Outagamie County, WI - Biography of ERNST HARP of Freedom township

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Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives
SUBJECT: Biography of ERNST HARP of Freedom township
SUBMITTER: Janice Marasch     
EMAIL: jmmarasch@aol.com
DATE SUBMITTED: 04 Apr 2000
SURNAMES: DEMPSEY
SOURCE: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley Counties of Brown,
Outagamie and Winnebago, J.H. Beers & Co, p. 884, 1895

ERNST HARP, farmer and carpenter of Freedom township, Outagamie county, is a native of
Germany, born October 1, 1845, son of Christof Harp. During his youth he received a somewhat
limited education, and subsequently worked with his father, with whom he remained while in
Germany.  In the spring of 1864 he was married to Miss Matilda Steingross, and one child was
born to them in Germany, August, who died while en route to the United States.

In 1866 the family came to America (Mr.  Harp borrowing money to bring his parents), the
voyage from Hamburg to New York occupying six weeks, and coming directly to Milwaukee, by
rail and water, remained there for some time, our subject finding employment as clerk in a
hardware store.  Later he worked on the railroad two years, one year on a gravel train, and during
this time managed to pay the one hundred and fifty dollars he had borrowed.  Commencing to
learn the trade of carpenter, he acquired a thorough knowledge of it, and found plenty of work in
that line, afterward taking contracts on his own account, and continuing in that business until
1887, when he took up farming.  He removed to Section 19, Freedom township, Outagamie
county, and bought eighty acres of new land, for which he paid two thousand one hundred and
fifty dollars.  At that time the farm contained no buildings or other improvements, and was
covered with brush and stumps, and the many improvements and substantial buildings which
now beautify the place are all the work of his hands.  This has necessarily involved a great deal
of hard work, but the result has been more than satisfactory. Since coming to Freedom township
Mr. Harp has also been engaged to some extent at carpentry, and has always given satisfaction as
a mechanic.

To Mr. and Mrs. Harp were born children as follows: August, mentioned above; Wilhelmina,
Mrs. Gustav Janke, of Milwaukee; Albertine, Mrs. William Nieland, of Freedom; Annie, Mrs.
Albert Luebke, of Grand Chute; William, a farmer of Freedom township; Charles, a carpenter,
and Ernst, Jr., at home.  In religious connection Mr. Harp is a member of St. Peter's Church, of
which he is now secretary.  While in Milwaukee he served as treasurer of the church with which
he was identified, which had a membership of 500.  In politics he is a Republican, but not active
in party affairs, preferring to give his undivided attention to his farming and other interests, in
which he has met with well-merited success.  He is highly respected as a substantial progressive
citizen by all who know him.