KNOX COUNTY OHIO ************************************************************** File contributed for use by Ohio Biographies Project by LeaAnn Rich March 1999 ************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Henry Howe LL.D. Knox County Lecky Harper was born in Ireland, 1815. His parents immigrated to the United States in 1820, and settled in Washington D.C., where his father shortly died, and the self sacrificing mother exerted all her faculties to the rearing and education of her four children, with whom she removed to Ohio in 1826. Mr. Harper early entered into journalism, at Steubenville. In late 1837 he edited the American Union. Later he studied law and was admitted to the Pittsburg bar while editing the "Pittsburger". He removed to Cadiz, Ohio, and then returned to Pittsburg, where as editor of the "Post", his vigorous support of the ten hour labor law brought him prominently into notice as a supporter of the rights of humanity. In 1853 he removed to Mount Vernon and purchased the "Democratic Banner", which he has since ably conducted and edited. Mr. Harper has served as president of the Ohio Editorial Association, and was elected as a Democrat to the State Senate in 1879. He is one of the oldest editors in the State, still in the harness, with force and vigor.