Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2026 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Muskegon Chronicle Saturday, 22 December, 1928 EARLY RESIDENT OF MUSKEGON CELEBRATES 82nd ANNIVERSARY MRS. JOHN HARKNESS Came Here in 1849 When Territory About City Was a Wilderness MRS. JOHN HARKNESS, 663 Jackson street, this week celebrated her eighty-second birthday anniversay at her home here. She is one of the early residents of Muskegon, having lived in or near here since she was two and a half years old. JOSEPHINE SHEPARD, as she was known before her mar- riage, was born in Racine, Wis., Dec. 20, 1846. She came to Muskegon with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. JOHN S. SHEPARD, in the summer of 1849. It was on board the schooner Union, then plying between Milwaukee and Denton's mill, which was located at the mouth of Bear lake, that the family sailed with their household goods and two yokes of oxen. They landed at the mouth of Bear lake where they remained for some time, removing to various points in the vicinity of the lake as the father's work as a sawyer for MR. DENTON required. When JOSEPHINE was seven years old the family again migrated. This time they traveled in a wagon over a rough trail through the woods. After a weary journey the reached Cedar Creek at a point a few miles east and south of Twin Lakes. Here it was decided to make their home. The father set to work at once to cut the trees and in the clearing he made, the house was built of logs he had felled. As the weather was warm the mother and her girls slept under a shelter formed of boards brought from the mill, while the father and two boys slept in the open, keeping guard against prowling wild animals which were plentiful at that time. The SHEPARD home became a landmark in that vici- nity, travelers to Newaygo and beyond breaking their journey here assured of a welcome and a night's lodg- ing from the pioneers. Most of JOSEPHINE'S childhood was spent in the midst of the great forest, pine, cedar, spruce, hem- lock, cherry and black walnut trees towering above her home. The nearest neighbor was seven miles away but the little girl was never lonesome for many were the tasks about the house and when she and her brothers and sister were not busy with these the forest and river were a never ending source of amusement. They made pets of the does and other wild animals and played in the great out-of-doors. For a time she was sent to Muskegon to go to school. The school house was a long building located at what is now the corner of Terrace street and Clay avenue. In thinking back over those happy days MRS. HARKNESS recalls many amusing incidents. She says that the school room was heated by a long "air-tight" stove which used to get red-hot from the burning logs within, nearly roasted the children seated close to it while those at the far ends of the room would be shivering from the cold let in through the chink in the walls. On June 14, 1861, the girl was married to JOHN HARKNESS. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Earl, a Methodist minister. There was no Metho- dist church here at that time and the service was read in the parlor of her sister's home, MRS. CYNTHIA WITHERELL, located in the little settlement at the foot of Pine street. CYNTHIA SHEPARD had married CAPT. JOHN WITHERELL, one of the early lake captains. She is now a resident of Grand Haven. MRS. HARKNESS'S married life began began in one of the rooms of her sister's home. Later the couple re- turned to the old home on Cedar Creek, MR. SHEPARD having died. Following the sale of the old place the family came to Muskegon. MR. HARKNESS died here about fifteen years ago. MRS. HARKNESS is the mother of four living children. They are JOHN W. HARKNESS, 663 Jackson street, FRANK E. HARKNESS, 385 Apple avenue, ELLEN HARKNESS BAKER and MAYME HARKNESS BAKER, Rosevelt Park. Six of her children are dead. ===============================================================================