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12.12.08

Jay Dean Harper’s American Dream

Some of my recent posts have mentioned various ways that I believe the American dream has been hijacked and perverted. Today I would like to paint a picture of one version of the American dream which I believe has made our country great. I say one version of the American dream because there are so many stories and variants that encompass the American dream that many of us believe and want to believe. It would be criminal to limit the American dream to just one narrative. But none the less here is one narrative.

My grandfather, Jay Dean Harper, was born in a two room log cabin in “Dark Hollar” outside Somerset, Kentucky on April 26, 1927 to Henry and Ina Harper. He was the eldest of 6 children. Jay was a graduate of Shopville High School in Somerset where he was on the basketball team and voted “Most likely to become an auctioneer or politician” by his classmates. (There is something to be said for high schoolers who view auctioneers and politicians in the same light. I hope I don’t offend too many auctioneers.)

I grew up hearing the legend of “Dark Hollar” and had always envisioned it as a small town in Kentucky. When I was in my teen years, we visited the homestead called “Dark Hollar.” It was nothing more than a small log cabin in the middle of a cow pasture far away from anything. I still remember that as we drove up to it, we dodged cow pies along the way. At the time I marvelled and struggled to understand what it meant that someone I knew grew up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere with no utilities. My great uncle, Arnold, relayed an amusing and insightful anecdote about those years. The story goes that Jay was on leave from the military and returned home while it was raining. At the time electricity had somehow been run to the cabin. (Having been there, for the life of me, I can’t understand how that was possible.) There was a single light bulb hanging on the porch. For some reason Jay decided to hang up his wet coat on it to dry. It wasn’t long before the coat was on fire. As Arnold humbly put it, “we were still getting used to electricity.”

In 1947 after being honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy, Jay moved to Indianapolis to find employment on the advice of his Uncle Albert. He succeeded in finding work at Chevrolet and also took a part�?time job as a “Soda Jerk�? at Hooks Drug Store. He also succeeded in finding a bride, Virginia, in Indianapolis. Virginia had a young son from a previous marriage named Ralph Wendel. (Ralph is my father.) Jay and Virginia had three children of their own Vonda, VJ, and Vickie. They added another daughter, Sherrie, who needed a home. I am unaware of the details, all I know is she needed a home and she is part of the family.

In the early years Jay would work all day at Chevrolet and then haul trash in the evenings. These jobs were procured by a simple ad in the newspaper and were booked by Virginia during the day. Like most business stories I have heard, the desire to better oneself and the willingness to work hard developed into a full time job. In 1949 Jay’s Moving Company was founded. For 24 years the kitchen was where jobs were booked, payroll was calculated, pay envelopes were filled and passed out, bills were paid and of course meals were prepared and served. God blessed the business whose red trucks always displayed Jay’s favorite verse, John 3:16, because Jesus was his personal Savior. (If you are an Indianapolis old timer, you might remember those big red trucks.) In 1973 Jay’s Moving moved to 1132 Prospect Street in the heart of Fountain Square. It was a Christian witness in the community and all five children learned the value of a good work ethic as a result of working in the business at one time or another. Jay and Virginia ran Jay’s Moving for almost 60 years, an amazing testament to their hard work, honesty and trustworthiness. Jay and Virginia were married for nearly 60 years, an amazing testament to their dedication, patience, and love for one another.

Jay enjoyed bowling, fishing, spending time wiht his family and serving his Lord. He lived according to Colossians 3:17,

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

His faith was steadfast. He was secure in knowing he would live eternally with his Savior, Jesus Christ. On Tuesday, December 3rd he awakened in Glory where he is with his Creator and loved ones who preceded him in death. His desire would be to be with you in Heaven too.

My grandfather’s funeral truly was a celebration. It had its sad moments, but it was a tremendous encouragement to me and has helped crystallize my understanding of the man that went before me. There are two things that stood out to me as I listened to others speak of him and as I considered his life. First, a Pastor that knew him well commented that when Jay prayed he prayed like a little child. There was a humility, simplicity and sincerity in his prayers that we all would do well to emulate. I know this from experience as I have heard many of those prayers. They are and will be a lasting reminder to me. Second, throughout his life he carried in his wallet a picture of that cabin in “Dark Hollar.” Whenever someone asked where he was from, he would pull out his wallet and give them the full story of “Dark Hollar.” I can’t say precisely why he did this, but I believe that he did it to show people that he understood and remembered his humble beginnings. I also believe he did it to reinforce that in America it matters little from where you came. This is the common thread of what I believe to be the American dream.

Author: Joseph Wendel | Permalink | 1 Comment | Daily Entries

John 14:6

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Jay Dean Harper’s American Dream

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