My Genealogy Hound

Frank Harff, whose death occurred October 28, 1901, was one of the well known and prosperous farmers of Oakland County, located on a magnificent farm of 240 acres in section 3, Bloomfield township, three miles southeast of Pontiac. He was born in Prussia, December 15, 1834. He was a son of George and Catherine Harff, both of whom spent their whole lives in Germany, and reared six children, our subject and his brother Jacob being the only ones to emigrate to America. Jacob Harff is located at Cheboygan, Michigan.

Our subject received but common school education, during his school days assisting his father on the farm. In 1850 he came to the United States in search of wider opportunities, although scarcely well enough equipped to meet the conditions he found. From New York he went to Cleveland, Ohio, which city he reached with three cents in his pocket. Fortunately his appearance was in his favor, and he secured farm work at wages of $6 a month, although he could not speak a word of the English language. Giving close attention to all conversation, and pushing his wits to their limit, he soon began not only to understand but to speak the alien tongue and soon had fluent command of it. Three months after landing, he secured work in a planing mill, and remained two years when he accepted the offer of a position in the pineries of Michigan as cook. He worked there a year but at its close was cheated out of his promised wages and then went to Detroit, whence he paid his passage to the Lake Superior mining region by working in the scullery of the boat. For several succeeding years he worked at mining and during the Civil War chopped wood outside of Detroit, and also found dock work. About the close of the war he began buying junk, old iron, hides, etc., in the Lake Superior region and in three or four years had accumulated a small capital. Mr. Harff then started a tobacco and cigar factory at Detroit in which he lost $1,000; upon the closing of this concern, he engaged in cigar manufacturing and wholesale liquor dealing until 1878. After his long years of industry, Mr. Harff was then able to buy the farm in Bloomfield township, Oakland County, now the home of his widow, and from that time until his death gave his entire attention to farming and the profitable raising of thoroughbred horses, stock and chickens. His career reads like a romance but shows what can be accomplished by honest endeavor and persevering effort.

On October 8, 1859, Mr. Harff was married to Elizabeth Dietz, who was born in 1841 in Liverpool, England, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Dietz, who came from Germany when their daughter; was one year old, settling in Detroit, where they died. The four children born to our esteemed subject and wife were: Fred, now operating the home place, who was married to Olga Wildie, daughter of Martin and Ella Wildie of Birmingham, and has two children, — Effie and Anthony; Christina, who married Joseph Rang, and lives in South Dakota; Mary, who married Bruce Chatfield, and lives in Troy township; and Annie, deceased, who was the wife of Wilbur Lewis. Mrs. Harff is a member of the Catholic Church, while Mr. Harff belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of Pythias and Foresters, while in politics he was a Democrat. Mr. Harff died October 28, 1901, respected by all who knew him. He was a man of energy and courage and accomplished a great deal and was able to leave a large estate to his family.