SAMUEL HARLAN
Samuel Harlan, first chosen to represent the people in the office of surveyor, at the fall election, 1872, to fill the unexpired term, was again elected in 1873 and 1875. Samuel Harlan was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1810, and is the son of Enoch and Hannah (Gibbons) Harlan. When he was a child, his parents removed to Muskingum county, Ohio. In 1827 his father died, and the family went back to Pennsylvania. There he worked in a cotton factory two years, and then as a hired hand on a farm. This he followed till 1834, in the meantime educating himself. He then returned to Muskingum county, Ohio, and bought land. He was married there in 1839 to Miss Sarah A. Elliott. While in Muskingum county he taught school four years, and learned and practiced surveying. In 1857 he removed to Mahaska county, Iowa, and sold goods for eleven and one half years, being also justice of the peace a portion of the time. He came to Atlantic from that county, and was soon elected justice of the peace. A vacancy occurring in the office of county surveyor, he was appointed to fill it, and held the position for seven years. He also carried on the grocery business for two years. Since retiring from the grocery business, he has been engaged in the several occupations of surveyor, civil engineer and notary public. By his first marriage Mr. Harlan was the father of six children. His first wife died in April, 1873. He was married again to Miss Mary Wightman, of Sigourney, Iowa. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for thirty-four years, and is a member of the Baptist church.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 371-372.
