Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 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/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of the Western Reserve, Vol. 2 by Harriet Taylor Upton & Harry Gardner Cutler pub. 1910 [1252- 1253] ALBERT HARMON. - For three generations the HARMON family has been connected, in a practical and prominent way, with the estab- lishment and progress of the industries, agriculture and commerce of Ashtabula. ALBERT HARMON, the present-day representative, has spent his entire life on the ancestral farm, now located in the East Village, and is living comfortably and happily in the house erected by his father, EDWIN, one of the most enterprising business men, manufacturers and founders of the lake marine who ever resided in Ashtabula. In 1828, when this residence was erected, business and building were both conducted with a view to prominency rather than pure expedition and temporary profits. The rooms were not only large and airy and the woodwork substantial, but honestly put together, and the massive heavy doors that were hung more than eighty years ago still swing as true as they did in 1828. ANNAN HARMON, the grandfather, was born and reared in Massachu- setts, coming to Ohio with his family in 1812 and settling on the east side of Ashtabula creek, where, with the faithful and valuable assistance and management of his son EDWIN, he cleared a large tract of wild land and improved a good homestead. The son mention- ed erected the necessary farm buildings and was engaged in active farming and the superintendence of the family estate until the death of his father ANNAN, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. ANNAN HARMON became the parents of five daugh- ters and two sons. Two of the daughters, ACHSAH and POLLY, spent the greater part of their lives in East Village near the old home farm; ANNAN, the younger son, died at the age of fifty years; EDWIN HARMON, the elder son, was for many years an esteemed and active citizen of Ashtabula county. EDWIN HARMON was born in Massachusetts May 6, 1803, being but a young lad when he came with his parents to the Reserve. Always energetic and enterprising, when a young man he secured the con- tract to carry the mail from Erie to Cleveland, and soon introduced the first four-horse stages used in this part of the state. His route was along the east side of the creek, as the most popular taverns were thereby accommodated; but the HUBBARD family started a rival stage route on the west side, establishing taverns along the way under their control. MR. HARMON then put on more horses, so that he was able to furnish fresh relays every six or seven miles. Although his business flourished for some time, he soon perceived that the tide of settlement had turned to the west side; but when he sold his route he proved how strong was his sense of justice by making a contract which guaranteed that stages would continue to stop at the east side taverns as long as they existed. They were soon closed, however, and all the stages crossed to the west side, which at once assumed importance and has since grown into the pre- sent beautiful city of Ashtabula. About 1839 EDWIN HARMON became interested in the lake trade. He also operated a distillery, a saw mill and a grist mill - the last named being a three-story cobble stone building with a gable roof. At one time Mr. HARMON owned several vessels, which he used for freighting. His first vessel was the "Adelaide," which he loaded with apples, cider and whiskey and sent under the care of Captain DANIEL MITCHELL (who died in 1908, at the age of ninety-five years) to Mackinac and other points in the upper lakes region, to be sold to the Indians. Subsequently, he bought two brigs, the "Oleander" and the "Constellation," which he sold after he had completed and stocked them. EDWIN HARMON afterward owned the schooner "Artic" and the "A. E. Hart," and built the "Mary Collins" which was named for his daughter. This latter vessel was worth $18,000 to $25,000 and, it was thought, would easily pay for itself in three years. During the panic of 1857, however, Mr. HARMON suffered heavy losses; but during the succeeding years he recuperated, as freights advanced to a high figure and he also disposed of his crops (es- pecially his oats) at most profitable figures. Besides being a successful general farmer, Mr. HARMON was very fortunate as a stock-raiser, keeping each year a selected flock of sheep and a fine herd of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle. Every winter he fed a large bunch of steers, always selling them in the spring at the highest market price. He was also an extensive land holder, never owning less than three farms; at one time he had 200 acres on the lake shore; 275 acres in the home farm, at Ashtabula; and a dairy farm of 300 acres at Springfield, Illinois, which he took on a debt. Prior to his death he divided his real estate among his children, each receiving a farm. Mr. HARMON was a Repub- lican in politics, but was a voter only, his entire time being devoted to business and his large agricultural and live stock interests. He died on the Ashtabula farm, August 13, 1863, his demise being deeply deplored. On January 21, 1829, EDWIN HARMON married Miss MIRANDA CUNNING- HAM, who when a child had accompanied her widowed mother and older brother, CUSHING, to Unionville, Lake county, Ohio. Mrs. HARMON died February 5, 1872, mother of eight children. HARRIET and CHARLES HARMON died in infancy; ADELAIDE passed away when sixteen years of age, and the following five reached maturity. MIRANDA, who died as the wife of J. A. WILKINSON August 6, 1892, aged sixty years; MARY, who married CHARLES COLLINS and died April 15, 1893, at the age of fifty-eight, her husband being chief engineer on the Lake Shore Railway at the time of the Ashtabula casualty, with headquarters in Cleveland; FRANCES E., of Ashtabula; ALBERT; and GERTRUDE, who spent her forty-six years on the home farm, where she died June 29, 1891. ALBERT HARMON, who was born February 18, 1842, has spent his entire life on the old Ashtabula homestead, successfully employed in farming. He has made a specialty of breeding high trotting Hambletonian horses. His youngest sister, as above mentioned, en- joyed the farm as her lifelong home; Mrs. COLLINS (MARY) also died on the home farm, and the other sisters have lived there much of the time. Stronger family ties cannot be imagined than those which bind the survivors to this old, valuable and cherished homestead. ===========================================================================