Howard-Hamilton-Clinton County IN Archives Biographies.....Harbaugh, John W. 1874 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 5, 2006, 11:55 pm

Author: Jackson Morrow

JOHN W. HARBAUGH.

   The strong, earnest men of a people are always public benefactors. Their
usefulness in the immediate specific labors they perform can be defined by metes
and bounds, but the good they do through the forces they put in motion and
through the inspiration of their presence and example is immeasurably an
infinite gauge or standard of value. The gentleman whose name introduces this
sketch is a man of this type. Although well known and highly esteemed, he is
averse to any notice savoring of adulation and prefers to let his achievements
rather than the fulsome praise of the chronicler speak for him. Every life,
however, if properly known, contains more or less of interest, and the public
claims a certain property right in the career of every citizen, regardless of
his achievements or the station he has attained. In placing before the reader
the brief review that follows due deference is accorded the feelings of the
subject, in conformity with whose well known wishes the writer will endeavor to
adhere strictly to facts and omit as far as possible complimentary allusions, at
the same time realizing that the latter have been honorably earned and should
form no small part of a life sketch in which it is sought to render nothing but
what justice and meritorious recognition demand.

   John W. Harbaugh, of the firm of Miller & Harbaugh, is a native of Hamilton
county, Indiana, and the son of Philip and Martha (Gaibreath) Harbaugh. He was
born in 1874 on a farm, but at the age of two years was taken by his parents to
Circleville, Indiana, where he spent his childhood and youth. In due time he
entered the schools of that place, and after attending the same until acquiring
a knowledge of the branches taught therein he came to Kokomo with his parents in
1890, and where he was not long in securing remunerative employment in a glass
factory. After devoting the ensuing eight years to that kind of labor Mr.
Harbaugh resigned his position, and subsequently (in 1903) engaged in the real
estate business, which he has since followed with most gratifying success, being
at this time (1908) in partnership with F. D. Miller, the firm thus constituted
having an extensive and rapidly growing patronage in Kokomo and throughout
Howard county, doing business on their own capital and handling as much real
estate perhaps as any other firm of the kind in the city.

   In connection with the real estate transactions Mr. Harbaugh has also erected
a number of houses, which he placed on the market for the benefit of purchasers,
having put up in Kokomo alone more than one hundred first class edifices, all of
which found ready sale at liberal figures, the margins realized in the
enterprise fully justifying the undertaking. At the cost of twenty thousand
dollars Mr. Harbaugh's firm some time ago purchased the land on which the
Miller-Harbaugh addition to Kokomo was platted, consisting of forty-eight lots
on South Washington street and Armstrong avenue, the enterprise realizing the
expectations of the promoters and proving a judicious as well as an exceedingly
fortunate investment, as the rapid sale of these lots abundantly indicates. For
the enterprising spirit displayed in thus providing so many beautiful and
comfortable homes at moderate cost and at the same time adding so much to the
beauty and attractiveness of Kokomo, as well as increasing the value of
contiguous property many fold. Mr. Harbaugh may be considered a public
benefactor, for had it net been for his efforts in thus promoting the city's
material advancement scores of respectable citizens would today be expending
their means to landlords in rents or would perhaps have moved to other parts.
Mr. Harbaughs success from a business standpoint has been something beyond the
ordinary, beginning as he did with little capital worthy of mention. He has
moved steadily forward, overcoming difficulties that would have discouraged many
of less fortitude, venturing where others would have hesitated, taking advantage
of circumstances and in the absence of opportunities creating them, he has
rapidly forged to the front and today occupies a prominent place in business
circles and has a strong and abiding hold upon the confidence and esteem of his
fellow men of all classes and his life affords a notable example of what a young
man can accomplish when actuated by lofty purposes and an earnest desire to
assist others while using all honorable means to advance his own interests.
Among Mr. Harbaugh's most pronounced characteristics are his clear foresight and
sound common sense and discreet judgment, to which may be added becoming modesty
and a tendency to minimize rather than magnify his own achievements. He stands
high socially and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens is best
illustrated by his election in 1906 to the city council, where his business tact
and interest in the public welfare have made him an able and eminently useful
municipal legislator. He is still serving in this body, having been elected
thereto by the Republican party, of which he has been a loyal and zealous
supporter ever since old enough to' exercise the rights of citizenship.

   Mr. Harbaugh is a married man and has a pleasant home in Kokomo, the crowning
spirit of which is a young lady of culture and refinement who formerly bore the
name of Effie Bridwell. Mrs. Harbaugh was born and reared in the city where she
now resides, was graduated from the high school and for some time prior to her
marriage was one of the city's most efficient and popular teachers, moving in
the best social circles. She keeps pace with the trend of current thought on
matters in which the most intelligent of her sex are interested, in addition to
which she is also active in religious work, being a respected member of the Main
Street Christian church and a liberal contributor to the support of the Gospel,
both at home and abroad.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)


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