Bios of Harney, Thomas (b.1833) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Harney, Thomas (page 567), who is well remembered by the old and
middle-aged residents of Lake Township, was in certain respects a
remarkable man, one who conquered the favors of fortune to a greater
extent than most of his contemporaries in this region, and who, beginning
with nothing, acquired wealth beyond his early dreams through innate force
of character. He was born in Waterford, Ireland, April 4, 1833, and had
good educational advantage which doubtless sharpened his wits and
increased his natural capacity. Dissatisfied with the limited
opportunities afforded him in his native land, he resolved to seek
advancement in the Land of the Free, and in 1850, with a sister,
Catherine, he took passage in a sailing vessel, and some weeks later
landed in New York. For five years he remained in the East, then in 1855
he followed the Star of Empire westward, and arrived in Rochester,
Minnesota, when there were only three houses there, and about three weeks
in advance of Patrick Rahilly. There he bought land and remained until
1861. Then he made an exchange of land with a brother of Mr. Rahilly who
had located in Lake Township, Wabasha County, and came here to live. The
land was new and wild, but he gbegan improvements, and for some years led
a bachelor's life. Then, in 1867, he married Elizabeth Doley of Rochester
and they began domestic life on the farm. At times he worked out for very
low wages, but he spent less than he earned and got along. His ruling
passion was the acquisition of land. He bought, sold and traded it at
every opportunity, and is said to have owned at one time or another nearly
every foot of land in Lake Township. One of his early ventures was the
purchase of 80 acres of wild land in section 31, where he established his
home, and on which he erected a fine two-story frame house and other good
buildings, also grubbing and clearing the land and converting it into a
fine farm. There he resided until a few years before his death, those last
years being spent in Rochester where he owned a good house. He passed away
in 1909, at which time his wealth was rated at $250,000. His wife survived
him several years, dying in Rochester in 1912. They were both faithful
members of the Catholic church. Their family numbered ten children: John,
now living in Los Angeles, Cal.; Mary, wife of John O'Connell, a farmer of
Benson County, N. D.; Jerry, who is farming near Millville, Wabasha
County, Minn.; Thomas, deceased; James, a farmer in Benson County, N. D.;
Catherine, now Mrs. Thomas Lawler of Rochester, Minn.; Daniel, a
prosperous farmer and land owner, residing in Lake Township; Elizabeth, a
resident of Rochester; William, a banker in Benson County, N. D.; and
Ambrose, who is also a resident of Benson County, N. D. The children, like
their parents, are all Catholics.