Snyder Family 2016 - Person Sheet
NameEzekiel “Zeke” Harper 
Birth28 Nov 1823, (W) Virginia
Death18 Mar 1892, West Virginia
BurialHARPER (Adam) Cemetery, Tucker Co., WV
FatherJohn “Adam” Harper (1779-1870)
MotherMargaret Wamsley (1785-1871)
Notes for Ezekiel “Zeke” Harper
...Hunter, Adventurer
William Harper was born on March 20, 1814. Son of the famed panther hunter Adam Harper, he grew up at the family farm along Clover Run in Tucker County.
Over the years, this solitary mountaineer became one of the greatest nimrods of the high Alleghenies. Even though he was 47 when the war began, Bill, always ready for a good scrap, promptly offered his services to Virginia forces as an independent scout and guide.
Younger brother Ezekiel was born on Nov. 28, 1823. Although he also rambled over the mountains in his youth, the wiry lad had a more scholarly bent than his 13 siblings. An avid reader, he kept close track of national affairs and dreamed of venturing out into the world and finding his fortune.
In the fall of 1848, Zeke headed west to find gold in California. Forced to spend the winter in Iowa, the next spring he joined a wagon train of "forty-niners." Upon reaching the sinks of the Humbolt River, the hardy mountaineer struck out alone across the Sierra Nevada on foot. After many thrilling adventures, he finally reached the gold fields.
Over the next 11 years, Zeke made his mark as a prospector, Indian fighter and merchant. Although he had made two brief trips back home during this time, the solitary wanderer returned for good in 1860.
Like Bill, he immediately sided with the Confederacy when the war broke out. ....
... The 'Swamp Dragons' On Jan. 8, 1862, brother Bill was back in action leading some bushwhackers in a fight against Capt. George R. Latham's Company B of the 2nd (West) Virginia Infantry at Armentrout's. After the skirmish, Latham left a mortally wounded soldier at a nearby home. According to an anonymous source, "the home guards came in a few days and bayoneted him in his bed and threw him in the river." The Harpers usually were very, wary but occasionally there would be a slip-up. In May, Zeke was leading 20 partisans on a raid near Beverly. After robbing a store, the Rebels made their way to Shaver's Mountain and stopped to cook supper. Harper, though, was unaware that Capt. Sampson Snyder and his band of "Swamp Dragons" were close by. Unexpectedly, the Northerners burst into the camp, scattering the graybacks and capturing their stacked rifles and some delicious mutton. The next day, to Zeke's eternal embarrassment, Snyder surprised him again along the banks of Gandy Creek. Upon reaching Staunton, though, he redeemed himself by sending word to Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson that a Union army led by Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont was advancing through the mountains toward the Shenandoah Valley via Franklin. .... ... A Sad End Zeke survived the war and returned to Tucker County. Except for some sojourns in the west, he lived there the rest of his life. Over the years, he accumulated 4,500 acres and gained wide renown as a country doctor. Owner of a fine home, he insisted that his builder dig a secret tunnel he could use if the Yankees ever came after him again. On March 18, 1892, Zeke died from the effects of a savage beating he had received a few nights before. The lifelong bachelor had made the mistake of opening the door to some cold, wet strangers and inviting them inside. Once they got the drop on the old man, the robbers clubbed him senseless and threw him in an outhouse. Someone discovered him a few hours later, but the tough, old grayback had fought his last battle. Excerpts From:
Two brothers lead Rebel guerrilla raids.
The Washington Times Oct 29 , 2005
Byline: Steve French, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
1881Father: Johan Jacob HARPER b: 20 MAR 1752 in Tulpehocken, Berks, PA c: 12 APR 1752 in Tulpehocken, Berks, PA Mother: Margaret SIMMONS b: 1751/1756
Children
1. Susannah HARPER b: 9 MAR 1808
2. Jacob Watson HARPER b: 17 MAY 1809
3. Eunice HARPER b: 28 OCT 1810 in , , VA
4. Mary HARPER b: 10 SEP 1811
5. Ruth HARPER b: 28 MAY 1812 in , Tucker, (W.) VA
6. William J. HARPER b: 20 MAR 1814
7. Lemuel HARPER b: 20 DEC 1816
8. John Adam HARPER b: 18 JUN 1818
9. Margaret HARPER b: 20 NOV 1820
10. Ezekiel HARPER b: 28 NOV 1823 in , , VA
11. Sarah Ann HARPER b: 29 JUL 1824
12. Jeroam HARPER b: 10 NOV 1826
13. Thaddeus HARPER b: 26 NOV 1829
14. Johnathan Watson HARPER b: 28 JUL 1832
15. infant HARPER b: 1834/1835
... The 'Swamp Dragons' On Jan. 8, 1862, brother Bill was back in action leading some bushwhackers in a fight against Capt. George R. Latham's Company B of the 2nd (West) Virginia Infantry at Armentrout's. After the skirmish, Latham left a mortally wounded soldier at a nearby home. According to an anonymous source, "the home guards came in a few days and bayoneted him in his bed and threw him in the river." The Harpers usually were very, wary but occasionally there would be a slip-up. In May, Zeke was leading 20 partisans on a raid near Beverly. After robbing a store, the Rebels made their way to Shaver's Mountain and stopped to cook supper. Harper, though, was unaware that Capt. Sampson Snyder and his band of "Swamp Dragons" were close by. Unexpectedly, the Northerners burst into the camp, scattering the graybacks and capturing their stacked rifles and some delicious mutton. The next day, to Zeke's eternal embarrassment, Snyder surprised him again along the banks of Gandy Creek. Upon reaching Staunton, though, he redeemed himself by sending word to Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson that a Union army led by Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont was advancing through the mountains toward the Shenandoah Valley via Franklin. .... ... A Sad End Zeke survived the war and returned to Tucker County. Except for some sojourns in the west, he lived there the rest of his life. Over the years, he accumulated 4,500 acres and gained wide renown as a country doctor. Owner of a fine home, he insisted that his builder dig a secret tunnel he could use if the Yankees ever came after him again. On March 18, 1892, Zeke died from the effects of a savage beating he had received a few nights before. The lifelong bachelor had made the mistake of opening the door to some cold, wet strangers and inviting them inside. Once they got the drop on the old man, the robbers clubbed him senseless and threw him in an outhouse. Someone discovered him a few hours later, but the tough, old grayback had fought his last battle. Excerpts From:
Two brothers lead Rebel guerrilla raids.
The Washington Times Oct 29 , 2005
Byline: Steve French, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
1881Father: Johan Jacob HARPER b: 20 MAR 1752 in Tulpehocken, Berks, PA c: 12 APR 1752 in Tulpehocken, Berks, PA Mother: Margaret SIMMONS b: 1751/1756
Children
1. Susannah HARPER b: 9 MAR 1808
2. Jacob Watson HARPER b: 17 MAY 1809
3. Eunice HARPER b: 28 OCT 1810 in , , VA
4. Mary HARPER b: 10 SEP 1811
5. Ruth HARPER b: 28 MAY 1812 in , Tucker, (W.) VA
6. William J. HARPER b: 20 MAR 1814
7. Lemuel HARPER b: 20 DEC 1816
8. John Adam HARPER b: 18 JUN 1818
9. Margaret HARPER b: 20 NOV 1820
10. Ezekiel HARPER b: 28 NOV 1823 in , , VA
11. Sarah Ann HARPER b: 29 JUL 1824
12. Jeroam HARPER b: 10 NOV 1826
13. Thaddeus HARPER b: 26 NOV 1829
14. Johnathan Watson HARPER b: 28 JUL 1832
15. infant HARPER b: 1834/1835