 |
|
 |
|
PERRY M. HARBERT, one of the largest owners of land and among the most prosperous farmers of Canton Township, is a native of Ohio and was born in Champaign County, March 22, 1829. His parents, Elisha and Mary (Madden) Harbert, were natives of West Virginia. They moved to Ohio about 1825, settling there, and died in Allen County, in that State, the father in 1841, aged thirty-nine years, and the mother in 1852, aged fifty years. There were ten children born to them, of whom Perry M. was the fourth. He received a meager education in the common schools and helped to improve and cultivate the soil. In 1852 his marriage was celebrated with Hannah E., daughter of David Kirkpatrick. She was born in Hardin County, Ohio, May 29, 1835. In the year following their marriage, 1853, they came to Iowa and became residents of Benton County. When Mr. Harbert settled here he had about $1,200, which, to a pioneer of those days, was quite a large sum. He entered 400 acres on section 22, Canton Township, and worked hard to improve it. His father-in-law afterward gave him 160 acres more, which he also soon had under cultivation. He gave his entire attention to farming, was a good manager, economical and prudent, and thus saved money, which enabled him to purchase more land and make better improvements. He is now the owner of over 1,500 acres, 720 of which lie in one body. He raises stock principally, all of which he sells in the Chicago market. He keeps usually about 100 head, and has a few fine Shorthorns.
Mr. Harbert gives but little attention to politics farther than to go to the polls and cast a Republican ticket. He is an honest man, conscientious in all his business transactions, and is a good neighbor. Their children are Nancy Rebecca, wife of Rev. A. G. Martin, of Shelbyville, Ky.; they have one child — Blanche A.; David K., married Miss Minnie Reynolds; they have one son — Roy E.; he lives in another house on the homestead, and is assisting on the farm; and Albert N., still at home.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 206-207.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on January 28th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
 |
