Andrew Harrington
The keynote of the success of Andrew Harrington as a farmer is a practical knowledge of his business and a habit he acquired early in life to perform to the best of his ability anything his hands found to do. As a result his farm is one of the highly productive properties of West Side township and he enjoys a goodly measure of prosperity.
He is a native of Cedar county, Iowa, born April 30, 1867, and is a son of John and Hannah Harrington, both of whom were born in County Cork, Ireland. They came to the new world as children with their parents, the two families locating at Fall River, Massachusetts. There they were married and later removed to Richmond, Virginia, from which place they went to Boston, Massachusetts, finally starting westward.
They lived for a while in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and then for two years in Cedar county, Iowa, but in 1871 came to Crawford county and settled upon a farm which is now the family homestead. Mr. Harrington was a man of great industry, and he improved his place with a handsome residence and other buildings, all of which indicated good taste and judgment. He was successful as an agriculturist and stock-raiser and his death July 1, 1888, was a distinct loss to the community. The mother continued for seventeen years at the old home and was called from earthly scenes June 24, 1905. There were fourteen children in . their family, six of whom are now living, namely: Mary, who is the widow of Charles Dupont; William, who lives in West Side township; Joseph, of Crawford county; Maggie, who makes her home at Vail; Michael, of South Dakota; and Andrew, of this review.
Andrew Harrington came with his parents to Crawford county at the age of four years. and in his boyhood and youth attended the public school, devoting his attention to various duties about the house and farm when not occupied with his books. After the death of his father he continued upon the home place, of which he is now the owner. It comprises three hundred and twenty acres on section 33, West Side township, and as he gives his best thought to his work and keeps fully abreast of the times in everything pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising, he has met with an abundant measure of success.
In 1891 Mr. Harrington was united in marriage to Miss Rosa O'Connell, who was born at Dubuque, Iowa, a daughter of John and Rose O'Connell, both of whom are now deceased. There were four children in their family.
Two children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harrington, namely: Blanch M., and Earl C, both of whom are now attending high school at Vail.
Mrs. Harrington, the beloved wife and mother, passed away February 25, 1899, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at Vail. She was a consistent member of the Catholic church and possessed many estimable traits of mind and character.
Mr. Harrington has met with deserved success in his business. He is an enterprising and broad-minded man, fully awakened as to the opportunities and possibilities of the twentieth century, and he has enhanced the beauty and value of his surroundings. Religiously he is identified with the Catholic church and politically gives his adherence to the democratic party.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.