Harrah, William Niel 1809-1894

HARRAH, HALL, DELANEY, PARKIN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 9/4/2006 at 14:25:57

The Newton (IA) Journal, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1894

Obituary - On last Wednesday morning the sad news reached the city that William Harrah had died that morning and it was so stated in the Journal.

His life's history is given as follows:
"William Niel Harrah was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, October 26, 1809. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Hall, one mile east of Newton, Feb. 7, 1894.

His great grandfather came from the north of Ireland, and settled near Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War. All in the country of the name have descended from this one family. For services in the Revolutionary War, his grandfather received a land warrant, which he used in locating a home, as a pioneer, 19 miles south east of Pittsburg. He was a zealous Presbyterian, and the church is still a flourishing one which he aided in starting.

In 1803, his father went into Ohio, as a pioneer. He also gave his first thought to the establishment of a church. Two other families and his own were the original members of the Beech Spring Presbyterian Church, which is still a flourishing organization. It was in the association of this church that the early life of W. N. Harrah was spent. His father was very anxious to have him study for the ministry, but he preferred business. When about twenty years of age he went away from home to learn the tanning business.

After a time he married the sister of his partner, Deborah Delaney. They became the parents of thirteen children, and lived together for nearly sixty three years. Just before their marriage, Alexander Campbell came into the community, Hopedale, Ohio and began preaching. The Baptist was the only church in that community and it was a time of great excitement and controversy. William united with the new church and always continued a member of that denomination. He united with the Disciple Church in Newton, soon after its organization. With the exception of one sister, in Ohio, he is the last surviving member of his family.

At different times he followed different occupations in Ohio. He became finally a successful carpenter. He made his first visit to Iowa in 1846, moved his family to Davenport in 1853. In 1855 he moved to Newton and this has been the family home ever since. His business in Iowa was farming. The children now living are William, Charles, Albert, Myers, George, Mary and Sarah. William lives in Detroit, Mich., Mary (Mrs. Parkin) lives in Galva, Ill. Neither of them could come to the funeral on account of sickness. The rest of the children live here.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Harrah were hard working people down to their old age. Since the death of Mrs. Harrah, last November, he has often expressed the feeling of his loneliness, and the hope that he might be permitted to go "home" when it was God's will. He has been very well through the winter, and enjoyed his pleasant home with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Hall. He took the la grippe Wednesday, Jan. 31st. He was not confined to bed, and by Tuesday evening of last week seemed to be much better. In the act of dressing himself last Wednesday morning, his heart stopped beating and he instantly died. Pres. Aylesworth preached the funeral sermon at 1 o'clock last Friday in the Congregational Church and the body was laid to rest in the Wittemburg Cemetery."