Malachi Harper Gravestone

Gravestone at Little Creek Batist Church Cemetery, Jesup, GA
Photo courtesy of Moses Westberry
the following provided by Albert Harper:
Malachi Harper was a member of Little Creek Baptist Church in Gardi, GA as was both of his wives. He was active in the church from its early beginning in 1824. He was deacon of the church and held other offices in the Church. The support of his family was from farming, and endeavor he persued with success. He provided a comfortable home and made welcom all comers. He served in the Confederate Army the last year of the Civil War when Georgia State milita drafted him into service. He is buried at the Little Creek Baptist Curch Cemetery, formerly known as the Knight family cemetery.
Malachi is the 3rd child of James and Mary Smith HARPER.
1840 census: GA, Wayne Co.
Malachi Harper
1 M 0-5 years old (Joshua)
1 M 5-15 years old (unknown)
1 M 20-30 years old (Malachi)
1 F 20-30 years old (Mary)
1850 census: GA, Wayne
Malachi Harper age 33 M
Mary age 30 F
Joshua 10 M
Harriet 9 F
James 7 M
Elija 4 M
Washington 2 M
Mary 2/12 F
1860 census: GA, Wayne
Malachi Harper age 41
Mary Jane age 37
James age 17
Eliza age 14
Washington age 12
Mary E age 10
Eliza age 8
Sarah M age 5
Nancy age 4
Malachi age 2
Charles A age 1
Samuel N. Lane age 11
Thomas O. Lane age 9
1870 census: GA, Wayne Co., Screven has:
Malachi age 53? Farmer ( b. abt 1817 )
Mary Ann age 48 Keeping House ( b. abt 1822 )
Eliza age 17
Sarah K age 15
Nancy age 14
Malach Jr. age 13
Charles A age 12
Ophelia age 11
Oreanna age 9
Rachel age 8
William S. age 6
John D. age 4
1880 Ga Census, Wayne Co., Dist 97, 23 Jun 1880, Pg 439
Harper, Matichi 64, GA,GA,GA
, Mary 50, GA,GA,GA wife
, Stephen 14, GA,GA,GA
, John D. 12, GA,GA,GA
MARRIAGE notes:
1) Marie Poncell Young sent written notes (2-16-2003) saying Opelia was 14th child of Malachi by second wife Mary Jane (Sykes) Lane
2) Marriage record found for Malachi Harris + Mary Lane July 13, 1855
3) There is a marriage record of Mary A. J. Sikes to Joseph E. Lane Sept 19, 1832
Below is what I found in the Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia.
Harper, Malachi 1817-1900 WAYNE
Malachi Harper was a son of James and Mary (Strickland) Harper and was born in Wayne County, Dec. 10, 1817. He lived his entire life in Wayne County and died Jan. 11, 1900. He was married twice. His first wife was Mary Elizabeth Knight, born 1820 in Wayne County, a daughter of Abraham Knight (Sr.). She died of childbirth in 1855, and Mr. Harper then married Mrs. Mary Jane (Sykes) Lane, July 13, 1855. There were eight children by the first wife and nine children by the second wife, as follows:
1. Joshua A. b. 1839, m. Matlida Causey, dau. Of Wm. R.
2. Harriet b. 1842, m. 1st: Wilson C. Jones, July 1, 1858, 2nd. Henderson Horton, Jan. 26, 1893
3. James W. b. 1843, m. Martha Causey, Nov. 13, 1865, dau. Of Wm. R.
4. Elijah b. 1845, m. Jane Popwell, June 7, 1864, dau. Of George
5. Geo. Washington b. 1848, died single, age 16 years
6. Mary Elizabeth b. 1850, m. Henderson Horton, Nov. 30, 1865 (his first wife)
7. Eliza b. 1852, m. 1st: John B. Robinson, July 28, 1877; 2nd Daniel Alderson, Feb. 6, 1879
8. Sarah Matilda b. 1854, m. William Westberry, Oct. 30, 1873
9. Nancy b. 1856, died young after 1870
10. Malachi b. 1858, m. Tiny Westberry, Nov. 2, 1876, dau. Of Charlton and Martha
11. Charles A. b. 1859, m. Georgia Brooker, Oct. 12, 1877, dau. Of James
12. Ophelia b. 1860, m. James F. Chapman, Jr., Oct. 12, 1877
13. Oceana b. 1861, m. William Riley Bennett, Dec. 28, 1876
14. Rachel b. 1862, m. Charles Rodgers
15. William S. b. 1864, died young
16. Stephen b. 1866, m. Nora Crosby
17. John D. b. 1866, m. Georgia Knight, dau. Of Elijah