HARKER, LEMUEL

HARKER, WASHBURN, CARR

Posted By: Doretta Pimlott Cowman (email)
Date: 4/16/2013 at 10:33:01

The 1880 History of Poweshiek County Iowa

Sugar Creek Township

Page 681

HARKER, LEMUEL - Section 7, P.O. Searsboro. Born in the State of New Jersey, on the 15th of May, 1827, where he continued to live for a time, laboring on the farm during the summer months and attending school in the winter. He removed with his parents to Orange county, New York, where he engaged for a short time in running a canal boat, and then engaged in railroading, first as a fireman and then as engineer, which business he followed for seven years. In the year 1854 he removed to Iowa, settling near Muscatine, where he became engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed for a short time, and then engaged as an engineer, in which business he continued until the war broke out, when he enlisted in company E, Twentieth Iowa, volunteer infantry, being mustered in on the 15th of August, 1862, at Clinton, Iowa, and started immediately South via St. Louis, Rolla, and Springfield. He participated in all the principal engagements in which his regiment was engaged--Prairie Grove, Boston Mountains--from which place they drove the rebels, and returned to Rolla and to St. Louis. After this his regiment started South via Pilot Knob, Cape Girardeau, and Cairo, to Vicksburg, where he participated in the siege of that city. His regiment traveled from Vicksburg south to Port Hudson and New Orleans, and from thence to Fort Morgan. His regiment was engaged in all the principal engagements in that ill-fated expedition under Banks up the Red River, and traversed the entire States of Louisiana and Alabama, and was mustered out in August, 1865. Mr. Harker never received a gun-shot wound, but was hurt in the battle of Prairie Grove by the falling of a fence, which compelled him to lay off duty for some time. He was married in 1855 to Miss Rachel Washburn, with whom he lived five years, and by whom he had five children: William W., Gehile A., Charles, and two unnamed. He was married a second time, on the 5th of July, 1874, to Miss Mary G. Carr, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, who is still living, and who is a woman of refinement and taste, and who devotes her time and energies to make home attractive and happy.