Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 499-500

JAMES W. HARMS, one of the energetic and progressive business men of Platteville, Grant county, who has for many years been prominently identified with the mining interests of that place, is a native of Grant county, born in Smelser township Feb. 20, 1852.

Mr. HARMS is a son of Dedrick and Maria M. (MELVIN) HARMS. The father was born March 30, 1805, in Hanover, Germany, where he was reared and educated, and in 1834 set sail from Bremen, and after a long and tedious voyage landed in New Orleans. By flatboat he came up the Mississippi river to Dubuque, Iowa, where he at first worked at day labor, and later found employment in the mines. The same year, however, he came to Grant county, Wis., and commenced working in the mines here. He was at that time unmarried, and in very limited circumstances. In 1839 he was joined by his brother John, and together they invested their money in land, always doing business under the firm name of D. & J. HARMS. Their first purchase was the claim of a Mr. HAZARD, who had commenced to break the land, and to it they added from time to time, as their financial resources increased until they owned a large amount of property. The partnership between the two brothers continued until the death of Dedrick, Sept. 3, 1882. He was married in Galena, Ill., Aug. 6, 1843, to Miss Maria M. MELVIN, a native of Bloomington, Ind., and a daughter of James A. and Sarah S. (ROBERTS) MELVIN. Her mother as born in Virginia, of Holland ancestry, while her father was born near the city of Baltimore, Md. He brought his family to Grant county, Wis., about 1831, becoming a farmer of Belmont township. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and during those troublesome times his family stayed at the block-house at Mineral Point. Both Mr. and Mrs. MELVIN died in Nebraska. After his marriage Dedrick HARMS located on the old homestead in Smelser township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising throughout the remainder of his life. Although he came to the New World empty-handed, by industry and good management he became one of the most successful and substantial citizens of his community. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. She departed this life March 10, 1898.

To this worthy couple were born the following children: (1) John C., born June 6, 1844, followed farming until his death, March 13, 1871. He was married, Oct. 8, 1866, to Elizabeth SPETH, who survives him, and to them were born three children: Emma M., Mary C., and Johanna, all deceased. (2) Mary I. born Oct. 23, 1845, is the widow of Christopher SCHROEDER, and a resident of Platteville. To them were born four children, George, Anna and James, all living; and Ellen, who died in infancy. (3) Henry H., born Feb. 16, 1848, also a farmer, died Nov. 9, 1898. He was married March 16, 1880, to Dora WERFELLMANN, and to them were born four children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are Mary, John and Emma. (4) April 23, 1856. (5) James W. is mentioned below. (6) Louis L., born Oct. 7, 1853, was married, Sept. 16, 1880, to Mary Anna RIEGE, by whom he had four children, Benjamin H., Lily A. (deceased), Purl L. and Edith J. (deceased). (7) Martha Jane, born April 15, 1855, died June 25, 1886. (8) Sarah E., born May 8, 1857, was married in 1884 to Dr. LAW, of Madison, Wis., and the children born to them were Blossom, Maria (deceased), Robert and John. (9) Emma M., born April 9, 1860, lives on the old homestead. (10) George L., born April 25, 1862, is also living on the old homestead. (11) The youngest, born Nov. 3, 1864, died in infancy.

On the home farm James W. HARMS grew to manhood, obtaining his education in the district schools of Smelser township, and on starting out in life for himself he engaged in farming and mining. Since coming to Platteville, in 1886, he has been interested in mining, and has met with excellent success in business affairs.

In Platteville, March 1, 1883, Mr. HARMS was united in marriage with Miss Sophia M. LOGEMANN, a native of Hanover, Germany, who in 1866 came to the United States with her parents, Cord H. and Gesche A. (BRUNING) LOGEMANN, also natives of the same place. The family sailed from Bremen, and landed in New York, whence they came to Platteville, Wis. In 1866 they located on a farm in Platteville township, but Mr. LOGEMANN is now living in Elk Grove, Lafayette Co., Wis. Mrs. LOGEMANN died Feb. 1, 1900. They had six children: (1) Albert H., also a resident of Elk Grove, married Mary WARFELLMAN, and to them were born five children, Sophia, Henry, one who died in infancy, Dora S. and William. (2) Henry J. died in Grant county Oct. 2, 1878. (3) Dora died Oct. 30, 1878. (4) Mary HARMS is next in the order of birth. (5) Mary D., Mrs. Henry ALBERS, of Platteville, is the mother of five children, Laura, Inez, Alta and Herbert, all living, and Clarence, deceased. (6) Herman H. married Fredericka SPETH, who died in 1894, and they had two children, James, and one who died in infancy.

In his political views Mr. HARMS is a stanch Democrat, and in religious belief both he and his wife are Lutherans. He is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Grant county, whose identification with the county dates back to territorial days, his father having located here in 1834, when this region was all wild and unimproved. In the work of development and progress the family have always borne their part, and are justly numbered among the valued and useful citizens of the community.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck