Mount Morris Index, Mount Morris, IL

March 30, 1904 p. 1, col 1

OLD SETTLERS EXPIRE

THREE WIDELY KNOWN PIONEERS TAKEN IN A WEEK

Passing of Wm. Swingley and Mrs. Mary Etnyre of Oregon and John Harmon of Maryland

The rapidity of the passing of the old settlers of Ogle County is called to mind by the death, during the past week, of members of three of the most widely known pioneer families of the west part of the county. The following account of their long lives will be found of interest

John Harmon

While the funeral of Newton Harmon was in progress at Leaf River, word came of the death of the father, John Harmon, at Maryland. The death of son and father occurred only two days apart. The elder Harmon was numbered among the small list of old residents of the county, who came west before 1860. He was born in Sharpsburg, Md. Jan. 6, 1827, and at the time of his death, March 24, 1904, was aged 77 years, 2 months and 18 days. He came to Ogle County with his parents in the year 1839 and continued to reside in the townships of Lincoln and Mount Morris for sixty-five years. He spent the greater part of his life in farming and endured many hardships that fell to the lot of our early settlers.

Mr. Harmon was married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Philips, and to them were born four children. Two of them died in infancy and Newton, March 22, 1904. Mrs. Helen Rapp of Leaf River is the only surviving one.

His second wife was Mary A. Speaker, and to them were born two children, Elmer, of Carthage, S. Dak., and Mrs. H. H. Newcomer, of Haldane. He was married the third time to Alice V. Speaker, who survives him.

It is a remarkable fact that his death is the first to occur in a family of ten children, whose ages range from 59 to 81 years. The brothers and sisters left to mourn his loss are: Absalom, Reuben and Amos, of Haldane; Robert, of Tama City, Iowa; Mrs. Harriet Kennedy, of Mount Carroll; Mrs. Rebecca Manning, of Lanark; Mrs. Samuel Fager, of Forreston; Mrs. John Reiste, of Panther, Iowa, and Mrs. Isaiah Speaker, of Toledo, Iowa.

The funeral services were held at the house at 9 o'clock Saturday forenoon, conducted by Elder M. S. Newcomer. Interment was made in the old cemetery at Mount Morris.

Contributed by Peg Allen Arnold

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