His obituary was in The Gastonia Gazette on Friday, August 18, 1911.
Mr. W.J. Harper Dead.
Mr. W.J. Harper, who resided at No. 534 Harvie avenue, died last Saturday afternoon in the Bethel neighborhood, near Clover. He was visiting relatives in that section and was stricken with paralysis. Following funeral services at Bethel church Sunday the body was interred in the Bethel cemetery. Deceased came to Gastonia several years ago from the Bethel section. He was bout 50 years old and leaves a wife and one daughter to mourn his death.