Howard-Hamilton-Clinton County IN Archives Biographies.....Harbaugh, John W. 1874 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: 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) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/harbaugh158bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb