HARRINGTON, L. S.

HARRINGTON, HOAG, BOURNE

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 23:07:32

Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

L. S. HARRINGTON.

L. S. Harrington, the present popular mayor of DeWitt, and one of its representative business men, was born in Otsego county, New York, March 18, 1936, and spent his early life upon a farm in that state. When seventeen years of age he went to Akron, New York, where he learned the carriage maker’s trade, and later followed that occupation in Sherman, Chautauqua county, that state, for several years.

In 1861 Mr. Harrington was married, in Akron, to Miss Louise L. Hoag, a native of that place, and to them was born a daughter, Alta L., now the wife of R. L. Bourne, who is represented elsewhere in this work. In the spring of 1867, Mr. Harrington came to Iowa and joined some friends in Clinton county. He purchased a farm just north of DeWitt, and to its cultivation and improvement at once turned his attention, being successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising there for about twenty-four years. He also bought and shipped both cattle and horses to the eastern markets, and is still engaged in that business, although he sold his farm in 1888, and removed to DeWitt, where he owns good residence property. He has since bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres, one mile west of DeWitt, and oversees its operation in connection with his other business. He commenced life for himself in limited circumstances, but through his won labor and enterprise has acquired good property and enjoys a comfortable competence. He is a stockholder in both the first National and the Farmers’ and Citizens’ Banks, of DeWitt.

Politically Mr. Harrington is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and cast his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, the Little Giant. in 1960, since which time he has never failed in his allegiance to that party, except when voting for Horace Greeley, in 1872. He has always been prominently identified with local politics; has served as a member of the school board for a quarter of a century. In 1888 he was elected supervisor and served in that capacity for six consecutive years, being president of the board for two years of the time. He was elected mayor of DeWitt, in 1900, and is now efficiently filling that office. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions and also to state conventions, and in whatever position he has been called upon to fill he has won the commendation and good will of his fellow citizens by his faithful and conscientous service. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and is the present master of the blue lodge and high priest of the chapter, was a delegate to the grand lodge in New York in 1865, and to the grand lodge in Iowa for a number of years. His wife holds membership with him in the Eastern Star Chapter of the same order. Mr. Harrington associated in establishing the Agricultural Society of the county and served as its first treasurer, which office he continued to fill for nearly twenty years. He is a man of considerable prominence, and is held in the highest regard by his fellow citizens.