Jacob M HARSHBARGER
H. W. Beckwith History of
1881) p 453
Jacob M. HARSHBARGER, farmer, Ladoga, was b. in Botetourt Co Va
March
10, 1828 and is the son of Jacob and Salome Harshbarger.
The father was
b. in Lancaster Co PA June 24, 1792 and the mother in Botetourt Co Va
May 17, 1796. They moved form
settled in Clark Twp, where they lived an honorable and respected life.
He died Feb 8, 1875 and his wife about 1872. Mr. H. the subject of this
sketch, is one of the energetic and respected citizens of the County,
and has taken an active part in its early improvements. April
13, 1848,
he marr. Miss Mary MYERS,
daughter of Henry and Hannah Arnold) Myers.
She was b. in Botetourt Co Va Oct 28, 1826 and came
with her parents to
Mont. Co. in 1833 and settled in Scott Twp. They were among the
respected pioneers of the County. The father departed this life Feb 25,
1875, in his 78th year and the mother Jan 7, 1876, in her 69th year,
both having died of paralysis. Mr. H's family are: Salome E, wife of H.
Davidson ; Amanda and George W, and two deceased,
Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and is a stalwart
republican. He owns 500 acres of land and Mrs. Harshbarger
owns 750.
Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain County,
Indiana Chapman Brothers, 1893 - p 373
Jacob M. Harshbarger, residing on Section 6, Clark Township,
is one of
the foremost of the citizens who have aided in the advancement and
development of Montgomery County. He is a leading farmer and stock
raiser, one of the ablest of its business men and financiers, and one
who has been long and honorably identified with its public life. He is
also prominently connected with some of its leading institutions, and
has been very influential in advancing social, educational and religious
interests in this community. Mr. Harshbarger was born
March 10, 1828 in
Botetourt Co VA on the old family homestead at the Harshbarger
Grist
Mill on Tinker Creek two miles from
his parents left the old
one in the wilds of this county. His father purchased 1400 acres of land
of the Government and lived in a rented cabin on Section 17,
into the more commodious house that he had built on his own land on
Section 7 of the same township. Jacob M. Harshbarger
was reared in that
home, in which he lived some 17 years. His education was conducted in
the subscription schools of Ladoga, and among his teachers was William
R. Nefsinger, who afterwards became a member of the
Legislature in this
state. David Shannon was also one of his teachers. He subsequently
became
the county. At the age of 16 Mr. Harshbarger left
school and worked on
his father's farm until he was 22. In the meantime he was married at the
age of 20 years, one month and three days, and two years later removed
from his father's place, March 10, 1850 to that of his father-in-law,
upon which he still resides. He and his wife lived with and took care of
her parents until their death, when Mrs. Harshbarger
inherited their
property. Mr. H. has made many valuable improvements on the old Myers
homestead since it came under his control, including a handsome and
commodious residence and a large and well arranged barn. Our subject has
his farm in a fine condition, its appointments of the best and
everything is kept in good order. He and his wife owned at one time 1400
acres of land, and until very recently had 987 acres of realty. He is
much interested in raising fine stock, and has some of the best in the
county, making a specialty of breeding first class Shorthorn cattle, of
which he has a noble herd, including a thoroughbred bull of that breed.
He raises blooded horses, has a great many high graded Poland China hogs
and keeps the celebrated
ewes recently imported at a cost of $65 each. Mr. Harshbarger's
character, keen insight into business matters, wide experience, large
public spirit and eminent fitness in every way for responsible positions
early brought him to the front and he has done valuable service in
various official capacities, while his name is associated with many
enterprises of incalculable benefit to the township and county. He was
Co. Commissioner 3 years from Dec 1879 until Dec 1882, and for 27 years
was School Director in his district, always a friend to education and
doing all in his power to raise the standard of education. He was
Director of the Co. Fair at New Ross for 3 years and Director of the
Montgomery County Fair at Crawfordsville for 11 years. He has been
repeatedly solicited by his friends to accept the nomination for
Representative from his county but has declined the honor. Mr. H. is a
republican, a strong protectionist and is unswerving in his allegiance
to his party. He belongs to the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association and
President of the County Council of the association. He is Treasurer of
the Farmer's Mutual Benefit Insurance Company of
President of that bank. He has always used his influence to introduce
public improvements and was one of the principal men who were
instrumental in securing the Whitesville and Ladoga Free Turnpike as
well as in having the roads graveled and bridges built to facilitate
travel. Mr. H. is a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association and
was one of its captains for a number of years. He has long been
identified with the Masonic Fraternity and has held the office of Sr.
Warden of the Ladoga Lodge NO. 187. In his church relations he is
associated with the Christian denomination and is a deacon in the
Christian Church at Ladoga. He was one of the building committee at the
time their house of worship was erected being one of the prime movers in
having it built, and he was very active in collecting money to pay for
it, besides contributing liberally himself. April 13, 1848, our subject
was united in marriage with Miss Masry M. Myers, a
daughter of Henry and
Hanna (
Tinker's Creek in Botetourt county, VA and she was
born Oct 28, 1826.
Her father was born Jan 1, 1798 about 1/4 mile from the early home of
our subject, and her mother was born Oct 3, 1806 near Brough's
Mill,
Botetourt Co. The father of Henry Myers was John Myers, Sr., who was the
son of a German and a native of Pa, whence he had migrated to Botetourt
Co. Hannah Arnold was the daughter of Daniel Arnold, who removed from
In 1833 the Myers family left
years they lived in Scott Township, near Parkersburg, and then Mr. Myers
bought the farm upon which our subject now reside and this was his home
until his death Dec 27, 1875. His wife passed away Jan 8, 1876. They had
but two children, Mrs. H. and her brother, Daniel who was born Dec 13,
1830 and died Feb 11, 1841. Mr. Myers was a reserved man, who attended
strictly to business and accumulated a handsome property, including 524
acres. Mr. and Mrs. H. have had 5 children, of whom these 3 are living:
Saloma E, who was born Jan 11, 1854 and is now the
wife of Henry
Davidson, Union Township; Amanda A. born Jun e17, 1845 now the wife of
the Hon. EB Brookshire who is serving his second term in Congress as
Representative of this district and George W, born Oct 20, 1858 married
Eva J. Canine and resides with his father. He has two children: Earl M,
born April 14, 1885 and Mary Ethel born Oct 29, 1886. Death has taken
from our subject and his wife two children: Marion M who was born Feb 3,
1851 and died August 15, 1852 and Henry M. born April 5, 1852 and died
Sept 20 1876. He had married Lavina Peffley, who was born in February
1855 and they had one child, Lula May born Aug 31, 1876. Mr. H. is a
true lover of home and is intensely patriotic at least as regards this
part of the great Republic. He has traveled in KS and as far north in
the
Washington, but his convictions remain unshaken that
there is no place
like central Indiana and no county equal to his own.
Crawfordsville Daily Journal
Monday September 15, 1919
Uncle Jacob M. HARSHBARGER as he was familiarly called will be sadly
missed by the people of
associated with him for the past 30 years in every day life, in society
and in farm organization sof different kinds and in
all these different
avenues, his sincerity was so pronounced that he was not only termed and
interested worker but an admired leader. He was one of the originators
of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Montgomery, Fountain and
Parke Counties more than 40 years ago, was one of the prominent men in
organizing the Montgomery County Fair Association and has done as much
to keep up the interest of Farmers' Institutes in central Indiana as any
other man. Not only was he a leader and a useful man years ago when
these organizations were in their infancy but has always continued to be
interested in his fellow men and the unusual knowledge that he had
acquired was willingly imported to others he never grew tired of trying
to help others his self acquired intelligence and broad minded views on
all local and public affairs kept him apace with the times till the last.
Scores of young farmers in this county have admired Mr. Harshbarger
to
the extent that they have endeavored to adopt and follow his plans. He
has done much to dignify the vocation of farming, always placing it on
an equality with the highest professions. He was a
noble citizen and a
man among men, admired and loved by men of all occupations. He possessed
peculiar social acquirements that won those who came in contact with
him. He has not lived in vain for such a life will continue to live, the
nobility that he always practiced and the exalted prupose
that he always
had in mind placed him in the honored list and one of the most exemplary
and useful men that ever lived in Montgomery County. Either
in the
capacity of an official or common citizen he always made good and this
model life of 91 years that so peacefully was brought to a close is an
important epoch in our history and will be sacredly referred to for
years and years. All this did not come by chance but it took a
pronounced effort on his part to accomplish all these things. The study
of such a life decides the frivolous question that so often is to the
mind of the young man whether or not it pays to try to be useful.
County, state and nation need more such men, perhaps he died not knowing
with what high esteem and admiration the people of Montgomery County had
for him but did know that he had always tried to do his part in a noble,
friendly conscientous way in the home, church or
public affairs and he
has been a witness to the result of some of that good seed sown and many
of the rest of us will continue to profit thereby.
Signed - CEB
--
Jeffery G. Scism, IBSSG
~~