Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 66

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 66

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After his service iu the army Mr. Harbaugh returned to Coles County, where for five years he engaged in farming, then removed to Mad- ison County, Ind., manufactured tile there for a time and then engaged in the same occupation in Edinburg, Ill. Some years later he located in Springfield and spent about five years in that locality. For the past four years he has held the post of janitor of the public school at Me- chanicsburg, which he ably and satisfactorily fills. He is a Republican In political views and while a resident of Edinburg served as a mein- ber of the Town Board. He is a member of the Methodist Church and belongs to Maroa Post Grand Army of the Republic. He is well known in Mechanicsburg and vicinity, where he has won a reputation for reliability and honesty.

Mr. Harbaugh was married near Sullivan, Moultrie County, January 14, 1872, to Mrs. L'li- cetta (Taylor) Hawkins, who was born near Wiuchester, Va., May 7, 1843, daughter of Peter Taylor and wife, also natives of Virginia. Peter Taylor was a farmer by occupation and in 1859 located near Oakland. Coles County, III., where he carried on farming until his death. Mrs. Taylor died in Indiana. Mrs. Harbaugh died December 18, 1908, having had four children, two of whom survive: Della, wife of William Ogden, residing in Mechanicsburg with Mr. Har- baugh; James E., a foreman in the shops of the Wabash Railroad Company at Moberly, Mo. There are eight grandchildren in the family. Mr. Harbaugh owns a comfortable residence in Mechanicsburg.

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HARBERT, Samuel M., a retired farmer living at Illiopolis, Ill., was born near LaFayette, Ind., May 31, 1837, and is a son of Eli and Mary (Hulbert) Harbert, the former born near Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1809, and the latter born in Virginia in 1817. The father was a tanner, farmer and shoemaker, and he and his wife moved to Indiana from Ohio, settling on a farm lear LaFayette. Mr. Harbert died in 1839 and his widow survived until 1863. The fathers of Mr. and Mrs. Harbert both fought in the War of 1812. Samuel M. Harbert is one of three children, the others being: Eli, a farmer of Sangamon County, and Nancy, married A. D. Gilbert, who died in 1904, and she now iives in Illiopolis, in the home she lias occu- pied for forty-one years.

The education of Samuel M. Harbert was received at Wolf Creek in the district school, and his first teacher was William Ide. His grandfather. James Harbert, located on a farm on Wolf Creek, Sangamon County, in 1839, and lived there until his death, and on this farın Samuel M. lived untii 1863, being partly reared by his grandparents. Mr. Harbert be- gan farming on his own account in Illiopolis Township and lived there until 1909, then moved to the village of Iliiopolis, where he owns a comfortable home, and he has since iived retired from business activities and cares. He still owns a farm of 120 acres in the town- ship. He was well acquainted with Abraham Lincoin in his younger days and was always his warm personal friend.

Mr. Harbert was married Christmas Day, 1862, to Zerelda Miller, who was born in Me- chanicsburg, Sangamon County, daughter of Nathan Miller, an early settier of Sangamon County, who spent the rest of his life on a farın near Mechanicsburg, and died in Dawson, Ili. His wife's maiden name was Anna Lau- denbeck. who died in Dawson, Ill. Mr. Har- bert and his wife had four children, of whom three survive: Jolin Harbert, a farmer of Sangamon County; Anna, wife of William Clendenen, also a farmer of Sangamon County ; Ada M., wife of William Gall, living on her father's farin. There are six grandchildren in the family.

Mr. Harbert is a Democrat in politics and served several years as School Trustee in Il- Hopolis Township. He belongs to the Lodge of A. F. & A. M., of Illiopolis. He is a mem- ber of the Christion church and is always ready to do his share towards promoting any cause calculated to benefit the community. He is a public-spirited, representative citizen and is universally respected.

HARBOLD, Jacob, a seif-made business man of Springfield, has built up a large enterprise from a smail beginning, and is now a recognized au- thority along the line of his specialty. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., March 10, 1859, son of Jacob and Fanny Harbold, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in youth. The

parents were married in the United States and in 1860 came to Springfield where for twenty years the father was engaged in an express business. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church and he and two other per- sons bought the old church near the Chieago & Alton depot. In politics he was a Democrat. He died in Springfield in 1880, and his widow now lives with her son Jacob, being seventy-two years of age. They had two children, Jacob, of this sketch, and George, of Indiana.

Mr. Harbold was educated in Springfield public schools, and after completing his education spent a short time teaching in a Lutheran sehooi, then entered the old Ætna foundry to learn the trade of machinist, receiving at first but three doilars per week. Later he spent six years in the rolling mills, and at the end of that time en- gaged in business on his own accout. He has made a specialty of pumps and has spent twenty- five years in his present enterprise, being an expert in his iine. He is proud of the fact that while at the outset he had but forty-five cents as capital, by his energy and ambition he soon began to prosper, and has been successful in so gratifying a degree that he now owns a very comfortable home and property. His line in- cludes several kinds of pumps. Being an ex- pert mechanic at the outset, and possessing busi- ness instinct and enterprise, Mr. Harbold could not fail in his venture, but has built up his enterprise step by step, each one being the re- sult of well-planned effort.

Mr. Harbold has been twice married: (first).to Mrs. Elizabeth Hartford, a widow, their union taking place December 28, 1890, and (second) July 13, 1902, he married Fanny Hudson, who died in 1907. Mr. Harbold is a stanch Re- publican and takes an active interest in politics. He is a devout member of the Lutheran Church, to which he is a liberal contributor. He is well known in Springfield, where he has lived since infancy.

HARGITT, Wiiiiam P. (deceased) .- There is no better gift that a man can leave to his city than a well-ordered family, fitted to take up their duties in the order of things and to assist their community in advancing in every way. Thus is new blood infused into the city's veins and its future prosperity insured. One of Spring- field's respected families is that of Hargitt, descendants of William P. Hargitt, who for many years was a successfui merchant. Mr. Hargitt was born near Lawrenceburg, Ind., November 25, 1825, a son of Robert and Jane (Pommen) Hargitt. In his youth Robert Har- gitt was engaged in tanning near Lawrence- burg, Ind., but in later years moved to Hamil- ton, Ohio, where he became wealthy and prom- inent, serving as Mayor of that city.

William P. Hargitt secured his education in the schools of Lawrenceburg and the Blooming- ton (Ind.) High School. His youth was spent on his father's farm, and he became the iatter's partner in mercantile business, so continuing

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until his death, which occurred in November, 1880. Mr. Hargitt was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and his politics were those of the Republican party.

On February 23, 1848, Mr. Hargitt was united in marriage with Cynthia Baldridge, on her father's farm near Harrison, Ohio. To this uuion were born six children, five of whom are deceased, the only surviving member being James L. Hargitt, who has been married twenty-two years and has a daughter, Miss Grace. The family is prominent socially and resides at No. 1325 East Edwards Street, the residence taken by Mrs. Hargitt on first coming to Springfield. Mrs. Cynthia Hargitt died about two years ago.

HARLOW, George H. (Vol. I, p. 221.)

HARNSBERGER, John Jacob, a successful ag- ricnitnrist and cattle raiser of Sangamon Connty, Ill., who is cultivating a fine property consisting of 360 acres, on Section 27, Cart- wright Township, was born on the farm uow owned by John H. Campbell on Section 26, in the same township, January 29, 1848, a son of Henry M. and Mellnda (Harrison) Harns- herger.

Jacob Harnsberger, the grandfather of John Jacob, was a native of Rockingham County, Virginia, whence he went to Clark County, Ohio. He was born in 1781 and was married in his native county to Catherine Harnsberger, there being two children born to this union in Virginia and seven children in Ohio, where Mrs. Harnsberger and one child died. The el- dest son went to Wisconsin, where he was mar- ried, had one child and died. Two sons and three daughters located in Indiana, but Mr. Harnsberger and three sons came to Cartwright Townshlp, Sangamon Connty, Angust 25, 1839.

Henry M. Harnsherger was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 2, 1823, and was reared to manhood in Sangamon County, Ill., where he was married February 18, 1846, to Miss Melinda A. Harrison, who was born in Christian County, Kentucky, March 20, 1820, and came to Sangamon County with her parents, Reuben and Barbara Harnsberger Harrison. Her great-grandfather, Benjamin Harrison, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence. The family is of English lineage and the ancestry has been traced back through six generations to an Englishman who settled in the old Virginian Colony in the Shenandoah Valley. From the same ancestry came two Presidents, William Henry Harrison and Ben- jamin Harrison. The signer of the Declaration of Independence was the father of Benjamin, William, Henry, George and Reuben Harrison. Reuben Harrison, the father of Mrs. Harns- berger, was born on a farm in Rockingham Connty, Va., Jnne 12, 1779, and was married in May 16, 1804, to Parthenia Harrison, by whom he had one child. The wife died in Virginia, and Mr. Harrison married a second

time, Barbara Harnsberger, November 29, 1810. In 1818 the family removed to Christian County, Ky., and on November 4, 1822, came to Sanga- mon County. Mr. Harrison's son, Leonard C., born of the first union, entered the University of the Methodist Church at the age of eighteen, and died in Summerfield, Ala., in 1867, and it was while on a visit, at his son's home, that Renben Harrison passed away, May 3, 1852. The second Mrs. Harrison died August 23, 1842.

There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Harnsberger, namely : John Ja- cob; George Leonard, born July 13, 1850, edu- cated in the district schools, Lincoln University and the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he took a two years' conrse in civil en- gineering, was for one year Deputy County Surveyor, and now resides in Springfield, Ill. ; Amanda C., the wife of Jnlins Hanback, a farmer near Centertown, Ark .; and Virginia, who married L. H. Washburn, of Springfield, has one child, Anna, who is the wife of Charles I. Himlich. The mother of the above children died May 8, 1905, and her husband followed her to the grave in September of the same year. Both were consistent and lifelong mem- bers of the Methodist Church, in which they labored falthfully, giving their time and means towards forwarding any church move- ments, whether formed by their own church or by one of another denomination. Kindly and generons almost to a fault, the extent of their charities will probably never be fully known, and it is but just to say that both did a world of good in the community in which they spent so many years.

John Jacob Harnsberger received his prelim- inary education in the district schools of San- gamon County, and for a time attended the North Sangamon Academy and the Jackson- ville Bnsiness College. He then returned to the old home, where he took up his duties on the farm, and continned to live there nntll his marriage, February 10, 1870, to Miss Nancy C. Campbell, who was born in Cartwright Town- ship, Jnly 25, 1851, danghter of Robert and granddanghter of Maxwell Campbell. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harnsberger be- gan life on a farm adjoining this township in Menard County, Ill., but in 1874 removed to Sninner County, Kan., where Mr. Harnsberger had the misfortune to be persecuted by the grasshoppers which came in snch swarms even that on clear days they hid the light of the snn. In 1884 Mr. Harnsberger sold out lis Kansas property and moved to Gentry Connty, Mo., and had been very successful there, when, on April 3, 1893, a cyclone struck that county, stripping the farm of everything and demolish- ing the new house which had been erected by Mr. Harnsberger and which was just ready to paint. He sold this property in 1897 and moved to Brazoria, Tex .. where he purchased 200 acres of land and had gotten a nice start and had the farm well stocked, bnt ill Inck had not yet deserted him, for he was agaln cleaned out by

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the great storm which destroyed Gaiveston. Nothing dannted by this series of misfortunes, Mr. Harnsberger started all over again, sell- ing his farm in Texas in 1903 and buying 160 acres of land in Wright Couuty, Mo., but six months later, on account of the serious illness of his parents, he decided to return to his home in Cartwright Township, where he took charge of 280 acres of the old homestead, which had been divided, and also rented eighty acres, and since that time has cultivated 360 acres, hav- ing a fine producing farm, well stocked with valuable livestock.

Mr. and Mrs. Harnsberger have had four children : Carrle M., born May 28, 1871, wife of Howard Eilenwood, of Canby, Minn., whom she married March 4, 1904, and they have two children, Helen Ciarinda, born in May, 1905, and Leonard H .; Katie Irene, born November 23, 1873, married George Harkrider, a farmer iu Callaway County, Mo., and they have six children-Lawrence E., Clyde F., Cora E., Catherine, Charles L. and Julius; Leonard J., born March 10, 1878, in Sumner County, Kan., residing iu Kansas City, Mo., married Mae Willhoit in 1902, and they have one child, Er- nest Vivian, born January 15, 1901; and Helen G., born Juiy 26, 1891, near Stanberry, Mo., living at home.

In religious bellef the family adhere to the falth of the Methodist Church. Mr. Harns- berger has always been a Democrat and is now serving as Director of the Plunkett School. He has been active along agricultural lines, as well as in hls conduct as a citizen, and is looked upon as one of the good, representative men of Sangamon County.

HARRIS, Mrs. Mary Bell .- One of the heaviest tax-payers of Springfield, and one who is deeply interested in the weifare and improvement of the city, is Mrs. Mary Beli Harris, whose many charities and kindly deeds of good will make her beloved in the Capital City. She was born in Kentucky, March 30, 1863, being a daughter of Jacob and Mary A. (Logan) Kerl. Mr. Kerl was for many years a pilot on the steam- boats of the Mississippi River, retiring only after he had reached au advanced age. Hls death occurred at Lebanon, Ind., in 1895, his widow surviving him. Later she married John D. Malosh, an old soidier, who now is an In- mate of a soldiers' home at Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Malosh lives in Springfield to be near her daugh- ter, Mrs. Harris.

Mrs. Harris was bronght up in Southwestern Kansas, and was educated at the schools of Hodgeman County, that State, coming to Spring- field in 1873. There she was united in mar- riage with James O. Harris, whose untimely death occurred in 1892, in Springfield, and his remains are Interred in beautiful Oak Ridge cemetery. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and had passed all the chairs in the last-named order. Mrs. Harris owns fuily $50,000 worth of Springfield realty, one of her possessions being

the Monroe Hotel, one of the most popular hos- teiries in the city. It is well managed and its guests are given satisfactory accommodations. The cuisine is excellent and the food tastefully served. The entire establishment reflects credit on Mrs. Harris and her corps of able assistants. Whenever a woman enters the business fieid in competition with meu, she does her work so thoroughly that she is snre to command suc- cess, and Mrs. Harris is no exception to this rule. She stands high in the community where she has lived so long.

Mrs. Harris was married Jnne 12, 1910, in Chicago, at the home of her sister, Mrs. J. M. Myerfeid, by Rev. Robert Lincoln Kelly to Mr. John Scott Reavley, of Springfield, Ili., and they now reside at No. 828 East Monroe Street.

HARRISON, James (deceased), was born in Dover, N. J., June 22, 1856, son of George and Jane (Watts) Harrison, the former a native of England and the latter of Ireland. The parents came to the Nnited States and located In New Jersey, where for some time the father was en- gaged in the nursery business. Later the family moved to Centralia, Iil., where the father's death occurred. The mother afterward moved to Springfield and her death occurred in that city, in 1907. She and her husband were parents of three sons and one danghter, of whom two sons survive : Noble, of Springfield, and John, who is a mine manager and Ilves near Centralia, Iil. The family lived a short time in Dugnoin, Ill., and there James Harrison received his edu- cation. At the age of ten years he began work- ing In a mine and continued in mining work nntil the time of his death. He worked several years in the vicinity of Centralia aud Duquoiu, Ill., and about 1890 moved to Springfield, where he worked in the north and west shafts of the Klondike Mine. A short time before his death the family moved to Middletown, Ill., and there he was killed in an accident, May 15, 1906. His widow returned to Springfield with the chll- dren, and there the famlly has Ilved since.

Mr. Harrison was well known in mining cir- cles In Springfield and was au expert In his line, having spent most of his life in mining work. He was devoted to his home and family and had many warm friends, to whom his death was a shock. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, to which his wife aiso belongs, and was a charter member of the Court of Honor, of Springfield. He was a Republican in politics. Mrs. Harrison owns the home at 1604 Sonth Tenth Street, where she has resided for most of the time the last fifteen years.

Mr. Harrison's marriage occurred in Spring- field, December 19, 1881, when he was united with Miss Eiiza Gibson, who was born in Bel- fast, Ireland, October 22, 1856. Mrs. Harrison was one of six children (three sons and three daughters), and has one brother living in Glas- gow, Scotland, and another In Springfield, Ili., the other three children being deceased. Three

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

sons and three danghters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, of whom the following survive : Robert J., of Middletown ; Albert J., living with his mother; Amella, living at home, employed in Edwards & Chapman's laundry. Mrs. Harri- son has one grandchild.

HARRISON, John Q., a practical farmer and stockraiser of Section 11, Cartwright Township, was born September 7, 1869, being a son of Robert P. and Almeda J. (Bone) Harrison. Robert I'. Harrison was born on Rock Creek, Cartwright Township, January 25, 1846, being a son of Simeon Q. and Mary (Renshaw) Har- rison.

Sineon Q. Harrison was born September 27, 1816, in that part of Christian County, Ky., which is now included in Trigg County, coming to Sangamon County In 1822. He and his wife had five children : Robert P., Anna G., Jennie E., Mary R., Ida, Sue A. and Roxana. After their marriage Robert P. Harrison and wife located on a farm owned by his father, S. Q. Harrison, which they rented. Later they bought 302 acres of land, partly improved, and on it Mr. Harrison began breeding draft and road horses, making a specialty of the Clyde strain of the former and the MeGregor roadsters. Ile bred the Queen McGregor that at one time held the world's record. He was a firm believer in blooded stock, and also bred shorthorn cattle, keeping his farm up-to-date in every respect. Adding to his first purchase he eventually owned 1,000 acres, although he disposed of some of it prior to his death, which occurred April 7, 1899. While not a member of any church, he gave of his ample means to all church work, and was ever ready to assist those in need. Long will he be remembered for his many excellent traits of character. In politics he was a Re- publican, and always gave the party his hearty support. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison had three children : John Q .; Mary Elizabeth, born May 7. 1876, wife of Dr. L. A. Whitley, of Carlyle, Ill .; and Nellle A., born September 1, 1878, married B. F. Marbold, a banker and farmer of Greenview, Ill. After the death of Mr. Har- rison his widow and children remained on the old farm. The former is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has many friends in it and the community.

J. C. Bone, father of Mrs. Robert P. Harri- son, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., September 7, 1817, a son of Elihu and Nancy (Brown Warwick) Bone. They were natives of Tennessee, farming people who had moved to Illinois in 1824. when John C. Bone was seven years old. Settling on Rock Creek in Menard County, Iil., they spent the remainder of their lives there, and there died. In re- ligious falth they were Presbyterians, while politically Mr. Bone was a Republican. Mr. Bone was married in Sangamon County No- vember 28, 1839, to Catherine Foster. She was born June 7, 1823, and died March 25, 1841, leaving one child, Catherine E., born

February 14, 1841, died September 1, 1841, Six years later Mr. Bone married Elizabetli Jane Purvines, born June 24, 1824, in Sanga- mon Conty, a sister of Greenlee Purvines whose history is given elsewhere in this work. To this union one child was born, Almeda J. born April 1, 1846, married January 29, 1868, to Robert P. Harrison. The second wife died September 13, 1852, and in March, 1854, Mr. Bone married Lydia Ann Purvines, her cousin, and a sister of Mr. Newton Purvines, whose sketch is also written for publication in this volume. She died in August, 1862, and In 1864, Mr. Bone married Nancy F. Purvines, who was a sister of his third wife, born De- cember 6, 1836, in Sangamon County. They had four children: John C. died in Chicago; Charles R. Is in a stock commission business in Omaha, Neb .; Carrie, wife of Edward Thorn, of Chicago, and Orlando S., in a stock business in Kansas City, Mo. The fourth Mrs. Bone died Jannary 26, 1909. Mr. Bone died November 17, 1901. In 1852 he came to San- gamon County, settling on a farm In Cart- wright Township. He accumulated over 1,000 acres near Pleasant Plains, Ill., but in 1870 went to Chicago to engage in the live stock commission business. He bought from farmers in Sangamon County, shipping to Chi- cago, and was noted for liberality in all his dealings. He was very hospitable and all were welcome who came within his gates. Liberal in religious views, he granted perfect freedom to others ; charitable, he gave generonsly with- out thought of any return, and while he was a Republican, could not be induced to accept office.

John Q. Harrison was educated in the neigh- borhood schools and Springfield Business Col- lege, and has spent his life on the farm, which has always been in his famlly. He was in partnership with his father until the latter's death, since which time he has conducted his business alone. He now has a fine stallion. Onward Medium, registered number 36,002. His blood lines are of the best, as will be seen by his tabulated pedigree, the most popular and profitable producing combination in trot- ting blood line, the kind that gets the money on the race course and in prize show rings. This animal stands sixteen hands high, was foaled in 1898 by Onward, sired by George Wilkes, of the Patchen-Wilkes, Lexington, Ky., stock farm.

While greatly interested in his stock busi- ness, Mr. Harrison finds time to attend to his duties as a citizen, being a strong Republican. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, Camp No. 139, while his wife belongs to the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Harrison supports the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Har- rison Is a member, both attending service at Pleasant Plains.

On June 21, 1899, Mr. Harrison married Nellie Happer, born near Maroa, Macon County, Iil., January 19, 1875, daughter of John G. and

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Anna (Brown) Happer, both natives of San- gamon County. The father is a large farmer and stockman of Sonth Dakota, living near Bushnell, but his wife died In 1SS4. They had the following children : Howard died in 1895, aged twenty-two years; Lena, wife of D. A. Allen, of Iowa Falls, a traveling salesman, and Mrs. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have two children : Helen Happer, born July 14, 1905, and Luclle J., born February 11, 190S. Mrs. Harrison is a delightful lady, who makes her home one of the most pleasant in the county. The farm now consists of 400 acres .and is conveniently located fonr miles from Pleasant Plains. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have many friends whom they gladly enter- tain with lavish hospitality upon numerous occasions.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 66

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774