E. Harper & Son Funeral Home is the oldest continuously family owned and operated funeral home business in New Haven and Allen County . We provide the finest families of Allen County with a caring homelike atmosphere born of the experience of four generations with deep roots in this family-centered, Churches-oriented community in Allen County . 

  Edward Harper (1855-1928), a second generation son of  William Harper of County Tyrone , Ireland , purchased the existing funeral home/furniture business in 1889 from Brent Lovell.   Mr. Lovell, a cabinet maker (as was Edward Harper) had owned the business located at the corner of Middle and Broadway Streets since 1872, when he purchased it from the original owner, Henry Tenge.   Edward Harper was serving as Jefferson Township Trustee at the time he purchased the business.  His parents were among the original settlers of eastern Allen County .  His father, William, helped to organize the township in 1840 along with Jared and Alanson Whitney, Aretas and Reuben Powers, Henry Castleman and Joseph Gronauer.

Little embalming was being done at the time Edward Harper purchased the business.  The body was kept in a special coffin lined in metal that allowed the body to be packed in ice.  A small window was situated over the face and allowed the family and friends to view the deceased.  On the day of the funeral, which was held in the family’s home, Mr. Harper removed the body, dressed it and placed it in a casket.  He finished most of the caskets himself (as needed), crafting the handles and exterior covering and applying the inner lining to a shell, which he purchased.  He kept one or two already trimmed for display purposes, however, samples of the various materials were more often taken to the home for families to make their selections. As embalming methods were perfected, Mr. Harper took week-long embalming courses offered in Fort Wayne by traveling trade companies. This was contrary to some funeral homes of the time in Allen County whose owners did not receive the necessary training   He embalmed in the home of the deceased until around 1910 when a building was erected on family property at what is now 1244 Summit Street and the business was moved to this location. 

Emmet Edward Harper (1884-1958) joined his father in the business in 1902, which then became Ed. Harper & Son Undertakers.   Emmet married, Fannie Greenawalt (1889-1980), and she joined him in the family business. Both Emmet and his wife  held Indiana and Ohio Funeral Director Licenses.  Until 1947, Indiana law stated that it was only necessary to declare ownership of a funeral establishment to receive a license from the State. After 1947, schooling and testing was necessary to receive a Indiana State license to operate a funeral home.  In 1924 he moved the business to 939 Main Street , a two-story brick Italianate former boarding house, where he and his family lived on the second floor.  Three of their six children, George , Homer , and Stanley , became licensed upon gradation from mortuary science institutions.  George (1910-1954) helped his father and retained his license until his death.  Stanley (1926-) worked in the business from 1948-1971 as a funeral director and embalmer.  Emmet remained semi-active in business until his death in 1958.    

Homer Hugh Harper (1923-2006) joined his father in business upon discharge from the US Navy in 1946, attending Blackburn College and graduating from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science.  In 1947 he married Erna Verle Van Hoek (1924-1987) who was a partner in the family corporation.  The family of four (Kristine, Gregory, Lisa and Mitchell) lived above the business on Main Street which underwent remodeling in 1953 to expand the chapel, offices and add more modern conveniences as well as additional parking.  The family also maintained an ambulance service until 1979.  Sons,  Greg and Mitch were the first in Allen County to become licensed emergency medical technicians.  Homer remained a well known figure in the town and active in the community affairs and the business into his 80’s, retiring in 2004.

Greg Harper became a full partner in the family business in 1974.  He attended Hanover College and Indiana University- Ft. Wayne, graduating from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1974.  In 1981 an expanded new modern facility was opened at US 930 E and Werling Road , the former site of the Schnelker farmstead.  The new facility came with substantially larger chapels and visitation areas, greatly larger off-street parking, two covered porticoes, and is fully handicap accessible.  

Over the past century the business has seen many changes.  From horse drawn hearses and ambulances to the automotive hearse and ambulances which were purchased in 1913,  embalming and restorative art came into existence, procedures have moved from family residence to the funeral home, and caskets are no longer assembled on premises.  After WWII is when our current trend came to be, with calling at the funeral home and a service at the funeral home/Churches.  This unique family owned business remains committed to meeting the needs of the families of Allen County .