John Harry Culpepper1

Male, #35450, (26 Mar 1904 - 24 Feb 1986)

Parent*Capos Conley Culpepper (6 Apr 1879 - 11 Apr 1959)
Parent*Lou Anna Augusta Atchley (12 Jan 1878 - 9 Sep 1960)
John Harry Culpepper|b. 26 Mar 1904\nd. 24 Feb 1986|p35450.htm|Capos Conley Culpepper|b. 6 Apr 1879\nd. 11 Apr 1959|p35364.htm|Lou Anna Augusta Atchley|b. 12 Jan 1878\nd. 9 Sep 1960|p35365.htm|John M. Culpepper|b. 13 Nov 1835\nd. 10 Jan 1927|p32460.htm|Sarah A. E. Stephens|b. 22 Oct 1839\nd. 21 Jul 1906|p32461.htm|James H. Atchley|b. 2 Aug 1841\nd. 2 Feb 1903|p28436.htm|Louisiana M. Norris|b. 8 Jan 1843\nd. 9 Jan 1888|p28437.htm|

Birth*26 Mar 1904 John was born at Saltillo, Hopkins Co., Texas, on 26 Mar 1904. 
 He was the son of Capos Conley Culpepper and Lou Anna Augusta Atchley. 
1910 Census1910 John was listed as a son in Capos Conley Culpepper's household on the 1910 Census at Jefferson Co., Arkansas. 31 m-32/121/17. 
1920 Census1920 John, W. and Oscar was listed as a son in Capos Conley Culpepper's household on the 1920 Census at Grant Co., Arkansas. 41 m-ED 92/14/24. 
Photographed*circa 1925 He and Wilma Eunice Stuckey were photographed John Harry Culpepper (left front fender), son of Capos Conley.
Wilma Eunice Stuckey (right front fender), wife of Johnny Harrison
Lillian Culpepper (on hood), daughter of Capos Conley
The other people are Stuckeys. circa 1925 at Grant Co., Arkansas.2
Marriage*29 Mar 1925 He married Wilma Eunice Stuckey at Grant Co., Arkansas, on 29 Mar 1925. Married at sunrise on Easter Sunday, by the same minister that married Johnny's parents, Capos and Annie at sunrise, Easter Sunday in 1901..3,2
1930 Census*1 Apr 1930 John was listed as the head of a family on the 1930 Census at Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas.4 
Employment*1930 John's occupation: fireman at Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas, in 1930. 
Death*24 Feb 1986 He died at Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas, on 24 Feb 1986. 
Burial*26 Feb 1986 His body was interred on 26 Feb 1986 at Center Grove Cemetery, near, Sheridan, Grant Co., Arkansas.5 
Biography* Harry Culpepper was the son of Capos Conley and Lou Anna Augusta (Atchley) Culpepper. He was named for his grandfathers, John Malcolm Culpepper and James Harrison Atchley. 6 Although he was born in Texas, his parents moved the family to Arkansas while he was still an infant and this is where he grew up and was noted with his parents in 1910 and 1920 census records. He attended Oak Grove School, near Sheridan, AR. 7
     In 1925, Harry married Wilma Stuckey and they settled down to farm and raise their family near Sheridan, AR. However, around 1930, Harry moved his young family to Pine Bluff, AR and he joined the Fire Department there and worked his way up to the rank of Captain.7 He was also a member of the Jacob-Brump Masonic Lodge there.7
     Around 1954, Harry "retired" and he and his wife returned to the Oak Grove Community where he bought a Groundhog Sawmill which he operated until 1962. He was also a co-owner of a logging company. 7 Harry was active in his church. He served as a Trustee and as a member of the Board of Stewards of the Center Grove Methodist Church where he helped to establish the Center Grove Cemetery.7 Harry and his wife also installed carpeting in the sanctuary of the church and, after his wife's death, Harry arranged to have cushions installed in the church pews in her memory.7
     Harry was active in the community as well. In 1964, he was elected Justice of the Peace for the Washington-Simpson Townships and he continued to be reelected to the office until his death.7 He also helped organize the Center Grove R.C.I. Club and he helped obtain property for and build the Center Grove Community Center and he served on its Board. Obviously, with his background, Harry helped organize the Center Grove Volunteer Fire Department and served as the first Fire Chief helping to build a building to house the equipment and later serving on the Fire Department Board.7
     Harry also served as a member of the Grant County Fair Board for 23 years. After his death, the Board established a Memorial College fund in recognition of Harry's service to the community. From it, a scholarship is to be awarded each year to "a senior of any of the schools in Grant County who participated in the Grant County Fair during the previous five years by showing an article of their work, or an animal in the Fair."7
     Capos Conley "Chip" Culpepper, II, wrote of his memories of his uncle Harry:8
     He always had a "see-gar" clenched in his teeth, or a "chaw" of tobacco tucked in his cheek, and I don't think I ever saw him without a hat... usually a John Deere cap or a straw hat.... He was quite a character, and was always quick with a joke or funny story -- usually at my dad's [Conley Edward Culpepper's] expense.
     Harry's wife of 59 years died in 1984. Harry died in 1986 at the age of 81. 

Family

Wilma Eunice Stuckey (13 Apr 1908 - 8 Jun 1984)
Children

Charts Descendants of Capos Conley Culpepper of Grant Co., AR
Last Edited 2 Feb 2005

Citations

  1. E-mail from Johnny Harry Culpepper III to Lew Griffin, 1999.
  2. E-mail from Sandra Lynn Culpepper Merritt (Mrs. Stan Merritt), e-mail address to Lew Griffin & Warren Culpepper, 2001-2004.
  3. Capos Conley Culpepper II, A Collection of Culpeppers, Vol I, unpublished manuscript, 225 p., July 1993,
    p 91 'sunrise on Easter Sunday.'
  4. 1930 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 35-46, Sheet #11-B, Line 62, West Eleventh Ave., Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., AR
    Home rented, Amount $13.50, Radio=Yes, Farm=No
    Harry Culpepper, Head, M, 26, M, md@21, TX/TX/AR, City Fireman, Vet=No
    Wilma Culpepper, Wife, F, 21, M, md@16, AR/AR/AR, Not employed
    Versel Culpepper, Son, M, 3, AR/TX/AR
    Aubrey Culpepper, Son, M, 1, AR/TX/AR
    John H. Culpepper, Son, M, 7/12, AR/TX/AR.
  5. The cemetery record lists this individual as J. H. "Harry" Culpepper, suggesting that Harry was a nickname, and that his middle initial 'H' might have stood for Harrison.
  6. Tommie Reeves Smith notes
  7. Official Program of the 1986 Grant County [AR] Fair
  8. letter 14 Mar 1994