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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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A History of the Northern Peninsula
and its People, Vol. 2
Alvah Littlefield Sawyer, 1911

        [711-712]

        JAMES V. PIPER. - Distinguished as one of the pioneers of the Upper
     Peninsula, JAMES V. PIPER came to Iron River in the very early days of
     its existence, while his wife has the distinction of having lived in
     this vicinity longer than any other white woman, having come here to
     board miners in 1881.  MR. PIPER was born, March 20, 1857, in Arm-
     strong county, Pennsylvania, a son of WILLIAM PIPER, JR., a native of
     the Keystone state, and a grandson of WILLIAM PIPER, SR., who there
     spent his entire life.
        WILLIAM PIPER, JR., learned the millwright's trade when young, and
     after settling in Armstrong county carried that on in connection with
     general farming, owning and superintending the management of a good
     farm.  He there lived to the good old age of three score and ten
     years, an esteemed and respected citizen.  He married JANE MICKEY, who
     was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of WILLIAM MICKEY.  She survived
     him, spending her last years in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
        Attending the district school and assisting on the home farm, JAMES
     V. PIPER remained with his parents until eighteen years old, when he
     was working in a shingle mill.  Coming to Iron River, Michigan, in
     August, 1882, he was for a while employed in a shingle mill at the
     Daber mine, afterwards being engaged in mining on his own account for
     eight years.  Then taking up a homestead about twelve miles out, in
     townships forty-two and thirty-six, he subsequently worked a part of
     the time at the mines and a part of the time in clearing his own land
     and getting out logs, living on the homestead seven years.  In 1900
     MR. PIPER buil the PIPER House, a commodious frame structure, two
     stories in height, containing about fifty rooms, and conducted it suc-
     cessfully for five years, when he leased it.  In the meantime and
     since he has been actively engaged in exploring in the surrounding
     country, exploring not only the Young Mine but the McFarland and
     Buckholtz properties.
        MR. PIPER married, in 1900, MRS. CATHERINE (DONOVAN) HARRINGTON,
     who was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of JEREMIAH
     DONOVAN.  Her father, a native of county Cork, Ireland, emmigrated to
     Massachusetts, locating in South Boston, where he and his wife spent
     their remaining days.  The maiden name of his wife was JOHANNA COLLINS
     and she was a cousin of HON. PATRICK COLLINS, for many years promi-
     nent in the public affairs of Boston.  CATHERINE DONOVAN married for
     her first husband, in Lowell, Massachusetts, JAMES HARRINGTON, a
     native of that city, being a son of JOHN and MARY HARRINGTON.  In 1879
     Mr. and Mrs. HARRINGTON came to the Upper Peninsula, and for two years
     kept a boarding house at Quinnesee.  In 1881, at the earnest solici-
     tation of the Stambaugh Mining Company, they came to what is now Iron
     county, making the removal with mule teams, and pitched their camp
     near the present site of the Stambaugh Railway Station, MRS. HARRING-
     TON for many months thereafter being the only white woman within a
     radius of several miles.  The following year they bought the lot now
     occupied by the PIPER House, built a small frame dwelling, and MRS.
     PIPER has ever since been a resident of Iron River.  By her first mar-
     riage she had four children, all of whom are now deceased, namely;
     JAMES, JOHN, WILLIE and MAGGIE.

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