My Genealogy Hound

Henry Kuper Sr., merchant tailor, of Fort Smith, Ark., was born in Westphalia, Prussia, October 8, 1832, and is the son of B. H. and Mary Ann Kuper. The father was a weaver by trade until late in life, when he engaged in the general produce business. He died in 1860 at the age of sixty years. He was forced into the army under the first Napoleon. After his Russian campaign he joined the regular army, and fought against him at the battle of Waterloo. B. H. and Mary Ann Kuper were the parents of three children, Henry being the only one who has crossed the ocean to America. He served an apprenticeship at the tailor trade while in his native country, and was a journeyman for four years before coming to America. He arrived in this country in 1854, and was seven weeks and three days in making the voyage. He worked at his trade for seven months in New York City, and went from there to Waterloo, of the same State, where he remained four years engaged in his business. In 1859 he came to Fort Smith, where he has been in business for himself since 1861. This is the oldest tailoring establishment in the city. He was married in Waterloo, N. Y., in February, 1855, to Miss Gertrude Ermann, daughter of Kasper and Gertrude Ermann, her father being a stone-mason and contractor by trade. By his marriage Mr. Kuper became the father of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and six are now living: Mary, wife of Henry Limber; Henry, the present partner with his father in the tailor business, and who married Miss Lizzie Theurer, who bore him three children (Henry, Martin and Bernard); Lizzie, wife of Antone Kasberg; Ann (deceased) who was the wife of B. Upton; Theresa, wife of Paul Guenzel; Agnes and Clara; Gertrude died in infancy. Mr. Kuper and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, of which he is treasurer, and of which his son, Henry, Jr., is recording secretary.