BIO: Tobias HARNISH, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 191-192.
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  TOBIAS HARNISH, M.D., deceased, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., 
was born March 6, 1826, in Morris township. He is a son of Samuel and 
Susan (Keller) Harnish. The Doctor's paternal great-grandfather was a 
Swiss by birth, and came to America from his native country some time 
before the Revolution, settling either in Lancaster or York county, 
Pa., where he died. It is supposed that he was already married when he 
emigrated, and that he was accompanied by his wife and family. His son, 
Christian Harnish, however, was born in this country, and grew up in 
the place in which the family first settled, removing about 1790 to 
Huntingdon county, and taking up his residence in Morris township, on 
the farm still in possession of his descendants. The country was at 
that time little better than a wilderness, and was still infested by 
hostile savages. At the time of his removal to Huntingdon county, 
Christian Harnish had a rather numerous family; but not many years 
after, nearly all his children died of typhoid fever. One of the 
survivors was his son Samuel, father of Dr. Harnish, who was in early 
boyhood when the family removed to Huntingdon county. He grew up on the 
homestead, learned the business of agriculture practically, and 
continued always in the same vocation. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Samuel Harnish are: Christian, residing in Delaware; Dorothy Edith 
(Mrs. Robert Tussey); Catherine Ann (Mrs. Col. John Huyett), of Porter 
township; John, deceased; Abraham, deceased; Samuel, on the old 
homestead in Morris township; Dr. Tobias; Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob F. 
Steiner), Clearfield county, Pa.; Lydia (Mrs. Samuel H. Keller), 
Wilkinsburg, Pa.; Peter K., residing on the home farm, Morris township; 
Mary M. (Mrs. Col. Burket), Sinking Valley, Huntingdon county; and 
Rachel M. (Mrs. Albert Heilman), Frankstown, Blair county, Pa. Samuel 
Harnish died in the prime of manhood, at the age of fifty-one, leaving 
this large family to the care of his wife. Nobly did she take the 
double burden pf paternal and maternal care upon her shoulders; 
managing the patrimony of her children so as not only to clear it of 
financial encumbrances, but to increase it; educating them, and giving 
to such as were still of tender age the needed home training; and being 
well seconded in her efforts by their industry and good sense, she 
left, when in her turn she passed from earth at the venerable age of 
eighty-five, a comfortable property and many worthy representatives of 
the family.
  After receiving such training as could be afforded by the common 
schools of his own neighborhood, Tobias Harnish became a student of 
"old Marshall," as her alumni are fond to call their Alma Mater, in the 
pleasant mountain town of Mercersburg, Pa., an institution whose chairs 
professorial were occupied by some of the most noble and subtle 
intellects of their own or any day. Here he graduated with the class of 
'49, after which he went to Mississippi and taught in private families 
and seminaries for three years. About 1852, he began the study of 
medicine, under the preceptorship of Jacob M. Gemmill, M. D., of 
Alexandria, Huntingdon county, with whom he read for two years. He then 
attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, at that time unrivalled 
by any other medical school in Philadelphia. Dr. Harnish received his 
diploma in 1856; for the first year, he practiced at Martinsburg, Pa., 
then for five years at Water Street, Pa., and for the rest of his life 
resided in Alexandra, carrying on a successful practice until the year 
1893. In former years the Doctor was greatly interested in politics, 
and somewhat active in public affairs, having served the borough of 
Alexandria as councilman and as school director. From 1856, he was an 
adherent of the Democratic party; he cast his first Democratic vote for 
James Buchanan.
  Dr. Tobias Harnish was first married at Water Street, April 27, 1857, 
to Augusta M., daughter of Anthony Stewart, whose wife had been Miss 
Mytinger. Mrs. Harnish died at the same place in 1862, leaving one 
child, Rose Stewart. On March 6, 1865, Dr. Harnish married Letitia A., 
daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Lytle) Stitt. Their children are: 
Charles A., M.D., practicing in Alexandria; Lettie; Walter K., graduate 
of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., class of '96, now 
pursuing a theological course at Princeton University; Sarah L.; Annie 
B.; Mary, died August 6, 1877, in her third year. The eldest son, Dr. 
Charles A. Harnish, was born March 13, 1866, in Alexandria, Pa. He 
attended the common schools until he reached the age of fourteen, and 
was then for two years clerk in the car shops at Altoona, Pa. For the 
ensuing three years, he was a student at F. and M. College, then taught 
a private school at Alexandria for one year, and then matriculated in 
the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he 
was graduated in 1891. After two years, during which he assisted his 
father, Dr. C. A. Harnish, in 1893, succeeded to the practice 
relinquished by the elder physician. He is active and zealous in his 
profession. He has served on the board of health; is a member and ex-
president of the Huntingdon County Medical Society, and also a member 
of the state and national organizations of practitioners. Dr. Charles 
A. Harnish is a member of the Reformed church at Alexandria, as was his 
father also, and as were those of earlier generations, the Harnish 
family having been among the constituent members of that charge at its 
foundation. Dr. Tobias Harnish died March 21, 1897.