James S. Piper, 1859 - 1860

       ©  Kathy Duncan, 2025

James S. Piper returned to Washington, DC after his time in Nicaragua. If he completed a secret mission after his time there, I don't know what that entailed.

In 1859, James returned to his work as a contractor and advertised for men to work as pavers as well as for men to haul stone and gravel. He appears to have also been hiring the horses and carts needed to haul. 

The 1860 Washington DC City Directory places the residence of Jame Piper, the bricklayer, at 506 E South. 

The quest for the exact location of 506 E south will have to wait for another post, but this Civil War era map shows its proximity to the Capital building and to the Navy Yard. There were two E streets in Washington DC. One E street was located north of the Capital building, and the other E street was located south of the Capital building. This was also true of other lettered streets.

Civil War era map of Washington DC

The 1860 census gives us a snapshot of James S. Piper's household on 1 June 1860:

This census tells us that in 1860 James S. Piper, the contractor, was 42 years old and was born in Maryland. He owned no real estate and had $200 in personal property. His wife Elizabeth was 34 years old and was also born in Maryland. James S. Piper's son William H. Piper was 12 years old and was born in DC. William H. Piper had attended school within the last year.

To date, I have not determined what Elizabeth's maiden name was. I have determined that she was probably James S. Piper's second wife. His first wife was Mary O'Hara, who he married on 2 August 1841 in Baltimore, Maryland:

In 1845, their young son Henry Clay Piper died.

It should be noted that Henry Clay was a Whig who ran for president in 1844, the year of little Henry Clay Piper's birth. Henry Clay lost to James K. Polk. Ironically, Clay became a strong critic of the Mexican War. 

Another son, Horatio N Piper (aka Horace) was living in his grandfather Philip Piper's household in 1850. Horace was 8 years old and was born in Maryland. In 1870, Horatio N. Piper was boarding with L M Busey in Baltimore and working as a bookkeeper. In 1880, he was still living in Baltimore but with his wife Cora and two of his elderly Piper aunts: Lizzie and Mary. He was still working as a bookkeeper. 

Horatio N Piper married Cora E. Fletch in Boston, Massachusetts on 25 July 1873. His marriage record states that he was the son of James S. and Mary Piper. Cora was the daughter of Gilman S. and Sarah Fletch. 

James S. Piper and Mary O'Hara had at least two children:

1. Horatio N. Piper, born 1842 in Maryland

2. Henry Clay Piper, born 1844 in Maryland

At this point, it is impossible to know if William H. Piper, born in 1848, was the son of Mary O'Hara or Elizabeth. It is also impossible to know if there were additional children. 

On 15 June 1849, the Daily National Intelligencer included Mrs. Elizabeth Piper in their list of letters at the post office. At this point, it is impossible to know if this same Elizabeth married James S. Piper.

Locating James S. Piper on the 1850 census would clarify some of these questions. 

Capt James S. Piper, 1846

Capt James S. Piper, 1847 - 1848

Capt James S. Piper, 1850 - 1855

Col James S. Piper, 1856

Lt. Col James S. Piper, 1858