Harpers Ferry Cemetery
also known as Sandy Point Cemetery
The first known burial - John W. Tucker in 1852.
Tucker was a friend of William Klett who owned the
land at that time.
The last recorded burial - Margaret Cole in 1930.
[Contrary to local lore] We have searched but can't
find any proof of bodies being washed out of the
cemetery and found bobbing down the river.
The cemetery is located on top of prehistoric Indian
burial mounds. The cemetery most likely preserved the
burial mounds.
Burials &
Research Notes
Margaret Cole, b. 4/15/1930,
Stillborn.
Ada Florence Harper Coppernoll, b.
09/26/1851 in Michigan, d. 09/07/1870 from
complications of childbirth. She was the daughter of
David and Harriet (Butler) Harper and wife of P.V.
Coppernoll. Her daughter and namesake, Ada F. (aka
Ada II) survived, marrying James Vogan in Nebraska.
They had two children: daughter, Edris and son, Alan.
Harvey 'Handy' Croxton, b. 1875. A
clammer, he drowned on 06/26/1903.
Harvey M. Delphey, b. 1898, son of
Milton O. and Minnie L. (Korth) Delphey. Died, 1906
of diptheria, at their home on Delphey Island, across
from this cemetery. His siblings were: Frank, Viola,
Edward A. and Arthur E. Harvey's remains were
disinterred from Sandy Point cemetery and reburied at
Pleasant Grove cemetery, McGregor, Iowa.
Thomas Dodds, b. abt 1841. Civil War
veteran, son of George Dodds. Married widow Mary
Nolan, 1867. Total children (hers/theirs) were 7.
Edward Hammond, b. 12/22/1884.
Veteran, then clammer. Died 03/12/1911 of several
illnesses.
David Harper, b. 03/22/1819, in
Ireland. A driving force in the community. The city's
name was changed from Winfield to Harper's Ferry in
his honor. He was a member of the Free Masons. Wife
Harriet, children: Ada F., David Hall and Cora J.
Harper. His obituary appeared in the McGregor
Times, 03/17/1869:
"We have received notice but no
particulars of the death of David Harper of
Harper's Ferry, Allamakee County, on Thursday
evening last at his residence. It is said by some
that he died of apoplexy, by some that heart
disease relieved him from this troubled world, by
other, that he sickened on Monday last and died
on Thursday, at 6 P.M. No matter when or how Mr.
Harper left this world, the people of Allamakee
County have lost one of the noblest specimens of
manhood that ever trod their soil. He was about
48 years old. We expect particulars in the
Lansing papers."
Harriet Butler Harper, b. 1831 in
Ohio. She was a long time operator of the Harper
House, which was located directly across the street
from today's Harper's Cafe. It was long assumed that
Harriet was buried here with her first husband, David
Harper, but no records can be found. We think that
Harriet is buried in the Creston, Iowa or
Omaha/Herman, Nebraska area, where she lived with her
children after her divorce from P.V. Coppernoll. This
marriage was one of convenience for Harriet and P.V.
to help one another raise their children. The
marriage lasted 10 years, ending in divorce abt
1881-82. We found that her heirs sold the Harper
House abt 1889. We, and a descendant of Harriet,
continue to look for her death and burial records.
Update! October 2009: Harriet
Harper died in LaCrosse, Wisconsin February 10,
1889. She died of Bright's disease and was buried
on February 12,1889 in Oak Grove Cemetery,
LaCrosse. According to Harriet's death
certificate she was a nurse.
George Kish, b. 03/05/1866. He
was a laborer, became very ill, and died on
07/03/1923.
Richard Ishmael, b. 1841, and died
of pneumonia on 12/17/1909. He was a commercial
fisherman and trapper.
John Gilhart, b. unknown. Died
05/12/1883 of dropsy. His last residence was the
local poor house.
John W. Johnson, b. 1844. A wood
chopper, he died of a skull fracture, apparently hit
by a train. Found dead by the train tracks on
01/06/1911.
William Klett, b. 05/28/1825. A
farmer and saloon keeper, he was very active in the
community. He appears in the 1856 Iowa State census
as Head of Household with siblings. 1860 census
married to widow Elizabeth Flannigan. By 1880,
hers/their children: John F., Catherine F., Peter F.,
Elizabeth K. and William K. Jr. He owned the Andy's
Mountain area, then known as Klett's Hollow. His wife
Elizabeth is buried at the St. Joseph's - Paint Rock
cemetery. Elizabeth's first husband was Peter F.
Flannigan, b. 1820.
Peter LaTronce, b. 1824. No
gravemarker or death record found. The 1860 census
shows him aged 36 with family. By the 1880 census,
his widow Mary is with children: Peter, Mary, Annie,
John, Julia and Agnes (age 4).
John W. Tucker, b. 1822, d.
08/24/1852.
Louis Wilhite, b. unknown, d.
11/7/1921. Drowned, death cert. says he was about 30,
no occupation listed.
Matilda S. Neil, b. 1855 in Canada,
d. age 6 yrs. 3 mo. Daughter of John & Matilda
Neil; a sister Mary.
Waring. Gravestone is at the south
end of the cemetery. The 1900 census for Taylor twp.
shows 2 Waring families.
Mother. Gravestone found by a stump
on the south end of the cemetery.
McManus. b. 10/10/1882, stillborn.
David Spores, b. 8/4/1851, d.
11/28/1918. Laborer, struck by a train.
Sullivan. This burial is listed by
'Woodmansee', no records or marker found.
