Harshbarger - Jacob M.
Source: H. W. Beckwith History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Chicago:
HH Hill, 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 from Va. to
Montgomery Co In in 1831, and 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, Marion m. and Henry M. 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. - typed by kbz
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Source: 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 Roanoke City. In the fall of 1831 his parents left the old Virginia home with their children to seek a new 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, Clark Township temporarily. In the spring of 1833 he removed with his family 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 County Surveyor and he rose to the rank of the first educator in 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 Shropshire sheep, there being in his
flock two 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 Montgomery and Fountain
Counties and ever since the Bank of Ladoga was organized has been
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 (Arnold) Myers. Her
birthplace was near that of her husband on 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 Pa. to Virginia in 1795. His
father came from Germany to this country. In 1833 the Myers
family left Virginia to settle in this state. For 3 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 US as Wisconsin and not long ago spent 5 weeks in
Baltimore and Washington, but his convictions remain unshaken
that there is no place like central Indiana and no county equal
to his own. -- - typed by kbz
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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal, Monday September 15, 1919
ncle Jacob M. HARSHBARGER as he was familiarly called will be sadly
missed by the people of Montgomery County. We have been intimately
associated with him for the past 30 years in every day life, in society
and in farm organizations sf 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