Our name represents entrepreneurism, grit and the pursuit of perfection – Harper for Sara’s father and James for Kristi’s grandfather – two influential people in our lives who created successful businesses for their own. 

When we first met, we bonded over the entrepreneurial influence in each of our families. When we decided to start our business, it took us a while to find the perfect name. We wanted a name that accurately reflected our values, hard work and family ties. When we came up with Harper & James, it felt like the perfect combination of honoring our past while looking to create our own future.

HARPER

Sara’s father, Milton Eugene Harper was known as a vigorous trial lawyer. He believed strongly in his mission to serve his clients, preserve their legal rights, and ensure they were properly represented in court. 

Milt grew up in Hannibal, Missouri and moved to Columbia, Missouri after graduation. Starting in college as a participant in the R.O.T.C. program at the University of Missouri, Milt served his country proudly in the United States Army and later in the Army Reserves. In addition to serving his country, he began his entrepreneurial journey at a young age, putting himself through college and law school booking bands for events across mid-Missouri. Milt booked hundreds of acts throughout the ‘60s and early ‘70s – most notably Ike and Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers and Elton John. 

After earning his J.D., Milt was the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney from 1972 to 1978 and a Boone County Associate Circuit Judge from 1978 to 1982. He founded Harper, Evans, Wade & Netemeyer in 1983. He was a practicing attorney for over 40 years.

Milt regularly accepted and excelled in difficult and challenging cases. Milt not only worked for, but he demanded justice for his clients. Throughout his four decades of practicing law, he was able to preserve the liberty and freedom of many people who had been improperly and wrongly charged in criminal offenses.

JAMES

Kristi’s grandfather, Nick James Cannell, was known as a perfectionist, who innovated the pie-making business. Here’s his story:

Nick returned to Columbus, Ohio, after serving in the European Theater of World War II, and had two choices with regard to employment. He could work at Curtis Wright and take his place on the assembly line. Or, he could take the riskier route and go to work in the family bakery beside his father. He chose the latter. The Quality Bakery was known locally for fresh donuts and homemade pies. Nick would get right in the kitchen and experiment – always keeping a keen eye on quality. No shortcuts with him, mind you.

Everything changed when his father became ill and could no longer lead the bakery. He asked Nick to take over and make the most of it. He was still in his 20s and finding his way. No time to feel sorry for himself, he just dug in and got busy. Quickly, it became clear to Nick that the pie business was his future – and frozen pies at that.

So, he got busy experimenting with better ways to freeze fruit. In fact, The Quality Bakery became the first to figure out how to flash freeze individual fruit pieces, thus ensuring a superior product. Mountain Top Pies was born. Nick would take his business from a local bakery to a national brand, known for its consistency, quality and great taste. His business caught the eye of Lancaster Colony and in 1975, they would add Mountain Top Pies to their ever-growing food business.