Wilkinsburg area of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA. Alma was recorded as a 4-year old, residing with her parents, N.J. (Noble James) Braden, 35, born OH, and Caroline Braden, 32, born OH, and her older siblings. N.J. Braden was a commission merchant.
In Jan 1880, Alma, a student at Hiland School, successfully passed the first examination to be admitted to high school. The examination subjects were geography, arithmetic, drawing, reading and writing. A score of 65% or better entitled the student to a further examination the following summer. When the 1880 Census, was taken, Alma and family were recorded in Pittsburgh. She was 14.
It was common for Pittsburgers to go to Chautauqua in the summer. In Aug 1883, Alma and her future husband, Wilson Harper, were at Chautauqua at the same time. It is possible that they met there and a romance blossomed. At any rate, on 29 Nov 1887, Alma Braden, born __ Apr 1866 in OH, applied for a license to marry Wilson Harper in Allegheny Co., PA. She had no occupation and was residing in the 19th Ward, Pittsburgh, PA. The marriage was performed on 1 Dec 1887 by Rev. Boyd Vincent.
Alma bore a son, Noble Braden Harper, named for her father on or about 14 Jan 1889. The child lived only 4 days, and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh. The cause of death was capillary bronchitis.
Alma bore a second son, Harold Wilson Harper, on 8 Jan 1890. Alma lost her father on 23 May 1890. He died at home, at 157 Larimer, Pittsburgh, and her mother in 1898.
In 1900, Alma’s husband was living with his parents, but Alma was not recorded in the Harper household, and her whereabouts are not known. Given the number of errors found in the various Censuses, it is entirely possible she was in the household and the census taker missed her, or forgot to record her.
Alma’s husband, Wilson was, like her father, a commodities merchant, Wilson lost a considerable quantity of butter in a warehouse fire in 1898. Their home was sold in 1900, probably why he was living with his parents. He declared bankruptcy in 1901, was discharged from bankruptcy in 1902, and then virtually disappeared from the business pages of the Pittsburgh newspapers. He was living in New York in 1910 with his son. Again no mention of Alma. She may have been ill for a long time, per her obituary.
News obituary from the Pittsburgh Press, 3 Aug 1907, p. 9
Alma Braden Harper
Mrs. Wilson Harper, wife of Wilson Harper of Philadelphia, died Friday afternoon in a sanitarium at Mt. Pocono, Pa., after a lingering illness. Mrs. Harper is well known in Pittsburg, her father, the late N.J. Braden, having been a well-known merchant here and vestryman in Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Harper was an active worker. The funeral will take place from the family residence in Lansdowne, a Philadelphia suburb, on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Harper is survived by her husband and one child, Harold Wilson, now a student at Swarthmore College; by two sisters, Mrs. William J. Carlin and Mrs. Edward M. West, and one brother, James Braden, now a resident of New York.
Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 4 Aug 1907, p. 10
HARPER—On August 2, 1907, ALMA BRADEN HARPER, beloved wife of Wilson Harper. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services, Monday, 2 P.M. from her late residence, 56 East Greenwood avenue, Lansdowne, Del. Co., Pa. Interment private. Carriages will meet 1:32 P.M. train from Broad Street Station.
References
- 1870 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZLC-Y1P
- Examination, Pittsburgh Daily Post, 2 Jan 1880, p. 4: archives.post-gazette.com/image/87636661/
- 1880 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW62-31N
- Chautuaqua, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 24 Aug 1883, p. 3: archives.post-gazette.com/image/85616233/
- Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF9X-FT2
- Noble Braden Harper, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths, 1870-1905
- 1910 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M589-WSD
Biography provided by Don Harper
In Jan 1880, Alma, a student at Hiland School, successfully passed the first examination to be admitted to high school. The examination subjects were geography, arithmetic, drawing, reading and writing. A score of 65% or better entitled the student to a further examination the following summer. When the 1880 Census, was taken, Alma and family were recorded in Pittsburgh. She was 14.
It was common for Pittsburgers to go to Chautauqua in the summer. In Aug 1883, Alma and her future husband, Wilson Harper, were at Chautauqua at the same time. It is possible that they met there and a romance blossomed. At any rate, on 29 Nov 1887, Alma Braden, born __ Apr 1866 in OH, applied for a license to marry Wilson Harper in Allegheny Co., PA. She had no occupation and was residing in the 19th Ward, Pittsburgh, PA. The marriage was performed on 1 Dec 1887 by Rev. Boyd Vincent.
Alma bore a son, Noble Braden Harper, named for her father on or about 14 Jan 1889. The child lived only 4 days, and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh. The cause of death was capillary bronchitis.
Alma bore a second son, Harold Wilson Harper, on 8 Jan 1890. Alma lost her father on 23 May 1890. He died at home, at 157 Larimer, Pittsburgh, and her mother in 1898.
In 1900, Alma’s husband was living with his parents, but Alma was not recorded in the Harper household, and her whereabouts are not known. Given the number of errors found in the various Censuses, it is entirely possible she was in the household and the census taker missed her, or forgot to record her.
Alma’s husband, Wilson was, like her father, a commodities merchant, Wilson lost a considerable quantity of butter in a warehouse fire in 1898. Their home was sold in 1900, probably why he was living with his parents. He declared bankruptcy in 1901, was discharged from bankruptcy in 1902, and then virtually disappeared from the business pages of the Pittsburgh newspapers. He was living in New York in 1910 with his son. Again no mention of Alma. She may have been ill for a long time, per her obituary.
News obituary from the Pittsburgh Press, 3 Aug 1907, p. 9
Alma Braden Harper
Mrs. Wilson Harper, wife of Wilson Harper of Philadelphia, died Friday afternoon in a sanitarium at Mt. Pocono, Pa., after a lingering illness. Mrs. Harper is well known in Pittsburg, her father, the late N.J. Braden, having been a well-known merchant here and vestryman in Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Harper was an active worker. The funeral will take place from the family residence in Lansdowne, a Philadelphia suburb, on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Harper is survived by her husband and one child, Harold Wilson, now a student at Swarthmore College; by two sisters, Mrs. William J. Carlin and Mrs. Edward M. West, and one brother, James Braden, now a resident of New York.
Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 4 Aug 1907, p. 10
HARPER—On August 2, 1907, ALMA BRADEN HARPER, beloved wife of Wilson Harper. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services, Monday, 2 P.M. from her late residence, 56 East Greenwood avenue, Lansdowne, Del. Co., Pa. Interment private. Carriages will meet 1:32 P.M. train from Broad Street Station.
References
- 1870 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZLC-Y1P
- Examination, Pittsburgh Daily Post, 2 Jan 1880, p. 4: archives.post-gazette.com/image/87636661/
- 1880 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW62-31N
- Chautuaqua, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 24 Aug 1883, p. 3: archives.post-gazette.com/image/85616233/
- Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF9X-FT2
- Noble Braden Harper, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths, 1870-1905
- 1910 U.S. Census: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M589-WSD
Biography provided by Don Harper
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