Berry RAPER
- Born: 1803
- Marriage: Mary Ann EVANS
- Died: Jan 20, 1836, Owen Co In, at age 33
 General Notes:
Berry Raper
1803-1837
Barry Raper was the son of Greene County pioneers, Thomas and Betsy ( Bray) Raper, In Owen County he taught school and operated a ferry across White River at Spencer. He married Mary Ann "Polly" Evans, daughter of Alexander and Rachel (Ashley) Evans. In 1837 when Berry Raper died, he left the widow and four children:
Betsyan Matilday, William Alexander, James Leander, and Granville Fain. Later Mary Ann Raper married Thomas Evans and lived in Clay Township.
Berry Raper taught in the era of subscription schools, which meant that each family paid the teacher for its child's schooling. When Mary Ann settled the estate, Henry Prettle, George Isahower, and William Coffey owed. him. She paid Sion W. Bray, Clinton C. Owens, and Elijah C. Dyer for her children's schooling, and Elijah Coffey for boarding a child at school.
Alex and Granville Raper moved to Illinois. Matilday did not many. James L. Raper (1830-1879) married Nancy Cline (1832-1921), daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Abernathy) Cline. Rapers were parents of: Mary E. "Lizzie", Emmaline, Susan Victoria, and Emery A. The family lived in Worthington for a short time. Susan, who was nearly ten when President Lincoln was shot, recalled hearing the bells tolling and the people wearing black. Soon after that, they moved back to Spencer and kept boarders while the railroad was being built
They lived at 307 South Montgomery Street. That is the house where Lizzie (Raper) Padgett had her dressmaking business for several years and where Lizzie's daughter, Bammye Ocheltree lived about the middle of the twentieth century. Emmeline and Emery died young. Bammye Padgett, daughter of E. A. Padgett and Lizzie (Raper) Padgett, married Forrest Draper, and they were parents of two sons: Lauron and Claude. Later Bammye named Charley B. Ocheltree. Susan V. Raper married James K. Smith.
Noted events in his life were:
• Occupation: School Teacher, Ferry Owner And Operator On White River.
Berry married Mary Ann EVANS, daughter of Alexander EVANS and Rachel ASHLEY.
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