Harrah, Albert L. d. 1906

HARRAH, DODGE, HALL, PARKIN

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 2/15/2005 at 13:28:39

Albert L. Harrah, whose death occurred Saturday night, December 1st, 1906 about ten o’clock, was one of the pioneers of Jasper County, and well known over the state and even had a national reputation as a breeder and stockman.

Mr. Harrah had been a resident of Newton and vicinity for over half a century. For a number of years he has been in failing health, and during the last years his condition has grown rapidly worse. For several months he has been confined to his home, and at several different times it was thought that he could not long survive. He was afflicted with kidney trouble and rheumatism, but the immediate cause of his death was hemorrhage. He was naturally of a sanguine nature and throughout all of his illness, whenever he was comfortable for several days at a time, he was always hopeful that it was the beginning of permanent recovery.

The deceased was a native of Hopedale, Harrison County, Ohio. He came to Scott County, Iowa, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William N. Harrah, in the year 1853. Not long after coming here his father settled on some land six miles north of town, which he entered from the government, for which he paid $1.25 per acre, and what is now part of the Riverside Farm.

Mr. Harrah was one of those who answered during the Civil War to the call for one hundred men for one hundred days, and he became a member of Company B, 46th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and although he served but a few months, one incident connected with this part of his life’s experience he often mentioned, which was that his discharge was signed by President Lincoln.

In 1866 Mr. Harrah was married to Bessie A. Dodge at Postville, Iowa. Their first home was on the farm in Malaka Township. Then during the Grange Movement, they came to town to live and Mr. Harrah took charge of the Grange Store, located on the south side of the square. Two years later they returned to the farm and Mr. Harrah entered into the livestock business becoming an extensive breeder and dealer in Short Horn cattle, at one time claiming to have the largest herd of registered Short Horn cattle in the world. He sold and shipped for several years to all parts of the United States.

During all these busy years he took an active interest in all public enterprises. Was a stanch supporter of the Democratic Party and took great interest in national, state and county politics, filling various township offices and twice was nominated by his party for state senator.

For many years he served as president of the Farmers’ Insurance Company, and acted as president and also as secretary of the County Agricultural Society.

Besides his wife he is survived by a son, George B. Harrah, of Omaha, who arrived after his death Saturday evening, and a daughter, Miss Mary E. Harrah, of Davenport, who came Sunday morning. His only brother, A. M. Harrah, of Pasadena, Cal., could not be here, but his sisters, Mrs. Lambert Hall of this city and Mrs. Mary Parkin of Galva, Illinois, were both present at the funeral.

Socially Mr. Harrah was an Odd Fellow, a Mason and a member of the G. A. R.

The funeral, which was held from the home this afternoon, was in charge of the I. O. O. F and Rev. A. B. Appleby, of the First Congregational Church of this city. Many of the members of the order and friends who could not get to the home went to the cemetery and joined in the closing services at the grave.

The bearers were A. Long, Fred Ehlers, J. G. Brunner, J. S. Agnew, T. K. Clarkson and Fred Bohne.

The body was interred in the Newton Cemetery where his father, mother, three brothers and other members of the family are buried. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News, Tuesday, December 3, 1906, Page 1, Column 3