Greene County AlArchives Biographies.....Harkness, Robert December 5 1813 - living in 1893
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 26, 2004, 11:38 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    ROBERT HARKNESS, a planter, living near Clinton, Greene county, Ala., was
born in Abbeville district, S. C., December 5, 1813. He was a son of William and
Ann R. (Baskin) Harkness, and a grandson of Robert Harkness, a native of county
Tyrone, Ireland, a Scotch-Irishman, who emigrated to the United States, first
settling in Pennsylvania. He removed thence to North Carolina and later to South
Carolina, in which latter state he lived the rest of his life. He was a planter,
and served in the Revolutionary war. William Harkness was also born in county
Tyrone, Ireland, and came to the United States with his parents when a small
boy. In 1827 they removed to Greene county, Ala., and settled on a plantation
near Clinton. They both died on the farm upon which Robert Harkness now lives.
Miss Ann R. Baskin, wife of William Harkness, was born in Abbeville district, S.
C., in 1772, and died in 1844. They reared a family of seven children, of whom
Robert was the youngest and is the only one now living. He has spent almost his
entire life on the farm upon which he now lives. He received a fair education in
the common schools, and in 1858 married Civille A. Gulley, born in North
Carolina in 1827. She was a daughter of Calvin J. Gulley, who removed to Alabama
in 1832, settling in Greensboro, Hale county, then Greene county, and serving as
sheriff of his county one term. His family consisted of nine children, only one
of whom is now living, viz.: Sarah M. Gulley; born in Duplin county, N. C., June
20, 1828. She has been engaged in teaching in various schools and colleges, is
unmarried, and lives with Robert Harkness and his family. Calvin J. Gulley was
born in 1796, and his wife in 1797. They were married in 1822, and died, he in
1852 and she in 1854. Robert Harkness and his wife were the parents of six
children, four of whom are living, viz.: Mary E.; Annie B.; Civille, and Robert
B. Those who have died were named William C. and Eva. Mary E. is the wife of
Prof. William G. Hix, principal of the Montezuma institute, in Macon county, Ga.
They are the parents of one child, Robert H., born June 12, 1891. Mrs. Harkness
died in 1876. In 1850 Mr. Harkness served as tax collector of Greene county, and
was a justice of the peace for many years. During the late war he was colonel of
the county home guards at Clinton. He owns a fine plantation of 600 acres, which
is well improved and upon which he has growing many varieties of choice fruits.
Sixty-five of his eighty years have been spent upon this farm, surrounded by a
highly cultured family and in the enjoyment of all the necessities and comforts
of life. He has been a member and a deacon of the Presbyterian church for many
years.He is an unassuming and honorable man and enjoys the respect and esteem of
his fellow-citizens to the highest degree.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1044-1045
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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