BIOGRAPHY: Joshua HARSHBERGER, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 561-562.

  JOSHUA HARSHBERGER, Mattawana, Mifflin county, Pa., son of William and Leah 
(Hartzler) Harshberger, was born in Bratton township, Mifflin county, December 
18, 1829.  His grandfather, David Harshberger, of German descent, was a farmer 
in Berks county, who later in life removed to Bratton township, and then to 
Wayne township, Mifflin county, where he died.  He married Miss Miller, of Berks 
county, and they reared a family of children, one of whom was William.  David 
Harshberger was a Whig and later a Republican.  He was a member of the Dunkard 
church.  William Harshberger, father of Joshua, was born in Berks county, and 
received a German education, but very little in English.  He carried on farming 
and stock-raising very extensively, owning and cultivating nearly 800 acres of 
land, on which he built several houses, one of brick and frame and the other of 
stone, and also erected three large barns.  He was a Democrat, and a man of 
influence in the community.  He married Leah Hartzler, who was born in Oliver 
township, Mifflin county, and they had children:  Gideon, of Oliver township;  
Joshua;  Miriam, deceased;  Catharine (Mrs. Elisha Kauffman) of Bratton 
township;  Jacob, of Bratton township; David, of Bratton township;  Joseph, of 
Bratton township;  Nicholas, killed in the battle of Bull Run, in 1862;  Samuel, 
deceased;  Nancy, deceased;  and Mary, deceased.  The mother and father both 
died in Bratton township, and both were members of the Amish church, in which 
Mr. Harshberger took an active part.
  Joshua Harshberger attended first the subscription schools and later the 
public schools of Bratton township, learning both German and English.  He 
remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-eight years old, when 
he began butchering at Mattawana.  Here he remained eleven years, and in 1870 
removed to his present farm of 100 acres in Bratton township.  Since buying the 
farm he has made many improvements, building a new house and barn, and 
increasing facilities for the raising of stock.  Sharing his father's political 
views, he is a Democrat, but has never sought public office.
  Mr. Harshberger was married, in Bratton township, in 1858, to Elizabeth 
Sherer, and their children are:  Hallie A.;  Emma J. (Mrs. Jacob Byler), of 
Oliver township;  Annie L. (Mrs. John Yoder), of Bratton township;  Francis B., 
married to Phebe Hartzler, resides on the homestead;  Martha E. (Mrs. Edward 
Moist), of Bratton township;  Elise;  Harvey;  and Clemmie.  Mr. Harshberger is 
a member of the Amish church.