HARKNESS - the Delaware County, NY Genealogy and History Site

The full text follows from History of Union County, Iowa From the Earliest Historic Times to 1908 by George A. Ide; Published Chicago 1908; pps 631-2.J. E. Harkness, superintendent of the county poor farm, is one of the well known citizens in Union county, having from an early period in itsdevelopment resided within its borders. He come to Iowa in 1858, first locating in Henry county. He was at that time a youth of fourteen years, hisbirth having occurred in Delaware county, New York, December 8, 1844. His father, J. B. Harkness, was also a native of Delaware county, where thedays of his boyhood and youth were passed. After arriving at adult age he wedded Miss Margaret Fleming, who was likewise born in the EmpireState, where they began their domestic life, residing in New York until their removal to Barry county, Michigan. The year 1858 witnessed their arrivalin Henry county, Iowa, where the father secured a tract of wild land and opened up a new farm, converting the unbroken prairie into rich fields whichha continued to cultivate throughout his remaining days.J. E. Harkness was a youth of fourteen years at the removal of the family to Henry county, where he continued throughout the period of his youth. Hisprimary education was acquired in the common schools of Michigan and of Iowa and later he attended Howe’s Academy at Mount Pleasant, this state.Soon after completing his education he accepted a position in the Mount Pleasant Insane Asylum, where he continued for nearly eight years, acting asattendant for one year, after which he had charge of the farm for seven years.During that period, Mr. Harkness was married on the 28 th of October, 1874 to Miss Maggie Roberts, who was born, reared and educated atMount Pleasant. In 1877 they removed to Union county, settling in Lincoln township, where Mr. Harkness purchased a farm. It was raw land butwith rich possibilities of cultivation and improvement. Upon that place he lived for ten years, during which time he brought his fields under a highstate of cultivation. He then sold out and bought another farm, which he further developed and improved. He had one hundred and sixty acres but hassince disposed of eighty acres of that place. In 1903, he was appointed to take charge of the county poor farm, which at that time had fourteen inmatesand now has nineteen, while during the winter months there are usually about twenty-0eight. The farm comprises two hundred and forty seven acresof land and in addition to the cultivation of the fields high grades of cattle, hogs and horses are raised here. Mr. Harkness is very successful in itsmanagement and conducts the work with the work with the same thoroughness which he displayed in carrying on his own farm.Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harkness have been born four children: Walter, who is married and now follows farming in Lincoln township; Frank, who ismarried and lives upon the home farm; Edwin, a resident of South Dakota; and Stella, the wife of W. H. Peiffer, of Afton. Mr. and Mrs. Harkness andthree of their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Harkness is a Master Mason. Politically, he has been a life-longrepublican, casting his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1858 and for each presidential nominee of the party since that time. He hastaken an active part in local politics and in Lincoln township was elected and re-elected until he had served for ten consecutive years’ as assessor,while for four years he was township trustee. He has likewise been identified with the schools and for several years served on the school board, beingalso a delegate to various state and county conventions. He has a wide acquaintance in this part of the state and his substantial qualities of manhoodand of business activity and reliability have gained him the favorable regard in which he is uniformly held.*******The 1855 Census (NY state) shows two Kenmouth men, John and Hugh, aged 45 and 50, both born in Scotland. Note, however, that the Kinmouth spelling isvery clear in the will that follows. No Kinmouth people are in the 1855 Census. Two Thomas Harknesses are shown in the 1850 Census Index for Illinois (261and 314) both in Galena, Jo Daviess County. The Thomas on page 314 is only twenty years old. The entry for page 261, however, may be our Thomas or a son(given some problems with the dates and the wife’s name). It shows in the city of Galena (taken 2 December by John C. Gear in Dwelling 2562, family 2566):Harkness Thomas 44 M W Teamster ScotlandJane 41 F W ScotlandEsther 10 F W ?Canada? (illeg)John 08 M W “Elizabeth 07 F W New YorkEllen 04 F W “Isabella 02 F W “Some years later, The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois (Chicago, H. F. Kett & Co., 1878, page 748 (County Directory)) includes A] John Harkness, B] Jamesand James Jr. Harkness and C] Peter Harkness. [John and Peter are in Elizabeth Twp.; some Harkness families also end up in Hanover Twp., including Jamesand Hannah] James is shown as emigrating to America in 1843 from Edinburgh, Scotland. James’ wife, Hannah Statham, is from England; her parents came fromManchester in 1828, the year after her birth on 18 March 1827. There is no material on John, Peter or James Jr.*******The 1855 Census (op. cit.) for Delaware County, NY shows Rebecca Mc Ilwain, age 72; born in Vermont; resident in Delaware County 69 years; widow; motherof Dean Mc Ilwain and living with his family in Kortright. P. 331; #114. Her husband would probably be Burgoyne.*************************************************************End of notes and back to the original]