BIO: Henderson G. Harned, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB & JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 334-336. ________________________________________________ Harned, Henderson G., was born on August 1, 1839, in Ross township, Luzerne County, Pa., within the bounds of Maple Grove Circuit. When five years old his mother died, and he was sent to live with an uncle, where he did such work as he was able to do until fifteen years old, when the death of his uncle again made him homeless. For about two years he worked by the month as a farm hand in the neighborhood of his former home, when he went to Illinois for better wages. While here he attended a camp meeting at Walnut Grove, Mason County, as the guest of his uncle, Levi Benscoter, who married his father's sister. During the camp meeting, which was conducted by Peter Cartwright, he was converted. His conversion was on September 1, 1856, and on the 3rd of the month he joined the Church. Shortly after conversion he felt impressed with the thought that he ought to preach. He accordingly returned East for the purpose of attending school and preparing for the ministry. He attended select schools, a normal school and academy at New Columbus, Pa., and Wyoming Seminary for a time. During his school days he worked his way by working summers and attending school winters, renting a room and boarding himself. During a period of about five years he taught school. In 1862 his pastor, Rev. W. H. Gavitt, gave him an exhorter's license. Subsequently he went back to Illinois, and in 1864 he received local preacher's license from the church in Mason City, where he was teaching school. In 1866 he joined the Illinois Conference. A malarial climate caused him to transfer to Wyoming Conference. He came as a probationer, and in 1869 was received into full membership in the Conference. He has done effective work as agent for the American Bible Society at different times. On October 12, 1861, he married Miss Abby A. Carter, of Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pa., who died at Carverton, Pa., on July 28, 1888. There were born to them three sons and four daughters; three of the daughters only lived to maturity. About 1893 the three daughters were living in Kingston, housekeeping, engaged in educational and other work. An explosion of gasoline burned two of them unto death. Anna living three hours and Lena nine days. One of the daughters who died was the widow of Volney A. Bailey, who became a minister and died at Castle Creek, N.Y., while pastor there. Hattie became the wife of J. W. McGuire, M.D., and now lives in Chicago. In March, 1889, he married Mrs. Amy A. Lewis, of Newton, Pa. One child has been born to them, John Nelson, who lived to be two years and two months old. During the war he left his work and offered himself at a recruiting office, but was not accepted; enough bad enlisted at that time. He was subsequently drafted twice, but home engagements prevented his going; he was exempted once, and the other time furnished a substitute. His pastoral record is as follows: 1866, Illinois Conference, Middletown; 1867, Meredosia; Wyoming Conference, 1868, Hawley; 1869-70, Sterling; 1871, Canaan; 1872, Agent Wayne County (Pa.) Bible Society; 1873, Harford and South Gibson; 1874-76, Springville; 1877-78, Sidney Plains; 1879-80, Fly Creek; 1881-83, Hartwick; 1884-85, Newton; 1886- 87, Meshoppen; 1888-89, Carverton; 1890-91, Parsons; 1892-93, Damascus; 1894-96, Salem; 1897, Uniondale; 1898-1900, Agent Bible Society; 1901- 02, Maple Grove; 1903, Agent Bible Society.